Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It’s surprising just how dirty the siding, wood or brick of your home can get over the course of a year. Some of the most typical stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These types of stains can give any home an unkempt, messy look, even though you invest time and care into it.
Some materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be destructive to your health and to 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 into your home.
As a professional pressure washing company in San Leandro, we recommend that you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. Spring is typically the most popular time of the year to do an extreme home cleaning, 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 pressure washed from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Power washing used to be the only way to properly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted surfaces. Now, homeowners have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
Like the names imply, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s 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 method uses less pressure than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The maximum water pressure in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lower spray is generated from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only a little more powerful than your backyard lawn hose.
Soft washing uses a mixture of soap, bleach and water in combination to eliminate organic matter from your home, roof and other exterior surfaces. The cleaning solution used in a soft washing system can include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help 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 could otherwise be harmed by harsher pressure washing equipment.
The soft wash solution is sometimes washed off, but not all of the time. This just depends on the type of solution is used in the process, if there’s plant or animal life that can be affected by the runoff, and if the solution itself is strong enough to damage surfaces over time.
Soft washing offers the distinct advantage of reaching into cracks and crevices to eliminate unseen organisms, meaning that its results can last much longer than traditional pressure washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has always been the standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is highly effective and efficient, which is why a lot of home and business owners prefer it over soft washing.
This cleaning method uses water only, there are no chemicals, to get rid of stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a major plus to home 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 prefer pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is quick, more efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing needs anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out of a tiny nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic stains are sprayed from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and restoring the appearance of your home.
One negative about pressure washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can harm the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to cut grooves in 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 cleaning systems can be performed by a professional – and honestly, are more effectively done when left to the pros.
Soft washing is perfect for outdoor play sets, yard tools, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is less likely to damage plastic and wood. It’s also a safe and smart choice for vinyl siding.
It removes organisms currently present on the surface, and it prevents future growth for much longer than pressure washing can.
A disadvantage of soft washing is that it can kill plants underneath the surface that you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water before spraying the soft wash solution on your home or roof, and it shouldn’t be an issue.
Pressure washing is considered the best method for severe stains, and hard surfaces like asphalt, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the preferred process for commercial surfaces. A professional pressure washing company in San Leandro may use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to clean offf problematic stains, but they need to tell you if they will be spraying chemicals after your estimate.
It can be used on siding as well (and has been for several years) so long as it is done carefully. High water pressure can damage fragile or smaller pieces of vinyl. A service that does pressure 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 off limits for pressure washing if there are slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The pressure of the water could damage these materials and cause you to replace your roof much faster than expected.
Deciding between soft washing or pressure washing is best left for a pressure washing company. Which process is right for your home? Give San Leandro Pressure Washing a call at 510-256-7870 and we’ll send an experienced technician over to take a look!