Soft Washing in Charleston, SC
Soft washing is how we clean the parts of your home a pressure washer would harm. We use low pressure and a cleaning solution matched to each surface. It removes the mold, mildew and algae that grow on Charleston siding. It is safe, and the clean lasts.
Short answer: Soft washing cleans siding and roofs with low pressure and a cleaning solution that kills mold, mildew and algae at the root. A whole house soft wash in Charleston usually costs $500 to $1,500, based on size. Outside windows are free with a full house soft wash, and most homes are done in one day.
What is soft washing?
Soft washing works in a different way than blasting. We do not use force to knock stains off. We spray a cleaning solution made for that surface. The solution breaks down the growth at its root. Then we rinse it all away at low pressure, about like a heavy rain. The solution does the cleaning. The water just carries it on and off.
This matters because most of the dirt on a Charleston home is alive. The green film on shady walls is algae. The black streaks under roof lines are mildew or mold. So is the gray haze on stucco. Pressure alone cuts off the top layer. It leaves the roots, so the growth comes back fast. Soft washing kills the growth itself. That is why the clean lasts longer.
Soft washing vs. pressure washing
Both have a place, but on different surfaces. Pressure washing uses force. It is the right tool for concrete driveways, walkways and patios. Soft washing uses almost no force. It is the only way we clean a house.
High pressure on siding can strip paint and split cedar. It can crack Hardie corners and scar stucco. It can push water behind boards, where hidden mold grows. We never take that risk. For concrete, our pressure washing service uses strong spray. The house itself always gets a soft wash.
Surfaces made for soft washing
- Hardie (fiber cement) siding
- Cedar and other natural wood
- Stucco
- Painted wood siding and trim
- Vinyl siding
- Brick and masonry
- Roofs, metal and shingle
- Screened porches, soffits and railings
These are the materials most Charleston homes are built with. They are also the ones high pressure harms. Not sure what your home is made of? We check every surface on our walk around before we start.
Why Charleston weather calls for soft washing
Our summers are long, hot and damp. That is perfect for mold and algae. Shady walls, homes under live oaks and north sides can turn green in one season. Near the water, salt spray settles on siding and trim. It dulls the paint, and grime builds on top. Soft washing fits this weather. It removes the growth and keeps the paint safe. It also stops buildup from holding water against your siding.
“I had TrueWash soft wash my house and driveway. My home is not easy to clean. It’s 4 stories tall. They did a great job and worked hard the entire day.”
Our soft washing process
- Walk around and check materials We look at every side of the home. We check what each surface is made of. We note soft spots, like cedar trim, older paint and screens, before anything gets wet.
- Protect the property We wet your plants first and shield delicate ones. We control where the water runs. We move or cover outdoor furniture and fixtures.
- Apply the right solution We spray a cleaning solution matched to the surface. We use low pressure. It breaks down mold, mildew and algae at the root.
- Gentle rinse We rinse everything at about the force of a heavy rain. Water does not get forced behind siding, under trim or into screens.
- Check and finish We walk the home again and touch up any spot that needs it. We clean the outside windows on a full house soft wash. We send photos of every side when we finish.
Who soft washing is best for
- Homes with Hardie, cedar, stucco or painted wood
- Higher-end, historic and waterfront homes
- Homes under heavy shade or trees
- Homes with green film or black streaks
- People whose home was harmed by a pressure washer before
- Anyone getting a home ready for the market or a big event
A recent Charleston soft wash
This is a raised, three-story home on a wooded lot. It has lap siding, black shutters, dormers and a deep front porch. Shady, damp lots like this grow algae and mildew fast. The siding had a green film in the shady spots. The windows had the same film on the glass, grids and sills. We cleaned it all at low pressure. The paint, shutters and window seals stayed safe.
- Location
- Bulls Bay, Awendaw
- Property
- Raised three-story home with lap siding, black shutters, dormers and a full front porch on a wooded lot
- Challenge
- Green film of algae and mildew on the shady siding and on the window glass, grids and sills
- Approach
- We wet the plants first. Then we soft washed the siding, trim and shutters at low pressure. We let the solution sit so the growth came loose on its own. We did not scrub. We rinsed the outside glass and finished it by hand. We never sprayed the window frames, paint or seals.
- Result
- Clean, even siding, clear glass and bright trim. No harm to paint, shutters or window seals.
Before and after
Why homeowners trust TrueWash
- $2 million liability insurance
- Licensed & insured
- No high pressure on siding, ever
- Photos of every side when we finish
- 5.0 from 54 Google reviews
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
Soft washing FAQ
- What is soft washing?
- Soft washing is a way to clean the outside of a home with low pressure. It feels about like a heavy rain. A cleaning solution matched to the surface does the work. It breaks down mold, mildew and algae, so your siding never takes a beating.
- How is soft washing different from pressure washing?
- Pressure washing uses force. It belongs on hard surfaces like concrete. Soft washing uses a cleaning solution and only gentle pressure. That makes it the safe choice for siding, roofs and painted or delicate surfaces.
- Which surfaces should only be soft washed?
- Hardie and other fiber cement siding should only be soft washed. So should vinyl, stucco, cedar, painted wood, roofs and screened porches. None of them should get high pressure. All of them clean up well with a soft wash.
- Why does my house turn green so fast in Charleston?
- Charleston's heat, damp air and shade help algae and mildew grow. It is worst on north walls and homes under trees. Near the coast, salt and grime add to the film. A regular soft wash keeps it from taking hold.
- How long does a soft wash last?
- It depends on shade, trees and how close you are to the water. Soft washing kills the growth at the root. It does not just rinse the top. So the clean often lasts longer than a pressure-only wash. Many people put their home on a yearly schedule.
- Is soft washing safe around plants and pets?
- We protect your plants on every job. We wet the plant beds first. We rinse them during and after the wash. We also control where the water runs. Keep pets inside while we work. Everything can go back to normal when we finish.
- Can soft washing damage my siding?
- Not when it is done right. The rinse is about as strong as a heavy rain. The solution is matched to the surface. The real risk comes from high pressure, and soft washing avoids it.
- Do you soft wash roofs too?
- Yes. Roof cleaning is its own service. We always use low pressure, never a pressure washer. It removes the black streaks common on Charleston metal and shingle roofs.
- Are windows included with a soft wash?
- Yes. Outside window cleaning is free with every full house soft wash. We clean the outside of the glass only.
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