Firstly, let’s clarify the difference between Water blasting and soft washing. Both techniques involve using a water blaster, and the main difference is the pressure and products used.

Water Blasting is a brute force method of washing, typically involving water only being forced through a tiny nozzle hole which produces a strong force of water up to 4000PSI (4000 pounds per square inch of pressure). You definitely don't want to point that at your house! Water Blasting is better suited to surface preparation and concrete cleaning. If you use this sort of pressure to wash your house you will likely do damage and force water into the materials you are washing.

Soft washing is carried out at much lower pressures, below 500PSI. Not only is it softer it also includes the application of a salt based (sodium) cleaning product that does a lot of the work to cut through grime, dirt and mould. This salt based product used at the correct strength will remove stains and make things look bright, shiny and clean, without harsh pressure or excessive brushing.

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Instructions for soft washing a house in 5 steps

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Step 1 – Get organised with the right equipment; we recommend:

● Hose

● House wash cleaning products:

1. Sodium hypochlorite (household bleach). This cuts through green and black mould.
2. A surfactant / liquid soap. (Selleys Sugar Soap). This helps to clean more deeply and leave windows and paint sparkling, AND makes rinsing off more easy.
3. Water

● Pressure washer (water blaster). Your water blaster will need a venturi system to suck your house wash solution through your high-pressure water blaster hose. Check for a small nozzle or small clear hose attached to your water blasting unit. Get the water blaster set up and ready to go by attaching the water blaster to your hose following the manufacturer’s instructions.

● Soft wash nozzle to attach to the end of the gun to ensure gentle pressure (we recommend fitting this to the gun before you get started to ensure it is the correct nozzle for your water blaster

● You may also need a ladder for applying the cleaning product to higher-up areas.

● Safety glasses and gloves.

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Step 2 – Get your house prepared

● Ensure that there is no washing on the line or it could get bleached or wet. Also, remove any shoes, doormats, or anything else that you don’t want getting bleached or wet.

● If there are potted plants or furniture close to the house, it is a good idea to move these away from the house.

● Go around and check all windows and doors are tightly closed. If your windows and doors are old (particularly if they are wooden). It’s a good idea to put towels down in case they leak.

● If you have cats or dogs, ensure they are inside or in a place where they feel safe. Water blasters can be noisy, and this can be pretty scary so making sure your fur baby feels safe and secure is something we do strongly advise. The same thing goes for any other animals like cats, caged feather babies (birds) or those oh so cute guinea pigs or bunny rabbits.

● If you have fishponds close to the house, you should cover these.

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Step 3  - Apply the cleaning product  

Mix up your cleaning product 1 part household bleach 1 part water. For every 1 litre of mixed solution add 100ml of sugar soap.

Apply the product through the venturi of your water blaster using the chemical nozzle on the end of your gun. Start at the bottom of the house and work your way up to the outside of the gutters. This will stop dirt and soap from running down onto areas that are still dry, which could cause streaking.

Only apply the cleaning product to one section of your house at a time. Make sure you leave it long enough so that it has time to work but so that it doesn’t have enough time to dry before you rinse it. It is best to clean each side of the house when it is not directly in the sun.

Step 4 – Start soft washing  

Gently wash the surfaces with the water blaster and soft nozzle. Start at the place you first applied your cleaning product and continue around in the same direction you applied the product.

Wash the outside of the gutters first and move down to the soffits, the cladding, the baseboard, and then lastly, the window frames.

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Important tips and techniques to avoid damage

● Hold the spray gun with two hands at all times.

● Always keep the nozzle about 30 centimeters from the surface.

● Spray at an 85° angle, and never spray underneath horizontal cladding.

● Spray from side to side at a consistent speed.

● When you’re washing the window frames or around the doors or any other cavity where water could leak into, make sure you point the angle of the spray away from the direction of the cavity.

Step 5 – Do a walk around  

Lastly, do a walk around to check for any missed areas. If you have areas that are not cleaning up, try applying the cleaning product again. Leave it for 15 minutes or so, and then soft wash the area again.

That’s it; you’re all complete.

If you find that the high-up parts are problematic to get clean or you are not happy with the end result, we are always happy to help, even if it is just to offer advice.

We also have a few little tricks to keep areas prone to mould clean for longer.

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TIPS

Where to source the cleaning product

You can buy your house wash cleaning product from most hardware stores. Keep in mind that all products are not made equally and so we recommend you check the ingredients on the label because some of the products are diluted and so don’t do the best of jobs when it comes to getting the surface clean. If you find you are not having much luck getting the surface clean get in contact with us as the product we use is commercial grade and so does a fantastic job at cleaning the surface.  

Where to source the cleaning nozzles?

You can buy soft washing nozzles from the hardware store. There are different coloured nozzles for various purposes, so make sure you read the instructions carefully to make sure you are buying a nozzle that does soft washing only.

Ladder safety

If you are not using an A-frame ladder, make sure you have somebody to hold the ladder while you are on it as a safety precaution. You should also position your ladder at a 75° angle against the wall. The golden rule when you are going up or down is to ensure that you maintain three points of contact. This means ensuring you always have one hand and a foot connected with the ladder when you are raising your foot to step up or down to the next run on the ladder.

We do not advise using the water blaster while standing on the ladder. This is a excellent resource for ladder safety
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HOT TIP! use a blue nozzle to apply cleaning product to high areas of your house to avoid heights and ladder use where possible