Softwash House Cleaning: How It Works for Indiana Homes

Softwash house cleaning is how we clean siding without hurting it. We use low pressure and professional, biodegradable solutions, and we let the solution do the work instead of brute force.

I am Brandon Metzger, and I started Elite Softwash with my two sons in Silver Lake. Most of the questions I get at the kitchen table start the same way: "Will washing my house damage it?" Done the right way, no. Here is what softwash is, how it works, and why a pressure washer is the wrong tool for your siding.

What is softwash house cleaning?

Softwash is a method, not a machine. We apply a cleaning solution to the siding at low pressure, let it work on the growth, and then rinse it off. The water pressure is about the same as a garden hose.

That is a big difference from a pressure washer. A pressure washer runs roughly 1,300 to 4,000+ PSI. That kind of force belongs on concrete, driveways, sidewalks, patios and brick flatwork. It does not belong on the walls you live behind.

If you want the broader definition, we cover it in What Is Softwash? A Plain Answer for Indiana Homeowners. This post is about your house specifically: what happens on the wall, and why it works.

How does softwash house cleaning clean without damaging the siding?

The green film on your siding is alive. It is algae, mildew and sometimes moss. It sends roots into the surface, so scrubbing the top off does not finish the job.

The cleaning solution soaks into that growth and kills it at the root. That is why we call it a cleaning, not a rinse. When the growth is dead, a gentle rinse carries it off the wall.

Force never enters the picture. We are not blasting dirt loose, so there is nothing to gouge, crack or push behind the boards. We use professional, biodegradable cleaning solutions, and we pre-rinse and protect your landscaping before we start. When we finish, we rinse everything thoroughly.

Softwash vs. pressure wash: which method fits which surface?

The rule I follow is simple. Soft wash what you live under or behind. Pressure wash what you walk on.

Surface	Method	Why
Vinyl siding	Soft wash	Low pressure protects the panels and the seams
Hardie board (fiber cement)	Soft wash	Cleans the paint finish without gouging it
Brick walls	Soft wash	Removes growth without eroding the face
Painted wood and stucco	Soft wash	Force strips paint and damages the surface
Roof shingles	Soft wash only	We never pressure wash a roof
Driveways, sidewalks, patios	Pressure wash	Hard, flat concrete handles the pressure

We soft wash vinyl siding, brick and Hardie board exteriors. For a deeper look at the two methods side by side, read Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: What Your Home Actually Needs.

What does soft washing remove from siding in northern Indiana?

Our weather is hard on a house. Lake humidity, tree cover and long stretches of damp shade give growth everything it needs. Here is what we see most.

• Green film. This is algae. It shows up first on the shaded and north-facing walls.
• Mildew. It looks like gray or black spotting, often near the ground, under eaves and behind shrubs.
• Black streaks. Common near rooflines and under trees.
• Spider webs and egg sacs. They collect under soffits and around trim and corners.
• General grime. This is road dust, pollen and the film that builds up season after season.

Shaded and north-facing surfaces grow algae faster. If one side of your house always looks worse, that is why. Lake homes are a specialty of ours, because humidity and shade around the lakes feed this growth.

What happens if you pressure wash vinyl siding?

A pressure washer can do real damage to vinyl, and a lot of it is hard to see until later. Siding is built to shed water that falls down from above. A pressure washer shoots water up and sideways.

• Water gets behind the siding. It can soak the sheathing and insulation and feed mold inside the wall.
• Panels crack, warp or come loose. Force can pop the laps apart.
• Streaks and lines appear. Uneven passes leave stripes that look worse than the dirt did.
• Paint and finish wear away. This hits Hardie board, painted wood and stucco hard.
• The growth often comes back. The roots are still there, so the green returns.

I see this most with rental washers. Someone borrows a machine for a weekend and gets a clean-looking wall with a damaged one underneath. If you have already tried it, call us. We can look at what is going on.

How do we soft wash a house, step by step?

Every house is a little different, but the job follows the same order.

1. Walk the property. We look at the siding, the trim, the windows and the plants, and we note problem areas.
2. Pre-rinse and protect the landscaping. We wet the plants first and cover what needs it.
3. Apply the solution. We spray the professional, biodegradable solution on the siding at low pressure, working from the bottom up and then rinsing from the top down.
4. Let it work. The solution breaks down the algae and mildew while we move around the house.
5. Rinse thoroughly. We rinse the walls, the plants and the ground around the house.
6. Final walk-through. We check the work with you. If you are not happy, the job is not done.

To get ready, move vehicles, patio furniture and toys away from the walls. Our prepare for your upcoming service page has the full checklist.

How do you find a good softwash company near you?

Searching "softwash companies near me" gives you a long list. These questions help you sort it.

• What pressure do you use on siding and roofs? The answer should be low pressure. For roofs, it should never be a pressure washer.
• How do you protect the landscaping? You want a clear answer about pre-rinsing and a thorough rinse after.
• Are you licensed and insured? Ask, and ask for proof.
• Is the work warrantied? A company that stands behind the work will say so up front.
• Is the quote free and specific to my house? Quotes should come from your address or photos, not a guess.

Elite Softwash is fully licensed and insured, and every job is backed by a warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. We have 300+ Google reviews with a 5.0 rating and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. For more on hiring, read How to Hire a Pressure Washing Company You Can Trust.

How often should a house be soft washed?

We tell customers that most homes benefit from a house wash once a year. Shaded and north-facing walls may look like they need it sooner. A roof soft wash is usually needed every two to four years.

Fall is a good time to think about it. Leaves and damp weather feed algae and mildew, and winter freeze and thaw is coming. We are available year-round and work around your schedule, so you can book when it suits you.

If you want the whole property done, ask about our bundle pricing. House washing, roof cleaning, gutters and concrete in one visit costs less than booking each service separately. Our house washing page shows how it works, and quotes are always free.