Cleaning the exterior of your home or business thoroughly is a great way to increase curb appeal, lower utility costs and extend the life of the surfaces being cleaned. While a professional exterior cleaning company should know the difference between power washing, pressure washing and soft washing, it is important for you to know as well.
When it comes to exterior cleaning, we often hear the terms power washing and pressure washing being used interchangeably. But are they really the same thing? And what is soft washing? It may seem a bit confusing, but we’re here to help explain each.
Power Washing Power washing is the process of removing surface materials such as dirt, mud, mildew, mold and other contaminants from the exterior features of your home or business by using pressurized water. This pressurized water is heated, usually to a very hot temperature. Water that has been heated to a certain temperature breaks down contaminated materials much easier than regular water.
While these machines only shoot out water, the extent of the power makes them highly dangerous to an unprofessional. It is best to hire a professional exterior cleaning company to handle all of your power washing needs. Since power washing is done with such force, it is recommended that it only be used on hard, exterior surfaces such as patios, sidewalks, fences, decks, and driveways. These areas need the extra force to remove the grime and dirt from their surfaces.
Pressure Washing There are not very many differences between power washing and pressure washing. In fact, some people consider them the same service. However, there are slight differences that actually make them completely different services.
Unlike power washing, pressure washing is done with a normal temperature of water. It depends entirely on the force of water rather than the temperature. The force of this water comes out at a higher pressure blasting away the dirt, mold, mildew and other hazardous materials.
Just like power washing, pressure washing is done with heavy machinery and should only be completed by a professional. Since the velocity of the water is the same in a pressure washer and power washer, it is important to only allow these services to be done on hard, exterior surfaces. If these services are done on the wrong surface, you could risk damage to the surface you desire to clean.
Soft Washing Soft washing is a completely different service than power washing and pressure washing. Soft washing uses eco-friendly and environmentally safe solutions to clean the exterior of your home or business, including the roof.
While it can stand up to the harsh, outdoor elements, the exterior of your home or business is an extremely delicate feature. It has several weather coating protections and layers of paint that can easily be chipped away by a high powered pressure washer. As with power and pressure washing, it is highly recommended that you use a professional to complete the soft wash process on your home or business. While this service does not use high powered pressured systems, the cleaning solutions and removal process could be hazardous enough to require professional attention.
A professional soft washing company will apply the chemical solution to the exterior of your home or business in a safe manner. They will leave the solution alone for several minutes to allow it to sink into your siding or roof’s cracks and pores. It will break down any dirt, mold, mildew or other bothersome materials. After the solution has had time to set, a low pressure rinse is used to rid your home or business of the solution and dirt and grime. Unlike a power washer and pressure washer, this low rinse system is considered only one step above the pressure of an average water hose. This process relies entirely on the cleaning solution to clean your home or business so you don’t have to worry about physical damages, as with power or pressure washing.
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