Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing: How to Determine What Is Right for You?

Your home’s exterior has a significant impact on its overall aesthetic appeal. It’s the first thing many visitors, neighbors, and even passersby will notice about your home. As a result, a home’s exterior has a significant impact on its value.

Different exterior structures tend to accumulate dirt and dust over time and can quickly become an eyesore. Dirt and dust can wreak havoc on your home’s exterior. Dirt will not just affect your home’s overall appearance. It can compromise the slip resistance of different surfaces, making them more slippery. Dirt can also cause premature deterioration of surfaces and structures.

To maintain your home’s exterior, clean it at regular intervals. Regular cleaning will prevent dirt and dust from accumulating on exterior surfaces and structures.

There are two ways to clean your exterior – you can either quickly pressure wash structures, and surfaces or soft wash them.

Pressure Washing

Pressure washing uses high-pressure water running at a very high PSI. Depending on the type and strength of the pressure washer, the PSI can range from 1,300 to 3,100 PSI.

Pressure washing is highly effective. It removes loose paint, mold, grime, dust, algae, and dirt from surfaces, fences, and masonry.

Hard surfaces with deep grooves that allow dirt to be embedded are good candidates for pressure washing. For example, you can use a pressure washer to clean stone pathways, walking surfaces, decks, and patio furniture.

Incorrect use of a pressure washer can lead to serious injuries. A pressure washer pushes water at very high pressure. The forceful jet of water is strong enough to cut through a finger or lacerate the skin in seconds.

To steer clear of injuries, always wear protective equipment when using a pressure washer. Never aim the wand at anyone. Use the right nozzle. If possible, avoid working at height and ladders as the kickback force can be tremendous, causing you to fall backward. Consider hiring Ohio Power Washing in Columbus, Ohio to clean structures at height.

Before using a pressure washer, assess your surroundings and plan accordingly. Never use a gas pressure washer in enclosed spaces.

Soft Washing

Soft washing is done by modifying a pressure washer to lower the PSI (usually less than 500 psi). To modify a pressure washer for soft washing, replace its original tip with one that widens the spray.

Unlike pressure washing which relies on a high-pressure jet of water alone, soft washing uses a combination of soaps, bleaches, and water to remove dirt and grime.

Soft washing is usually recommended for cedar shake sidings, outdoor wood furniture, outdoor rooted plants, stucco, coquina, screens, enclosures, and wood panel sidings.

What Is Right for You?

Use pressure washing for hard substrates that are resilient and not easily damaged. On the other hand, you can use soft wash for surfaces that can get easily damaged if you clean them with high-pressure washing.