Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It’s amazing how dirty the exterior of your home can get over a year. Some of the most common stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give any home an unkempt, uncared for look, even though you invest time, money and care into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt or mud, don’t do much harm, but algae and mold can be damaging to both your health and to your home. They produce allergens and bacteria that can impact your family, and some, like algae, can even grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing and enter your home.

As a professional power washing company in Carrollton, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. Spring is the most popular time to do an extreme home exterior cleaning, but you can do it any time throughout the year as long as the weather permits.

WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?

All of the following surfaces need to be cleaned from time to time:

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

Pressure washing used to be the only method to properly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted surfaces. Now, homeowners have another option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.

Like the names suggest, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s more to it than that. Let’s cover the features of each method to help you decide which one is the right choice for your home.

WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?

The soft wash method uses less power 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 created from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only slightly more powerful than a backyard hose.

Soft washing uses detergent, bleach and water in combination to eliminate organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other exterior surfaces. The cleaning mixture used in a soft washing system can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will slow further growth of these types of organisms in the future.

Because chemicals, not pressure, are responsible for cleaning the exterior surfaces, no powerful water pressure is needed. This means that soft washing can be used for more delicate surfaces that might otherwise be damaged by harsher pressure washing equipment.

The soft wash chemicals are sometimes washed off, but not every time. This just depends on what type of chemicals are used in the process, if there is plant or animal life that can be affected by the runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to harm surfaces over time.

Soft washing provides the advantage of getting into small cracks and crevices to kill even unseen bacteria, meaning that its effects can last a lot longer than standard power washing.

WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?

Pressure washing has long been the gold standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is extremely effective and quick, which is why many home and business owners prefer it over soft washing.

This particular cleaning method uses water only, no chemicals, to eliminate stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a significant advantage to property owners that don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, whether for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.

It can be used on several different materials. Home owners frequently prefer power washing for cleaning their driveway, patio, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is fast, more efficient and cost-effective.

Pressure washing uses somewhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water sprayed out from a tiny nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic materials are sprayed from your home’s exterior surface, preventing their growth and renewing the appearance of your home.

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 strong enough to put grooves in wood and plastic, and it can get into cracks, breaking off chunks of stone or brick.

IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?

The ultimate question for most 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 done by a professional – and truthfully, are more effectively done when left to the pros.

Soft washing is great for outdoor play equipment, gardening tools, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm wood and plastic. 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 a lot longer than power washing can.

A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plants underneath the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water before putting the soft wash solution on your home or roof, and it shouldn’t be an issue.

Pressure washing is the best choice for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like asphalt, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the recommended process for commercial surfaces. A professional pressure washing company in Carrollton might use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to remove difficult stains, but they need to tell you if they are going to be spraying chemicals during your consultation.

It can also be used on siding as well (and has been for several years) as long as it is done safely. Powerful water pressure can break off weak or small pieces of vinyl. A local service that does power washing all the time will know how to protect weak pieces, but a DIYer could do a lot of harm.

Your home’s roof is definitely off limits for power washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The high pressure of the water will likely ruin these materials and cause you to replace your 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 home? Give Carrollton Pressure Washing a call at 469-382-4385 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!