Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is shocking just how dirty the outside of your home can get throughout a year. Some of the most typical stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These stains will give any home an unkempt, uncared for appearance, even though you invest time, money and care into it.
Some materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be destructive to your health and to your home. These contaminants create allergens that can affect your family, and some, like algae, can even grow underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter into your home.
As a professional power washing service in Pasadena, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. Spring is typically the most popular time to do an extreme home washing, but you can do it any time throughout the year so long as the weather permits.
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 properly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners have another option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
Like the names suggest, one method is much gentler than the other, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s cover the features of each method to help you judge which 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 maximum water pressure in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lower spray is created from a nozzle with a wider spray option, only a little more powerful than your standard backyard garden hose.
Soft washing uses a mixture of soap, bleach and water in combination to eliminate organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other exterior surfaces. The cleaning solution used in a soft washing process can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will stop further growth of these organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not water pressure, are key to cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water pressure is necessary. This means that soft washing should be used for delicate surfaces that could otherwise be harmed by more powerful pressure washing equipment.
The soft wash chemicals are sometimes cleaned off, but not always. This just depends on what type of chemicals are used, if there is plant or animal life that might be impacted by the 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 even unseen bacteria, meaning that its results can last a lot longer than standard power washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has always been the gold standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is highly effective and efficient, 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 eliminate stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of chemical-free water is a major 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.
It can be used on many different materials. Home and business owners choose power washing for cleaning their driveway, patio, decks, walkways and outdoor furniture because it is quick, efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing uses somewhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out from a tiny nozzle for maximum power. Both organic and inorganic stains are blasted from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and renewing the appearance of your home.
One drawback to power washing is that the water can sometimes be too powerful and can damage the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is powerful enough to cut grooves into wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The ultimate question for homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing methods are good choices for your home’s exterior, including sidewalks, driveways and more. Both cleaning systems can be done by a professional – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the experts.
Soft washing is great for outdoor play sets, yard tools, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to damage wood and plastic. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.
It eliminates organisms currently present on the surface, and it stops future growth for a lot longer than power washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plants underneath the surface that you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water right before spraying the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it shouldn’t be a problem.
Pressure washing is considered the recommended choice for severe stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the recommended process for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing service in Pasadena might use a combination of detergents and water pressure to get rid of problematic stains, but they need to tell you if they are going to be using chemicals during your estimate.
It can be used on siding as well (and has been for several years) so long as it is done safely. Powerful water pressure can break weak or small pieces of vinyl. A local service that does power washing all the time will know how to protect weak areas, but a first-timer 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 might ruin these materials and require you to replace your roof a lot earlier than expected.
Deciding between soft washing or power washing is best left for a professional pressure washing service. Which method is right for your home? Give Pasadena Pressure Washing a call at 818-369-3550 and we’ll send a trained technician over to take a look!