Pressure washing vs. soft washing 1
If you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover you probably also shouldn’t judge a home by its curb appeal. But statistics estimate that a home with curb appeal brings five to 11 percent more on the bottom line and sells faster than a home without curb appeal.
Keeping your home free from mold, grime and dirt is a big part of maintaining your home’s exterior. Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer looking for used pressure washing equipment or you want to hire someone to spruce up your exterior, you need to understand the difference between pressure washing and softwashing.
Pressure washing, a term synonymous with removing unsightly dirt from a home’s exterior, is a very specific method of cleaning and very different from soft washing.
While both power washing and soft washing use high-pressure water expell
Pressure washing
Pressure washing uses at least 2500 PSI or pounds per square inch of water to remove debris. That’s between five and 10 gallons a minute. Water applied at this high pressure isn’t suited for all surfaces.
Pressure washing is ideal for concrete surfaces, like sidewalks, driveways and walkways. Paved patios, brick and stone facades and chimneys can also be cleaned using pressure washing.
Soft washing
Soft washing is a low-pressure rinse that typically uses hot water and a solution to help remove debris. Soft washing uses around 1000 PSI, about half of pressure washing, and just a little more strength than a typical garden hose.
Your home’s exterior can have weather coatings, paint and other delicate areas that aren’t appropriate for pressure washing. Roofs, sidings and other soft surfaces on your home’s exterior can be safely cleaned with a soft washing system.
Instead of high-pressure washing, soft washing uses detergents, often biodegradable chemicals that are a mix of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and surfactants (soap), to remove mold, algae, pollen, dirt and moss.
Do-it-yourself
If you’re looking to boost your home’s curb appeal with a weekend DIY project, used pressure washing equipment might be the perfect solution to clean yourexterior. Now that you know the best application, you’ll be safe to invest a little time and some grit for a clean home.
Leave it to the pros
If you hire a professional, they will likely pull up with a pressure washing trailer fully equipped to clean hard surfaces with a pressure washing and then switch to a soft wash for the more delicate areas of your home.
Knowing the difference between pressure washing and soft washing is the first step to a sparkling clean home’s exterior. Armed with facts you can buy used pressure washing equipment or start searching for a professional who can take care of all your needs with their pressure washing trailer.