Siding Soft Wash - Expectations

When soft washing siding, you can confidently inform the customer that the results will be most immediate. The soft washing solution will kill and loosen all the organics from the siding, and a low-pressure rinse will wash away the visible organics.

Oxidation

Before beginning a project, wipe your finger along the siding. If there seems to be a white powdery substance or if the siding looks discolored in any way, a soft wash solution is not going to clean the siding. In fact, in some cases, soft washing can make these problems worse. This is oxidation or a chemical reaction and not organic growth. Cleaning oxidation requires an entirely different process. Some chemicals can be applied in similar methods as a soft wash solution, but when speaking about a typical soft wash solution, we are referring to sodium hypochlorite blends. Speak with the customer and explain that this will not come off with a soft wash or pressure washing and must be chemically treated with a separate process.

Non-Organics

Soft washing only kills organic growth. It will not clean anything from fires, smoke, soot, paint overspray, grease, oil, or any other non-organic material. Soft washing does tend to clean bird dropping or help dissolve nets and beehives, but your experience may vary. Review the property and communicate the areas that will not be cleaned with a soft wash solution before beginning.