Introducing Our New Soft Washing Service

David Whan • 22 September 2020

The ideal solution for all your exterior cleaning needs

Before and after SoftWash exterior cleaning of stone steps

We are really excited about launching our new soft washing cleaning service and can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Soft washing is a brand new, patented method of exterior building cleaning, which is effective, long-lasting and environmentally-friendly. We believe soft washing is a genuine improvement on traditional jet washing, and brings a number of benefits to help building managers, property developers and facilities managers run their businesses more cost-effectively.

Soft washing is a low-pressure washing system for exterior surfaces, which achieves more effective results because it uses a unique and specially-created chemical blend. This brings amazing, transformational results in terms of cleaning exterior surfaces, but the chemicals also prevent a re-growth of algae and other organic materials to keep those surfaces cleaner for longer. The low-pressure nature of the soft washing system means that delicate or sensitive areas on older buildings can be effectively treated and restored. This could be render and brickwork on the outside, or it could be steps, balustrade, paving or driveways also associated with the building.

What are the benefits of soft washing exterior cleaning?

There are so many benefits! Soft washing is suitable for both commercial and domestic properties.

Low pressure system is less abrasive compared to jet washing
Lower cost compared to re-painting exterior buildings
Safer for old render / pebble dash properties
Kills algae, fungus and bacteria
Longer lasting compared to jet washing - save money over the long-term

Soft washing also adds value to your property if you are selling. A clean building gives a strong first impression whether you are a homeowner or a business owner.

How does soft washing work?

Our photos show how effective soft washing is, and this is achieved by a special soft wash chemical mix, which is applied under low pressure to a building or surface. The special mix is a blend of specially developed ‘soft wash’ chemicals which treat organic and non-organic staining. This unique chemical mix is left on the surface of the building for a period of time depending on the nature of the structure and the type of staining or growth that is evident. Then the chemical mix is rinsed off with water, also under low pressure.

This process removes all organic growth and infestation that is present, as well as carbon staining, insects and insect nesting. After the soft washing system has been applied, any more persistent stains will be gently steamed using a Thermotech machine. Then, a final wash is applied which neutralises any chemical residue left and applies a finishing waxing soap. This slows down any re-colonisation of organic life on the building and hence is effective in creating a long-lasting clean effect.

High-pressure jet washing has been the traditional method of attacking this kind of external surface cleaning, but this method is designed around using force to displace dirt and organic growth. That doesn’t mean these problems have necessarily gone away. A soft washing system is therefore more ruthless in getting to the root cause of surface deterioration, killing it, and doing so in a way that is non-destructive and sympathetic to the age and condition of the building or surface.

Where should soft washing exterior cleaning be used?

For this reason, soft washing is ideal for period buildings or refurbishment of old buildings. A property developer may also prefer this method to help restore a property and add value to it cost-effectively. Fundamentally, however, Soft washing has benefits to anyone who is responsible for looking after buildings in the commercial sector. There are structural benefits and cost benefits, but also environmental benefits. Because this is a low pressure system, there is a lot less water used than during traditional jet washing, while the chemicals used are both water-based and biodegradable, so there is no problem with disposing of the materials.

As a soft washing accredited and authorised contractor, It’s Clean have the knowledge and skills to apply the soft washing system and advise where it is best used. We can work with you to discuss your buildings and associated features and build a cleaning programme designed to get the most effective and long-lasting results. We genuinely think soft washing answers many long-standing problems with exterior cleaning and we are excited for what the future holds as this system is developed and applied more widely in the commercial sector.

Get in touch with our commercial cleaning experts today to discuss your exterior cleaning needs.

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David looks back on his 60th birthday volunteering week in Ghana

by david • 1 March 2026

When I hit 60, I didn't want a party. I wanted to do something that would actually matter. So instead of celebrating at home, I flew to Ghana and spent a week volunteering with a charity called Village by Village getting my hands dirty, sitting in open-air classrooms, and meeting some of the warmest, most resilient people I have ever encountered anywhere in the world. This is what I found there, and why I think you should know about it. The Charity Village by Village was founded by an old school friend of mine and has, over the years, evolved into something beautifully self-sustaining: it is now predominantly run by Ghanaians in Ghana. That is not an accident, it is central to the charity's entire philosophy. The approach is simple and powerful. Before a single brick is laid, the charity asks the village what they need, and what they can contribute. There is no imposition, no outside organisation deciding what is best for communities they don't understand. The result is genuine local ownership, stronger outcomes, and projects that endure long after the volunteers have gone home. The work focuses on two areas: education and healthcare. In the remote villages of Ghana that the government's budget cannot reach, Village by Village builds schools and medical centres from the ground up and then keeps them supported. What a Volunteer Week Actually Looks Like I'll be honest: I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a genuinely physical, genuinely meaningful week that I will never forget. Most mornings began on a building site, mixing cement alongside professional local builders, plastering walls, shifting materials. I wore a bright pink polo shirt bearing the logo of my company, It's Clean, which helped fund the trip, and I got absolutely filthy in it. There is something grounding about hard physical labour in service of something real. There were also two young men — just finished their A-levels — who were wrapping up three months of volunteering. In that time they had helped build playgrounds and medical facilities with their own hands. Their energy, their commitment, and what they had achieved at their age was genuinely extraordinary.

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