Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing
It is shocking just how dirty the exterior of your house can get over a year. Some of the most typical stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These things can give your house an unkempt, uncared for look, regardless of if you invest time, money and care into it.
Some of these materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mold can be destructive to your health and to your house. These contaminants create allergens and bacteria that can affect your family, and some, like algae, can grow underneath vinyl or roofing and enter into your house.
As a professional pressure washing service in Roswell, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. Spring is the most common time of the year to do an extreme home washing, but you can really do it any time throughout the year so long as the weather allows.
WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?
All of the following surfaces need to be cleaned from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Pressure washing used to be the only way to properly clean vinyl, brick and painted surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners in Roswell have another option for exterior house cleaning: soft washing.
As the names imply, one method is a lot gentler than the other one, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s look at the features of each to help you decide which one is the right choice for your house.
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 lower spray is generated from a nozzle with a wider spray option, only slightly more powerful than a standard backyard hose.
Soft washing uses a mixture of detergent, bleach and water in some combination to get rid of organic matter from your home, roof and other outdoor surfaces. The solution used in a soft washing process can include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help deter 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 should be used for more delicate surfaces that might otherwise be damaged by more powerful pressure washing.
The soft wash solution is sometimes rinsed 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 might be impacted by the solution runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to harm surfaces over time.
Soft washing provides the advantage of reaching into small cracks and crevices to eliminate unseen bacteria, meaning that its effects can last much longer than standard pressure washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has long been the standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is very effective and quick, which is why many home and business owners still prefer it.
This cleaning process uses water only, no chemicals, to get rid of stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of chemical-free water is a major plus to property owners that don’t want to use chemicals, whether for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.
The pressure washing process can be used on a lot of different materials. Home owners frequently choose pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, walkways and patio furniture because it is fast, more efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing uses somewhere 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, prohibiting their growth and renewing the curb appeal of your house.
One negative about pressure washing is that the water can sometimes be too powerful and can damage the surfaces you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to cut grooves into 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 homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing methods are good choices for your home’s exterior, as well as sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be done by a professional – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the experts.
Soft washing is perfect for outdoor play sets, yard tools, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm wood and plastic. It’s also a safe and smart choice for vinyl siding.
It kills organisms that are present on the surface, and it stops future growth for much longer than pressure washing can.
A disadvantage of soft washing is that it can kill plants under the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water before spraying the soft wash solution on your house or roof, and it won’t be an issue.
Pressure washing is considered the recommended choice for severe stains, and hard surfaces like concrete, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the preferred process for commercial surfaces. A professional pressure washing service in Roswell might use a mixture of detergents and water pressure to eliminate tough stains, but they should let you know if they are going to be using chemicals during your consultation.
It can also be used on siding too (and has been for decades) so long as it is done safely. High water pressure can break off weak or smaller pieces of vinyl. A local service that does pressure washing all the time will know how to protect vulnerable areas, but a first-timer can do a lot of harm.
Your home’s roof is definitely off limits for pressure washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The pressure of the water will likely damage these materials and require you to replace your home’s roof a lot faster than expected.
Deciding between soft washing or pressure washing is best left for a pressure washing service. Which process is right for your house? Give Roswell Pressure Washing a call at 678-672-3788 and we’ll send a trained technician over to take a look!