How to Soft Wash Roof Tiles Without Damaging Them: Expert Tips & Truths 🏡

By Mark Cave May 19, 2025

How to Soft Wash Roof Tiles Without Damaging Them: Expert Tips & Truths 🏡

Maintaining a clean roof is essential not only for curb appeal but also to extend the life of your property. Yet, many homeowners and contractors still wonder: “Can you soft wash roof tiles without damaging them?” The answer is yes but only if it's done correctly.

In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the science of soft washing, break down the exact method for washing roof tiles without harm, and recommend the safest and most effective products and tools to use.

🚿 What is Soft Washing, and Why is it Different?

Soft washing is a cleaning method that uses low-pressure water combined with specially formulated chemical solutions to safely remove mold, algae, moss, bacteria, and dirt from building exteriors. While pressure washing uses brute force, soft washing takes a more refined approach without damaging surfaces like roof tiles or render.

This approach makes it ideal for delicate materials such as clay tiles, slate, and asphalt shingles that can easily crack or erode under high pressure.

❗ The Problem: Roof Tile Deterioration from Incorrect Cleaning

Roof tiles suffer from environmental exposure moss, lichen, algae, and weather-related debris can build up over time. Most people mistakenly use high-pressure washers or ineffective DIY methods, which can:

Crack or loosen tiles
Void warranties on roofing materials
Force water underneath tiles, causing internal damage
Fail to address root causes like biofilm and spores

The Cost of Ignoring Proper Care

A poorly maintained roof can quickly become an expensive liability. Aside from structural damage, bio-growth can trigger allergies, contribute to indoor mold, and even lower your property value. Many homeowners only act when significant damage has already occurred.

Safely Soft Washing Roof Tiles

Soft washing is the only cleaning method that solves the root of the problem. When done with quality chemicals and the right equipment, you destroy spores, remove stains, and protect roof tiles without damage.

🧪 What Chemicals Are Safe for Roof Tile Soft Washing?

The most commonly used cleaning solution is a sodium hypochlorite based mix. But the key is proper dilution and the use of surfactants to allow the solution to stay on the surface longer.

Sodium Hypochlorite Mixing Guide
Essential for accurate dilution ratios
Clever Wash Surfactant Helps the chemical cling to roof tiles
Moss Guard Pro Leaves a residual layer to prevent regrowth of moss and algae

Pro Tip: Always test a small patch before applying SoftWash solutions across your entire roof. And don’t skip PPE!

🛠️ The Tools That Make Roof Soft Washing Safer & Smarter

Traditional spray systems often don’t give you the consistent control needed to clean roofs properly. Instead, consider using these cutting-edge tools from SoftWash UK:

Soft Washing Dosatron Mixes chemical ratios flawlessly
Dosatron Biocide Injector Ideal for biocide applications with precision
Water Fed Pole Softwash Nozzle Enables safe roof application from ground level

Pair these with a Soft Wash Training Course to make sure you’re handling everything correctly and legally 📚

🌱 Will Soft Washing Harm the Garden?

A common question is whether soft washing harms nearby plants. The short answer: It can but only if you let overspray or runoff gather in the soil. You can avoid plant damage by:

Pre wetting foliage and soil
Using tarps or plastic sheets to cover sensitive areas
Neutralising runoff using neutralisers or simply rinsing thoroughly

🧼 Should You Rinse When Soft Washing the Roof?

An often debated topic is whether you should rinse after applying your soft wash solution. Based on the expert guidance in this podcast from SoftWash UK, rinsing can be optional depending on the chemical used and the surface type.

For roof tiles, letting the chemical dwell and break down over time is effective, but light rinsing may improve aesthetics and prevent chemical runoff staining.

🙋♂️ FAQs About Soft Washing Roofs

🔹 Is Soft Washing Legal in the UK?

Yes, according to SoftWash UK’s podcast episode on legality, using sodium hypochlorite is legal when handled properly following regulations. Training is key!

🔹 Does It Kill Biofilm Permanently?

Biocides used for soft washing do leave a residual effect that continues to work after application. However, regular maintenance is recommended.

🚀 Ready to Clean Your Roof the Right Way?

Whether you're a professional cleaning contractor or a property owner eager to restore your roof’s beauty, soft washing is your safest and most sustainable option. Using top-tier products from SoftWash UKensures that your roof gets cleaned without being compromised.

👉 Explore expert tools, training, and chemicals now at SoftWash UK.

📚 Further Reading

Save your roof, stay safe, and stay smart soft wash with confidence! 🌟

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Soft Wash Calculator App

Now you can say I've got an app for that!

Available NOW Click Here To Download

Softwashing calculator is an indispensable tool for juggling complicated chemical mixes. It helps reduce wastage and keeps operating costs down by giving accurate proportions

If you are having difficulty getting your head around the maths, trying to work out what percentage of softwash you need, how much chemical, surfactant and water to add, then this is the App for you.

The Soft Wash Calculator App allows you to work out your soft wash recipe by telling you exactly how much chemical, how much water and how much surfactant to add to get the desired soft wash recipe.
It doesn't stop there!.
- It can also remix your leftover softwash to a new stronger or weaker recipe.
- all controls in one place for see at a glance operation
- ease of input via pre-loaded dials. no more calculator style typing
- instantly responds to changes of complex combinations
- works in both Litres and US Gallons
- tested for Protan and Deutan colourblind users
- links to SoftwashingUK website

Take this scenario
You started with a 1% soft wash recipe of 50 gal (or litres) for a deck clean and you’re left with 13 gallons.

You get a call from a prospective customer to clean their roof. Past experience tells you a 4% soft wash recipe is needed, but what about your leftover mix at 1%?.

Do you waste time and effort driving back to base to transfer into a standby tank?
You could consider the 13 gal as just water, top up the tank and start again.
But that’s throwing away the value of the mix and raising your overhead.

Soft Wash Calculator App to the rescue.

You get to the new job and it requires 100 gal / litres.
Switch into remix mode , confirming the 13 gal already in the tank
Move the dials to your new recipe and the app immediately updates the different amounts to add in front of your eyes including the correct amount of extra surfactant.

You now have a 100 gal / litres tank of 4% soft wash recipe ready for your roof clean job!

Not forgetting you’ve saved money too, all without stress and uncertainty . Don’t underestimate what confident calmness has on your customer putting out referrals.

The same applies if you have a 4% recipe left in your tank and you need to dilute it down to 2%. Again the app will tell you how.

Softwashing calculator will also work for any chemical recipe. For instance you can use it for Sodium Hypochlorite, Bleach, Biocide , TFR traffic film remover and degreaser. Even the mathematically-challenged rocket scientist can top up their booster tanks to new fuel mixes after launch delays caused by changing weather conditions.

Using this app you will know exactly what chemical strength to put on any surface giving you the confidence and the knowledge of a professional soft washer and you’ll save money as well.

So if you have little knowledge of how to mix a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.
If you have little knowledge of how to remix a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.
If you want to save money when mixing a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.

This app is also backward compatible to devices running iOS7. We've done this so you can re-purpose an old iPhone 4 or iPod Touch 5 for what could be hazardous work environments. Just toss one in your cleaning van's toolkit.

Once you learn the methods and procedures of how to apply the soft wash to the different surfaces that need cleaning you’ll be unstoppable!

The app also has a guide to what percentage for what surface. And if you are the lucky owner of a Clever Injector it will remind you the correct setting for the job.
However you should always consider and risk assess what soft wash recipe you need to clean the surface.

** A major iOS code-base change may require a re-purchase. The appiverse at the time will confirm our promise that we won't do so unless the necessity is apparent.

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