What's the difference between soft wash and power wash?

Power washing uses high pressure — right for concrete, brick, and hard surfaces. Soft washing uses low pressure plus a biodegradable cleaner — the only safe method for siding, stucco, painted surfaces, and roofs.

Is the solution safe for plants and pets?

Yes. We use biodegradable, plant-safe cleaners and pre-rinse all landscaping before and after. We'll ask you to keep pets indoors during application.

How long does it last?

A proper soft wash kills algae and mildew at the root — most surfaces stay clean 18 to 24 months. Annual members get scheduled re-treatments before re-growth shows.

How much does soft washing a house cost in Iowa?

Pricing depends on square footage, surface mix (siding, stucco, brick, painted wood), and growth severity. We quote in person after walking the property — no upcharges later.

Will soft washing kill my lawn?

Landscape protection is built into the process. We pre-rinse all plants and beds before applying any solution, tarp sensitive species where needed, and rinse again after the job. The biocide is biodegradable and breaks down within hours. Tell us about any species you're particularly concerned about during the walk-through.

Can it remove old paint or stains from cedar?

Soft washing kills the organic growth (algae, mildew) but won't strip intact paint. For chemical paint removal you'd want a different process. For cedar shake darkening caused by mildew, soft washing usually restores the original color — but heavily weathered cedar may need refinishing afterward.

Why not just power-wash everything?

Power washing siding strips paint, damages caulking and seals around windows, and forces water behind the cladding — which can cause hidden rot. Most siding warranties explicitly require soft-wash methods. The pressure that's right for concrete is wrong for vinyl, wood, stucco, fiber cement, and painted surfaces.

Does it smell? Can I be home?

There's a mild chlorine odor during application (similar to a freshly-cleaned pool deck) that dissipates within 30–60 minutes. You can be home. Keep windows closed during the work and pets indoors. Outdoor entertaining is fine the same evening.

— Soft Washing · Polk County, IA

Soft Washing in Altoona.

Name: JBL Exterior Pros
Address: By appointment, Des Moines, IA, 50309, US
Telephone: (515) 619-0117
Price range: $$ – $$$
Rating: 5

Low-pressure, biodegradable, no damage.

JBL Exterior Pros provides soft washing for homes across Altoona, Iowa (50009, Polk County). JBL Exterior Pros provides soft washing throughout central Iowa, with results lasting 18–24 months.

Result longevity: 18–24 months
Pressure used: <100 PSI (less than a garden hose)
Method: Chemistry-first, low-pressure rinse

— Why Altoona homes need this

Soft Washing, the Altoona way.

Altoona has expanded fast — most of its housing footprint is 2000s–present subdivisions north and east of the original town core, mixing single-family and townhome construction. The conventional metro-suburban template applies: vinyl siding with stone-veneer fronts, asphalt shingles, attached 2- and 3-car garages, large gabled elevations. Older Altoona near the original main street has 1940s–60s homes with more brick and more original wood trim. Some properties near Adventureland and Prairie Meadows are commercial-edge — service businesses, hotels, and a few older homes that predate the entertainment-corridor development.

Altoona's eastern edge faces the Adventureland / Prairie Meadows entertainment corridor, which brings regional traffic, more highway dust, and slightly more soot accumulation on lower siding courses than quieter inner suburbs. Tourist-season patterns affect when residents prefer to schedule exterior work — most prefer spring (April–May) or fall (September–October) over peak summer. Newer subdivisions on the north and east sides are reaching the 10–15 year window where first roof soft-wash makes sense on north slopes. East-metro routing often pairs Altoona work with Pleasant Hill the same day.

— Plain English

Soft Washing, in plain English.

Soft washing is a low-pressure exterior cleaning method that uses biodegradable cleaning solutions to kill the organic growth — algae, mildew, mold, lichen — that causes the black streaks and discoloration you see on siding, stucco, painted wood, fences, and similar surfaces. The chemistry does the work, not the pressure. Power washing's high pressure would damage these softer surfaces; soft washing uses pressure no higher than a garden hose while letting the cleaning solution dwell, kill the growth at the root, and rinse cleanly away. A proper soft wash kills algae below the surface so it doesn't grow back in weeks — typical results hold 18–24 months in central Iowa.

— Local conditions

Central Iowa soft washing is its own thing.

Iowa's humid summers (June through August) create ideal growing conditions for the algae and mildew that produce streaking on north- and west-facing walls. The growth cycle typically becomes visible on homes 18–24 months after their last soft wash. Cedar shake siding — common on 1970s–90s central Iowa homes in Beaverdale, Drake, and older Urbandale — needs the gentlest soft-wash chemistry we run. Newer vinyl and composite siding on Ankeny, Waukee, and Grimes builds can handle slightly stronger solutions. Stucco on Sherman Hill and older West Des Moines homes holds algae in surface pores and benefits from a longer dwell time. Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are the optimal Iowa soft-wash windows — consistent temperatures for the chemistry without overnight freezes.

— Signs to call

When soft washing is overdue.

Black or green streaks running down north- or west-facing walls
Dark "shadow lines" appearing under gutters or below window flashing
Visible mildew patches near ground level or behind shrubs
Cedar shake darkening or appearing "fuzzy" with green tinge
Stucco discoloration that doesn't come off with a garden hose
Painted trim showing growth at corners or around windows
More than 18 months since the last whole-home wash

— How a visit goes

How a Altoona soft washing visit goes.

01
Walk-through and surface assessment
We identify what needs soft-washing versus power-washing, and which surfaces need extra care (painted trim, stained cedar, copper fixtures).
02
Pre-treat and apply
We pre-rinse landscaping, then apply the solution at low pressure. It dwells, kills the growth, and rinses away clean. No chemical runoff onto your beds.
03
Final rinse and document
Property-wide rinse, photo documentation of finished work, and a walk-through with you before we leave.

— Spec sheet

What we use, what shapes the work.

Method: Low-pressure biocide application, dwell, rinse
Cleaning solution: Sodium hypochlorite (1–3% siding, 2–4% roof) + surfactants + plant-safe rinse additives
Pressure: Under 100 PSI — less than a standard garden hose
Pump equipment: 12V or gas-driven low-pressure pumps with downstream injectors
Landscape protection: Pre-rinsed before application, rinsed again after; tarped on sensitive species

— What to watch for

Soft Washing mistakes other contractors make.

01
Power-washing siding instead of soft-washing
The single most common mistake we see from other contractors. High pressure strips paint, damages caulking, forces water behind siding, and voids most manufacturer warranties. Even "adjusting the pressure" of a power-washer for siding isn't right — the chemistry-first soft-wash method does the work without ever needing high PSI.
02
Too-strong chemistry without pre-wetting landscaping
Strong sodium hypochlorite without prep work will damage and kill plants in beds along the foundation. We pre-rinse every landscape area before applying, rinse again during, and rinse a final time after. The biocide is biodegradable but undiluted contact will damage plants.
03
Single-pass cleaning without dwell time
If the solution doesn't dwell on the surface long enough to kill the growth at the root, the algae regrows within months. Proper soft-wash technique applies, lets dwell 5–15 minutes depending on growth severity, then rinses. Quick-pass work looks clean for a few weeks then streaks again.
04
Skipping the rinse phase
Leaving chemistry residue on siding creates streaks and accelerates the next round of growth. Every soft-wash job should end with a full property rinse from top to bottom — gutters, siding, foundation, landscaping.
05
Soft-washing in direct sun above 85°F
Hot surfaces flash-dry the solution before it can work. We schedule around sun exposure — west walls in the morning, east walls in the afternoon — or move the job to a cooler day. The chemistry only works at the right surface temperature.

— Frequently Asked