Siouxland business offers new way to clean away exterior dirt and grime is by going soft

Clay Evans, owner of Tri-State Softwash, said soft washing is a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to pressure washing.

Ever better, the Paullina, Iowa, man said the wash will keep the surface shiny and clean for a longer period of time.

"Soft washing uses one-third of the water of pressure washing, lasts four-to-six times longer and doesn't erode the surface like pressure washing can," Evans explained. "Since it is gentler way of washing, soft washing can help extend the life of siding, steps, concrete, porches, decks, you name it."

This is why Evans, who started a business washing both residential and business surfaces in 2012, made the move to soft washing more than five years ago.

"We discovered that soft washing was a more versatile way of cleaning," he said. 

It was also easier.

Evans and his crew uses an agricultural-type of spray that applies the soft washing solution.

"The solution does all of the cleaning," he allowed. "Absolutely no pressure is needed."

Unlike more traditional pressure washing that can blast up to 4,000 pounds per square inch (or PSI), soft washing uses a sprayer of around 80 to 85 PSI.

"That means it is a lot gentler on your house and the landscaping than pressure washing," Evans said. "You can protect your property while keeping it clean."

Plus it stays cleaner longer.

"We use water-based biodegradable chemicals that emulsify dirt and grime, break down insect nests and webs as well as kill mildew, algae and bacteria," Evans said. "We do this while sanitizing the surface we're cleaning."

Which is important since power washing merely blasts surface growth away. Soft washing kills it at the root.

This includes black mold that can grow on roofs.

"Mold on roof shingles is called gloeocapsa magma and can be detected by black streaks or stains," Evans said. "It is very dangerous because the mold hurts the integrity of the shingles. Not only that, it reduces the roof's ability to reflect UV rays, which can raise the cost of energy bills." 

Over the years, Tri-State Softwash has provided residential and commercial services in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Evans said he's soft washed everything from diesel garage walls that were covered in grease and oil to churches with decades of buildup.

"You'd be surprised at how a good cleaning can make any property look brand-new," he said. 

Unlike with pressure washing, a soft wash will do the trick without any fear of damage.

"More power isn't always better," Evans said. "Soft washing can do it better, safer and and will keep surfaces cleaner longer."