Soft Washing

For building facades, delicate surfaces, and hard-to-reach areas, soft washing delivers outstanding cleaning results without the risk that comes with high-pressure water.

Soft washing uses specialist cleaning solutions injected into a low-pressure water stream to do the cleaning work — rather than relying on water pressure alone. The solutions break down mould, mildew, dirt, and biological growth at a molecular level, killing contaminants at the source rather than just displacing them from the surface.

This approach is gentler on surfaces, requires no scaffolding or elevated access equipment for most jobs, and produces results that last longer than pressure washing alone — because the biological growth is treated rather than just removed.

Soft washing combines specialist cleaning solutions with a low-pressure water stream to remove mould, mildew, algae, and biological growth at a molecular level — killing contaminants at the source rather than just displacing them from the surface. The process works in three stages:

1. Solution preparation and application

A specialist cleaning solution matched to the type of soiling — mould, mildew, algae, dirt, or lichen — is blended and injected into a low-pressure water stream. This allows the solution to be applied from ground level to heights of up to 13 metres, eliminating the need for ladders, scaffolding, or elevated work platforms in most situations.

2. Dwell time

The solution is left to dwell on the surface for a suitable period, ensuring maximum penetration and effectiveness in breaking down the contaminants.

3. Rinse

The surface is thoroughly rinsed with clean water, removing the solution and the loosened soiling — revealing a clean, restored surface.

Soft washing achieves approximately 85% of the results of high-pressure cleaning at up to a third of the cost. For building facades, painted surfaces, and delicate substrates where high pressure carries a risk of damage, soft washing is often the better choice.

• Reach without access equipment — up to 13 metres from ground level without ladders or scaffolding, reducing cost and OH&S risk on multi-storey facades.
• Longer-lasting results — cleaning solutions kill mould and biological growth at the source, so surfaces stay cleaner for longer.
• — low pressure eliminates the risk of erosion, mortar damage, or paint stripping on delicate
• Reduced labour and setup — no scaffolding, no elevated work platforms, no time-consuming setup.

Different biological growth types require different treatment approaches — and correctly identifying what’s on your surface is an important first step.

Mould presents as a green covering over the substrate and is generally the most straightforward to treat and remove.

Mildew presents as a black covering and is typically harder to remove than mould, requiring stronger solutions and longer dwell times.

Moss appears as a build-up of dirt with soft green growth on top — treated with cleaning solutions and rinsed thoroughly.

Lichen is a dry, flower-like growth most commonly found on roofs and stone surfaces. It is the most challenging of the four to remove and may require a stronger cleaning solution and in some cases pressure washing in combination with soft washing to achieve a complete result.

Our technicians identify the type of growth on arrival and select the appropriate treatment for your surface and budget.

Surfaces Suited to Soft Washing

• Building facades — rendered, brick, and cladding
• Fencing and Retaining walls
• Composite timber decking ·
• Shade sails
• Any surface where high pressure is unsuitable

Although soft washing uses low pressure, cleaning solutions are involved — and appropriate precautions are taken to protect the property and surrounding areas.

• Where roofs drain into water tanks, downpipes are isolated before treatment to prevent cleaning solutions entering the tank
• Doors and windows are closed, and gaps sealed where required to prevent water entry
• Plants and garden beds are rinsed before and after treatment and covered with light plastic where necessary to protect them from solution contact