The short version
Water, professional detergent, and sodium hypochlorite. That's the industry-standard soft wash mix, and it's what actually kills the algae, mildew, and moss growing on your home.
Why a cleaning solution at all?
Because the “dirt” on most Nova Scotia homes is alive. Algae, mildew, moss, and lichen root into siding and shingles. Pressure alone breaks off what you can see and leaves the organism behind; it grows back in months. The cleaning solution kills it, which is why a proper soft wash lasts years. More on that in what soft washing is.
What's actually in the mix
- Water. Most of the mix, straight from your outdoor tap.
- Sodium hypochlorite (SH). The sanitizing ingredient. Household bleach is roughly 5–6% SH; our working mix on siding is far more diluted than what touches your dishes after you sanitize the sink. Every surface gets what it needs and no more.
- Professional surfactant. A detergent that helps the solution cling to the surface long enough to work, then rinse away clean.
What we don't do
- No high pressure on siding or paint. The solution does the work; the pressure stays low.
- No mystery chemicals. Ask what's in the tank on any job and we'll tell you, straight.
- No overspraying and hoping. Application is controlled, targeted, and rinsed.
How we protect everything else
- Pre-rinse.
Plants, grass, and garden beds around the work area get soaked with fresh water before we start. Saturated plants don't absorb overspray.
- Rinse during.
On hot days we keep nearby greenery wet while we work.
- Post-rinse.
Everything the wash touched, plants, windows, walkways, fixtures, gets a final fresh-water rinse.
- You flag it, we protect it.
Fish ponds, vegetable gardens, delicate plantings, fresh paint: tell us in the quote notes and we cover or avoid them.
Does it smell?
You may notice a pool-like smell during the wash and for a few hours after. It dissipates quickly. Keep windows closed while we work; we'll remind you before we start.