Soft Washing

Soft washing is the gentler, smarter cousin of pressure washing. Instead of relying on brute force to lift dirt, soft washing combines a low-pressure spray of water with a specialist biocide that kills algae, moss, lichen and bacteria at the root. The chemistry does the cleaning; the water just rinses the residue away. The result is cleaner, longer-lasting and far safer for delicate surfaces than high-pressure washing.

We soft-wash everything that pressure washing would damage or fail to fully clean: render, painted walls, roof tiles, conservatories, and even some types of stone. If you've got a surface that's gone green or grey and you're worried about damage, soft washing is almost certainly the right answer.

What soft washing is — and isn't

Soft washing is sometimes confused with simply turning the pressure down on a normal washer. It's not. True soft washing uses dedicated equipment that mixes a biocide solution with water and applies it through specialist nozzles at low volume and very low pressure — typically under 70 bar, and often as low as 30 bar.

The active ingredient is what matters. Sodium hypochlorite (a stabilised version of household bleach) at the correct dilution kills the spores of algae, moss and lichen on contact and continues working for days afterwards. Combined with surfactants that help the solution cling to vertical surfaces, it lifts organic growth that pressure alone could only mask.

When soft washing is the right choice

• Roof tiles — concrete, clay or slate. High pressure damages tile coatings; soft wash kills moss without harm.
• Render and pebble dash — pressure can dislodge stones or chip the surface; soft wash leaves it intact.
• Painted masonry — pressure can lift paint; soft wash doesn't.
• Conservatories — both polycarbonate and glass roofs.
• uPVC fascias and soffits — soft wash kills the green algae in the texture.
• Listed and historic buildings where high pressure is forbidden.
• Garden walls in soft stone — sandstone in particular.
• Composite decking at lower flow rates.

Why it lasts longer than pressure washing

The single biggest advantage of soft washing is duration of clean. A pressure-washed surface looks great for the first month, but the algae spores haven't been killed — only blasted off. They re-establish quickly, especially in damp, shaded areas. A soft-washed surface, by contrast, has had the spores chemically destroyed. Regrowth has to start from scratch with new airborne spores, which takes much longer.

On a typical north-facing rendered wall, a pressure wash might look acceptable for 12 months before greening returns. The same wall, soft-washed, will typically stay clean for two to three years. That's why soft washing represents better value over time, even though the up-front cost is similar.

The process

A soft-wash visit follows a careful sequence. First we cover or pre-wet any sensitive surroundings — plants, paths, garden ornaments. Then we apply the biocide solution evenly with a low-pressure pump, working from the bottom up to prevent streaking. The product is left to dwell for 10–20 minutes (longer for heavy lichen), during which you'll see it visibly lift off algae. We then rinse with water at low pressure, working top-down, until the surface is clean.

After we leave, the biocide continues working for days, killing residual spores you couldn't see. The full result often gets better in the week after the visit, especially on stubborn lichen patches that need extra time.

Is it safe for the environment?

Used responsibly, yes. The biocide breaks down naturally within hours of application — sodium hypochlorite reacts to form sodium chloride (table salt) and oxygen. We rinse plants before and after to dilute any drift, and we never apply it where runoff can reach waterways or fish ponds without precautions. We use the minimum effective concentration and we don't oversaturate.

If you have specific environmental concerns — a wildlife pond, organic vegetable beds, rare plants — tell us at the quote stage and we'll plan around them. We've never had a plant damage claim and we don't intend to start now.

Combined services

Soft washing pairs naturally with other services on most house cleans. The most common combination is a roof clean plus rendered walls plus uPVC fascia clean — all in one visit. We can also pressure wash the driveway and patio at the same time if appropriate. Booking everything in one visit is more efficient and we'll discount accordingly.