Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It’s shocking just how dirty the siding, wood or brick of your home can get over a year. Some of the most typical stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give any home an unkempt, messy appearance, even though you invest time, money and maintenance into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt or mud, are harmless, but algae and mold can be damaging to both your health and to your home. These contaminants create allergens that can impact your family, and some of them, like algae, can even grow underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter your home.

As a professional pressure washing service in Hollywood, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. The spring season is the most common time of the year to do an intense home cleaning, but you can do it any time so long as the weather permits.

WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?

All of the following home surfaces need to be pressure 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 Hollywood have another option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.

Like the names suggest, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s more to it than just that. Let’s go over the features of each method to help you judge which one is best 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 used in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lighter spray is generated from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only slightly more powerful than your typical backyard hose.

Soft washing uses soap, bleach and water in combination to remove organic matter from your home, roof and other exterior surfaces. The solution used in a soft washing system can also include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help stop further growth of these types of 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 can be used for more fragile surfaces that might otherwise be damaged by more powerful pressure washing equipment.

The soft wash chemicals are sometimes washed off, but not all of the time. This just depends on what type of chemicals are used, if there’s plant or animal life that could be impacted by the runoff, and if the solution itself is strong enough to damage surfaces over time.

Soft washing offers the advantage of reaching into cracks to eliminate even unseen bacteria, meaning that its impact can last much longer than traditional pressure 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 a lot of home and business owners still prefer it.

This particular cleaning method uses water only, there are no chemicals, to get rid of stains and mold from home exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a significant advantage to home and business owners who 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 many different materials. Home owners choose pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and patio 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 small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic stains are blasted from your home’s surface, prohibiting their growth and restoring the appearance of your home.

One negative about pressure washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can damage the surfaces you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to put deep grooves into wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.

IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?

The obvious question for homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”

Both soft washing and pressure washing 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 company – and truthfully, are more correctly done when left to the pros.

Soft washing is perfect for outdoor toys, yard tools, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to damage plastic and wood. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.

It removes organisms currently present on the surface, and it stops future growth for much longer than pressure washing can.

A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life underneath the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water before spraying the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it probably shouldn’t be a problem.

Pressure washing is considered the recommended method for severe stains, and harder surfaces like concrete, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the preferred choice for commercial properties. A local pressure washing service in Hollywood may use a combination of chemicals and water pressure to get rid of difficult stains, but they should let you know if they will be using chemicals during your consultation.

It can be used for siding as well (and has been for several years) so long as it is done carefully. High water pressure can break fragile or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A company that does pressure washing often are going to know how to protect these 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 can damage these materials and cause you to replace your roof far earlier than expected.

Deciding between soft washing or pressure washing is best left for a pressure washing service. Which process is right for your home? Give TLC Hollywood Pressure Washing a call at 954-231-0611 and we’ll send an experienced technician over to take a look!