If your property’s exterior has become dirty, the logical thing to do is clean it. The question is, though, what’s the best way to do this? Chances are, you’ve heard of a few different surface cleaning techniques. For example, pressure washing and soft washing techniques are both used to restore home and business exteriors—but what’s the difference? In this blog, we’ll compare pressure washing vs. soft washing, help you figure out which technique works best for your project, and discover additional benefits of these processes.
Who are we? We are Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash, and it’s our pleasure to teach you more about exterior cleaning. Remember, if you ever need our help, give us a call. We are prepared to attend to all your pressure washing and soft washing needs.
Why Clean Property Exteriors?
Before digging into the intricacies of pressure washing vs. soft washing, let’s answer a pressing question. Why do you need pressure washing or soft washing at all? What makes these techniques so important for your home or business? Over time, exterior surfaces accumulate debris, which includes substances such as dirt, moss, mold, algae, pollen, dead insects, bird droppings, grease, and much more. The longer your property goes without pressure washing, the more debris you’ll have to deal with. Eventually, this will result in your property’s reduced visual appeal and even an increased risk of surface damage.
To avoid these negative consequences, we highly recommend cleaning your property’s exterior surfaces once per year. So, if it has already been a year since the last cleaning, it’s time to take action. Now, let’s analyze the differences between pressure washing and soft washing together so you can determine which one is right for your project.
What Is Pressure Washing?
What is pressure washing, and how does it work? To put things simply, pressure washing is the process of spraying pressurized water onto exterior surfaces. This water is so powerful that it is able to rinse away debris with ease. Because of this, pressure washing is relied upon by property owners in the Batesville, IN area—and all across the world, too.
Sometimes, you may hear pressure washing also being called power washing. In most cases, these two phrases refer to the exact same thing. However, some companies distinguish them in minor ways. For example, you may find some sources insisting that power washing uses more water pressure or heat than pressure washing.
What Is Soft Washing?
Now that we’ve established what pressure washing is, what is soft washing, and what makes it different? The answer involves water pressure. Pressure washing is a versatile technique that can use up to 3,500 PSI. However, soft washing is reserved for more delicate surfaces, and because of this, it uses significantly less force. In fact, soft washing typically remains within the range of 150 to 500 PSI. The difference is striking, and because of this, surfaces that need to be pressure washed can’t necessarily be soft washed—and vice versa.
Since soft washing is so gentle, you may be concerned about how effectively it can remove tough debris. In many cases, soft washing is used in conjunction with cleaning solutions, such as sodium hypochlorite, to help remove stubborn grime. This ensures stunning results even when low-pressure cleaning is a necessity.
How Cleaning Solutions Are Used During Soft Washing
How exactly are cleaning solutions used during the soft washing process? It’s actually quite simple. Let’s illustrate the process by imagining that you are soft washing your home’s exterior. Along the way, you discover a patch of algae that you can’t seem to rinse away. As your first countermeasure, you apply a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite to the algae—maybe with your pressure washer’s detergent tank, or perhaps with a spray bottle. Next, you simply wait fifteen minutes, giving the cleaning solution time to break down the unwanted debris.
Once this time has passed, simply rinse the area clean, and you should find that debris that once put up a fight goes away with little struggle. If you are still experiencing trouble, consider a second treatment. It should not be long before you’ve conquered grime with the power of cleaning solutions on your side.
Pressure Washing Vs. Soft Washing Projects
Should you use pressure washing vs. soft washing during your exterior cleaning project? That ultimately depends on the surfaces you are cleaning. A general rule of thumb is that more durable surfaces are okay to be pressure washed, whereas more delicate surfaces require soft washing instead. We have included some examples for you below.
Pressure wash materials and surfaces such as:
- Hardwood
- Metal
- Asphalt
- Concrete
On the other hand, soft wash materials and surfaces such as:
- Softwood
- Vinyl
- Rooftops
- Home Exteriors
Challenges of Exterior Cleaning
Even when you have all the necessary time, energy, and equipment for exterior cleaning, you are bound to come across some “technical difficulties”. For example, you might struggle to figure out where pressure washing or soft washing is the correct choice for your project. The wrong choice could result in serious damage! Additionally, handling pressure washing equipment without proper care may even cause self-injury. Pressurized water is powerful, and it’s nothing to take lightly.
If you need help choosing between pressure washing vs. soft washing, and if you want a professional business to do the work for you, reach out to Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash. We are a team of experts that is prepared to be at your service.
Scheduling Service With Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash
If you need your property’s exterior cleaned, look no further than Southeast Indiana Pressure Wash. We are a locally owned and operated business, and it’s always our pleasure to pressure wash (or soft wash) surfaces for our clients. If you are interested in what we have to offer, contact us online and let us know how we can help. We’ll get back to you with a free estimate (there are never hidden fees), and then, you can choose a time and date for your appointment.
