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What is DOFF Steam Cleaning and how does it work?

There’s more than one way to produce a great, clean finish that’s gentle to a building’s façade and the environment around it. See Brilliance has a number of tricks up its sleeve, and one of the most commonly used by our teams is DOFF Steam Cleaning.

This method of cleaning is an effective and practical way to demonstrate the aesthetics of a building while extending and preserving its façade. Let’s take a look at what it is and why we use it!

What does DOFF Steam Cleaning mean?

Essentially, DOFF Steam Cleaning makes use of a gentle production of steam which is spread over a façade through an applicator at varying temperature and pressure. It’s known in the industry for being especially gentle when compared to other forms of cleaning, with litres of super heated water and steam being applied every minute onto the building surface.

Gentle cleaning like this is well suited to more delicate surfaces that cannot withstand the thermal shock or abrasion of other cleaning methods – a profile of building that’s particularly common amongst listed and Heritage sites.

What specific benefits are there to DOFF Steam Cleaning?

Different buildings respond better to different kinds of cleaning – and they age differently, too. This is often due to the physical properties of their structure and façade and the age of the building. With so many of our older buildings in the UK being made of stone, for instance, the accumulation of fungi, algae and moss makes for serious deterioration and visual decay over time.

The removal of biological matter and the accumulation of things like moss, dirt and more is challenging; a cleaning process that’s too abrasive or of too high a pressure will chip away at stone and can even damage the façade and any paint or protective surface substances applied to it.

Graffiti removal and legal compliance

It’s also a sad fact that graffiti and fouling from wildlife and humans – often from simple chewing gum – accumulates on even listed buildings in time. DOFF Steam Cleaning shines here, with the gentle application of heat and steam still being strong enough to remove foreign substances like wax, oil, chewing gum and naturally occurring substances like algae and moss.

Buildings also often have their own legal requirements in terms of sanitisation and hygiene, particularly in industries like healthcare and food production. DOFF Steam Cleaning is very useful here, with the gentle steam cleaning format producing a great result that operates within the hygienic requirements of the building and its area.

What kinds of buildings have been cleaned using DOFF steam cleaning?

The list is long indeed! The See Brilliance team is a long-standing supporter of the National Trust and English Heritage, with our professional cleaning teams utilising the DOFF Steam Cleaning process to restore these precious buildings to their original beauty and finish.

We’ve worked with both organisations many times, producing a hygienic and thorough result using DOFF cleaning methods that respects the physical complexities and sensitivities of historic buildings and the need to avoid any form of damage whatsoever to their facades and surfaces.

Can we help?

Do you have a building in need of restoration and cleaning? Whether you’re struggling with graffiti damage or need to remove the accumulation of dirt and foreign substances from your property, See Brilliance can help.

Our cleaning and restorative work will bring your building back to life – and it’ll save you significant money by reducing the frequency in which further cleaning is required. Contact us today on 01635 230888 or email us on [email protected] We hope to hear from you soon!

Download the See Brilliance 2023 brochure