Pressure Wash, Power Wash, or Soft Wash – What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?
You, like many others, may be curious what the difference is between pressure, power and soft washing. You see these terms mentioned all over the web – but what do they mean and what is best for use on your home?
You’ve come to the right place – here we’ll outline what each is, some similarities and differences, and explain why soft washing is typically the best option for cleaning the exterior of your home.
Pressure Washing vs. Power Washing
I’m sure you’ve seen these terms used interchangeably more than once, however, they are actually different processes!
Simply put: pressure washing relies solely on force and power washing relies on heat & force working together. Think of it like hand washing your dishes using only cold water from the high pressure setting on your faucet versus a dishwasher using high pressure & high heat!
A power washer can generate up to 4,000 PSI of water pressure. This is more than enough force to cause damage to most home surfaces, such as your roof or siding. This is why power washing is typically reserved for more sturdy surfaces, such as concrete, stone, and brick.
Soft Washing
Soft washing utilizes a solution consisting of detergents, fungicides, algaecides, or other cleaning agents which is applied to your home’s surface and then then rinsed off with water at a low pressure. The pressure used during a soft wash is usually around 250-300 PSI and the needs of your home are carefully considered when determining the solution mix. This allows a soft wash cleaning to be customized just for you and your home!
Which Should You Choose?
Well, if you hire us you won’t have to worry about that decision! We’ll use our knowledge to advise on the best decision for your home.
Typically, soft wash is the way to go. Every part of the process is tailored specifically to the project at hand. It is low pressure so there is no concern about damage resulting from a high pressure spray and the detergents utilized are chosen and mixed as needed for your specific home or project needs.