# Soft Wash

> Soft washing across the UK: low-pressure biocide cleaning for render, roofs, cladding, brick, stone and fascias that kills algae, mould and lichen at the root.

Soft Wash provides soft washing for homeowners, landlords, managing agents and commercial property owners across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (250 towns and cities). Customers request a free fixed-price quote using the online form on any page.

## Key facts
- Service: Soft washing
- Coverage: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Typical cost: Soft washing the rendered walls of a typical semi-detached or terraced house usually costs £300 to £600, and a detached house £600 to £1,100. Roof soft washing is usually £400 to £1,000. Per square metre rates are typically £4 to £8.
- How to get a quote: online form, replies usually the same day

## Guides
- [How much does soft washing cost in the UK? (2026 guide)](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/soft-washing-cost-uk/): In 2026, soft washing the rendered walls of a typical UK semi-detached or terraced house usually costs £300 to £600, and a detached house £600 to £1,100. Roof soft washing is usually £400 to £1,000 depending on size and access, and per square metre rates are typically £4 to £8.
- [Soft washing vs pressure washing: which is right for your property?](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/soft-washing-vs-pressure-washing/): Soft washing uses low pressure and a biocide to kill algae, mould and lichen, so it is the right choice for render, roofs, painted walls, cladding and soft brick or stone. Pressure washing blasts dirt off with high-pressure water and suits hard surfaces such as concrete and block paving, but it can damage softer surfaces and growth tends to return sooner.
- [Is soft washing safe for plants, pets and your property?](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/is-soft-washing-safe/): Soft washing is safe for plants, pets and building surfaces when it is done properly. The biocide is diluted to suit the surface, plants are wetted before and rinsed after, run-off is managed, and windows and paintwork are rinsed down. Pets should stay indoors until surfaces have been rinsed and dried.
- [How to choose a soft washing company: questions to ask and red flags](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/how-to-choose-a-soft-washing-company/): Choose a soft washing company that can tell you exactly which product it uses on your surface and why, explain how plants, windows and drains will be protected, describe how it will reach high areas safely, and give a clear written price. Be wary of anyone who plans to use high pressure on render or roofs, will not say what chemicals they use, or promises results that sound too good to be true.
- [What to expect on soft washing day: how long it takes and how to prepare](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/soft-washing-what-to-expect/): Soft washing the walls of a typical UK house usually takes half a day to a full day, and a roof a day or more depending on size and access. Before the day, clear access around the house, move cars, furniture and pots away from the walls, and make sure an outside tap is available. Expect most algae to go on the day, with lichen and some staining fading over the following weeks.
- [Green, black, red or white staining on render and brick: what it is and how to treat it](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/render-staining-types-explained/): Most green, black and red or orange staining on render and brick is living growth, usually algae, mould or lichen, which soft washing removes. White powdery marks are usually efflorescence, rust-brown streaks come from metal fixings, and dark vertical streaks under sills are usually water run-off. These are not organic, so a biocide alone will not remove them.
- [Roof moss removal: soft washing vs scraping vs pressure washing](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/roof-moss-removal-methods-compared/): For most UK roofs, the safest approach is to scrape or brush off heavy moss by hand and then soft wash the roof with a biocide, which kills remaining moss, lichen and algae without forcing water under the tiles. Pressure washing gives an instant visual result but can strip concrete tiles, break old clay tiles and slates, and push water into the roof space, so it carries more risk.
- [How to keep render and roofs clean after soft washing, and the best time of year to book](https://softwash.org.uk/guides/soft-washing-aftercare-and-timing/): A soft wash typically keeps render, brick and roofs clean for several years. To make it last, keep gutters and downpipes clear, fix leaks and overflows, trim back overhanging trees and shrubs, and consider a light maintenance biocide treatment every one to three years. Spring to early autumn, in dry and mild weather, is usually the best time to book.

## Services
- Render soft washing: Silicone, acrylic, monocouche, painted sand-and-cement and pebbledash render cleaned of green algae, black mould and red or orange staining without the damage high pressure can cause.
- Roof soft washing: Moss, lichen and algae killed and cleared from concrete and clay tiles and slate at low pressure, without walking the roof more than necessary or forcing water under the tiles.
- Cladding and fascia cleaning: uPVC fascias, soffits, gutters, composite and timber cladding cleaned of green film and black streaks, leaving them bright and even.
- Brick and stone cleaning: Algae, mould and atmospheric staining removed from brickwork, sandstone and limestone with low pressure that does not erode the face or wash out pointing.
- Walls, fences and outbuildings: Garden walls, boundary walls, garages, sheds and outbuildings cleaned so the whole property looks consistent.
- Commercial soft washing: Shopfronts, offices, blocks of flats and industrial units cleaned with planning around access, opening hours and residents.

## Areas by region
- [Soft washing in London](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/london/): Croydon, Bromley, Barnet, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, Twickenham, Wimbledon, Sutton, Romford, Ilford, Bexleyheath, Orpington, Greenwich, Lewisham, Islington, Camden, Hackney, Walthamstow, Wembley, Battersea, Fulham, Chelsea
- [Soft washing in South East](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/south-east/): Brighton, Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Crawley, Worthing, Chichester, Horsham, Bognor Regis, Guildford, Woking, Epsom, Redhill, Reigate, Camberley, Farnham, Staines, Weybridge, Esher, Maidstone, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Dartford, Gravesend, Sevenoaks, Margate, Folkestone, Chatham, Rochester, Gillingham, Reading, Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Newbury, Wokingham, Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Abingdon, Henley-on-Thames, Witney, Milton Keynes, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Amersham, Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover, Farnborough, Fareham, Eastleigh, Havant
- [Soft washing in East of England](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/east-of-england/): Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, Norwich, King's Lynn, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Colchester, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow, Braintree, Luton, Bedford, St Albans, Watford, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Bishop's Stortford, Hitchin
- [Soft washing in South West](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/south-west/): Bristol, Bath, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Yeovil, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Barnstaple, Truro, Falmouth, Newquay, St Austell, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Weymouth, Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud
- [Soft washing in West Midlands](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/west-midlands/): Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Worcester, Redditch, Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, Stratford-upon-Avon
- [Soft washing in East Midlands](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/east-midlands/): Nottingham, Mansfield, Newark, Derby, Chesterfield, Leicester, Loughborough, Hinckley, Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Lincoln, Grantham, Boston
- [Soft washing in North West](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/north-west/): Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Wigan, Oldham, Rochdale, Bury, Altrincham, Liverpool, Birkenhead, St Helens, Southport, Warrington, Chester, Crewe, Macclesfield, Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn, Burnley, Lancaster, Carlisle, Kendal
- [Soft washing in Yorkshire](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/yorkshire/): Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Keighley, Dewsbury, Harrogate, York, Scarborough, Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, Barnsley, Hull, Beverley
- [Soft washing in North East](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/north-east/): Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Shields, Durham, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Hartlepool
- [Soft washing in Wales](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/wales/): Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend, Barry, Wrexham, Bangor, Llandudno, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen
- [Soft washing in Scotland](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/scotland/): Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Stirling, Perth, Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston, Ayr
- [Soft washing in Northern Ireland](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/northern-ireland/): Belfast, Lisburn, Newry, Derry

## Optional
- [Full FAQ and content](https://softwash.org.uk/llms-full.txt)
- [All areas](https://softwash.org.uk/areas/)

## Service pages
- [Render soft washing](https://softwash.org.uk/services/render-soft-washing/): Render soft washing is the low-pressure cleaning of rendered walls with a biocide solution that kills algae, mould and lichen, then rinses away the dead growth. It is for homeowners and landlords with green, black or orange staining on render. In the UK, a typical terraced or semi-detached house usually costs £300 to £600 and a detached house £600 to £1,100.
- [Roof soft washing](https://softwash.org.uk/services/roof-soft-washing/): Roof soft washing is the low-pressure treatment of roof tiles or slates with a biocide that kills moss, lichen and algae, with loose moss cleared and the roof rinsed gently. It is for homeowners whose roofs are green, black or matted with moss. In the UK, roof soft washing usually costs £400 to £800 for a semi-detached house and £600 to £1,000 or more for a detached house.
- [Cladding and fascia cleaning](https://softwash.org.uk/services/cladding-and-fascia-cleaning/): Cladding and fascia cleaning uses low-pressure soft washing to remove green algae, black streaks and grime from uPVC fascias, soffits, gutters and composite or timber cladding. It is for homeowners, landlords and businesses whose roofline or cladding looks dull or stained. In the UK, cleaning the outside of fascias, soffits and gutters on a typical house usually costs £100 to £300.
- [Brick and stone cleaning](https://softwash.org.uk/services/brick-and-stone-cleaning/): Brick and stone soft washing removes algae, mould, lichen and organic staining from brickwork and natural stone using a biocide at low pressure, so the face of the masonry and the pointing are not eroded. It suits homeowners with green or black stained walls and older or soft masonry. In the UK, prices are typically £4 to £8 per m², or about £300 to £1,100 for a house.
- [Walls, fences and outbuildings](https://softwash.org.uk/services/walls-fences-and-outbuildings/): Soft washing walls, fences and outbuildings means cleaning garden and boundary walls, fences, garages, sheds and summerhouses with a low-pressure biocide that kills algae and mould. It suits homeowners who want the whole property to match after the house is cleaned. In the UK, garden walls, fences or outbuildings usually cost £100 to £400 depending on size.
- [Commercial soft washing](https://softwash.org.uk/services/commercial-soft-washing/): Commercial soft washing is low-pressure biocide cleaning of the exterior of shops, offices, blocks of flats, schools and industrial units, planned around access, working hours and occupants. It is for managing agents, landlords and business owners. UK pricing is usually by area at around £4 to £8 per m², with access equipment such as cherry pickers adding to the cost.

## Glossary
- [Soft washing glossary](https://softwash.org.uk/glossary/)