Soft washing vs Pressure Washing
While pressure washing is highly effective in certain situations, this doesn't always mean it’s the safest or most effective choice. When it comes to keeping your home clean and well-maintained, in many cases, soft washing is the better option, and at Andy’s Clean on Wheels, we can assist you with making the right decision for your home and property.
Knowing and understanding the difference between soft washing and pressure washing will help protect your home’s exterior while achieving long-lasting results.
What is Pressure Washing?
Pressure washing is great for tough, stuck-on grime as it uses highly pressurized water. It can remove dirt, grime, mud, stains and other debris from hard surfaces. The powerful stream of water can quickly, and easily restore the appearance of brick, concrete and other durable materials.
Pressure washing is most commonly used for:
Sidewalks
Driveways
Patios
Retaining Walls
Garage Floors
Concrete Pool Decks
Due to the amount of force used when pressure washing, it’s best used on tough surfaces that can withstand the intense cleaning, without damage.
What is Soft Washing?
Soft washing uses low-pressure water, mixed with specialized cleaning solutions to remove dirt, mold, algae, moss, bacteria, mildew and more from delicate surfaces.
Unlike pressure washing, soft washing doesn’t rely on force to blast the grime away, but instead focuses on breaking down the organic contaminants before they are gently rinsed away.
Soft washing is most commonly used for:
Vinyl Siding
Stucco
Roof Shingles
Wood Fencing
Painted Surfaces
Composite Decking
This method provides a deeper clean by targeting the root cause of the staining instead of simply providing a surface clean.
Which Surfaces Should be Soft Washed?
Most homeowners would be surprised to learn that the majority of their concerns can be addressed by soft washing, especially when dealing with the following surfaces:
Roofs
Black streaks and discolouration are often caused by algae growth and buildup. Pressure washing could damage the shingles and reduce their lifespan. With soft washing, the chemicals help break down the growth and gently remove the algae and stains caused by discolouration, all while also helping prevent new growth.
Vinyl Siding
While tough, vinyl siding should be soft washed rather than pressure washed, as pressure washing can push water behind the panels, potentially leading to water damage or mold growth. Soft washing gently cleans the siding without added risk.
Stucco and Painted Surfaces
Surfaces like these can chip and crack when exposed to excessive pressure like that from pressure washing.
Which Surfaces Should be Pressure Washed?
Pressure washing is great for hard exterior surfaces, and remains the preferred choice for durable surfaces such as the following examples:
Concrete Driveways
Brick Patios
Walkways
Stone Surfaces
Retaining Walls
These materials can handle higher pressure and benefit from the aggressive cleaning power behind pressure washing.
Which Cleaning Method Lasts Longer?
For surfaces affected by organic materials such as algae, mold, mildew and bacteria, soft washing often provides longer-lasting results by targeting the root cause.
Pressure washing removes visible growth from the surface, where soft washing removes the growth and treats the underlying organic materials that cause the staining, helping to delay regrowth.
As a result, homes that are soft washed frequently stay cleaner for longer compared to surfaces that are cleaned by pressure washing alone.
Common Exterior Cleaning Mistakes
Many homeowners that DIY exterior cleaning may unknowingly damage their exterior by using excessive force on delicate surfaces.
Common mistakes include:
Pressure washing roof shingles
Pressure washing vinyl siding
Forcing water behind side panelling
Damaging stucco or painted surfaces
Attempting to remove algae without the proper treatment solutions
Choosing the correct cleaning method helps to avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your property’s exterior.
Which Cleaning Service is Right for Your Property?
Choose pressure washing if you need to clean:
Driveways
Sidewalks
Patios
Concrete Surfaces
Choose soft washing if you need to clean:
Vinyl Siding
Stucco
Roofs
Areas affected by organic growths such as mold, algae or mildew
Painted Surfaces
Professional Exterior Cleaning Services by Andy’s Clean on Wheels
At Andy’s Clean on Wheels we know that every property is different, and that's why we offer free quoting services, so you can make the right decision for your property. The safest and most effective cleaning method will depend on the surface material, type of staining present, and the overall condition of the area being cleaned.
If you’re unsure whether your home requires soft washing or pressure washing, contact our team at Andy’s Clean on Wheels for a professional assessment. We’ll recommend the best solution to restore your homes curb appeal, while protecting your investment.
