Soft washing and pressure washing are two of the best ways to clean your home’s exterior. While both types of washing are highly efficient and effective, they have their fair share of pros and cons. So before you choose between the two, it’s important to know the difference between the two. Which is better for your home: soft washing or pressure washing? We’ll figure that out in this blog.
Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing: What’s the Difference?
Soft washing and pressure washing are highly effective cleaning processes that remove algae, dust, dirt, mould, and other biological elements from your home’s exterior. Both cleaning processes use a pump and a hose to spray water onto a surface. Thing is, there are key differences between these two.
So, what is soft washing?
This cleaning process uses low-pressure and specialised solutions to wash off dirt and debris from your home. With soft washing, a biodegradable chemical is first applied to loosen up the dirt and grime. Then, a high volume of water with minimal pressure is applied to the surface.
Now, let’s talk about pressure washing in a nutshell.
On the other hand, pressure washing blows away dirt and grime with force. It does this by applying an adjustable amount of pressure to a source of water to clean your exterior surfaces. Chemical solutions are optionally applied, but the high-pressure water spray is usually enough to get rid of biological contaminants from your home’s exterior.
While pressure washing is highly effective for exterior house cleaning, it can cause a lot of damage, when done improperly. As this cleaning process uses an extreme amount of pressure, surfaces are prone to get damaged in the process. It can wear out paint, blow window seals, or ruin your landscaping. It works, but you need to be aware of its power.
Knowing the difference between soft washing and pressure washing is important when deciding which cleaning process will be better for your home’s exterior. And to give you a hint, choosing between a soft wash and a pressure wash will depend on the type of surface you want to clean.
When to Use a Pressure Wash System for Exterior House Cleaning
A professional pressure wash system can release water at around 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). While a high PSI allows you to clean surfaces effectively, it can also cause damage to the softer exteriors of your house such as the roof and windows.
Pressure washing is suited for hard and tough surfaces such as brick walls, driveways, garage floors, paved patios, pathways, and sidewalks. This cleaning process can remove mould, grime, mud, and even paint without damaging your concrete surfaces. It’s also helpful to pressure wash these surfaces before painting or sealing.
Since a pressure wash uses a high level of pressure, this cleaning system does not need to use as many chemicals. The pressurized water alone can be enough to remove biological elements from your house’s exterior. However, if improperly used, a pressure wash system can cause significant harm not only to your surfaces but also to other people. Always remember pressure washer safety precautions and don’t hesitate to contact a professional service for proper administration.
When to Use a Soft Wash System for Exterior House Cleaning
A soft wash pressure washing system expels water at a lower pressure, about 150-180 PSI, similar to a common garden hose. It is still highly effective for cleaning your home’s exterior but will involve the use of more water and chemicals.
Soft washing involves an environment-friendly product that uses a chemical process to destroy bacteria and debris. It can remove biological elements without damaging the surfaces of your home. The biodegradable chemical is safe for use around your family, pets, and plants. Thus, soft washes allow homeowners to clean their exterior surfaces without harming the environment.
Based strongly on the spray-and-kill approach, a soft wash is a more delicate process than power washing. Soft washing can be applied to a variety of surfaces such as stucco, wood decking, wood siding, wood fencing, painted wood, metal buildings, and cedar shake, among others. These surfaces would be more vulnerable to a pressure wash system.
Another great feature of soft washing is its ability to clean in between crevices. With more detailed cleaning, this type of cleaning can last up to four to six times longer than power washing. With minimal upkeep, a soft wash may be a bit more cost-efficient than pressure washing.
How to Choose Between Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Both soft washing and pressure washing are highly effective cleaning systems. Your choice will depend on your exterior house cleaning needs. If you need to remove dirt and grime on your driveway, a pressure wash might be the better choice. Meanwhile, if you need to clean sidings or deckings, a soft wash can effectively clean the surface without causing damage.
When choosing a cleaning system, you also need to think about how it can affect your home. Pressure washing is effective, but it does not provide the same assurances as soft washing. For example, pressure washing may cause damage to your home or landscape due to the high amount of pressure. Soft washing can still get the job done without potential hazards.
Aside from choosing between soft washing vs pressure washing, you also need to ensure that you can administer exterior house cleaning properly. To really minimize damage to your home, it’s always best to enlist a professional pressure washing service. They will have expertise, experience,and proper equipment for both cleaning systems.
Key Takeaway
Do you need a team who can clean your roof, walls, patio, driveway, windows and more? We’re here to help. You can call us at 1300 927 433, and we can answer any queries you have. Or you can fill out our form for a free quote. We look forward to serving you!