Pressure Washing Vs. Soft Washing

A professional pressure washing can achieve some really dramatic results. Watching that layer of dirt wash away is a pretty satisfying experience. Where regular cleaning and maintenance falls short, only pressure washing can take care of built-up grime.

While researching cleaning companies, you may come across services advertised as power washing, pressure washing, and soft washing. If you don't know the differences between these terms, then don't worry, you're not alone. 

Power washing blasts water at a high pressure using hot water, while pressure washing blasts water at a high pressure without hot water. Lastly, soft washing is similar to pressure washing, however the pressure per square inch, or PSI, is lowered to less than 500, making it safer to use on less durable surfaces. Let's learn what these services are all about.

Pressure washing and power washing sound like the same thing, but there are a few distinctions. Power washing utilizes the same idea of blasting water at a high pressure, only with hot water. This sets power washing apart because the hot water not only acts to sanitize surfaces, it is also superior at breaking down organic materials.

Power washing machines are usually heavier duty machines, as well. You can't acquire a professional-strength power washer, nor should you. These are extremely dangerous to you and your property without training. Additionally, power washing is mainly for outdoor cleaning of driveways, stone walls, and rough concrete. These machines are more commonly seen in commercial and industrial settings.

Pressure washing is an extremely effective solution for cleaning various surfaces of the home, and unlike power washers, pressure washers don't heat up water. However, the pressure is still high enough to be dangerous. Amateurs often learn the hard way about the cutting power of a pressure washer. Water is being pushed out at such a high rate, it can cut through a finger to the bone in a split-second. According to Nerdist, it can also do stuff like carve a pumpkin or descale a fish at 60,000 PSI, for example.

With that being said, special care must also be taken when pressure washing home sidings. You need to be at the correct distance to avoid wearing down vinyl sidings, wood shingles, and other types of susceptible house siding. Pressure washing is meant to clean walking surfaces, decks, stone pathways, patio furniture, and so forth. Anything that is hard, but has deep grooves that allow dirt to be embedded is a great candidate for pressure washing. 

Now, you may be thinking that soft washing has nothing to do with pressure washing. Ironically, pressure washers are used to soft wash, but they are modified to lower the PSI, or pressure per square inch.

Soft washing is done using less than 1000 PSI for rinsing or cleaning application. The tip of the pressure washer is replaced with one that widens the spray, therefore dropping the point of pressure. On top of this, soft washing utilizes special cleaning solutions to break down dirt and organisms living on surfaces. These cleaning solutions are eco-friendly and will not strip protective coatings on your home's exterior. Soft washing methods are preferred in a variety of situations over pressure washing, including on surfaces like:

• Cedar shake siding
• Wood panel siding
• Outdoor rooted plants
• Stucco and coquina
• Outdoor wood furniture
• Screens, enclosures, and lanais
• Vinyl siding

The type of washing is going to depend on how your home is built, the materials used, and its surroundings. Typically, you'll be getting one or the other done to your home, that is, unless you're getting your entire home done top to bottom. In that case, you're going to want a soft wash for the roof, windows, and sidings and a pressure wash for your driveway, walkways and patios. Overall, the job would need to be broken into two phases — the first phase would be pressure washing all the hard surfaces, and the second phase of soft washing would require changing out the cleaning solution and nozzle for the rest of the home.

Giving your home or business a deep cleaning is important — but not just for aesthetics. Your health is impacted by the long-term build-up of dirt, mold, pollen, algae, and decaying matter, too. All that stuff piles up over time in between cracks, underneath sidings, around stones, and on patio furniture. 

According to Homes.com, depending on where you live and what your landscape looks like, mold and mildew can settle on surfaces like your roof and cause allergies and asthma. All these contaminants embed themselves into your exterior surfaces where the garden hose can't penetrate and standard cleaning soaps don't do enough, either. The end result is you getting sick more often and not even realizing the source. This is why investing in a professional cleaner is worth every penny.

The short answer is "yes." The question that should be asked is "should you?" Pressure washers can be rented at your local home supply store, but they require care, experience, and skill to operate effectively. As for attempting to soft wash your home by yourself, you run into similar hazards with no experience.

If you go down this route, you'll need to use the right chemicals, equipment, and have the nozzle that allows you to soft wash. These chemicals are very strong, so you have to use the correct dilution to get results without leaving a film or damage to the surface. We know there are some very adamant DIY'ers out there who live for the challenge and want to save money on home projects. But, we ask you to reconsider this project and hire a professional. You'll get it done faster, restore surfaces to “like-new” conditions, and you won't risk property damage.

Cleaning the outside of a home or business is a big job. You can easily spend a whole week trying to tackle it alone. Throw in some bad weather and the sun's unrelenting rays and you have a recipe for frustration.

It's much harder to focus on what you're doing, especially if it's with something like soft washing or pressure washing. That's when mistakes are made, which can mean bad news for you or and your wallet.

Take a break and let the professionals handle all the outside cleaning and detailing. At Labor Panes, we pride ourselves on being perfectionists, and we offer a wide range of services, including window washing and gutter cleaning. Call us today to get a free quote and quick service in your area.