Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
It is surprising how dirty the exterior of your home can get throughout the course of a year. Some of the most typical stains include mud or dirt, algae, mold and mildew. These things will give any home an unkempt, uncared for appearance, even though you invest time and maintenance into it.
Some materials, like dirt or mud, are harmless, but algae and mildew can be destructive to both your health and to your home. These contaminants create allergens and bacteria that can affect your family, and some, like algae, can even grow underneath vinyl or roofing material and enter your home.
As a professional pressure washing service in San Mateo, we recommend you have your home’s exterior cleaned once every 12 months. The spring season is the most common time of the year to do an intense home exterior washing, but you can really do it any time as long as the weather allows.
WHAT NEEDS PRESSURE WASHING?
All of the following surfaces need to be cleaned from time to time:
• Vinyl siding
• Rock and stone
• Brick
• Concrete and asphalt
Pressure washing used to be the only method to properly clean vinyl, brick and painted surfaces. Now in 2021, homeowners in San Mateo have a second option for exterior home cleaning: soft washing.
As the names suggest, one method is much gentler than the other one, but there’s more to it than that. Let’s review the features of each to help you determine which is best for your home.
WHAT IS SOFT WASHING?
The soft wash process uses much less pressure than a typical pressure washer, hence the name. The highest water pressure in a soft washing system is 500 PSI. This lower spray is produced from a nozzle with a wider spray option, only a little more powerful than your backyard garden hose.
Soft washing uses a mixture of detergent, bleach and water in combination to get rid of organic matter from your home, roof and other outdoor surfaces. The cleaning mixture used in a soft washing system can include algaecides and residual inhibitors to help prevent further growth of these organisms in the future.
Because chemicals, not water pressure, are key to cleaning the exterior surfaces, no powerful water pressure is required. This means that soft washing should be used for more fragile surfaces that might otherwise be harmed by harsher pressure washing.
The soft wash chemicals are sometimes cleaned off, but not all of the time. This just depends on what type of chemicals are used, if there’s plant or animal life that can be impacted by the solution runoff, and if the chemicals are strong enough to harm surfaces over time.
Soft washing provides the distinct advantage of getting down into small cracks to eliminate even unseen bacteria, meaning that its effects can last longer than traditional pressure washing.
WHAT IS PRESSURE WASHING?
Pressure washing has long been the gold standard for cleaning exterior surfaces. It is highly effective and quick, which is why most home and business owners prefer it over soft washing.
This cleaning process uses water only, there are no chemicals, to clean off stains and organisms from exterior surfaces. The use of plain water is a significant plus to home and business owners who don’t want to use cleaning chemicals, whether for the environment’s sake or to avoid zoning violations.
The pressure washing process can be used on a lot of different materials. Home owners frequently prefer pressure washing for cleaning their driveway, porches, decks, sidewalks and outdoor furniture because it is quick, more efficient and cost-effective.
Pressure washing needs anywhere from 1300 to 3100 PSI water pressure with water sprayed out from a small nozzle for maximum power. Both organic and inorganic materials are sprayed from your home’s exterior surface, prohibiting their growth and renewing the appearance of your home.
One drawback to pressure washing is that the water can sometimes be too powerful and can harm the surfaces of your home you’re attempting to clean. Pressure washing is strong enough to put grooves in wood and plastic, and it can push into cracks, breaking off pieces of stone or brick.
IS PRESSURE WASHING OR SOFT WASHING BETTER?
The obvious question for homeowners is, “Is pressure washing or soft washing better?”
Both soft washing and pressure washing methods are good choices for your home’s exterior, as well as sidewalks, driveways and more. Both cleaning systems can be done by a professional company – and honestly, are more correctly done when left to the experts.
Soft washing is excellent for outdoor toys, gardening tools, roof shingles, decks, gutters, patios and painted surfaces because it is unlikely to harm plastic and wood. It’s also a safe and smart choice for vinyl siding.
It removes organisms that are present on the exterior surface, and it stops future growth for longer than pressure washing can.
A problem with soft washing is that it can kill plant life underneath the surface you’re cleaning. Remember to spray them down with water before putting the soft wash chemicals on your home or roof, and it probably won’t be a problem.
Pressure washing is considered the preferred method for severe stains, and hard surfaces like concrete, brick and stone. Pressure washing is the preferred process for commercial properties. A local pressure washing service in San Mateo may use a combination of chemicals and water pressure to get rid of problematic stains, but they should let you know if they will be using chemicals during your estimate.
It can also be used on siding as well (and has been for several years) as long as it is done carefully. Powerful water pressure can break fragile or smaller pieces of the vinyl. A local company that does pressure washing all the time are going to know how to protect vulnerable pieces, but a first-timer can do a lot of harm.
Your home’s roof is definitely off limits for pressure washing if there are slate, tile or asphalt shingles. The pressure of the water might ruin these materials and require you to replace your roof a lot faster than expected.
Deciding between soft washing or pressure washing is best left for a professional pressure washing service. Which process is right for your home? Give San Mateo Pressure Washing a call at 650-337-3174 and we’ll send an experienced technician over to take a look!