Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It is surprising just how dirty the outside of your house can get throughout a year. Some of the most typical stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give any house an unkempt, uncared for appearance, regardless of whether you invest a lot of time and maintenance into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt or mud, don’t do much harm, but algae and mold can be destructive to your health and your house. They produce allergens and bacteria that can affect your family, and some, like algae, can even grow underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter into your house.

As a professional pressure washing company in Clearwater, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. The spring season is the most common time of the year to do an intense home cleaning, but you can do it any time as long as the weather allows.

WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?

All of the following home surfaces need to be pressure washed from time to time:

• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt

Pressure washing used to be the only way to thoroughly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted home surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners have a second option for exterior house cleaning: soft washing.

Like the names suggest, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s more to it than just that. Let’s review the features of each to help you decide which is best for your house.

WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?

The soft wash process uses less pressure than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The highest water pressure used in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lower spray is generated from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only a little more powerful than your standard backyard lawn hose.

Soft washing uses detergent, bleach and water in combination to get rid of organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other surfaces. The cleaning solution used in a soft washing process can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help stop further growth of these types of organisms in the future.

Because chemicals, not water pressure, are responsible for cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water pressure is necessary. This means that soft washing can be used for fragile surfaces that would otherwise be harmed by more powerful pressure washing.

The soft wash solution is sometimes washed off, but not always. This just depends on the type of solution is used in the process, if there is plant or animal life that can be impacted by the runoff, and if the solution itself is strong enough to damage surfaces over time.

Soft washing provides the advantage of reaching down into small cracks and crevices to eliminate even unseen bacteria, meaning that its results can last a lot longer than pressure washing.

WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?

Pressure washing has always been the standard for cleaning home exterior surfaces. It is highly effective and quick, which is why most home and business owners prefer it over soft washing.

This cleaning process uses water only, no chemicals, to eliminate stains and organisms from home exterior surfaces. The use of chemical-free water is a significant plus to home and business owners that don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, either for the environment’s sake or to avoid zoning violations.

The pressure washing process can be used on a lot of different materials. Home owners frequently choose pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, patio, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is fast, efficient and affordable.

Pressure washing requires anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out of a small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic materials are blasted from your home’s surface, preventing their growth and renewing the curb appeal of your house.

One negative about pressure washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can damage the surfaces of your home you want to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to cut grooves in wood and plastic, and it can get into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.

IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?

The obvious question for homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”

Both soft washing and pressure washing methods are good for your home’s exterior, including sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be performed by a professional – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the experts.

Soft washing is great for outdoor toys, yard equipment, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is less likely to damage plastic and wood. It’s also a safe and smart choice for vinyl siding.

It kills organisms currently present on the surface, and it stops future growth for a lot longer than pressure washing can.

A disadvantage of soft washing is that it can kill plants under the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water before putting the soft wash chemicals on your house or roof, and it shouldn’t be an issue.

Pressure washing is considered the recommended method for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the preferred choice for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing company in Clearwater may use a combination of detergents and water pressure to remove problematic stains, but they should let you know if they will be spraying chemicals during your consultation.

It can be used on siding too (and has been for decades) as long as it is done correctly. Powerful water pressure can damage weak or small pieces of vinyl. A service that does pressure washing often will know how to protect fragile pieces, but a amateur can do a lot of damage.

Your home’s roof is definitely off limits for pressure washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The extreme pressure of the water can damage these materials and cause you to replace your home’s roof far sooner than expected.

Deciding between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a professional pressure washing company. Which method is right for your house? Give Clearwater Pressure Wash Plus a call at 727-263-3934 and we’ll send a trained technician over to take a look!