Hoffs · Exterior Cleaning
Soft Washing by Hoffs Exterior Cleaning in central Alabama

Service · 02 of 6

Soft Washing.

The gentler, smarter way to clean nearly everything else.

Manufacturer-approved low pressure plus a biodegradable cleaning solution — for surfaces that can't take a wand.

Soft washing is the technique that does the bulk of our work. Instead of forcing high pressure into seams and shingles, we apply a biodegradable, low-pressure cleaning solution that breaks the bond between dirt, mildew, algae, and the surface — then rinse it gently away. The result is a deeper clean than pressure alone, on surfaces that high pressure would damage.

i.

What soft washing is good for

Vinyl siding. Painted wood. Stucco. Hardie board. Brick. Asphalt shingle roofs. Metal roofs. Screened porches. Wood decks. Outdoor furniture. Anywhere a wand at 3,000+ PSI would do harm.

ii.

Why it works

Algae, mildew, and the green-black streaks on north-facing siding aren't held on by physical force — they're biological. A cleaning solution kills and lifts them at the source. Pressure alone just pushes water through the seams.

iii.

Plant-friendly, pet-friendly

We rinse landscaping before, during, and after. Solutions are biodegradable. Hydrangeas, lawns, and dogs are all fine.

Recent work

Soft Washing, before and after.

Painted gable, transformed. — before and after by Hoffs Exterior Cleaning
Before / After
Painted gable, transformed.

Algae-stained painted siding lifted with a careful soft wash. Gable returned to white with no paint loss.

Stone-and-stucco entry, finished. — before and after by Hoffs Exterior Cleaning
Before / After
Stone-and-stucco entry, finished.

Soft-washed stucco, hand-detailed stone, and a rinsed walk. The kind of finish a listing photo deserves.

Vinyl siding, the right way. — before and after by Hoffs Exterior Cleaning
Before / After
Vinyl siding, the right way.

A close-up of soft-wash technique on vinyl. Green algae streaks gone — seams, paint, and screens untouched.

FAQ

What's the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?
Pressure washing uses high water pressure as the cleaning agent. Soft washing uses a cleaning solution at low pressure. They're both useful — for different surfaces.
Is soft washing safe for my plants?
Yes. We rinse landscaping with plain water before we begin, work in sections, and rinse again after. Our solutions are biodegradable. We've never killed a hydrangea.
Does soft washing actually work better than pressure?
On siding, roofs, and softer surfaces — yes, by a meaningful margin. Pressure rinses the surface; soft wash kills the biology that's creating the staining in the first place. The result lasts longer.
Is it manufacturer-approved?
Yes. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) explicitly recommends soft washing over pressure washing for asphalt shingle roofs. Most siding manufacturers do the same.
Will it kill the algae for good?
For 12–24 months, depending on tree cover and humidity. Anything that comes back faster than that, we'll come back and re-treat.

Other services

Pair it with the rest of the work.

Where we do this work

Soft Washing across the river region.

Ready for the cleanest home on the block?

Free quote, no obligation. Text or call any time — Broderick answers personally.