Soft Washing Vs Pressure Washing
Picture this: it’s a beautiful day on the Sound. You stand on your porch as scattered clouds scut across the sky. The flowers on your rhododendron bush are blooming in full force. Your favorite mug steams with coffee brewed just how you like it. And… the moss on your driveway is thriving. The moment is ruined. That darn moss and gunky staining needs to go, so you get out your phone to get some guys in blue shirts to come remove it. But wait - what’s this? There are two really similar sounding services available: “soft washing” and “pressure washing”. What is the difference? Does it matter which one is used on your property? What should you ask for?
Don’t worry, we’ve got all the info you need to help you know what is best for your property. Soft washing and pressure washing are similar methods of removing gunk, moss, staining, and debris from exterior surfaces, but there are important distinctions between these two methods.
You’ve probably heard of pressure washing before. Maybe you’ve even seen those satisfying time lapse videos of people pressure washing driveways where the concrete seems to change from dirty to clean in an instant. Pressure washing is essentially a focused stream of high pressure water that blasts away stains and growths from surfaces. Some surfaces, like concrete, can be cleaned with pressures over 3,000 PSI (pounds per square inch). Other areas, like wooden decks, require lower pressure in order to avoid etching or damaging the surface underneath the gunk that is being removed. Skilled technicians know how to keep your surfaces safe when pressure washing, by testing small areas at low pressures in order to determine the appropriate PSI to use to get the job done. Pressure washing is used to clean concrete, pavers, decking, retaining walls, sidewalks, and other sturdy exterior surfaces.
Soft washing, though, is not as commonly talked about. Soft washing also involves spraying water, but rather than relying on the pressure from the spray to do the cleaning, this method uses much lower pressure water and specialized cleaning solutions to dissolve the gunk away. The cleaning solutions soak into mold, mildew, algae and other organic stains and cause them to emulsify so that they can be rinsed away. This process is much gentler and is used on more delicate surfaces like shingles and siding. Soft washing involves a few steps: spraying on the cleaning solution, allowing that solution to sit and dissolve anything growing on the surface, and finally rinsing the solution away along with all of the gunk that has been loosened up. The use of the cleaning solution is a bit like pulling up the roots of weeds from your lawn so that they won’t come back right away like they would if you just mowed over the tops of them. Skilled technicians know how to safely mix and apply these cleaners so that they do not harm the environment or pose any risks to kids and pets.
There’s no need to wonder about which method is appropriate for your house. At Beautiful Day we are expert cleaners and can help you understand exactly what methods will work for your property. You can trust our technicians to use the right equipment for each job, and to treat your property with the care that they would use for their own homes. After a visit from Beautiful Day, you will be able to stand on your porch with your coffee and enjoy the beauty of the PNW without having to look at those pesky stains and growths that used to plague your hardscape.
