Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is surprising just how dirty the exterior of your home can get over the course of a year. Some of the most typical stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These types of stains will give any home an unkempt, messy appearance, regardless of whether you invest a lot of time, money and maintenance into it.
Some materials, like dirt or mud, are harmless, but algae and mold can be destructive to your health and your home. They produce allergens that can affect your family, and some of them, like algae, can grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter your home.
As a professional pressure washing company in St Petersburg, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. The spring season is typically the most popular time of the year to do an extreme home exterior washing, but you can do it any time as long as the weather allows.
WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?
All of the following home surfaces need to be pressure washed 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, brick and painted home 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, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s look at 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 process uses much less pressure than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The maximum water pressure in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lighter spray is generated from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only slightly more powerful than your standard backyard garden hose.
Soft washing uses soap, bleach and water in combination to eliminate organic matter from your home, roof and other outdoor surfaces. The solution used in a soft washing system can include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will deter further growth of these organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not pressure, are responsible for cleaning the exterior surfaces, no powerful water is necessary. This means that soft washing can be used for fragile surfaces that might otherwise be harmed by more powerful pressure washing.
The soft wash solution is sometimes washed off, but not every time. 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 solution runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to damage surfaces over time.
Soft washing offers the advantage of reaching down into cracks and crevices to kill unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last longer than traditional pressure washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has long been the gold standard for cleaning home exterior surfaces. It is extremely effective and fast, which is why many home and business owners prefer it over soft washing.
This cleaning process uses water only, no chemicals, to get rid of stains and organisms from home exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a big plus to property owners that don’t want to use 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 pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is quick, efficient and affordable.
Pressure washing requires somewhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water sprayed out from a small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic stains are sprayed from your home’s exterior surface, stopping their growth and restoring the curb appeal of your home.
One drawback to pressure washing is that the water can sometimes be too powerful and lead to damaging the surfaces you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to put 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 ultimate 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 cleaning systems can be performed by a professional company – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the pros.
Soft washing is great for outdoor play sets, gardening tools, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is less likely to damage plastic and wood. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.
It eliminates organisms that are present on the exterior surface, and it stops future growth for longer than pressure washing can.
A disadvantage of soft washing is that it can kill plants under 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 an issue.
Pressure washing is the preferred method for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the preferred process for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing company in St Petersburg may use a combination of chemicals and water pressure to remove tough stains, but they should let you know if they will be using chemicals during your estimate.
It can also be used on siding too (and has been for decades) as long as it is done safely. High water pressure can damage weak or small pieces of the vinyl. A service that does pressure washing all the time will know how to protect fragile areas, but a DIYer can do a lot of damage.
Your home’s roof is off limits for pressure washing if there are slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The extreme pressure of the water might ruin these materials and require you to replace your roof a lot sooner than expected.
Choosing between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a professional pressure washing company. Which process is right for your home? Give St. Pete’s Pressure WashCo. a call at 727-235-7477 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!