Soft washing siding, wood and brick with BIOLIFT
A low-pressure process for physically removing organic matter, mold and mildew stains, soot and odor-associated soil, followed by rinsing.
Building exteriors accumulate mold and mildew stains, oils, organic waste, soot and odor-associated soil. BIOLIFT is a concentrated cleaner that removes rust, mold and mildew stains, soil, grime and soot while physically lifting and washing away odor-causing organic matter in one step. Follow the current product label for permitted applications and surfaces; verify suitability and patch test before use. Request current product documentation and use appropriate PPE.
Surfaces this covers
What you need on the truck
- Soft wash setup or downstreaming pressure washer with a low-pressure tip
- Extension wand for second-storey elevations
- Soft brush for heavily grown areas
- Plenty of rinse water
- Gloves and eye protection
Dilution: Light cleaning 20:1, general cleaning 10:1, heavy cleaning 5:1. Soft washing is a dwell-and-rinse process — resist raising pressure when the answer is a stronger mix or a longer dwell. Follow the product label and TDS.
Step by step
- 1
Walk the elevation and note the materials
Vinyl, wood, painted trim, brick, glass and screens all sit on the same wall. Note where water can get behind a surface — open seams, damaged caulk, window tracks, weep holes, soffit vents — and plan around them.
- 2
Pre-wet plants, mulch and hardscape
Soak the landscaping and adjacent hardscape before you spray anything, and again after. Pre-wetting dilutes drift, and it is far easier than explaining a stressed hedge later.
- 3
Apply low pressure, bottom to top
Work upward in overlapping sections so runoff always lands on wet surface. Keep the pressure low enough that you are placing product, not driving water into seams and behind siding.
- 4
Let it dwell and watch the growth release
Organic growth needs contact time. Keep the section damp; if it starts to dry in the sun, re-mist with water rather than reapplying product. You will see the surface change colour as the growth releases.
- 5
Agitate only where needed
Heavily grown north-facing walls, wood grain and rough brick sometimes need a soft brush. Follow the grain or the coursing rather than scrubbing in circles.
- 6
Rinse top down, then rinse the surroundings
Rinse from the top so you never re-soil clean surface, and take glass, sills and door tracks deliberately. Finish by rinsing the landscaping and hardscape the runoff crossed.
- 7
Remove odor-associated soil and rinse
Where permitted by the current product label, physically lift and wash away organic soil from waste areas, then rinse as directed. Verify surface suitability and patch test before use.
Mistakes that cost you the job
- Raising pressure on siding — it forces water behind panels and leaves permanent marks
- Spraying dry landscaping and skipping the post-rinse
- Working top down on application, so runoff streaks untreated wall
- Letting product dry on a sunny elevation
- Ignoring window tracks, sills and screens during the rinse
Questions we get asked
- Is BIOLIFT a bleach substitute?
- BIOLIFT physically lifts and washes away odor-causing organic matter. Follow the current product label for permitted applications and surfaces; verify suitability and patch test before use. Do not assume sanitizing or disinfecting effects.
- Is it safe on painted and wood surfaces?
- Follow the current product label for permitted applications and surfaces; verify suitability and patch test before use. Request current product documentation and use appropriate PPE.
- Does it remove odor-associated soil as well as stains?
- It lifts away odor-causing organic matter in the same step as removing soil, grime, soot and mold and mildew stains. Rinse away the removed soil as directed by the current product label.
- Can I use it inside a restaurant or kitchen area?
- Follow the current product label for permitted applications and surfaces; verify suitability and patch test before use. Do not assume restaurant, kitchen or food-contact approval; request current product documentation.
Want this spec'd for your crew?
Send us the surface and the soil and we will confirm the product, dilution and pack size — including drum and tote freight quotes.
Use & safety notice
Results depend on surface condition, equipment, dwell time, water quality and operator technique. Always test in an inconspicuous area before full application. Follow the dilution guidance and read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and Technical Data Sheet (TDS) before use. Keep out of reach of children and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
More guides
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