Question 1

What is soft washing?

Accepted Answer

Soft washing has become a popular low-pressure technique as a cleaning method used to remove the dirt, grime, algae, mold, and other organic stains from the exterior surfaces of your property, including roofs, siding, decks, fences, and concrete to name a few. Soft washing was developed as a low-pressure cleaning method to allow even historic buildings to be cleaned without causing damage with the cleaning process. It not only allows us to address those types of surfaces, but also many others, including solar panels, some awnings, and surfaces requiring a more delicate treatment. Soft washing (unlike pressure washing, which forcefully removes the dirt and stains) utilizes a combination of biodegradable detergents, water, and low-pressure sprayers and nozzles in application. The application typically dwells on the surface for a certain period of time, typically 5 to 10 minutes, allowing it to break down and loosen the dirt and stains.

After the dwell time, the surface is rinsed again with low-pressure water, effectively removing the dirt, grime, and cleaning solution residue. Soft washing is a treatment that reduces the risk of damage to delicate surfaces like roof shingles, painted surfaces, or wood. Not only is soft washing particularly effective for removing organic stains like algae, mold, mildew, and moss, but the cleaning solutions are also designed to kill and remove these organic growths to not only restore the appearance of the surface, but also prevent further growth, which power washing is ineffective at accomplishing.

Smart Green Clean cannot, however, assure that every soft wash will be done properly, as it should only be performed by trained professionals who have the knowledge and expertise to effectively carry out the cleaning and treatment process. Trained professionals understand the appropriate cleaning solutions, the dilution ratios, and the techniques required for different surfaces and different types of stains. Let our trained professionals use state-of-the art equipment, allowing your home or property to become the showcase it should be—call (850) 419-4666 for a free quote today!

Question 2

Why is Smart Green Clean’s softwashing more cost effective even if the price is higher?

Accepted Answer

Pressure washing is always an option if you are trying to do it cheaper or if you are getting ready to paint your home. Pressure washing is just going to knock off the top layer of dirt, and in 6 months, it will already start looking dirty again. Pressure washing gives the mold, mildew, and algae a haircut, while soft washing kills the funk at a microscopic level, making it last 4 to 6 times longer.

Smart Green Clean mixes chemicals specific to the job. Most soft wash competitors mix the chemicals, and once they are mixed, there is no changing that mixture during the cleaning process. That mixture, if used on all the surfaces, will probably not be strong enough for some surfaces and much too strong for other surfaces.

Some soft washing companies, without the required knowledge and training, will mix Dawn or other dish soaps with sodium hypochlorite (the most common but safe chemical used in soft washing). When you do not know what they are mixing and they do not have the proper training, they may create hazardous conditions at your home or property.

When treating your home or property, we use 1/3 of the water used in pressure washing. The engines on our equipment are so quiet you are unlikely to hear us working outside while you work from home. We save busy professionals, like yourself, time in not having to compete with the noise from gas engines running in the background.

Our competitors do not have an affiliation with SoftWash Systems™, which has been in business in excess of 30 years and backs the 5 Year Spotless Guarantee we offer on roof cleaning.

Our higher standards, customer satisfaction, following regulatory guidelines, and ensuring our employees are paid a competitive wage might cost a little more in your overall price, but the benefits in the quality of work and knowing we will be around more than this season makes us more cost effective, even if our price is higher. Call Smart Green Clean, as we are the quality professionals for all seasons!

Question 3

Is soft washing environmentally friendly?

Accepted Answer

We cannot speak to competitors who wish to get on the “bandwagon”, as they may be using substances not third-party testified and verified and/or in quantities and mixtures that could be unsafe. We can tell you that, as a select number of affiliates of SoftWash Systems™, we meet their age-tested and high standards and pride ourselves in being Good Stewards of the environment.

Here are all the ways you know Smart Green Clean is environmentally friendly:
 • Reduced water usage: We use less water, resulting in water conservation. Unlike high-pressure systems pumping out high quantities of water in a short period of time as used with power washing, soft washing requires significantly less water compared to power washing.
 • Lower risk of damage: Soft washing does not relay on excessive force and pressure like a power washer, but instead relies on chemical solutions to break down and remove contaminants. This gentle approach reduces the risk of damaging your surfaces such as roofs, siding, or delicate surfaces.
 • Biodegradable cleaning solutions: Soft washing uses biodegradable cleaning solutions that are designed to be less harmful to the environment. These solutions are water-based and formulated to break down organic matter without posing a significant threat to plants, animals, or water resources.
 • Low VOCs (volatile organic compounds): Smart Green Clean uses solutions that are third-party tested to reduce the amount of gases emitted into the air during the cleaning process and adhere to the requirements for a cleaner air quality. This protects not only our employees applying the solution, but the property owner as well.
 • Targeted Application: One size does not fit all, and our cleaning solutions are targeted applications, allowing the type and concentration to be customized for you. Smart Green Clean’s cleaning agents are applied directly to the affected areas, reducing the overall quantity of chemicals used and minimizing the potential for overspray or runoff into surrounding areas.
 • Smaller environmental footprint: Smart Green Clean uses 12-volt batteries to run 90% of the specialized equipment employed in your cleaning and treatment services. This allows us to reduce our carbon emissions footprint.

Choosing the right professional who will adhere to responsible practices is the reason you should contact Smart Green Clean today for your free quote!

Question 4

Do you offer power washing services?

Accepted Answer

There are times when power washing is the preferred method of exterior cleaning and the best choice for those exceptions. For instance, we do recommend power washing for prepping a home for painting, as it can help strip off the old paint. However, if you are a surgeon, you are unlikely to use a sledge hammer when a scalpel will do. Unlike many competitors who may lack sufficient training or are not concerned about their long-term reputation, we are in this for the long haul and will give your our recommendations based upon the science of exterior cleaning. Today, chose a trained company that can identify what processes will best work for the desired outcome using safe practices and extending the longevity of the exterior of your property by calling for your free quote!

Question 5

Are the fancy truck and equipment just a scam to reduce your company’s time and charge me more?

Accepted Answer

Smart Green Clean’s trucks are pretty and expensive, but if we wanted a cool vehicle, we probably would have bought a monster truck instead. We are guessing you do not want to learn about all kinds of different detergents and chemicals and the potential problems with mixtures to get your home clean. Some companies are closet chemists, adding chemicals that should not be mixed together. Our chemicals are specifically designed to be used with each other.

Our state-of-the art trucks are designed and developed by a company that has been in existence doing soft washing and teaching soft washing for more than 30 years. Smart Green Clean’s trucks carry 6 different chemicals with the ability to use 2 additional chemicals. We use blend modules that allow us to create a mixture of chemicals tailored to the various surfaces and level of soil and growth of mold, mildew, and algae that has infested the surfaces of your home or property. Our lines feed these tailored blends at controlled pressures.
While we use mixtures that are blended for the initial treatment of your property, these blends are complemented with other chemicals such as a Plant Wash to safeguard your shrubs and plants, Final Wash that applies a wax that slows the regrowth, and Restore, which adds moisture back into the surface. These additives assist in maintaining your home or office until the next time we return.

Even if we could mix these substances in buckets or separate containers with precision, the additional time it would take and the costs of labor would result in higher prices we would have to pass on to you. If your home deserves an exterior cleaning treatment using state-of-the-art equipment, give us a call today for a free estimate!

Question 6

Other than looking ugly, what is bad about the stains on my roof?

Accepted Answer

Pressure washing does nothing to kill mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria—it only knocks off the top layer. The problem is that the mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria will still be alive and thriving in all of the cracks and crevices and grow back much faster. Pressure washing is the “lawn mower” knocking off the top layer, while soft washing is the “exterminator” of the problem. Soft washing lasts 4 to 6 times longer and is better than the pressure washing most average people have done.

These ugly stains caused by the mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria make dark streaks. Science tells us that dark surfaces do not reflect the sun as well as your original lighter roof, causing your electric bill to increase. Not only does the dark surface not reflect the sun as well, but it also causes the temperature of the surface to increase, which in turn accelerates the deterioration of the asphalt in the roof. Since the stain is bacteria, you are allowing that bacteria to enjoy an “all-you-can-eat” buffet on your roof at your expense. That deterioration may cause you to need a premature replacement of your roof. Let us extend the life of your roof by calling now for a free estimate!

Question 7

My plants and shrubs were expensive—what will you do differently to make sure they are not damaged?

Accepted Answer

We follow policies and procedures to protect your plants and shrubs. We use a specific app that identifies your plant or shrub if we are not familiar with it so we know how to protect it.

While treating your valuable property we employ the “3-D” process. The first part of our process is pre-watering your plants from their leaves to their roots, which dilutes any chemicals that come in contact with them. Some plants and shrubs are much more sensitive to any chemical, and so there are times that we cover your plant with Tyvek, which diverts the chemicals away from the plant. We try to move quickly to assure that plant or shrub is allowed to get enough air while we are keeping the solutions off of the plant. The last step in our process is decontamination using a plant wash. Our plant wash neutralizes the chemicals while adding beneficial bacteria, which our solutions might have killed, back into the soil. Our plant wash also contains nutrients that not only keep your plants from dying, but will make them thrive.

When we follow up with you after we provide service, should you have a plant that was damaged, we want to know so we can resolve the problem.

Did that plant the idea in your head that you should call us today for a free estimate?

Question 8

Why does my house smell like a gym locker the following day?

Accepted Answer

The day Smart Green Clean cleans your property, it is going to smell amazing, like a breath of clean laundry lingering in the air. The following day, not so much. Why? We did an amazing job at killing the mold, mildew, algae, and bacteria, and as that funk decomposes, it does not smell good while it is turning back into dirt. As a result, for a day or two, it can smell quite literally like a gym locker, even though we have applied a substance heavily around your doors and windows to combat this smell.

You could avoid this by using a pressure washer or another company that lacks knowledge and the right equipment and therefore has not used the correct substance or mixture they should use. The reason it will initially smell better for a short while when it is done improperly is because the lack of the right product or mixture has not killed the organic contaminants. They simply blew them around on your property. This funk becomes diluted when blown around everywhere, but once the water diluting the funk absorbs or evaporates, these organic contaminants will still be on the surfaces of your home. Those little funky buggers will be fat and happy as they grow like a wildfire. Let us put out those flames with our soft wash process today, and we will strive to be there to give you a free estimate before the fire truck makes it!

Question 9

Can you get the water spots off my windows?

Accepted Answer

Not only can Smart Green Clean clean your windows, but we can also leave them with a 98% spot free shine. With our Shadow Pure Water Module, we produce water that is 99% pure, taking out all the minerals and other chemicals often added to water. Rest assured your windows or solar panels will be rinsed with water that is cleaner than the water you purchased at the store to drink. We use the super clean water to pull the spots (i.e., minerals) off of the window, which typically leaves them with a 98% spot-free shine.

All of the profits from our residential window cleaning are donated at the Cure Bowl event every year, which raises money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Now that your windows are clean and you know you are helping people impacted by cancer, can you not see (pun intended) the value to this service? With such clean windows, it becomes a clear choice for you to call us for a free estimate!

Question 10

How long does an estimate take, what is involved, and is it really necessary for you to be there?

Accepted Answer

We always allow 1 hour to 1-1/2 hours to complete the estimate and answer any questions you may have. The average estimate is typically one hour. With pressure washers and other soft washing companies, your quote is primarily based upon square footage, but that does not hold true with Smart Green Clean. We strive to provide you with exactly what you may need and only what you want. We like to have all the decisionmakers present when we do an estimate so that they can hear our recommendations and the basis for these recommendations. Because we try to simplify a highly technical explanation, and even though the individual hearing the explanation understands, they often have difficulty communicating it to their spouse or another decision-maker. Your home or office is unique.

Before Smart Green Clean arrives, you will be notified that we are arriving and can verify the technician’s third-party verified background check. Smart Green Clean will walk the property looking for drains on or near your property to prevent the homeowner from being fined for violations of the Clean Water Act. As we walk the property, we will take measurements and consider many factors before developing your quote. Items we consider are the pitch of the roof, the square footage, the degree of stains, whether moss and/or lichen are present, the perimeter landscaping and its present condition, décor that may require special attention, the number of stories to your home, preexisting damage that you may not have noticed, the highest area that needs to be cleaned, where your water spigots are located, the number of windows and screen enclosures, accessibility to reach the area we are cleaning, and, sometimes, factors that you might not have even considered but that we would note and want to discuss with you.

Often when we explain what we have found, the owner has questions, and it is easier to respond to all decision-makers rather than having one person trying to explain something they may understand but have difficulty explaining. It gives each decision-maker the opportunity to determine whether they believe we are selling them “fluff” or are technically competent. We not only try to give simple, brief explanations, but we also give you several options with every quote.

If a decisionmaker has more questions, we given them additional information and allow the homeowner time to think about and discuss between themselves whether or not they want Smart Green Clean to be their preferred provider. A full, customized quote with treatment options takes time for both of us, but we strive to give you value for the money you spend on using our services. Make the wise financial decision that will maximize your time by calling us today for a free estimate!

Question 11

Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?

Accepted Answer

We are not licensed, as there is no licensing agency in Florida or the United States for soft washing, and any company advertising that they are licensed is all “smoke and mirrors”. We do, however, pride our company and staff on holding and maintaining multiple certifications obtained through extensive third-party training and actively participating in continuing education to offer you the best of the best.

Many will also claim that they are bonded, but if you ask them to explain how a bond works, you can expect to hear them stutter and give you a non-answer. A bond for a business typically is defined as a surety company bond, providing a line of credit if the company does not fulfill the obligations of the bond. This would be difficult to do when every single job can be so different and involves so many customers. It is not Smart Green Clean’s practice to lie to our potential or actual customers.

Smart Green Clean prides itself on carrying a $2 million liability insurance policy with the ability to add additional coverage for jobs requiring it. Many power washers and competing soft wash companies will tell you they are insured, but they unfortunately are not. Call us today so when we come for your free estimate, we can show up and allow you to scan our badge so you can see that a third-party company has verified not only background checks, but also the level of insurance we carry and whether or not it is current.

Question 12

What kind of training do you and your staff have?

Accepted Answer

We bet you are the kind of customer who is not willing to have some over-enthusiastic young person use a high-pressure machine to blast the funk off your house! We at Smart Green Clean pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest technologies and practices in the industry. We use SoftWash Systems™ to train all of our staff and technicians. We started as a Certified Applicator and completed over 60 hours of online training, as well as 32 hours of in-person training, with the culmination of testing to include 760 questions and hands-on certification of proper tools, chemicals, and systems.

The next level as an Authorized Professional was completed with over 60 hours of additional online training and 60 hours of in-person training. Training culminated with testing to include 820 exam questions and hands-on certifications of proper business practices, government regulations, insurance requirements, OSHA rules and regulations, DOT regulations, and EPA regulations.

Our staff members are required training consistent with their positions which includes:
 • Assistant Technician – 30 hours of training and a 100-question test
 • Lead Technician – 30 hours of training and a 160-question test
 • Territory Manager – 30 hours of training and a 160-question test
Our staff members not only complete this training, but also receive direct supervision on the job until they demonstrate their competency to function independently. In weekly training sessions for all employees, we provide constant training reviews and updates from all aspects of their job from ladder safety to road safety, as well as updated information regarding governmental changes in OSHA rules and regulations, DOT regulations, and EPA regulations so that our company maintains compliance.

Even the Owner of the Smart Green Clean has completed in excess of 330 hours of training and successfully completed 820 questions in testing, as well as continual participation in ongoing continuing education. Smart Green Clean, LLC is held to maintaining high standards to have the honor of being an affiliate of SoftWash Systems™. If you want someone knowledgeable behind the cleaning process, call Smart Green Clean for your free estimate today!

Question 13

How does your company protect me, my family or employees, and my property?

Accepted Answer

The FBI reports in Burglary Statistics that a break-in occurs every 26 seconds in the United States. Data from the FBI and the United States Department of Justice find that the average loss is $2,416. The United States Department of Justice reports that 66% of these affected residential properties are home invasions, but sadly the Pew Research Center reports that only 13% of reported burglary cases are solved. According to crimeprevntiontips.com (http://crimeprevntiontips.com/)and Jacksonville State University, someone is home in 27.6% of all home burglaries.

Based upon the arrests that are made, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report (UCR) program identified that 60% of assaults, including rape, happen during home invasions. An owner of Austin Home Restorations in Orlando, Scott Sidler, was quoted by the Denver Post on May 11, 2023 as believing that there is some sort of theft occurring in 1 out of every 40 of jobs in his industry. Mr. Sidler recommended among other things that the homeowner should “know who’s coming”, and by that, he means not only knowing which worker is coming, but whether they have had a background check.

Many of the pressure washers and soft washing companies will show up at your door in nice uniforms wearing badges. Were those badges made with a laser printer in their garage yesterday? Who verifies that they and their staff do not have a criminal record and are who they say they are?

All Smart Green Clean employees proudly display the Badge of “The Seal”, which is a third-party company that independently verifies the company’s insurance as being active, as well as the amount, and criminal background checks for each of our employees as our effort to provide the safest services possible. We notify our customers electronically in advance of who they can expect to arrive at their home that day with a picture of the employee’s badge. We do more than care for your home or property, as we care about you and your family. Call us today so we can give you a free estimate and partner with you in protecting your valuable assets!

Question 14

Could hiring just anybody make me personally liable?

Accepted Answer

Most people do not know that the government holds the homeowner personally responsible for violations of the Clean Water Act and the company’s failure to have appropriate insurance. Are you even aware of what the Clean Water Act requires? You better know if you do not hire a company that maintains this education and internally enforces these standards. Under the Clean Water Act, any and all water or liquids that leave the property being cleaned, even if the water was only mixed with just soil, leaves, and natural materials, must be able to control where the “waste stream” goes. In controlling where it goes, it must be kept out of the MS4 (Municipal Separate Store Sewer System). Even if it is water contaminants that might be in that water, it must be diverted from the MS4 drain. One would think that the person controlling the equipment would be fined, but they are not—the homeowner is fined. If you get that fine, guess that lower price just made a gigantic jump in cost!

Are you willing to take that risk and face steep fines for even just plain run-off water running into an MS4 drain? Very few of our competitors have the appropriate amount of insurance, and it is rare to find companies that provide a lot of training to their staff or have owners who know even what an MS4 drain is. These competitors, on the whole, do not take the time to learn or maintain their own knowledge or their staff’s knowledge of these standards and laws.

Not only could you have problems with liability, but the wrong company can also tarnish your image. Imagine scheduling a cleaning prior to a large event, and the power wash or soft wash company does not show up because their truck and/or trailer was pulled over for serious DOT violations. While out on calls, we see new power and soft wash trucks or trailers driving down the road with tanks that violate DOT standards and probably do not carry chemical contingency plans on their vehicles. Sometimes we see them pulled to the side of the road by DOT compliance officers, but many get away with these violations for a long period of time. But if they are that sloppy with their equipment and standards, is that the level of service you are seeking when someone washes your home or office? If you want to use a company that is not “sliding around the law” without regard to your personal liability and exposure, then call Smart Green Clean for a free estimate!

Question 15

Do you offer any discounts on your services?

Accepted Answer

Does your mother give you her opinion whether you want it or not? Of course, we are going to give discounts. If after your house cleaning, you refer your mother, we will give her a discount (or your dad too). We offer a 10% discount to military, law enforcement, first responders, educators, and healthcare providers. Call today and get a free estimate, and we will discuss discounts with you at that time!

Call for a Free Quote (850) 419-4666

Our Services Include

Roof Cleaning

Exterior House Washing

Concrete Cleaning

Brick Cleaning

Fence Cleaning

Gutter Cleaning

Screen Enclosure Cleaning

Driveway Cleaning

Solar Panel Cleaning

Exterior Window Washing

Awning Cleaning

Patio Cleaning

Deck Cleaning

Frequently Asked Questions

8 Questions to Ask
Cleaning Contractors
to Avoid Nightmare
Results

Our Soft Wash Guarantees

3 Day Clean Guarantee

5 Year Spot Free Roof Guarantee

Plant Protection Guarantee

The Seal Guarantee

Soft Wash Bonus Service

Only available with certain Cleaning Packages

8 Questions to Ask Cleaning Contractors to Avoid Nightmare Results

Trash Can Cleaning & Sanitation

MAILBOX CLEANIG & SANITATION

LOCK LUBRICATION

EXTERIOR LIGHT Protection

PLANT WASH APPLICATION

How We Protect Your Plants During Soft Washing

What You Need to Know About Gutter Cleaning

Is Solar Panel Cleaning Necessary?

Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing: How Do They Compare? [infographic]