When people are looking to clean their homes, the most common vernacular searched is "Pressure Wash" or "Power Wash". While these terms are somewhat interchangeable, Soft washing is something completely different.
Soft washing is when you apply a treatment comprised primarily of water, sodium hypochlorite (the active ingredient in bleach) and a surfactant (a fancy word for soap) to a surface with low pressure (around 60-300 PSI). Once applied, the sodium hypochlorite is encapsulated in the surfactant suds and is allowed to dwell on the surface. Sodium Hypochlorite kills all the organic matter on the surface as well as it's food sources. This leaves the surface completely clean, sanitized and disinfected for longer than simply using high pressured water to scrap the dirt off.
While pressure washing is imperative on hard surfaces like brick and concrete, materials like wood, vinyl siding, and asphalt roofs are to fragile to be sprayed with high pressure water. High pressure water on these and other surfaces can cause serous damage, can remove paint, or introduce water under the protective surface creating a breading ground for mold. This is where soft washing comes in. Soft washing is the recommend method for home sidings and roofs. It is approved by the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and will not void your home siding warranties.
Have you heard of soft washing before? Did you know the ingredients in a soft washing treatment? Share your thoughts and questions in the comment below.
If you want to learn more about soft washing or need soft washing services, please reach out to us at (253) 655-7474 and tell us about your project.