Soft washing is a cleaning method that uses a low pressure washing technique, along with a mixture of algaecides, bleach, surfactants and water, to safely clean exterior surfaces of organic stains, mildew and algae.
Although soft washing, power washing and pressure washing seem similar they all use different techniques, equipment, pressure and chemicals. Power washing and pressure washing use a much more powerful water pressure than soft washing and power washing is typically done with much hotter water than pressure washing. The Soft Washing method is combined with a biodegradable disinfecting cleaning solution to kill the mold, mildew, bacteria, algae, fungus, moss and more.
Gloeocapsa Magma (algae) is common on roofs and often leaves signature black streaks all over your shingles. This substance thrives in humidity and hot temperatures and spreads out, having a destructive effect on your roof. It feeds off the moisture that certain types of shingles hold on to. While the roof is effected, it begins to lose its ability to reflect UV rays and eventually rots the shingles. This has been said to effect roofs severely and can take up to 10 years off the life of a roof. Soft washing is the only way to effectively remove this algae without damaging the shingles and voiding any warranty.
First we prepare your surrounding area and protect any plants or grass you have around the surface area you are cleaning. Then, you prepare the solution. Once the solution is prepared, load it into an agricultural sprayer to apply to the surface you are cleaning. Soft washing runs water through a pump and hose with very little pressurization. The pump can also direct the cleaning solution mixture through the hose. Then the hose is directed at the surface being cleaned and the water mixture is sprayed out.
The soft wash system normally consists of higher concentration of cleaning solutions and a higher volume of water versus pressure. Application is gentle, with less pressure than what comes out of your garden hose. Once you are done, depending on the surface-like a roof, the solution is left on the surface in order to kill everything down to the roots versus if you have applied it to siding, then it is typically rinsed off.
The cleaning solution consists of the following:
• Bleach – This kills any algae, mold and mildew spores, moss, and any other plants or fungi growing on your home. It also gets into and kills off any root systems in order to prevent further damage and growth..
• Water – This is included to dilute the bleach.
• Cleaning Surfactant – This aides in the cleaning process by loosening, trapping, and carrying-away dirt and other substances. Due to the chemical nature of surfactants, they get between the surface of your home and the substances clinging to them (dirt, plants, fungi, etc.) and push them apart, sticking to the unwanted matter clinging there and lifting them away in a process called roll-up. It is equivalent to dish soap cleaning residue stuck to a plate after a meal: it improves the water’s ability to wash away unwanted muck. In addition, the surfactant will help prevent excessive run-off so the solution will stay on your home longer for greater effectiveness.