Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing

Summer is the perfect time to work on your exterior home projects, like cleaning your siding and restoring your patios. But how do you know what type of washing works best for all of your different exterior surfaces?

Clean ‘N Seal has your back with this useful guide about soft washing, pressure washing, and how to professionally use them around your home.

Soft Washing

Soft washing, or house washing as it’s sometimes called, is almost the same as pressure washing. It even requires the same professional equipment, but there is a key difference that matters depending on your exterior surface.

All About Pressure

While utilizing modified pressure washing equipment, soft washing uses a lot less pressure than pressure washing. When spraying on cleaning applications and rinsing, soft washing requires no more than 500 PSI (pounds per square inch).

The lower pressure allows you to spray environmentally friendly cleaning solutions on surfaces that can grow algae, mold, and mildew to effectively remove them, while at the same time not damage your more delicate surfaces.

A Gentler Clean for Exteriors

For those surfaces that shouldn’t be blasted with hot water or high pressure but still need to clean off dirt, grime, and living organisms, soft washing is the best solution.

Exterior surfaces it works best on include:

• Vinyl siding
• Cedar shake siding
• Wood panel siding
• Stucco
• Most roofing materials
• Wood decks and wood outdoor furniture

Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is what most people think of when cleaning exteriors. It is the most effective way to clean the majority of outdoor surfaces, and it is remarkably satisfying to watch!

High-Pressure Clean

Pressure washing cleans using highly compressed water that blasts away grime from surfaces. The pressure setting has a wide range of 1,500 to 4,000 PSI, which can be dangerous if not used by a professional. It can also damage some exterior surfaces if you’re not careful.

When used correctly, pressure washing is great for removing debris, dirt, and grime stuck on harder surfaces. Materials with grooves where dirt can collect are perfect for pressure washing, as are large areas with a lot of square footage, like patios around shopping centers, historic downtown brick walkways, or other commercial areas.

Surfaces to Pressure Wash

The general rule of thumb for pressure washing is to use it on stone, concrete, and other hard surfaces. With the right setting and a professional hand, it can be used on wood surfaces to remove old paint or stain.

Here are other places where pressure washing works best:

• Paver walkways and patios
• Brick sidewalks
• Stone walkways
• Concrete driveways
• Paved pool decks
• Some patio furniture

Get a Free Estimate on Your Soft or Pressure Washing Project

When you’re ready to clean your walkways and house with state of the art equipment, call Clean ‘N Seal for a free estimate! Our complete paver and concrete restoring process brings back the beauty of your exterior surfaces.

Contact us today at 952.393.9588 or connect with us online.