ServicesExterior Soft Wash
Exterior Soft Washing in Cohoes, NY
Our soft wash uses low pressure and a carefully measured solution on vinyl, aluminum and painted wood siding, killing green algae and mildew down to the root. The siding is left undamaged, your plants are rinsed, and the growth takes far longer to return than after a fast spray-down.
Getting Rid of the Growth, Not Only the Stain
That green film on a home's north wall is alive: algae and mildew living on the dust and moisture caught in the siding laps. Blasting it with high pressure removes the surface but leaves roots in the seams, and it can push water behind vinyl or peel paint off old clapboard. So the stain tends to return within a season.
Soft washing takes another approach. We put on a diluted sodium hypochlorite solution mixed with a surfactant so it clings, give it enough dwell time to kill the algae and mildew, then rinse at about the pressure of a garden hose. Results depend on the details: the correct strength for each material, the correct dwell time for that day's weather, and a complete rinse of every surface and plant bed.
We hold a license and insurance, and we handle your siding the same way we handle a roofline before lights go up: with care, one section after another.
What Every Soft Wash Includes
- Walkaround and material check
- We identify the siding type, look for loose panels, failing caulk and chalky oxidized paint, and point out anything that needs attention before water touches it.
- Plant and fixture protection
- Shrubs and beds get pre-soaked so they absorb clean water first. We cover exterior outlets, light fixtures and doorbell cameras, and close windows and vents.
- Mixed-to-surface solution
- Painted wood and heavily shaded vinyl need different strengths. We adjust the mix for each wall rather than using one batch for the whole house.
- Soffits, fascia and trim
- The work covers the parts people forget, including soffit vents, fascia boards, window trim and the undersides of porch ceilings where spider webs and mildew collect.
- Full rinse and final look
- Every wall, window and plant bed is rinsed top to bottom, and we walk the house with you to check the finish before we pack up.
When Your Siding Needs a Soft Wash
Dark or green streaks on shady sides
Walls with little sun stay wet longer, so algae settles there first. Once it runs along the lower edge of each lap, it has taken hold.
Stain lines below gutters and soffits
Water running down the wall drags organic debris with it and leaves vertical marks. With enough dwell time they usually come off.
Light trim that looks gray
On pale colors, mildew is easy to mistake for dirt. A soft wash restores the original color with no scrubbing or sanding.
Permanent lighting is on the way
Clean fascia gives track the best mount. We are an authorized Gemstone Lights installer and like to wash the roofline before the lights go up, because stains are tough to reach once the channel is installed.
What Moves the Price
Every quote starts with the house itself, so we give you a clear number by phone after asking the right questions. Price follows the time and solution the job needs, not a flat rate for every home.
Size and height
Square footage and number of stories set the time on site. Three-story walls and tall gable peaks need more ladder or extension work.
Material and growth level
Light mildew on vinyl rinses quickly. Heavy algae or painted wood that needs a gentler mix and longer dwell takes more care.
Access around the house
Steep yards, decks against the wall, dense landscaping or a tight gap to the neighbor's house all add setup time.
Stains that are not organic
Rust from irrigation water, oxidation chalk and tannin bleed do not respond to the same solution. We will tell you up front which stains will come off and which will not.
What Wash Day Looks Like
- 1
Set up and cover
We make sure an outdoor spigot works, pull patio furniture off the walls, wet down the plants and cover electrical fixtures.
- 2
Spray and let it sit
We apply the solution from the bottom upward to prevent streaks and let it sit a few minutes. In heat or wind we do smaller sections so it never dries on the siding.
- 3
Gentle rinse
Rinsing goes from the top downward, flushing seams, window frames and soffits, and then the plant beds get a second rinse.
- 4
Final look together
We check the walls with you, and any area that needs another pass gets one before we head out.
Common Soft Wash Questions
Can the solution damage my lawn or plants?
Not if it is done right. We soak plants first so they fill up on clean water, mix the solution only as strong as the surface needs and rinse the beds again when we finish. Most horror stories come from skipping those rinses.
How long does the siding stay clean?
Since the growth is killed instead of just knocked loose, the results usually hold up well beyond a pressure rinse. Shady walls and areas near trees come back first because they stay wet longest.
Can you soft wash old painted wood siding?
Yes, and low pressure is a big part of why. We look for peeling or chalky paint first and use a weaker mix on painted surfaces. If the paint is already failing, we let you know before washing so you are not surprised.
Does someone need to be home?
Not the whole time. We need a working outdoor spigot, closed windows and access to every side of the house. Most customers choose to be around for the final walkthrough.
Is it smart to wash the house before permanent lighting goes in?
Yes, it helps. The track runs along the fascia, and cleaning behind it afterward is awkward. Washing first means the roofline looks its best on the night the lights come on.
See What Your Siding Really Looks Like
Tell us about your home, its siding and the stains you are seeing, and we will walk you through what a soft wash will do. The quote costs nothing.