Soft Washing
Northern Beaches
Low pressure, proper chemistry, no surface damage.
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Soft washing is the method every major coatings and roofing manufacturer actually recommends for residential exteriors. Instead of blasting the grime off with high pressure, we treat it with a controlled chemistry that kills the biology at the root — then rinse at a pressure that's gentler than most domestic hoses.
- Dedicated soft-wash pumps, not re-purposed pressure washers
- Sodium hypochlorite and surfactant mix tuned per substrate
- Safe on render, brick, weatherboard, Colorbond and roof tiles
- Kills mould, algae and lichen at the root so it doesn't regrow
- Plants, pets, pool water and ponds protected before application
- Paired with high-pressure cleaning where surfaces can handle it
The chemistry behind it
A professional soft wash is sodium hypochlorite at a controlled concentration, combined with a surfactant that helps it cling to vertical surfaces long enough to work, and sometimes a mild degreaser for heavier deposits. The hypochlorite kills mould, mildew, black algae, lichen and the bacterial film that holds dirt onto painted and rendered surfaces. The surfactant is what lets it sit on a wall instead of running straight off — that's how we get an even treatment and no streaking. Dwell time is measured, not guessed, and the mix is adjusted to the substrate and the level of growth, not dumped on at one strength for everything.
What it is for
Anything on a home that shouldn't cop high pressure. That's painted render, textured acrylic coatings, painted and unpainted brick, fibre-cement cladding, weatherboard, Colorbond cladding and roofing, terracotta and cement roof tiles, eaves, soffits, awnings, pool-surround sandstone, and most feature masonry. It's also the right method on anything delicate — heritage façades, older timber, and anywhere an owner has just paid to have a premium coating applied and doesn't want it mechanically damaged. Most of our full-home jobs combine soft washing for the walls and roof (see our house washing and roof cleaning services) with high pressure for the driveway and paths.
Why it is not just 'spraying bleach on stuff'
There's a huge gap between a professional soft wash and a DIY one. The difference is dose, dwell, coverage and rinse. Too strong and you bleach the paint. Too weak and you get half-dead lichen that regrows in months. Too long a dwell on a hot day and the sun dries the chemistry on — leaving streaks in the substrate that only show up later. Inadequate rinse and you get residue that eats into finishes over weeks. We run dedicated soft-wash pumps (not a repurposed pressure washer), we keep the chemistry away from plants and pets, and we wet down and rinse every nearby surface before the job starts and after it finishes.
How we deliver it on the Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches climate — warm, humid, salt-laden — is a near-perfect breeding ground for the organisms soft washing targets. North-facing walls stay drier and usually need less work. Southern aspects, shaded corners, walls under big trees, and anything within a few streets of the water are where the heavy growth lives. We walk the property before we quote so we can identify the hotspots, and we'll adjust the mix per wall if needed. Fully insured, biodegradable surfactants, and we'll protect any garden beds, fish ponds or pools nearby before we start.
Real jobs, real results
Need it done soon?
Call now or request a fast quote — usually replied to within the hour.
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