Ever heard of soft wash? Want to know what to “soft wash” a house really means or simply what it involves and whether you can do it? Well, this post highlights everything there is to know about soft washing.

If you’ve ever tried cleaning your roof, deck, patio or any other outer surface chances are you’ve heard about soft washing. While this is so, not many know exactly what soft washing or “soft wash” a house really means. It is with this that we’ve opted to share with you this post. Below you’ll get all the details you need to know about soft washing. In particular, you’ll get to know exactly what it means when to SoftWash a home or business in Chicago and the Chicagoland Area.

While it might sound new to some, soft washing as a cleaning method has been around for quite some time. It is actually a popular choice for many homeowners who prefer an alternative to pressure washing. Why is this? Well, pressure washing uses too much pressure compared to a soft washer. The excessive pressure when using pressure washers can damage bricks or softwood. In some instances, especially if you are cleaning your siding, it can cause dents. Soft washing, on the other hand, doesn’t cause any damage (that’s if you do it right).

Having said that soft wash is basically a type of power washing that makes use of low pressure. In addition, it’s a cleaning method that mainly relies on cleansers, detergent, and chemicals to properly remove dirt, oil, algae or any other debris that is unwanted. Generally, many prefer to soft wash a house as it doesn’t cause any damage or harm. It is also eco-friendly meaning its ideal to use even on surfaces that are near to your garden. While soft wash doesn’t generally cause any damage or harm it is still advised that you seek professional help. Professionals are in a position to get everything right with soft washing.

The types of equipment needed for a soft wash are pretty similar to those used for pressure washing or power washing. The only difference is that with a soft wash, water is generally applied using very low pressure. In addition to low pressure, equipment used for any given soft wash has telescoping handles. These handles make it easy for water to reach hard to reach areas like upper story windows, roof eaves, etc.

Another thing to note when it comes to soft pressure washing and matters equipment is detergents and cleansers. While all three cleaning methods make use of detergents and cleansers, soft washing uses certain solvents to help completely rid of unwanted substances. These solvents help to completely dissolve grime or dirt while at the same time not causing any damage.

With a soft wash, as already indicated earlier, you’ll use special solvents and detergents. These two are normally applied in areas or surfaces you want to clean. The key to note is that these two are applied way before the cleaning or spraying process begins. What this does is allow the solvent or detergent to completely penetrate thick debris and dirt so as to work their magic. This makes it possible to use low pressure when carrying out general cleaning.

The detergent used for a soft wash varies greatly depending on the type of surface you plan to or intend on washing. Equally as important when it comes to determining the chemical or detergent you’ll use is residue type. If you plan on removing residue or dirt like algae or mold, you’ll need a detergent that contains a watered-down bleach solution. Why? Well, the bleach helps in completely killing off the mold and algae.

With a soft wash, especially when it comes to soft washing a home, many homeowners assume that this process is very simple. As such, they normally opt to soft wash their own homes. While it might seem so, soft washing is not that simple. It’s not just a matter of spraying cleaning solutions on surfaces you want to clean. There is more to soft washing and as such, it is best that one hires a professional to do the work.

Another reason why you shouldn’t soft wash your home on your own is the damage you might cause to yourself or property. If you choose to soft wash your home on your own chances are you‘ll use improper techniques. Using improper techniques can cause considerable damage to surfaces of what you are cleaning.

For instance, spraying water in the middle of a window is not advised. Why is this? Well, you can easily crack or break your window. Furthermore, a slight error when mixing or applying chemicals can also damage your window or cause chips on your patio or deck. Hence, it is best to have all your soft washing needs done by a professional.

In general, soft wash systems have their very own special nozzles. These special nozzles help control water pressure when soft washing a home. What this does is help reduce the chances of damaging surfaces being cleaned. Despite this fact, however, it is still best that you leave soft washing homes to professionals.

With detergents, it is good to note that the cleansers used are gentle compared to other heavy-duty exterior detergents. While this is so, they can still cause harm to surfaces you are cleaning. Furthermore, if not properly handled they are known to cause harm to eyes, nasal passage and even the skin.

Still, on matters detergents, it is important that you get it right with your choice. The wrong detergents or cleansers can have a negative impact on your final results. For example, if you were to use a bleach solution on your home you can burn your home down. The wrong standard household detergents, on the other hand, will not completely kill off unwanted organic growth.

Rinsing is very important if you want to not only do a proper job but also prevent any damages to the surface of what you are washing. If you fail to properly rinse detergents away, they can cause damage. Furthermore, the detergent residue not properly rinsed off can trap and hold dirt once you’ve finished. This is especially so if you are cleaning wood surfaces like decks or if you are cleaning an aluminum sliding. It’s even worse if it’s allowed to build up as it can easily result in unsightly streaks that are very hard to do away with.

When to soft wash a house or when you should soft wash your home comes down to how it looks. If you look at your house or home and notice certain dirt like algae, mold or even mildew, then your home is in need of a soft wash. You can soft wash a number of surfaces in your home. For instance, you can opt to clean windows with a soft wash cleaning method, your driveway, decks, patios just to mention a few.

While you can wait to see dirt before opting to soft wash your home, it is advised that you soft wash at least two or three times a year. This is especially so during spring. Doing so will have your home looking as clean as new.