Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

It is shocking just how dirty the exterior of your home can get during a year. Some of the most typical stains include dirt or mud splatter, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give your home an unkempt, uncared for appearance, even though you invest a lot of time, money and maintenance into it.

Some of these materials, like dirt, don’t do much harm, but algae and mold can be harmful 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 and enter into your home.

As a professional pressure washing company in Lexington, we recommend that 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 cleaning, but you can do it any time throughout the year as long as the weather allows.

WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?

All of the following surfaces need to be cleaned from time to time:

• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt

Pressure washing used to be the only method to properly clean vinyl, brick and painted surfaces. Now, homeowners in Lexington have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.

Like the names imply, one method is a lot gentler than the other one, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s go over the features of each to help you judge which is best for your home.

WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?

The soft wash system uses much less pressure 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 generated from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only slightly more powerful than a standard backyard garden hose.

Soft washing uses a mixture of detergent, bleach and water in some combination to get rid of organic matter from your home, roof and other outdoor surfaces. The solution used in a soft washing system can include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will 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 is required. This means that soft washing should be used for delicate surfaces that could otherwise be harmed by more powerful pressure washing.

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

Soft washing provides the distinct advantage of reaching down into small cracks to eliminate even unseen bacteria, meaning that its results can last much longer than pressure washing.

WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?

Pressure washing has always been the standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is very effective and fast, which is why many home and business owners still prefer it.

This cleaning system uses water only, there are no chemicals, to eliminate stains and mold from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a significant advantage to home and business owners that don’t want to use chemicals, either for the environment’s sake or to avoid zoning violations.

It can be used on a lot of different materials. Home and business owners choose pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and patio furniture because it is fast, efficient and cost-effective.

Pressure washing needs 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 sprayed from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and renewing the appearance of your home.

One negative about pressure washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and lead to damaging the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is powerful enough to cut deep grooves in 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 homeowners is, “Is pressure washing or soft washing better?”

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 – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the pros.

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

It kills organisms that are present on the surface, and it prevents future growth for much longer than pressure washing can.

A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plants under the surface that you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water before putting the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it probably won’t be a problem.

Pressure washing is the best choice for difficult stains, and harder surfaces like asphalt, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the preferred method for commercial properties. A local pressure washing company in Lexington might use a mixture of detergents and water pressure to eliminate difficult stains, but they should tell you if they are going to be spraying chemicals during your estimate.

It can be used on siding as well (and has been for decades) as long as it is done safely. High water pressure can break weak or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A service that does pressure washing all the time are going to know how to protect fragile areas, but a amateur might do a lot of damage.

Your home’s roof is off limits for pressure washing if you have slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The extreme pressure of the water will likely damage these materials and cause you to replace your home’s roof far faster than expected.

Choosing between pressure washing or soft washing is best left for a professional pressure washing company. Which method is right for your home? Give Lexington Pressure Washing a call at 859-208-1266 and we’ll send an experienced technician over to take a look!