Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is amazing just how dirty the exterior of your house can get throughout a year. Some of the most common stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These stains can give your house an unkempt, uncared for appearance, regardless of whether you invest time and maintenance into it.
Some materials, like dirt, don’t do much harm, but algae and mildew can be destructive to both your health and to your house. These contaminants create allergens and bacteria that can impact your family, and some, like algae, can grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter into your house.
As a professional power washing service in Mission Viejo, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. The spring season is typically the most popular time to do an intense 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 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 method to properly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted home surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners have a second option for exterior house cleaning: soft washing.
As the names imply, one method is a lot gentler than the other, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s go over the features of each method to help you decide which one is best for your house.
WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?
The soft wash process 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 your standard backyard hose.
Soft washing uses a mixture of soap, bleach and water in some combination to get rid of organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other surfaces. The cleaning solution used in a soft washing process can include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help 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 pressure is required. This means that soft washing can be used for 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 what type of solution is used, if there is plant or animal life that might be impacted by the runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to damage surfaces over time.
Soft washing provides the advantage of reaching into cracks to kill unseen organisms, meaning that its results can last a lot longer than traditional power washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has long been the gold standard for cleaning home exterior surfaces. It is very effective and quick, which is why most home and business owners still prefer it over soft washing.
This cleaning process uses water only, there are no chemicals, to clean off stains and organisms from home exterior surfaces. The use of chemical-free water is a significant plus to property owners who don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, either for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.
It can be used on many different materials. Home and business owners prefer power washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, walkways and outdoor furniture because it is quick, efficient and affordable.
Pressure washing needs anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out from a small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic stains are sprayed from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and restoring the curb appeal of your house.
One negative about power 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 put deep grooves in wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off chunks of stone or brick.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The real question for most homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing are good for your home’s exterior, as well as sidewalks, driveways and more. Both 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 play sets, yard tools, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to damage plastic and wood. 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 a lot longer than power washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plants underneath the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water before spraying the soft wash solution on your house or roof, and it probably shouldn’t be an issue.
Pressure washing is the recommended method for difficult stains, and hard surfaces like asphalt, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended process for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing service in Mission Viejo may use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to get rid of difficult stains, but they should tell you if they are going to be using chemicals after your estimate.
It can also be used for siding too (and has been for decades) so long as it is done correctly. High water pressure can break fragile or small pieces of the vinyl. A service that does power washing all the time are going to know how to protect vulnerable areas, but a amateur could do a lot of damage.
Your home’s roof is off limits for power 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 roof a lot earlier than expected.
Choosing between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a professional pressure washing service. Which process is right for your house? Give Mission Viejo Pressure Washing a call at 949-284-2602 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!