Soft washing
Soft washing is cleaning with a low-pressure spray of solution, usually diluted sodium hypochlorite and a surfactant, that kills algae, mold and mildew.
Also called
- soft wash
- low-pressure washing
- chemical washing
Instead of blasting dirt off, soft washing lets the solution do the work: it is applied at low pressure, left to dwell for a few minutes, then rinsed gently. It is the usual method for siding, stucco, roofs and other surfaces high pressure could damage.
Because it relies on chemistry, soft washing depends on the mix ratio, the dwell time, the weather and protecting plants and surfaces nearby (pre-wetting and rinsing landscaping). Follow the product label for every chemical you use.
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Related
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- GlossaryHouse washA house wash is cleaning a home's exterior walls (siding, stucco, brick, trim and soffits), usually by soft washing, to remove algae, mildew, dirt and spider webs.Read
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- GlossarySoft wash mix ratio (sodium hypochlorite)The soft wash mix ratio (SH mix ratio) is how much sodium hypochlorite is diluted with water for a soft wash, worked out from the product's strength and the strength you want at the surface.Read
- GlossarySurfactantA surfactant is a soap added to a cleaning mix that lowers water's surface tension, so the solution spreads, clings to walls and dwells long enough to work.Read
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