Soft Washing Sunshine Coast

Soft washing is an exterior cleaning method that relies on a cleaning solution rather than force. The solution is applied at low pressure, similar to a garden hose, and given time to break down organic growth such as mould, algae and lichen. Once it has worked, the surface is rinsed.

Because the solution does the work, there is no need to point a high-pressure jet at paint, render or roof tiles. That is the main difference from traditional pressure cleaning, which is better suited to hard surfaces like concrete driveways.

• Render: acrylic and cement render, painted or coloured, common on coastal homes in Mooloolaba, Buddina and Pelican Waters.
• Cladding: weatherboard and fibre cement, where high pressure can lift paint or push water behind boards.
• Brick: painted and face brick, including older brick homes in Buderim and Maroochydore.
• Eaves and soffits: where cobwebs, spider marks and mould collect.
• Tile roofs: concrete and terracotta tiles, soft washed with no high pressure. See roof cleaning Sunshine Coast.
• Fences: timber, rendered and painted fences that go green in shaded yards.

High pressure removes what you can see, but it often leaves the roots of mould and lichen behind. On softer surfaces it can also cause damage: paint lifts, render gets marked, water is forced past window seals, and tile surfaces wear.

Soft washing treats the growth itself. The surface is cleaned more evenly, with far less force, and the growth takes longer to come back. Our guide on why pressure alone can damage your home goes into more detail.

Garden beds and plants near the work area are wet down before we start, so they absorb water rather than solution. They are rinsed again afterwards. Runoff is directed away from sensitive areas where the property allows. We ask that pets stay inside until the area is rinsed and dry. Pools are considered before work starts, and outdoor furniture and cars are moved or covered where needed.

There is no fixed answer. Sunshine Coast humidity and rainfall mean mould and algae will return in time, and salt air near the beach in Noosa, Sunshine Beach, Coolum Beach and Caloundra adds a film faster than inland. Shaded walls and roofs under trees, common in Buderim and Little Mountain, also tend to grow back sooner. Because soft washing treats the growth at the root, results usually last longer than a quick high-pressure rinse.

Soft washing is the method behind our house washing and roof cleaning. For strata buildings, see commercial pressure cleaning.