Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is amazing just 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 your home an unkempt, uncared-for look, even though you invest time and maintenance into it.
Some of these materials, like dirt or mud, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be destructive to your health and to your home. They produce allergens that can impact your family, and some, like algae, can even grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing and enter into your home.
As a professional power washing service in Greenville, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. Spring is the most common time of the year to do an intense home washing, but you can really do it any time 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
Power washing used to be the only method to thoroughly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners have another option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
Like the names imply, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s go over the features of each to help you determine which one is best for your home.
WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?
The soft wash process uses much 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 produced from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only a little more powerful than a standard backyard garden hose.
Soft washing uses detergent, bleach and water in some combination to eliminate organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other surfaces. The cleaning mixture used in a soft washing process can include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will deter further growth of these organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not pressure, are key to cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water pressure is required. This means that soft washing can be used for more delicate surfaces that might otherwise be harmed by harsher 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 harm surfaces over time.
Soft washing provides the advantage of getting down into cracks to eliminate even unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact 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 very effective and quick, which is why many home and business owners still prefer it over soft washing.
This particular cleaning process uses water only, there are no chemicals, to remove stains and mold from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a significant plus to home and business owners who don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, either for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.
It can be used on several different materials. Home and business owners often prefer power washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, walkways and outdoor furniture because it is quick, more efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing requires anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water sprayed out from a tiny nozzle for maximum power. Both organic and inorganic stains are sprayed from your home’s surface, preventing their growth and restoring the appearance of your home.
One drawback to power washing is that the water can sometimes be too powerful and lead to damaging the surfaces of your home you want to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to put deep grooves into wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off pieces of stone or brick.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The ultimate question for homeowners is, “Is pressure washing or soft washing better?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing are good for your home’s exterior, as well as sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be performed by a professional company – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the pros.
Soft washing is excellent for outdoor play sets, gardening tools, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm plastic and wood. It’s also a safe and smart choice for vinyl siding.
It eliminates organisms that are present on the surface, and it prevents future growth for a lot longer than power washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life under the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water right before putting the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it shouldn’t be a problem.
Pressure washing is the recommended choice for severe stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended method for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing service in Greenville might use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to eliminate problematic stains, but they need to let you know if they will be spraying chemicals during your estimate.
It can also be used for siding as well (and has been for decades) so long as it is done safely. High water pressure can break off fragile or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A company that does power washing all the time will know how to protect these areas, 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 might damage these materials and cause you to replace your home’s roof much earlier than expected.
Deciding between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a pressure washing service. Which method is right for your home? Give Greenville Pressure Washing a call at 252-254-2776 and we’ll send an experienced technician over to take a look!