Soft washing cleans siding, trim and other delicate exterior surfaces with low-pressure water and a cleaning solution that is rinsed away. Rob, a Woodstock dad who runs his own jobs without subcontractors, soft washes homes in Lakewood, IL, where damp lake air and shade encourage algae and mildew. Soft washing starts from $200. Free quotes arrive after you text a photo to (815) 451-0106.
The green stain climbing the bottom of a siding wall is one of the most common exterior complaints near water. Lakewood has six lakes, golf course turf and plenty of tree cover, and each of those adds to the moisture around a house. Algae, mildew and a thin film of pollen settle on shaded walls and stay there because the sun rarely reaches them.
That is the situation soft washing was made for. Rather than blasting the wall, Rob sprays on a cleaner with little force, gives it time to break the growth down, then rinses everything away. The method suits vinyl, painted wood, stucco and other surfaces that high pressure can scar or force water behind. Below is how it works on Lakewood homes and what to expect.
Why the north wall goes green first
Walk around a house after a rain and look at which sides stay wet. North and east walls, anything under a deep porch roof, and corners hidden by evergreens hold moisture the longest. Algae grows wherever dampness meets a little organic dust, and siding supplies both.
In a village with this much water and tree cover, the pattern is stronger than on an open farm lot. A house near a lake or fairway can look fine on the south side and rough on the north. Soft washing evens that out without scouring the surface that is already clean.
Why pressure is the wrong first move for most siding
High-pressure water can drive moisture up under lap siding, peel paint, dent soft wood and loosen caulk around windows. It can also leave stripes that look worse than the green they replaced. Siding makers tend to discourage it for these reasons and often point toward gentler cleaning.
That is why the difference between soft washing and pressure washing matters. The soft wash versus pressure wash guide explains it, and the pressure washing page covers the surfaces where hard pressure is the right call, such as concrete.
What Rob soft washes besides siding
Soft washing is not limited to walls. Soffits, fascia, fences, shutters, painted trim, and screened porch frames all collect the same film. Outdoor furniture and vinyl railing can be treated too. Rob checks each material because a solution that works on vinyl is not always right for bare cedar.
Plants and runoff are handled with care. He rinses landscaping before and after, covers delicate beds when needed, and keeps solution away from the lake side of the yard where possible. The runoff and landscaping guide covers the details.
- Vinyl, aluminum and painted wood siding
- Soffits and fascia
- Fences and shutters
- Porch and railing frames
- Stucco and some masonry
Common mistakes homeowners make with algae stains
The usual error is scrubbing with a stiff brush or renting a high-pressure washer. Both can mar siding and leave roots of growth behind, so the stain returns in weeks. Another mistake is spraying bleach straight from a garden sprayer onto plants and the soil near the lake side of the lot.
A third is waiting too long. Light film lifts easily. Heavily colonized siding may need a stronger mix or a second pass, and chalking vinyl or failing paint will not look new even when clean. Rob will tell you when the finish itself is the problem.
What the day looks like
Rob walks the house with you first, noting windows, vents and anything he intends to shield. He wets down plants, applies the solution to the siding from the bottom up or top down depending on the surface, waits for it to work, and rinses it away.
Afterwards, he looks it over in daylight and touches up spots that need it. If you also want gutters or glass done, gutter cleaning and window cleaning can be handled on the same visit.
Soft Washing through the year in Lakewood
Spring
Wash off winter grime and the first green film once the days warm up. Walls dry well in spring breezes.
Summer
Humidity near the lakes pushes algae growth. A quick check on shaded sides tells you if a wash is due.
Early fall
A good window for a full soft wash before leaf season and before cooler damp weather slows drying.
Winter
Rarely scheduled. Cold weather limits both application and drying, so planning waits until spring.
Getting a quote
A clean exterior does not require harsh methods, only the right one for the surface. If your Lakewood siding has gone green, gray or speckled, send Rob a photo and a short note about which sides look worst. Text (815) 451-0106 and he will say whether a soft wash handles it or whether paint, repair or replacement is the real answer.