Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is shocking just how dirty the exterior of your home can get throughout 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 your home an unkempt, uncared for look, regardless of whether you invest time, money and maintenance into it.
Some of these materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be harmful to your health and to your home. They produce allergens that can impact your family, and some, like algae, can grow directly underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter into your home.
As a professional power washing company in Concord, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once a year. The spring season is typically the most popular time of the year 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 power washed from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Pressure washing used to be the only method to thoroughly clean vinyl siding, brick and painted home surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners in Concord have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
As the names suggest, one method is much 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 home.
WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?
The soft wash method uses less power than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The maximum water pressure in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lower spray is created from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only slightly more powerful than your backyard hose.
Soft washing uses soap, bleach and water in some combination to remove organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other outdoor surfaces. The cleaning mixture used in a soft washing system can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will slow further growth of these organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not pressure, are key to cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water pressure is needed. This means that soft washing should be used for more delicate surfaces that could otherwise be harmed by harsher pressure washing.
The soft wash chemicals are sometimes cleaned off, but not every time. This just depends on the type of chemicals are used in the process, if there is plant or animal life that could be impacted by the runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to damage surfaces over time.
Soft washing offers the advantage of reaching into small cracks to eliminate unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last much longer than standard power washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has always been the gold standard for cleaning home exterior surfaces. It is extremely effective and fast, which is why most home and business owners still prefer it.
This particular cleaning method 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 major advantage to property owners who don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, whether for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.
It can be used on several different materials. Home owners choose power washing for cleaning their driveway, patio, decks, sidewalks and patio furniture because it is quick, more efficient and affordable.
Pressure washing requires anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water sprayed out of a small nozzle for maximum power. Both organic and inorganic materials are blasted from your home’s surface, prohibiting their growth and restoring the appearance of your home.
One negative about power washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can damage the surfaces you want to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to cut grooves into wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off pieces of brick or stone.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The real 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 of these cleaning systems can be performed by a professional company – and truthfully, are more correctly done when left to the experts.
Soft washing is excellent for outdoor toys, gardening equipment, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to damage wood and plastic. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.
It kills organisms that are present on the surface, and it stops future growth for much longer than power 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 putting the soft wash solution on your home or roof, and it won’t be an issue.
Pressure washing is the best method for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended process for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing company in Concord might use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to remove difficult stains, but they need to let you know if they will be using chemicals during your consultation.
It can also be used for siding too (and has been for several years) so long as it is done carefully. High water pressure can damage weak or small pieces of the vinyl. A company that does power washing often are going to know how to protect these pieces, but a first-timer might do a lot of damage.
Your home’s roof is off limits for power washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The high pressure of the water can ruin these materials and require you to replace your roof much earlier than expected.
Deciding between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a pressure washing company. Which process is right for your home? Give Concord Pressure Washing a call at 704-327-0342 and we will send an experienced technician over to take a look!