Soft washing in Cheltenham: the gentle, deep clean for your home's exterior

Have you noticed unsightly green, black, or red streaks ruining the look of your home's render or walls?

Over time, the exterior surfaces of our homes become a feeding ground for various types of organic growth. Algae, lichen, moss, and mould thrive in the damp UK climate, leaving behind ugly stains and discolouration. This is particularly noticeable on modern rendered finishes, pebble dash, and delicate stone surfaces. Many homeowners believe the only solution is to blast these stains away with a high pressure jet wash, or to go to the extreme expense of repainting. Unfortunately, pressure washing is often the worst thing you can do. It can be incredibly aggressive, blasting away the surface of your render, damaging the seal on modern insulation systems, and forcing water into tiny cracks, which can lead to much bigger problems down the line.

There is a smarter, safer, and much more effective solution. Soft washing is a revolutionary cleaning method designed specifically to treat the organic growth that causes these stains, not just the visible dirt. Instead of relying on destructive high pressure, we use specially formulated, biodegradable cleaning solutions applied at a very low pressure, often no more than a garden hose. This gentle approach kills the algae and mould at the root, lifting the stains and revealing the clean, bright surface underneath without causing any harm to your property. It is the modern, scientific approach to exterior cleaning, and it provides a deeper, longer lasting clean that protects your home's value and appearance.

What exactly is soft washing and how does it work?

To understand soft washing, it is important to first understand what is actually making your walls dirty. The green, black, and red stains you see are not just dirt. They are living organisms. Algae, lichen, and mould are growing on the surface of your property, feeding on the minerals in the building materials and the moisture in the air. Pressure washing is like giving these organisms a haircut. It blasts away the visible, top layer of the growth, but it leaves the microscopic roots and spores behind in the pores of the surface. Because of this, the growth returns very quickly, often within a few months, and the cycle begins all over again.

Soft washing is different because it treats the cause, not just the symptom. Our process is more like a pest control treatment for your walls than a simple clean. We use a carefully calculated blend of professional grade, biodegradable cleaning agents. When we apply this solution to your walls at a very low pressure, it soaks into the surface and gets to work. It kills the entire organism, from the visible growth right down to the invisible roots and spores. This not only removes the existing stains but also sanitises the surface, making it much harder for the growth to re-establish itself. The result is a clean that lasts up to four times longer than pressure washing, because we have dealt with the problem at its source.

The perfect cleaning solution for delicate surfaces

The beauty of soft washing is its versatility and its gentle nature. It is the ideal cleaning method for a huge range of exterior surfaces that could be easily damaged by the brute force of a jet washer. Our team is trained to assess each surface and choose the correct cleaning solution and technique to achieve a perfect result without any risk of damage. It is the go to method for cleaning modern homes and period properties alike throughout Cheltenham and the Cotswolds.

Soft washing is the ideal choice for cleaning:

Modern rendered surfaces. Coloured renders like k-rend and monocouche are very popular, but they are prone to algae growth. Soft washing is the manufacturer recommended method for cleaning these surfaces as it will not damage the delicate, coloured topcoat.
Painted walls and pebble dash. High pressure water can easily strip paint from walls and dislodge the stones in pebble dash. Our gentle, low pressure application cleans these surfaces effectively without causing any damage.
Cladding of all types. Whether you have uPVC, composite, or timber cladding, soft washing is a safe way to remove green algae and traffic film without forcing water behind the panels.
Natural and delicate stone. Beautiful local materials like Cotswold stone are porous and can be easily scarred or eroded by high pressure. Soft washing gently cleans the stone, lifting away years of biological growth and revealing its natural colour and texture.
Roof tiles. Soft washing is a key component of our roof cleaning service. After manually removing heavy moss, the soft wash treatment kills all remaining spores, providing a long lasting clean for your roof.
Fences, decking and patios. Wooden fences and decking can be cleaned and restored, and it is also a great way to treat black spots on patios and driveways without damaging the pointing between the slabs.

Our safe and methodical soft washing process

Safety and preparation are at the heart of everything we do. We do not just turn up and start spraying. We follow a careful process to protect your property and the surrounding environment, ensuring a professional job from start to finish.

Property and plant protection. Before we mix any solutions, our first priority is to protect the areas not being cleaned. We cover or rinse down delicate plants, lawns, and any sensitive surfaces like stained wooden doors to ensure they are not affected by the cleaning process.
Applying the cleaning solution. Using our professional, low pressure pumping equipment, we apply the tailored soft wash solution to the surfaces being cleaned. We work methodically, ensuring an even and complete coverage to treat all the organic growth.
Allowing dwell time. This is the most important part of the process. We allow the solution to sit on the surface for a specific amount of time. This "dwell time" is when the magic happens. The solution is actively breaking down and killing the algae, lichen, and mould.
A gentle, low pressure rinse. Once the solution has done its work, we thoroughly rinse the surfaces down with clean water. This is again done at a very low pressure, simply to wash away the dead organic matter and the cleaning solution, leaving behind a clean and sanitised surface.
Final clean up. We finish by doing a final rinse of all the surrounding areas we protected at the start. We pack away our equipment and leave your property looking bright, clean, and refreshed.

A smarter, longer lasting clean for your home

Choosing soft washing over pressure washing is a smart decision for the long term health and appearance of your property. You are choosing a method that respects the integrity of your building materials, delivers a truly deep clean, and provides results that last for years, not months. It is a modern, intelligent approach to exterior maintenance that offers far better value in the long run. Let us restore your home's curb appeal and protect it from the damaging effects of organic growth. Contact our friendly, local Cheltenham team today. We would be happy to visit your property, assess your needs, and provide a free, no obligation quote for our soft washing services.

Questions and answers

Your soft washing questions answered

Here are the answers to some common questions we get about the soft washing process and what it involves.

For cleaning organic stains from delicate surfaces like render and stone, yes, it is far better. Pressure washing can cause irreversible damage and does not kill the root of the problem, so the stains come back quickly. Soft washing is gentle, safe, and provides a much longer lasting result.
You will see a significant improvement on the day of the clean, especially with green algae. However, the full effect develops over the following days and weeks. The treatment continues to work with the weather, gently breaking down any remaining black or red staining to reveal the fully restored surface.
Because soft washing sanitises the surface and kills the growth at the root, the results last significantly longer than other methods. You can typically expect the surfaces to stay looking clean for at least two to three years, and often much longer, depending on the local conditions.
Soft washing is specifically designed to treat and remove organic stains, which are the most common cause of discolouration on exterior walls. It is not designed to remove non organic stains like rust marks or graffiti, which require different, specialist treatments.

Yes. We use professional, biodegradable cleaning solutions. A key part of our training and process is the careful management of these solutions. We take extensive precautions to protect your garden, plants, and the surrounding environment during the cleaning process.
We will need access to an outside tap for our water supply. All of our pumping equipment is self contained and runs on its own power, so we do not need to use your electricity.
No, you do not need to be present for the entire job. As long as we have access to the water supply and can get around the property, you can go about your day. We just ask that you ensure all windows and doors are securely closed before we begin.
The cost is based on the total area of the surfaces to be cleaned and the complexity of the job, for example, how high the walls are and the ease of access. We always provide a fixed, written quote after a free site visit, so you know the full cost upfront.

15+ Years Experience
200+ Happy Customers
10/10 Client Reviews
1000's Of Cleanings Done

Have Questions? Let's Get in Touch

Whether you need a regular clean for your home, a reliable service for your business, or want to restore your property's exterior, we're here to help. Fill in the form or simply give us a call. We'll answer any questions and recommend the best solution for you.