With soft washing, a cleaning solution goes onto the surface gently, sits long enough to loosen algae, mold and grime, and is then rinsed off. Rob is a Woodstock contractor who does every step himself, and he soft washes siding, trim and other delicate surfaces around Hampshire, IL. Work begins from $200 and a free quote starts when you text a photo to (815) 451-0106.
Siding in Hampshire gets dirty in a recognizable order. First comes a dusty gray film at the base of the walls, where rain splashes soil upward. Then green shows up on the shaded side, usually the north, and finally dark patches gather under eaves and around hose bibs.
Most of that is organic growth living on a thin layer of dirt, and the best way to remove it without harming the siding is to treat it rather than blast it. This page is a decision guide: when soft washing is the right move on a Hampshire house, when it is not, and what to do first.
Decision guide: soft wash, pressure wash, or leave it alone
Soft washing suits vinyl and aluminum siding, painted wood, stucco, fiber cement, and most trim. Pressure washing suits concrete, brick pavers and similar hard surfaces. Using hard pressure on siding forces water behind the panels and can crack or loosen older pieces, which is why Rob matches the method to the material.
Leave a surface alone when paint is already peeling in sheets, when siding is cracked, or when caulk has failed around windows. Cleaning repairs none of that, and it may make the flaws easier to see. Our comparison, Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: Which Does Your Surface Need?, lays out the logic in more detail.
Why the north wall goes green first
A wall that never gets direct sun stays damp long after rain, and algae lives on damp. In Hampshire, a house facing a field or an open lot may get strong sun on the south and west but almost none on the north face, so the contrast between one side and the other is easy to spot.
Wind can also drive dust and pollen to the leeward side, and a shaded porch ceiling holds humidity in summer. When Rob arrives he looks at the whole house, not only the dirtiest wall, so the cleaned side does not end up looking suspiciously brighter than the rest.
Vinyl in the subdivisions, older materials near State Street
Many of the newer Hampshire homes wear vinyl siding, which cleans well when treated at low pressure and rinsed from the top down. Rob watches the lap seams, since vinyl is not sealed against water driven upward, and keeps the nozzle angled so water sheds instead of getting behind.
Older homes near the village core can have wood clapboard, aluminum, or siding that has been painted a few times. Paint that is aged or chalking can come off with the grime. For those houses Rob usually starts with a small test area and tells you plainly what he sees before going further.
Plants, runoff and the lawn along the foundation
Cleaning solutions are rinsed away from the house, and landscaping around Hampshire foundations is often fresh: young shrubs, new sod, mulch beds. Rob wets plants down first and rinses them again afterward to dilute any runoff, and he asks about anything delicate before he starts.
If you grow vegetables along a wall or keep a rain barrel under a downspout, mention it in your text. Our resource on Soft-Wash Cleaning Solutions: Plants, Pets and Storm Drains covers what homeowners should expect. It is a small detail that matters more than most people think.
What to expect on the day
Rob covers or closes up what needs protecting, such as outlet covers and open windows, and wets the surfaces to be cleaned. He applies the solution in sections, lets it work without letting it dry, then rinses. He will move vehicles and furniture only with your say-so, so clearing the walkways ahead of time helps.
After rinsing he walks the perimeter looking for missed spots and for streaks on windows. You will see a lighter, even tone rather than a bleached look. Pairing the visit with house washing or window cleaning is common, since the water is already out and the ladders are in place.
Soft Washing through the year in Hampshire
Spring
Washing winter grime and early algae off siding is easier now. Field work stirs dust that sticks to wet walls, so book after the main tilling stretch.
Early summer
Humidity builds green growth on shaded walls and porch ceilings in Hampshire. A good time for a full-house soft wash.
Early fall
Before leaves come down and rain gets steady, this is a second chance to clean ahead of winter damp.
Winter
Soft washing mostly waits. Freezing temperatures leave water on siding and walkways, so plan for spring.
Getting a quote
Soft washing is not complicated, but doing it carefully takes patience and attention to the details most people overlook. Rob handles each step himself, from protecting the plants to the final rinse, and he will tell you if your siding needs a repair before it needs a cleaning. To get started in Hampshire, send photos covering every side of your house to (815) 451-0106 and ask what he would do.