Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It’s shocking how dirty the exterior of your home can get over the course of a year. Some of the most common stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These types of stains can give any home an unkempt, uncared for look, regardless of whether you invest time, money and maintenance into it.
Some of these materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be damaging to both your health and your home. They produce allergens 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 Pomona, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. The spring season is the most popular time of the year to do an extreme home washing, but you can really do it any time so long as the weather permits.
WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?
All of the following home surfaces need to be cleaned from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Power washing used to be the only option to properly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted home surfaces. Now, homeowners have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
Like the names suggest, one method is a lot gentler than the other, but there’s more to it than that. Let’s cover the features of each 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 maximum water pressure used 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 lawn hose.
Soft washing uses detergent, bleach and water in combination to get rid of organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other surfaces. The cleaning mixture used in a soft washing process can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will prevent further growth of these types of organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not water pressure, are responsible for cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water is needed. This means that soft washing can be used for delicate surfaces that could otherwise be harmed by higher pressure washing.
The soft wash solution is sometimes cleaned off, but not all of the time. This just depends on the type of solution is used in the process, if there is plant or animal life that could be affected by the solution runoff, and if the solution itself is strong enough to harm surfaces over time.
Soft washing provides the distinct advantage of reaching down into cracks to kill even unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last longer than traditional power washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has always been the standard for cleaning home exterior surfaces. It is very effective and efficient, which is why most home and business owners still prefer it over soft washing.
This cleaning method uses water only, no chemicals, to eliminate stains and mildew from home exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a major advantage to home 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 a lot of different materials. Home owners choose power washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is fast, efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing needs anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out of a small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic materials are blasted from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and renewing the curb appeal of your home.
One negative about power washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can harm the surfaces you want to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to cut deep grooves in wood and plastic, and it can get into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The obvious question for most homeowners is, “Is pressure washing or soft washing better?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing are good choices for your home’s exterior, including sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be done by a professional company – and honestly, are more effectively done when left to the pros.
Soft washing is excellent for outdoor toys, gardening equipment, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm wood and plastic. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.
It removes organisms that are present on the surface, and it stops future growth for longer than power washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life underneath the surface that you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water before applying the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it shouldn’t be an issue.
Pressure washing is considered the best choice for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the recommended method for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing company in Pomona might use a combination of detergents and water pressure to get rid of tough stains, but they need to tell you if they are going to be using chemicals during your estimate.
It can also be used for siding too (and has been for decades) so long as it is done carefully. Powerful water pressure can break off fragile or small pieces of the vinyl. A service that does power washing all the time will know how to protect weak pieces, but a first-timer can do a lot of harm.
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 will likely damage these materials and require you to replace your home’s roof much earlier than expected.
Deciding between soft washing or power washing is best left for a pressure washing company. Which process is right for your home? Give Pomona Pressure Washing a call at 909-265-7782 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!