Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It is shocking just how dirty the outside of your house can get during the course of a year. Some of the most common stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These things can give your house an unkempt, uncared for look, regardless of whether you invest a lot of time and care into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be damaging to your health and your house. They produce allergens and bacteria that can affect your family, and some of them, like algae, can grow underneath vinyl or roofing and enter into your house.

As a professional power washing company in Jacksonville, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. The spring season is the most popular time to do an extreme home exterior washing, but you can really 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 power washed from time to time:

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

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

Like the names imply, one method is a lot gentler than the other one, but there’s more to it than just that. Let’s review the features of each to help you determine which one is best for your house.

WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?

The soft wash method 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 created from a nozzle with a wider spray option, only a little more powerful than a typical backyard hose.

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

Because chemicals, not pressure, are key to cleaning the exterior surfaces, no powerful water is required. This means that soft washing should be used for more fragile surfaces that could otherwise be damaged by higher 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 might be impacted by the solution runoff, and if the solution itself is powerful enough to harm surfaces over time.

Soft washing provides the distinct advantage of getting down into cracks and crevices to eliminate unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last much longer than traditional power washing.

WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?

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

This cleaning method uses water only, no chemicals, to get rid of stains and mold from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a big plus to home and business owners who don’t want to use chemicals, whether for the environment’s sake or to avoid zoning violations.

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

Pressure washing uses 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 blasted from your home’s exterior surface, preventing their growth and renewing the curb appeal of your house.

One drawback to power washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and lead to damaging the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is powerful 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 obvious question for most homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”

Both soft washing and pressure washing are good for your home’s exterior, including sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be performed by a professional – and honestly, are more effectively done when left to the experts.

Soft washing is excellent for outdoor play equipment, yard equipment, shingle roofs, 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 removes organisms that are present on the exterior surface, and it prevents future growth for much longer than power washing can.

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

Pressure washing is considered the preferred method for severe stains, and hard surfaces like asphalt, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended choice for commercial properties. A local pressure washing company in Jacksonville might use a combination of detergents and water pressure to eliminate problematic stains, but they need to tell you if they are going to be spraying chemicals after your consultation.

It can also be used on siding as well (and has been for several years) as long as it is done safely. High water pressure can break off weak or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A service that does power washing often are going to know how to protect fragile areas, but a DIYer might do a lot of harm.

Your home’s roof is off limits for power washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The extreme pressure of the water can damage these materials and require you to replace your home’s roof a lot earlier than expected.

Choosing between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a pressure washing company. Which method is right for your house? Give DBC Jacksonville Pressure Washing a call at 910-400-1047 and we will send an experienced technician over to take a look!