What is The Difference Between Pressure Washing & Soft Washing?
Keeping the exterior of your home clean and maintained is a crucial part of home ownership. Dirty or grimy exteriors can lead to many costly and time extensive issues and damages. There are several ways to ensure the exterior of your home is kept in pristine condition, two of which that are relied heavily on: pressure washing and soft washing. Written down these two things may seem identical, but there are many key differences that are important to note to ensure you’re using the correct method to upkeep and maintain the exterior of your home.
Pressure washing, as its name suggests, is the use of highly pressurized water, sprayed over a surface (in this case your home’s exterior), to clean off dirt, grim, and debris among other things. Pressure washing is highly effective at removing hard stains, paint, and other undesirable things that collect on surfaces. By releasing water at 2,500 PSI (pounds per square inch), this can help you to quickly and efficiently complete your project. The effectiveness that this method cleans at also comes at a cost, though. By using a pressure washing system you’re risking damaging your home if not properly trained and knowledgeable on how to operate it. Pressure washing can easily break through windows, or damage siding if not properly used. It can also cause cracks to increase in size, and can lead to the possibility of water entering your structure which can result in expensive and devastating problems.
Many things can help determine whether you should add pressure washing to your home exterior maintenance routine, such as climate, your home’s material, and cleanliness or dirtiness of your home. Pressure washing may be a good option for you if you’re planning on using it on surfaces such as concrete sidewalks, driveways, or walkways. Pressure washing is also a good option for cleaning paved patios, as well as brick, stone, and other similar material that will be able to hold up to the power.
Soft washing is an equally as effective form of exterior cleaning. Unlike power washing, which expels water at 2,500 PSI, soft washing expels water at only 1,000 PSI. Soft washing relies on the power of chemicals to clean dirty surfaces as opposed to pressurized water. There are specific, and formulated detergents that are used for soft washing that help peel away dirt and grime and leave your surface looking brand new. This form of washing does not carry the same risks of destruction that power washing does, but it does require you to handle and use powerful detergents and chemicals, which carries risks in and of itself.
Soft washing may be the best option for you if you’re needing to wash more fragile surfaces such as cedar shake and wood panel siding. Soft washing is also a good form of cleaning for screens, or screen enclosures, and stucco siding. By using soft washing you’re not risking the integrity of these materials and surfaces.
Contact us today at Under-Pressure Steam & Clean for a free quote!