When Power Washing is NOT the Solution and Soft Washing is
It’s time to power wash your siding and roofing, right? Nope. Power washing can be too harsh for these surfaces and actually cause more harm than good. Soft washing is a much better option in this case because it is gentler on the surface of your home or business. In this post, we discuss the main differences between the two methods and when one should be used over the other.
What is Soft Washing?
This method requires a traditional pressure washer; however, you attach a wide spray tip at the end of the hose before spraying. This causes the spray to be gentler and therefore more suitable for surfaces like siding, roofing and window sills.
How Does Soft Washing Work?
A professional soft wash technician will usually start by gently spraying nearby vegetation with water to protect them from chemical exposure. Then, they apply the specialized cleaning detergents (which contain bleach, water, and surfactants) to the entire surface area using a wide spray tip attached to the end of a pressure washer. This allows for a gentler clean with lower psi levels.
The detergents sit on the surface for 10-15 minutes so they can fully break down the contaminants. Then, the technician rinses them away, leaving behind a fresh surface!
Materials That Love a Good Soft Wash
Materials that are easily dented, splintered, or shattered must be soft washed. These include:
- Asphalt roof shingles
- Glass windows
- Windowsills
- Vinyl siding
- Soffit
- Wood decks and patios
What is Pressure Washing?
This method uses a high-pressure spray with psi levels of anywhere from 1,300 to 2,800 to remove dirt, grime, mold spores, and oils from exterior surfaces. Unlike power washing, pressure washing does not use heated water; it just uses high water pressure to get the job done.
Materials That Love Pressure Washing
This technique works best on materials like concrete that are less vulnerable to damage by the pressure washer’s powerful jets of water. Other materials that love a good pressure wash include:
- Concrete
- Asphalt
- Brick
Can I Do it Myself?
We strongly recommend hiring a professional to take care of your pressure and soft wash jobs. Doing it yourself can be more expensive than you think, and if you don’t have the right equipment or training to do it correctly, there’s a big risk that you’ll damage your property.
Hiring a professional is always better than risking it yourself! To learn more about the benefits of hiring a professional, check out our next blog article “5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Power Washing Company.”
The Ultimate Decision: Pressure Wash vs. Soft Wash
After reading this article, we hope you have a little better understanding of two of the most popular exterior maintenance techniques. If, however, you still have questions about which method is best for your needs, feel free to give us a call today! We’ll even give you a free, no-obligation estimate during your phone call.
