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Glossary

Dwell Time

Definition

Dwell time is how long a cleaning solution sits on a surface before rinsing, giving the chemistry time to kill growth and break down stains.

Most of the cleaning in a soft wash happens during dwell, not during the rinse. A house-wash mix usually needs several minutes on the wall; a roof may need longer. Letting the solution work is what separates a clean that lasts from a surface that greens up again in weeks.

The enemy of dwell time is a hot, sunny wall that dries the solution before it can act. Work in shade where you can, keep the surface wet, and reapply if it flashes dry rather than rinsing too soon.

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