Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It’s amazing 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 stains will give your house an unkempt, messy appearance, regardless of whether you invest a lot of time and maintenance into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt or mud, are harmless, but algae and mold can be destructive to your health and to your house. They create allergens that can impact your family, and some of them, like algae, can grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter into your house.

As a professional power washing company in Auburn, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. Spring is typically the most popular time of the year to do an intense home exterior washing, but you can do it any time throughout the year so long as the weather allows.

WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?

All of the following surfaces need to be power 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, brick and painted surfaces. Now, homeowners have a second option for exterior house cleaning: soft washing.

As the names imply, one method is a lot gentler than the other one, but there’s a little more to it than that. Let’s review the features of each method to help you decide which one is best for your house.

WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?

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

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

Because chemicals, not pressure, are key to cleaning the exterior surfaces, no powerful water pressure is required. This means that soft washing can be used for more delicate surfaces that would otherwise be harmed by higher pressure washing.

The soft wash chemicals are sometimes cleaned off, but not every time. This just depends on what type of chemicals are used, if there’s plant or animal life that could be affected by the solution runoff, and if the chemicals are powerful enough to damage surfaces over time.

Soft washing provides the advantage of reaching down into small cracks and crevices to eliminate unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last much longer than traditional power washing.

WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?

Pressure washing has always been the standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is very effective and fast, which is why a lot of home and business owners still prefer it.

This cleaning process uses water only, no chemicals, to eliminate stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a big plus to home owners who don’t want to use chemicals, either for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.

It can be used on a lot of different materials. Home and business owners often prefer power washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and patio furniture because it is quick, more efficient and cost-effective.

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

One drawback to power washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can damage the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is powerful enough to cut deep grooves in wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.

IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?

The real question for homeowners is, “Is pressure washing or soft washing better?”

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

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

It kills organisms currently present on the exterior surface, and it prevents future growth for much longer than power washing can.

A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life under the surface that you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water right before putting the soft wash chemicals on your house or roof, and it probably won’t be an issue.

Pressure washing is the recommended choice for difficult stains, and hard surfaces like concrete, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended method for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing company in Auburn may use a mix of detergents and water pressure to remove difficult stains, but they need to tell you if they are going to be using chemicals during your consultation.

It can also be used on siding as well (and has been for decades) so long as it is done carefully. Powerful water pressure can damage weak or small pieces of the vinyl. A local service that does power washing often are going to know how to protect fragile areas, but a amateur might do a lot of damage.

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

Choosing between soft washing or power washing is best left for a pressure washing company. Which process is right for your house? Give Auburn Pressure Washing a call at 253-215-8373 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!