Soft washing and pressure washing are two of the most common systems for exterior house cleaning. Both cleaning systems use a pump and a hose to spray water and cleaning solutions onto a surface. Both are highly effective cleaning processes that remove mold, algae, dust, dirt, carbon buildup and other elements from your home’s exterior. However, there are key differences between these two.
What's the difference?
So, what is soft washing? This cleaning method uses low pressure and specialized solutions to remove dirt and organic contamination from your home’s surfaces. With soft wash systems, a biodegradable chemical is first applied to loosen up the dirt and grime. Then, a high volume of water (but with very little pressure) is applied to the surface.
Pressure washing, on the other hand, blows away dirt and grime with force. It does this by applying a great amount of pressure to a source of water to clean your exterior surfaces. Chemical solutions may be applied, but the high-pressure water spray is usually enough to remove biological elements from your home’s exterior.
While pressure washing is highly effective for exterior house cleaning, it can cause damage, as well. As this cleaning system uses an extreme amount of pressure, surfaces may become damaged in the process. It can wear out paint, blow window seals, or destroy landscaping.
The choice between a soft wash and a pressure wash will depend on the type of surface that you want to clean and the type of contamination on that surface. A trusted professional should be able to explain all the pros and cons and help you choose what would be more beneficial for your surfaces.
When is pressure washing advised?
A professional pressure wash system reaches up to 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). While a high PSI allows you to clean surfaces effectively, it can also cause damage to the softer exteriors of your house such as the roof and windows.
Pressure washing is better suited for hard such as paved patios, lock block, brick walls, garage floors, driveways, pathways, and sidewalks. This cleaning system can remove mold, grime, mud, and even paint without damaging your concrete surfaces. It is also beneficial to pressure wash these surfaces before painting or sealing.
Since a pressure wash uses a high level of pressure, this cleaning system does not need to use as many chemicals. The pressurized water alone can be enough to remove biological elements from your house’s exterior. However, if improperly used, a pressure wash system can cause significant harm not only to your surfaces but also to other people. Always remember pressure washing safety precautions and don’t hesitate to contact a professional service for proper administration.
When is soft washing advised?
A soft wash pressure washing system expels water at a lower pressure — about 500 to 1,000 PSI — similar to a common garden hose. It is still highly effective for cleaning your home’s exterior but will involve the use of more water and chemicals.
Soft washing involves an environment-friendly product that uses a chemical process to destroy bacteria, algae and organic contamination. It can remove biological elements without damaging the surfaces of your home. The biodegradable chemical is safe for use around your family, pets, and plants. Thus, soft wash allow homeowners to clean their exterior surfaces without harming the environment.
Initially, a soft wash was a cleaning method for safely removing algae from shingle roofs. Based strongly on the spray-and-kill approach, a soft wash is a more delicate process than power washing. Soft washing can be applied to a variety of surfaces such as stucco, wood decking, wood siding, wood fencing, painted wood, asphalt shingles, metal buildings, and painted surfaces among others. These surfaces would be more vulnerable to a pressure wash system.
How to Choose Between Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing
Both soft washing and pressure washing are highly effective cleaning systems. Your choice will depend on your exterior house cleaning needs. If you need to remove dirt and grime from your driveway, a pressure wash might be the better choice. Meanwhile, if you need to clean your roof, a soft wash can effectively clean the surface without causing damage.
When choosing a cleaning system, you also need to think about how it can affect your home. Pressure washing is effective, but it does not provide the same assurances as soft washing. For example, pressure washing may cause damage to your home or landscape due to the high amount of pressure. Soft washing can still get the job done without potential hazards.
Aside from choosing between soft washing vs pressure washing, you also need to ensure that you can administer exterior house cleaning properly. To really minimize damage to your home, it’s always best to trust a professional pressure washing service. They will have expertise and experience, as well as the right equipment for both cleaning systems.