What Is Soft Washing?
You will eventually reach a time in your life when you step outside, look at your property’s overall condition, and feel your nose wrinkle. This is because exterior surfaces simply don’t stay clean. Not indefinitely. If you want to restore them to their former glory, you’ll have to clean them—a process which takes time, energy, and equipment. The question is, what’s the best way to clean them? What is pressure washing? What is soft washing? And what sets the two of them apart? Let’s take a deep dive into this topic together!
We are Chicagoland Pressure Washing, and we are proud to be Chicago’s pressure washing and soft washing professionals. Don’t want to do this work on your own? Then reach out to us. It would be our pleasure to serve you.
Pressure Washing to Clean Surfaces
To explain what soft washing is, it’s best that we explain what pressure washing is first. Pressure washing is a specialized cleaning technique that uses pressurized water to restore exterior surfaces. Why pressurized water? Because it’s powerful—powerful enough to rinse away debris and leave surfaces in brighter, better-looking condition. Pressure washing is used by homeowners and business owners alike to boost the curb appeal of their properties, contributing to the overall beauty of our community.
Pressure washing has another important benefit. It actually extends the lifespan of your property’s exterior surfaces. This is because particles of debris grind against surfaces, slowly eroding them. If this is allowed to happen indefinitely, it will eventually result in serious damage. To prevent this from happening, we generally recommend that property exteriors be cleaned at least once per year.
Soft Washing Versus Pressure Washing
Now that you have a better understanding of pressure washing, the question is, what is soft washing? It’s a technique that’s very similar to pressure washing, but with one key difference: the amount of water pressure used. Pressure washing can use up to 3,500 PSI, whereas soft washing stays within the range of 150 to 500 PSI. This makes soft washing a safe choice for delicate surfaces that would be damaged by high-pressure water.
Determining if you should pressure wash or soft wash requires researching the surfaces you need to clean. As a general rule, more durable surfaces can be pressure washed, whereas less durable surfaces may be damaged by pressure washing, making it so you need to soft wash them instead.
Examples of Pressure Washing and Soft Washing Jobs
For your convenience, we have added some examples of pressure washing and soft washing jobs below. That way, you have a better idea of which category your project falls under.
Pressure washing jobs typically involve more durable surfaces, such as:
- Concrete driveways and sidewalks
- Parking lots and parking garages
- Dumpster pads and trash enclosures
- Concrete patios and pool decks
- Gas station concrete surfaces
Soft washing is the best choice for delicate surfaces such as:
- Asphalt shingle roofs
- Vinyl siding
- Stucco exteriors
- Painted wood siding and trim
- Cedar shake siding
Soft Washing and Cleaning Solutions
If soft washing uses less water pressure than pressure washing, that means it’s a less effective cleaning process—right? Well, this isn’t necessarily the case. While it’s true that soft washing is a weaker technique, it is made much more effective with the help of cleaning solutions. Even a basic detergent will help considerably, allowing soft washing water to rinse away grime and revitalize the appearance of exterior surfaces.
If necessary, stronger cleaning solutions such as sodium hypochlorite can be used to break down tough grime. Using this cleaner is simple. If you come across tough grime that you can’t wash away, apply a thin layer of sodium hypochlorite to the afflicted area. Then, wait fifteen minutes before rinsing it off. Grime that once put up a fight should vanish before your eyes.
Challenges of DIY Soft Washing
If you want to soft wash or pressure wash your property’s exterior, you need to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Doing your own exterior cleaning can be a difficult process from start to finish. You’ll have to purchase the correct equipment and learn how to use it. You’ll have to invest your time and energy into the necessary manual labor. And, of course, you’ll have to stay focused on the task at hand so that you don’t accidentally cause damage to yourself or your property.
Some of the challenges you’ll face along the way include the following:
- Finding room in your schedule. If you’re already a fairly busy person, dedicating hours of your life to pressure washing or soft washing can be exceedingly difficult.
- Learning how to use equipment. When incorrect techniques are used while pressure washing, it can result in property damage.
- Putting your own safety first. If you’re not careful, you can spray yourself with pressurized water and become injured.
Consider Professional Surface Cleaning
As you’ve discovered, cleaning your property’s exterior surfaces is difficult work at times. This may leave you wondering if the DIY process is worth it. That varies from person to person; if you feel like you’d rather avoid this task, don’t worry because you can always schedule an appointment with the professionals. That way, you can skip the hard work and let a team of experts provide you with high-quality results.
If you schedule professional services, however, you need to expect to pay. These companies won’t do the work for free because they have expenses to cover. This includes wages, insurance, fuel, etc.
Get a Free Cost Estimate!
If you are curious about our prices, why wait to get in touch? Get started by contacting us online with information about your project. We will give you a free cost estimate, and then, you can choose a time and date for us to swing by. We’ll be there on time, full of energy and ready to restore your property’s exterior for the better.
