Soft Washing in Horley
Soft Washing in Horley: dirt, algae, mould and staining cleared at low pressure with biodegradable solutions that treat the growth at its source. Horley is the home patch, so this is a local job. The first step is a free, no-obligation quote.
- Low-pressure, surface-safe cleaning
- Eco-friendly, biodegradable solutions
- Removes dirt, algae, mould and staining
- Treats growth at the source for a longer-lasting finish
Soft Washing for homes and businesses in Horley
Rendered walls are the classic soft washing job, in Horley as anywhere, and the reason is straightforward: render is porous and slightly textured, so it holds moisture and gives algae something to grip. The north and east elevations go green first, the south wall stays clear, and after a few years the house looks like two different buildings depending on which side you approach it from.
Why render must never see a pressure washer
Render is a thin coating on top of blockwork or brick. Point a high-pressure jet at it and you can blow it off in patches, force water behind it, or leave the surface pitted and far quicker to green up next time. Once render has been damaged, patching it invisibly is close to impossible because new render never quite matches weathered render.
Soft washing does the opposite. A biocidal solution applied at low pressure kills the algae at the root and the surface is left intact. The machine barely does any work: the chemistry does it, and the dwell time does the rest.
It looks worse before it looks better, and that is normal
Dead algae does not vanish the moment it is killed. On a soft wash the colour usually starts lifting within hours, then continues to clear over the following days and weeks as the rain weathers the residue off.
That surprises people who were expecting a pressure washing result, where the difference is immediate and visible as you go. It is worth knowing which one you have booked, because judging a soft wash on the same afternoon is judging it too early.
How we work
- 1Identify the growth and the substrate
Green algae, black lichen, red algae and mould all respond differently, and render, K-rend, painted masonry, timber, cladding and PVC all take the treatment differently. Both halves have to be right before anything is mixed.
- 2Test patch somewhere out of the way
On painted and rendered surfaces especially, a small area should be tried first to see how it reacts. It costs ten minutes and it is the difference between a clean elevation and a patchy one.
- 3Pre-wet the planting and cover what needs covering
Beds and borders want watering before anything is mixed so nothing takes the solution neat, and anything nearby that should not get wet wants covering. This is most of the actual work on a soft wash.
- 4Apply at low pressure and let it dwell
The solution does the cleaning, not the machine. It goes on gently, then it needs time on the surface. Rushing the dwell is the usual reason a soft wash looks streaky.
- 5Rinse or leave to weather, then check back over
Some surfaces get rinsed down, some are better left for the rain to finish, and it depends on the product and the material. We tell you which one applies to yours and what it will look like in a fortnight.
A soft wash keeps clearing after we leave. The colour lifts on the day and the rest weathers off over the following days and weeks, so it is worth not judging it the same afternoon.
Other services in Horley
Soft Washing near Horley
Real results
Soft Washing: before & after
Genuine before and after results from recent jobs across Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
Dirty South Power Wash were absolutely fantastic from start to finish. They're extremely friendly, professional, and reliable, making the whole process completely stress free. I had my decking soft washed and the results were amazing, it genuinely looks like new and has been brought back to life. You can really tell they take pride in their work and pay attention to detail. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone and will definitely be using their services again in the future!
No fuss, just excellent - from start to finish. Friendly to deal with, clear communication all the way, came when they said they would, did an excellent job. Would use again without a doubt.
Great service, really pleased with our garage roof. All the moss has gone and left nice and tidy. Great guys too. Thanks!
Did a fantastic job on a garage roof clean/moss removal, looks good as new! friendly & professional highly recommend 👏🏼
Really pleased with our driveway😊
They done an amazing job and great price
Good to know
Soft Washing in Horley: your questions answered
What is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?
Pressure washing removes dirt with force. Soft washing removes it with chemistry at very low pressure, using a biocidal solution that kills algae, mould and lichen at the root and then lets the residue weather off. Soft washing is what delicate surfaces need: render, painted walls, cladding, PVC, timber and roofs, none of which tolerate a high-pressure jet.
Can render be pressure washed?
Soft washing cleans it without touching the surface. It should not be. Render is a thin coating over blockwork or brick, and high pressure can blow it off in patches, drive water behind it or leave the surface pitted so it dirties faster next time. Damaged render is very difficult to patch invisibly because new render does not match weathered render.
How long does a soft wash take to work?
The colour usually starts changing within hours and the surface continues clearing over the following days and weeks. The solution kills the growth on the day, then the dead residue weathers off gradually with the rain. It is a different experience from pressure washing, where you see the result as you go, so it is worth not judging it the same afternoon.
Is the solution you use safe around plants and pets?
Soft washing uses biodegradable solutions, and preparing the area before anything is applied is most of the work. Beds and borders want watering thoroughly so nothing takes the solution neat, sensitive planting covering, and run-off spreading instead of concentrating. Pets and children are best kept away from the working area while the job is on and until the surface has dried.
How long will a soft wash last on a rendered house?
Typically longer than a pressure wash on the same surface, because the growth is killed at the root rather than knocked off the top. How long depends almost entirely on aspect: a north elevation in shade will start greening again sooner than a sunny south wall. Aspect decides it more than anything else, so the same treatment on the same house can hold up well on one wall and be greening again on another.
Soft Washing in Horley, done properly
Free, no-obligation quotes across Surrey, Sussex and Kent. Send a few photos and we will do the rest.