Will Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach Surfaces? 🧪 Avoiding Costly Soft Washing Mistakes

By Mark Cave May 27, 2025

Will Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach Surfaces? 🧪 Avoiding Costly Soft Washing Mistakes

Sodium hypochlorite is the powerhouse chemical behind most soft wash chemicals. However, the big question every softwashing professional (or skilled DIYer!) needs to ask is: will sodium hypochlorite bleach surfaces?And more importantly how can you avoid it happening? 🤔

Let’s deep dive into the science, mistakes to avoid, and how to clean safely without compromising your surfaces.

🎓 Understanding the Role of Sodium Hypochlorite in Soft Washing

When you’re cleaning roofs, render, patios, or driveways, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a go to active ingredient. It works as a powerful oxidiser that breaks down organic matter like algae, mould, and lichen.

✅ Kills biological growth
✅ Whitens discoloured areas
✅ Sanitises surfaces

But it’s also a bleach. And just like household bleach, when misused or over-applied, it can brighten or even damage surfaces 😱.

To get the full lowdown, listen to our podcast episode Will Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach Surfaces? for real life tips and industry insights.

⚠️ Common Surfaces That Can Be Damaged By Soft Washing When Misused

Not all surfaces respond to sodium hypochlorite the same way. Here’s what you need to watch out for:

1. Painted Surfaces

Sodium hypochlorite can strip or fade paint over time. Always test a small, hidden area first.

2. Wood

Wood can fade, grey, or splinter if the chemical ratio is too strong. If you're cleaning wooden cladding or decking, check out our podcast: Can You Use Sodium Hypochlorite to Clean Wood?

3. Soft or Coloured Render

Render especially needs a delicate balance. If you're not sure, read our detailed guide on how to clean rendered walls effectively.

4. Metal Fixtures

Metals like aluminium or galvanised steel can corrode due to sodium hypochlorite exposure. Always pre wet and post-rinse carefully.

💡 How to Minimise Bleaching & Damage During Soft Washing

Here’s what the pros do to clean safely and effectively with sodium hypochlorite.👇

✔️ 1. Use the Right Mix Ratio

Not too strong, not too weak. Sound familiar? Use our trusted Sodium Hypochlorite Mixing Guide to get the perfect dilution for each surface.

✔️ 2. Add a Surfactant

Clever Wash Surfactant helps sodium hypochlorite dwell on the surface longer so you can get more cleaning power with a lower chemical ratio. It reduces run off and helps avoid streaking or spotting.

✔️ 3. Always Pre Wet and Rinse

Soaking plants and surfaces before and after cleaning can protect paint, wood, and greenery 🌿. Still sceptical? Our Should I Rinse When Soft Washing? episode breaks it down for you.

✔️ 4. Don't Let It Dry

Keep the surface wet while the chemical is active. Letting it dry can cause spotting and premature bleaching, especially on coloured render or tile.

✔️ 5. Apply Using the Right Equipment

The Clever Injector is ideal when precision matters. Need even more flexibility? Try the Softwash Nozzle for Water Fed Poles to reach higher areas safely.

🎯 When You Should Choose Alternatives to Sodium Hypochlorite

You don’t always have to use bleach based cleaners. Depending on what you're tackling, there may be better suited options:

🧼 Biocides like SoftWash Pro 50 brilliant for long-term prevention with residual power
🪨 Grenade Oil Stain Remover targets oily patches on driveways, zero bleaching risk
🧱 Rust X Pro formulated strictly for rust stains, skips the sodium hypochlorite altogether
🪵 Wood X Pro a safer alternative for wood brightening

Understanding the chemistry behind your clean will set you apart as a professional, and protect your clients’ property and your reputation.

🎓 Want Hands On Training to Use Sodium Hypochlorite Safely?

If you’re serious about mastering chemical based exterior cleaning, consider our practical Soft Wash Training Course or learn at your own pace with the Self Study Chemical Handling Course.

🔐 Bonuses include real world scenarios, safety rules, and how to clean different substrates professionally and ethically.

📌 Final Thoughts: Be Safe. Be Smart. Be Professional. 💼

Sodium hypochlorite is incredibly effective, but with great power comes great responsibility. Understanding how and when it can bleach surfaces is key to using it successfully in soft washing.

Key Takeaways:

Always test a small area first
Use the correct ratio from the SoftWash UK Mixing Guide
Add a quality surfactant like Clever Wash
Protect surrounding areas and rinse thoroughly
Choose non bleach alternatives when appropriate

For all your equipment and chemical needs, browse the full range at SoftWash UK your trusted partner in safe, professional exterior cleaning.

Ready to up your soft washing game?
👉 Visit SoftWash UK Ltd now for expert chemical solutions, training, and tools to help you succeed.

💬 Got questions? Be sure to check out the insightful SoftWash UK Podcast hosted by Mark Cave!

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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.

01733 736191 Voicemail