Soft washing is a surface-specific exterior cleaning method that uses controlled, low-pressure application of treatment solutions to kill moss, algae, lichen, and other biological growth at the source. Instead of relying on force to blast growth off a surface, soft washing treats the organism and lets it release naturally.
IT'S A SYSTEM.
Most people hear "soft washing" and think it simply means using a pressure washer on a lower setting. That is only part of it.
Soft washing is a complete process: identify what is growing, specify the surface and conditions, apply the correct treatment at controlled pressure, allow proper dwell time, and let moisture and weather complete the release.
Biological growth on roofs and exteriors is alive. Moss has root structures. Algae feeds on shingle minerals. Lichen bonds to surface chemistry. Blasting these organisms off with high pressure removes the visible growth but leaves the root system and damages the surface.
Soft washing kills the organism at the biological level. Once it is dead, the bond to the surface breaks down and natural weathering — wind, rain, and sun — lifts the remaining material away.
Pressure washing uses high PSI (typically 2000-4000) to physically blast dirt and growth off a surface. It works on durable surfaces like concrete but damages softer materials like shingles, siding, and painted surfaces.
Soft washing uses low pressure (typically 40-80 PSI, similar to a garden hose) combined with treatment solutions that do the actual work. The chemistry, not the force, removes the growth.
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