Soft Washing vs. Power Washing: Pros and Cons

Soft Washing vs. Power Washing: Pros and Cons

Not all pressure washers are alike. There are two main ways of cleaning surfaces on or around the home, soft washing and power washing. Both forms of pressure washing use pressurised water and cleaning agents to remove dirt, debris, and mould from surfaces on or around the home, but they do so differently.

As their names imply, soft washing is a gentler way of cleaning more sensitive surfaces whereas power washing works best of tougher, nonporous surfaces. Each has its advantages and disadvantages:

  • Soft Washing

Whenever sensitive surfaces require thorough cleaning, soft cleaning is the preferred option. Here are the pros and cons of soft washing:

Pros:

  • Less pressure means that there are fewer chances of cracking or breaking windows and causing damage to siding and roofing shingles.
  • Soft washing machines can more easily make use of gentler, more environmentally-friendly chemicals.
  • Uses less water than more powerful pressure washers.

Cons:

  • The lower pressure may be ineffective at removing dirt and debris from cracks and hard-to-reach areas (i.e. in concrete, driveways, etc.).
  • Insufficient water pressure may not thoroughly remove mould and mildew, requiring more frequent washing.
  • Power Washing

Pros:

  • High pressures are able to efficiently remove tough buildups of dirt, mould, and mildew from virtually any surface.
  • More environmentally friendly than strictly using powerful chemical products since it relies simply on highly-pressurised water.
  • An affordable solution to keeping homes and surfaces looking clean and just like new.

Cons:

  • Improper use may damage the home. Broken windows, damaged wood, and stripping protective layers from surfaces may occur when less experienced cleaners use power washers.
  • Uses a lot of water and can be wasteful.
  • Requires experience to understand the proper amount of pressure and the quantity (and concentration) of chemical cleaning agents for best use on each surface type.
  • Which Type of Pressure Washing is Best?

Both soft washing and power washing have their uses, so neither is necessarily best, but instead, it depends on the surface that needs cleaning. Roofs, vinyl siding, and many patios and fences are often best cleaned with soft washers. Whenever there’s a risk of the surface being stripped due to high pressures, soft washers are the way to go since they tend to only use around 100 psi of pressure whereas power washers go up to 4,000 psi or more.

On many soft or sensitive surfaces, or whenever there’s a risk of damaging property, soft washing will do the trick just fine. On harder surfaces such as concrete driveways, floors, and masonry, power washing is noticeably superior to soft washing due to its ability to efficiently remove even the toughest stains and buildups of debris thanks to its high pressures.

Whenever you’re in doubt, it’s best to consult a professional power washer. Novice power washers can often do more harm than good, whether due to using too much pressure or too little or to using the improper chemicals which can end up either damaging the surface or having little to no effect at all. Reputable power washing businesses that stand the test of time do so because they understand the needs of customers and use the right tools, pressure, and cleaning products for the surface in question.

Contact Pressure Cleaning Sydney Today

Pressure washing is a relatively easy DIY job, but it’s just as easy to damage your property and incur costly repairs. Instead of taking the risk, save time and let the power washing experts at Pressure Cleaning Sydney come by and leave your home and driveway looking crisp, clean, and just like new.

2020-05-05T16:07:32+00:00 January 5th, 2020|Cleaning Blogs|