Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is shocking just how dirty the outside of your home can get over the course of a year. Some of the most typical stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give your home an unkempt, uncared for appearance, regardless of if you invest time, money and care into it.
Some of these materials, like dirt, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be damaging to both your health and to your home. These contaminants produce allergens that can affect your family, and some, like algae, can grow underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter your home.
As a professional power washing service in Boca Raton, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. Spring is typically the most common time of the year to do an extreme home cleaning, but you can really do it any time throughout the year so long as the weather permits.
WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?
All of the following surfaces need to be power washed from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Power washing used to be the only way to thoroughly clean vinyl, brick and painted surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners in Boca Raton have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
Like the names imply, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s a little more to it than just that. Let’s review the features of each to help you decide which one is the right choice for your home.
WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?
The soft wash system uses much less power than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The maximum water pressure used in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lighter spray is created from a nozzle with a wider spray setting, only a little more powerful than your typical backyard garden hose.
Soft washing uses soap, bleach and water in some combination to eliminate organic matter and debris from your home, roof and other exterior surfaces. The cleaning solution used in a soft washing process can include algaecides and residual inhibitors which will slow further growth of these types of organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not pressure, are responsible for cleaning the surfaces, no powerful water is needed. This means that soft washing can be used for delicate surfaces that would otherwise be harmed by higher pressure washing equipment.
The soft wash solution is sometimes washed off, but not always. This just depends on the type of solution is used in the process, if there is plant or animal life that can be affected by the solution runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to harm surfaces over time.
Soft washing offers the advantage of getting into small cracks to kill unseen bacteria, meaning that its results can last a lot longer than traditional power washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has long been the gold standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is extremely effective and efficient, which is why a lot of home and business owners prefer it.
This particular cleaning system uses water only, no chemicals, to get rid of stains and mold from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a major plus to property owners who don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, either for the sake of the environment or to avoid zoning violations.
The pressure washing process can be used on several different materials. Home owners frequently choose power washing for cleaning their driveway, patio, decks, walkways and outdoor furniture because it is fast, efficient and affordable.
Pressure washing requires somewhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water being sprayed out of a small nozzle for the most power. Both organic and inorganic stains are blasted from your home’s surface, stopping their growth and restoring the curb appeal of your home.
One drawback to power washing is that the water is sometimes too powerful and can harm the surfaces you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to put deep grooves in wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off chunks of brick or stone.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The obvious question for most homeowners is, “Which one should I choose?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing are good for your home’s exterior, as well as sidewalks, driveways and more. Both of these cleaning systems can be done by a professional – and truthfully, are more correctly done when left to the pros.
Soft washing is perfect for outdoor play equipment, yard equipment, shingle roofs, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm wood and plastic. It’s also a safe choice for vinyl siding.
It removes organisms that are present on the surface, and it stops future growth for a lot longer than power washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life under the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them with water right before putting the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it probably shouldn’t be a problem.
Pressure washing is the preferred method for severe stains, and harder surfaces like asphalt, stone and brick. Pressure washing is the recommended process for commercial surfaces. A local pressure washing service in Boca Raton might use a mix of chemicals and water pressure to eliminate problematic stains, but they should let you know if they are going to be spraying chemicals during your estimate.
It can be used on siding too (and has been for decades) so long as it is done safely. High water pressure can break fragile or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A local service that does power washing often are going to know how to protect fragile areas, but a first-timer could do a lot of harm.
Your home’s roof is definitely off limits for power washing if there are slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The extreme pressure of the water will likely damage these materials and require you to replace your home’s roof a lot earlier than expected.
Choosing between soft washing or power washing is best left for a professional pressure washing service. Which process is right for your home? Give Boca Raton Pressure Washing a call at 561-375-5025 and we will send a trained technician over to take a look!