Soft Washing vs High-pressure Washing

It is important to keep the exterior of your home clean at all times as this keeps the home attractive and eliminates dirt, mildew, and grime. Professional pressure washing is one of the easiest ways to ensure at least all parts of your home are reached and thoroughly cleaned.  

While pressure washing may be the fastest way to give your home a thorough clean, soft washing is also used in other areas that do not require intense washing.  Below is a detailed overview of soft washing and high-pressure washing;

What is Pressure Washing?

Pressure washing refers to the use of pressurized water to remove grime and dirt from the surfaces that the water comes into contact with. This method is very effective and fast but may cause some damage to the property depending on the amount of pressure from the water and the make and strength of the structure.

With pressure washing, the washer spews water at a high pressure which is directed at the surface to be cleaned. The pressurized water is sprayed harder on the surface to remove the dirt and mold and is mainly used on decks, walking surfaces, patio furniture, and stone pathways among others.

What is Soft Washing?

Soft washing on the other hand uses chemicals in the place of pressurized water. The chemicals are safe to both humans and the environment. There are pressure washers also designed to conduct soft washing but they have a much-lowered pressure per square inch or PSI.

 In this case, the modification is done by simply replacing the tip of the pressure washer with a much wider spray. The chemicals added in the water are used to break down dirt and organisms living on surfaces.

When to Use Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is done using a washer with a tip that expels water at 2,500 PSI and above. This pressure is very effective in removing stains but may also cause damage to softer surfaces. This pressure may rip off paint, destroy window screens, and damage shingles. Pressure washing is therefore suitable for hard surfaces like brick, stone, driveways, walkways, and concrete sidewalks, and in most cases should be done by professional pressure washers.

When to Use Soft Washing

Soft washing is used by adjusting the washing equipment to the right pressure. You need the right soft washing machine that applies the right chemical-to-water ratio and performs proper soft washing.

Soft washing is used on surfaces that are hard to clean using pressure washing or may get damaged when subjected to high pressure. These include screens, screened enclosures, and lanais, stucco and coquina, rooflights, wood panel siding, and cedar shake.

Determining if your Home Needs a Wash

You can easily determine if your home needs a wash by simply taking a stroll around your home, looking out for any dirty, dark, and dingy spots. A house washing Sydney company recommends you look out for abandoned items, growing algae and black mold. In addition, look out for discoloration of stone landscaping, sidings, bricks, and asphalt.

Look out for any dark gray or black streaks on the roof as these are signs of algae growth. If left unchecked, the algae may grow into lichen that may cause extensive structure damage by attacking the roof shingle granules.

Generally exterior surfaces that need occasional washing include concrete sidewalks and driveways, gutters, siding, retaining walls, and fences. There is generally no set time on when one should conduct pressure of soft washing. However, homeowners living in rural or wooded areas may need to do soft washing more often.

Hiring a Washing Professional or DIY?

Washing your home yourself may be easy and gives you a thorough clean as you fully understand all parts of your home. Homeowners can rent pressure washers from nearby stores.

However, DIY pressure or soft washing may present challenges especially considering some areas require specialized professional attention. For instance, care should be taken to select the right equipment, chemicals, and the right size of the nozzle for washing. Additionally, the right water-to-chemical ratio should be observed with the right dilution considering the chemicals are always very concentrated and strong.

Health Benefits of Professional Washing

Giving your home a deep clean is not just for aesthetics but also impacts the health in the long run. Professional cleaning helps you get rid of dirt, mold, pollen, algae, and decaying matter that has accumulated for some time.

Standard cleaning may not get rid of all the dirt piled up underneath sidings, between cracks, on patio furniture, and around stones. If not removed, these decaying items may cause diseases that lead to costly hospitalizations and even death.

Pros and Cons of Pressure Washing

Pros

•         Professional washers can easily rent or buy a machine which makes it convenient to clean any surface
•         Offers proper handling and mixing of chemicals
•         Ensures all parts are reached

Cons

•         Not application to soft surfaces
•         May be costly

Pros and Cons of Pressure Washing

Pros

•         Is safe and does not cause damage to structures
•         Offers a much longer-lasting result thanks to the added anti-bacterial components.

Cons

•         May consume large amounts of water due to low pressure
•         Not effective for cleaning in cracks, crevices, and other hidden surfaces