Your home’s exterior isn’t just the first thing people see when they pass by. Every aspect of it keeps your home secure and structurally sound. When it comes to cleaning your home’s exterior, soft washing has emerged as the preferred method for St. Louis homeowners who want effective cleaning without risking damage to their property. Traditional pressure washing uses harsh, high-speed water that can damage your home’s exterior, remove shingle granules, and potentially damage flashing in sensitive areas of your roof. Softwashing uses low-pressure water combined with a cleaning solution to gently remove dirt, algae, mold, and mildew from surfaces.
Softwashing provides numerous advantages over high-pressure methods. The specialized solutions target biological contaminants at their root, preventing quick regrowth and delivering results that last up to 4 or 6 times longer than pressure washing. This gentle approach is ideal for all exterior surfaces, including vinyl siding, painted wood, asphalt shingles, and delicate trim work that might be damaged by high-pressure streams.
For homeowners dealing with green or black streaks on their roofs or siding, soft washing effectively eliminates these unsightly organic matter. The technique is particularly valuable in Missouri’s humid climate, where algae and mold thrive on home exteriors. Professional roofing contractors often recommend soft washing as the safest cleaning method for preserving both the appearance and warranty of roofing materials.
Understanding how to soft wash a house properly can save you from expensive repairs while maintaining your home’s appearance and structural integrity for years to come.
Essential Soft Washing Equipment and Materials
Proper soft washing requires specific equipment and cleaning solutions to effectively clean your home’s exterior without causing damage. For St. Louis homeowners looking to tackle this project, having the right tools is important for success.
A complete soft washing setup includes a low-pressure pump system (typically 40 to 80 PSI), a chemical-resistant tank (25 to 100 gallons depending on project size), a spray gun with fan-tip nozzles, and extension wands for reaching high areas. For safety, you’ll need chemical-resistant gloves, protective eyewear, respiratory protection, and full-body covering to shield against chemical splatter.
The cleaning solution is equally important to having the right gear, with sodium hypochlorite (household bleach) serving as the primary active ingredient. For a standard house wash mixture, a proper solution consists of 1% to 2% bleach, water, and an additive to help the solution adhere to surfaces. For stubborn areas with heavy biological growth, increase the bleach in the solution to 3% to 4%.
Different surfaces require adjusted mixtures: vinyl siding tolerates standard solutions, while delicate materials like cedar require more diluted formulations. Missouri homeowners should note that soft washing is particularly effective for removing the black streaks (Gloeocapsa magma algae) commonly found on roofs in our humid climate. Having these supplies ready ensures you can effectively clean your home’s exterior without risking damage to your siding or roofing materials.
Preparing Your Home for the Soft Washing Process
Before you begin soft washing your house, proper preparation is essential to ensure effective cleaning while protecting your property. Start by clearing the work area of outdoor furniture, potted plants, toys, and vehicles. Cover all electrical outlets, exterior light fixtures, and HVAC units with plastic sheets and waterproof tape to prevent water damage to these sensitive components.
Protecting your landscaping is a critical step when using soft wash cleaning solutions. Thoroughly pre-wet all vegetation surrounding your home to dilute any overspray that might occur. For added protection, consider applying a neutralizing agent to plants or covering valuable shrubs with plastic tarps. Be sure all windows and doors are closed to prevent cleaning solutions from entering your home.
Inspect your house exterior carefully before beginning. Look for damaged siding, loose roof shingles, cracked window seals, or deteriorating caulk that might allow cleaning solution to soak in behind surfaces. These issues should be repaired before soft washing to prevent moisture intrusion and potential water damage. For St. Louis homes with older siding or roofing materials, this inspection is particularly important as these surfaces may have developed vulnerable areas over time.
Remember to disconnect downspouts and cover gutters if you’re not planning to clean them, preventing cleaning solution from flowing directly onto your foundation plantings. These preparation steps ensure your house soft washing project will be safe and effective.
Soft Washing Application Techniques
Applying a soft wash solution correctly makes all the difference in achieving professional-quality results. When soft washing your house, always work from bottom to top. This prevents streaking and ensures proper cleaning of all surfaces. Start by applying the cleaning solution to a small section (about 10 feet wide) at the base of your home, then move upward methodically, ensuring complete and consistent coverage of each area.
Different exterior materials require specific techniques. For vinyl siding, apply the solution in even horizontal passes, being careful around seams and joints where algae often accumulates. Brick surfaces benefit from slightly longer dwell times (10 to 15 minutes) to penetrate porous areas. When treating stucco, use a solution with a slightly higher concentration applied with a fine mist nozzle to reach into textured surfaces. Wood siding requires gentler solutions and careful application to prevent raising the grain, while cement fiber board should be cleaned with a moderate solution strength and thorough rinsing.
Allow the cleaning solution to sit on surfaces for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing. This contact time is crucial for breaking down biological growth. For St. Louis homes with severe algae or mold issues, a second application may be necessary on problem areas. After a sufficient amount of time, rinse thoroughly from top to bottom with clean water at low pressure, ensuring all cleaning solution is removed from the surface.
Tackling Tough Biological Growth on Your Home’s Exterior
Some St. Louis homes face particularly stubborn biological growth due to our region’s humidity and seasonal temperature fluctuations. When standard soft washing solutions aren’t enough, you’ll need to adjust your approach. For severe algae, mold, or lichen infestations, increase your bleach concentration to 4% or 5% while maintaining proper additive levels. Apply this stronger solution specifically to affected areas using a soft-bristle brush to gently agitate the surface without causing damage.
Black mold and thick lichen colonies often require the solution to sit for an extended time of about 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing. For extremely persistent growth, particularly on north-facing walls or areas under dense tree coverage, a two-stage application process may be necessary. Apply the solution, allow for partial drying, then reapply before final rinsing.
Preventing future growth is equally important. Improve drainage around your foundation by ensuring gutters direct water away from your home. Trim back trees and shrubs to allow sunlight and airflow on exterior surfaces, as biological organisms thrive in damp, shaded environments. Consider applying a preventative biocide treatment annually, especially to areas where you notice it growing more frequently. This can inhibit new growth for up to about 12 or 18 months after your initial cleaning.
Some roofing contractors in our area offer maintenance programs that include preventative treatments, ensuring your home stays clean longer while protecting your exterior surfaces from the damaging effects of biological growth.
Post-Washing Care and Maintenance Schedule
After completing the soft washing process, proper post-treatment care is essential to maximize results and protect your investment. Begin by conducting a thorough rinse of all treated surfaces, working from top to bottom to ensure all cleaning solution residue is completely removed. Check around windows, doors, and trim areas where the solution might collect. Once rinsing is complete, inspect the entire house exterior for any missed spots or areas requiring touch-up treatment.
For St. Louis homeowners, establishing a regular maintenance schedule helps prevent the buildup of algae and mold between treatments. Generally, homes in our region benefit from soft washing every 18 to 24 months, though north-facing walls or areas under heavy tree coverage may need attention annually. During spring and fall, perform visual inspections of your home’s exterior, looking for early signs of biological growth. Simple preventative measures like trimming overhanging branches, clearing gutters regularly, and addressing drainage issues can significantly extend the results of your soft washing treatment.
Between professional cleanings, light maintenance can be performed using a garden hose with a soft brush attachment to remove surface dirt from siding and trim. For minor algae spots that appear between treatments, a gentle application of diluted cleaning solution can prevent spreading. Establishing this care routine keeps your home looking its best while protecting roofing and siding materials from the damage that unchecked biological growth can cause over time.
Expert Soft Washing Services by Total Roofing
If you’re looking for professional help to soft wash your home safely and effectively, consider Total Roofing, your local experts in gentle home exterior cleaning. With our specialized equipment and experienced technicians, we can ensure that every inch of your home is meticulously cleaned without the risk of damage associated with high-pressure washing.
At Total Roofing, we understand the importance of maintaining the beauty and longevity of your home. Our tailored soft washing techniques remove harmful biological growths like algae and mold, protecting your home while enhancing its curb appeal. Ready to see the difference professional soft washing can make? Call us now at (618) 719-6767 to schedule your service and ensure your home looks its best.
