House Soft Wash in Cherry Hill, Moorestown, & Voorhees, NJ

After 25 years cleaning South Jersey exteriors, I have seen what high pressure on the wrong siding does. Stripped paint, chipped vinyl, water under the j-channel, and trim that has to be replaced. Soft wash exists so none of that happens.

How Soft Wash Actually Works

Soft wash is two parts. The cleaning mix kills the algae, mildew, and mold living on the siding. The low pressure rinse takes the dead growth and the dirt off without high pressure damage. The soap does the work, the water just carries it away. On vinyl in newer Voorhees and Marlton developments, on stucco in Mount Laurel, on painted wood on older Moorestown and Haddonfield homes, the same approach works. The mix gets adjusted for what your siding is made of.

Why High Pressure Is The Wrong Tool

A pressure washer at 3,000 plus PSI aimed at vinyl siding will force water under the panels, behind the j-channel, and into the wall. On painted wood, it strips paint and gouges soft spots. On stucco, it can chip the finish coat. The visible green and black on your house is not even on the surface, it is a living organism with roots in the pores of the siding. Pressure rinses the surface, soft wash kills it. That is why soft wash holds up for a full season and pressure alone comes back in a month.

Plants And Landscaping

This is where most DIY soft wash jobs fall apart. The cleaning mix is not friendly to plants if it sits on the leaves dry. Before I put any cleaner on the house, I pre-soak the foundation beds and any close plantings with plain water so the leaves are already saturated. I work from the bottom up so runoff is hitting wet leaves, not dry. I rinse the foliage as I move along the house, and I give everything a final freshwater pass when the wash is done. Your azaleas, hostas, hydrangeas, and lawn come out fine.

When To Wash Your House

Most South Jersey homes do best on a one to two year cycle. Spring is the most popular slot because folks want the house clean before summer entertaining. Fall is the second most popular, knocking the year of pollen and mildew off before winter. Heavily shaded north facing walls in Medford or under big tree canopy in older Cherry Hill neighborhoods often need touch ups in between. Sun exposed lots in Glassboro or Washington Township usually stretch the full two years between washes.