ServicesExterior Soft Wash
Exterior Soft Wash in Niskayuna
Green streaks and black mildew on siding are living growth, not dirt. Our soft wash kills it with a measured cleaning solution and rinses at low pressure, so nothing gets forced behind your panels and your plants, fixtures and family stay protected.
What a Soft Wash Does and Why It Uses Low Pressure
Algae, mildew and lichen anchor themselves into the texture of vinyl, painted clapboard and trim. A high-pressure spray tears off the visible layer but leaves the roots, and it can drive water up behind lapped siding, crack old paint and strip the oxidized surface off vinyl. The growth then returns within a season.
A soft wash works the other way around. We apply a diluted cleaning solution with a surfactant that helps it cling, give it time to break down the organic growth, then rinse at roughly garden-hose pressure. The solution does the cleaning, so the siding, seals and window gaskets are never blasted.
Our company is licensed and insured, and 5 years in business have shown us where a wash day can go wrong. So every job is planned around safe work practices first: protected landscaping, covered outlets and fixtures, and as little ladder time as possible.
What Your Soft Wash Includes
Walk-around before we start
We check siding type, loose panels, cracked caulk and failing paint before any solution goes on. Anything that low pressure could still loosen gets pointed out to you first.
Plant and lawn protection
Shrubs and beds along the foundation are pre-soaked with clean water so their leaves absorb less solution. Delicate plantings get covered, and everything is rinsed again after the wash.
Fixture and outlet protection
Exterior outlets, light fixtures, doorbell cameras and any permanent lighting channels are covered or kept out of the spray path. Water and electrical parts should not meet, and we treat that as a rule, not a suggestion.
Full-height siding and trim
We wash siding, soffits, fascia and trim using extension wands from the ground wherever the height allows. That keeps crews off ladders and keeps ladders off your gutters and shrubs.
Final rinse and check
Every wall is rinsed top to bottom, then we walk it again in daylight to catch missed streaks. Covers come off and the drive and walks get a last rinse.
Signs Your Siding Is Ready for a Soft Wash
- Green film on the shaded side
- North-facing walls and walls under trees stay damp longer, and algae thrives there. A green or gray haze is usually the first sign.
- Black spots that keep coming back
- Mildew spots that return weeks after you scrub them mean the roots survived. A soft wash solution reaches what a brush does not.
- Chalky or dull vinyl
- Faded, chalky vinyl often has a layer of grime and pollen on top of oxidation. Cleaning shows you what is surface dirt and what is wear.
- Dark streaks under the roofline
- Runoff carries dirt and spores down from the eaves and fascia. Those vertical streaks pull down curb appeal fast.
- Before new lighting or a sale
- Washing before permanent lighting goes up means the channel mounts onto clean trim. Listing photos also look better on a clean home exterior.
How the Day Runs
- 1
Prep the house
We ask that pets and children stay indoors and windows stay shut while we work. Then we cover outlets and fixtures and pre-soak your plants.
- 2
Mix and apply
The solution strength is set for your siding and how heavy the growth is, which is weaker on painted wood than on heavily stained vinyl. We apply it from the bottom up so it does not streak.
- 3
Dwell time
The solution sits for several minutes to break down the growth. We keep surfaces from drying out in direct sun, which is why we often work around the shade on hot days.
- 4
Low-pressure rinse
Each section is rinsed thoroughly from the top down, plants get another drench, and we pick up our covers and hoses before we leave.
What Moves the Price
We price each job from the walls, heights and plantings actually in front of us. We look at the home in person or talk through the details with you by phone, then hand you a written price before anything goes on the calendar.
- Size and number of stories
- Square footage of wall area drives solution and rinse time. Two- and three-story walls take more setup to reach safely from the ground.
- Siding material
- Vinyl is the most forgiving. Older painted wood, stucco or brick need a gentler mix and more careful rinsing.
- How heavy the growth is
- Light pollen and dust rinse off quickly. Thick algae or lichen that has sat for years may need a second application.
- Access and landscaping
- Tight side yards, dense foundation plantings and decks against the wall add protection and setup time.
Soft Wash Questions We Hear Most
- Will the solution hurt my plants or lawn?
- We pre-soak plants with clean water, cover sensitive ones and rinse everything again after the wash. Diluted and rinsed this way, the solution breaks down quickly. If a bed is especially delicate, tell us and we will cover it fully.
- Is it safe for my kids and pets?
- Yes, once the wash and rinse are done. During the job we ask that everyone stay inside with windows closed. When we leave, the surfaces have been rinsed and are fine to touch.
- Will water get into my outlets or lights?
- We cover exterior outlets and fixtures before we start and keep the wand pointed away from them. Because we rinse at low pressure, water is not being driven into boxes or seams the way a high-pressure spray can.
- How soon will algae and mildew come back?
- Shade and moisture decide most of it. The solution kills the growth itself rather than peeling off the top layer, so far less is left behind to regrow than after a pressure rinse. Walls facing north or sitting under trees stay damp and usually show a green tint first, while sunny walls hold up longer. At the end of the job we point out the walls worth keeping an eye on.
- Do I need to be home?
- Not necessarily. We hook our hoses to a working outside faucet, so that needs to be turned on, and any gates should be unlocked so we can reach every wall. Many people stay for the walk-around and leave the rest to us.
Find Out How Clean Your Siding Can Get
Describe your home and the growth on its walls. We will tell you which solution strength fits and put your price in writing.