Pressure Washing Versus Soft Washing: Pros and Cons

 

If you research pressure washing guides online, then you’ll encounter terms like pressure washing and soft washing.

What’s the difference between pressure washing and soft washing? Should you pressure wash or soft wash your deck?

Today, we’re highlighting the pros and cons of the two main types of power washing techniques.

When to use pressure washing:

You should use pressure washing on harder surfaces or when cleaning paint or stain from a surface. Pressure washing is a higher-powered technique that delivers a concentrated stream of water to a surface.

Some of the main situations in which to use pressure washing includes:

·         Removing loose paint and stain from wooden or aluminum siding

·         Preparing a deck before staining

·         Removing old wood fibers and loose paint from a surface like a deck

·         Washing concrete that’s more than 3 years old

When to use soft washing:

Soft washing lets you remove mold, algae, dirt, and other contaminants from a surface. It’s ideal for surfaces that are too soft for pressure washing but still require high-powered cleaning.

Soft washing is ideal for cedar shake siding, for example. Using pressure washing on cedar shake siding can lead to disastrous effects, impacting the structural integrity of your property.

For that reason, many pressure washing companies recommend using soft washing for situations like:

·         Cleaning cedar shake siding or wood panel siding

·         Washing concrete that’s newer than 3 years old

·         Cleaning stucco or vinyl

·         Cleaning outdoor wood furniture, rooted plants, screens, and enclosures

·         Cleaning any surfaces where you’re worried about damaging the soft material underneath

Overall, pressure washing and soft washing are both useful in different situations. Depending on your surface, you can pick the right power washing technique to maximize cleaning and avoid damage.