What is Soft Washing How to Soft Wash
What is Soft Washing?
Soft washing is a cleaning technique that combines low water pressure and a mixture made up of bleach, surfactant, and water, to safely and effectively clean exterior areas that have built up with organic staining such as dirt or algae growth.
What is Considered a Soft Wash?
Kenneth Miller says 500 psi or less is usually considered a soft wash. Using a algaecide to clean instead of pressure washing is considered a soft wash.
What is the average cost to soft wash a house?
The average cost to soft wash a house ranges from $300 to $800, or roughly $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot. Small homes (under 1,500 sq. ft.) typically cost $150 to $250, while larger homes (over 3,000 sq. ft.) range from $500 to $900+.
What Equipment does Miller Soft Wash use?
Miller Soft Wash is a owner operated pressure washing service business in the Northern Indiana area, including Elkhart, South Bend, Lagrange to Warsaw. Kenneth Miller is the owner and operator.
Kenneth uses a 3500 Chevy truck with a service bed on it. The truck fits perfectly a 320 gallon tote in the middle with the hose reels mounted on the passenger side facing the houses and a predator 9gpm as well as a soft wash unit from Sprayer Depot. The soft wash unit is a predator engine with a D50 pumping out 2 to 15 gpm at max 500 psi. This setup allows Miller to do big commercial building power washing or soft washing the two get used interchangeable.
Our soft wash systems include a mixing valve connected with different tanks for soaps behind the water tote.
How to do Soft Washing?
Soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method that uses specialized detergents (like a diluted bleach mix) to kill mold, algae, and mildew without damaging delicate surfaces like siding or roofs. It typically uses a pump-up sprayer, a dedicated soft wash system, or a pressure washer with a downstream injector.
5 Steps to Soft Wash a Prep and Protect:
Turn off exterior power, cover outdoor outlets with waterproof tape or plastic bags, and close all windows.
Thoroughly soak nearby vegetation and grass with water to protect them from chemical runoff.
Mix Your Solution:
For a standard house wash, mix a solution of 1% to 1.5% Sodium Hypochlorite (household bleach) with water and a few drops of dish soap or a specialized surfactant to help it cling to the walls.
Apply from Bottom to Top: Use a low-pressure nozzle or soft wash wand to apply the solution starting from the bottom of the wall and working your way up. This prevents “tiger stripes” or uneven streaking from dirty runoff.
Let It Dwell: Allow the chemical to sit (dwell) on the siding for 5 to 10 minutes to kill the organic growth. Do not let the solution dry on the siding.
Rinse from Top to Bottom: Using a high-volume, low-pressure rinse, wash the solution off from the top down to prevent soap from pooling. Be sure to rinse surrounding plants again to wash away any residual chemicals.
Tools
To get the job done properly, you’ll need standard safety gear (eye protection, respirator mask, and rubber gloves), a low-pressure pump or siphon, and your cleaning agents.