Complete Guide to Soft Washing vs. Pressure Washing
The exterior of a home or business is the first thing you, your guests, customers, and potential buyers see if you are selling the property.
Whether you want to attract customers, you’re in the market to sell your home, or for your personal enjoyment, it’s essential to maintain your home and commercial property’s appearance and integrity, both internally and externally.
The standard of exterior cleaning has typically been pressure washing, but there may be a better wash-type available to homeowners and business owners. Let’s explore the soft wash vs. the pressure wash.
What Is Soft Washing? (Soft Wash vs. Pressure Wash)
Pressure washing relies solely on the power & strength of the water (typically 500-3100+ PSI) to wash away dirt. What is a soft wash? Soft washing a house is a method of cleaning that involves a lower strength of pressurized water (500 PSI or less) combined with a soap or cleaning solution.
What Can You Soft Wash?
Exterior surfaces you may wish to soft wash include siding, gutters, decks, concrete sidewalks, pavers, driveways, fences, retaining walls, patios, roofs and many more.
What Are the Benefits of Soft Washing?
- Keeps property and stuctures looking nice
- Keeps a healthier environment
- Increases longevity
- Keeps pests away
- Saves money long-term (and more cost-efficient)
- Saves energy
- Eco-friendly
- Cleaner end-result
- Kills spores & bacteria at their source which keeps them away longer
What Are the Benefits of Pressure Washing?
Pressure washing is still a beneficial way to wash your house and get rid of contaminants on surfaces like sidewalks, concrete, driveways, or garage floors. This level of high pressure helps to get into the cracks for a deeper clean.
Cons of Pressure Washing?
Unfortunately, there can be a risk of damage when a less-tough surface is subjected to this amount of pressure. The high-pressure approach can also be labor-extensive (which increases costs).
What Is the Cost to Pressure Wash a Home?
Although this type of cleaning can be done on your own, it’s important to weigh your options. If you decide to do-it-yourself you can save on labor costs; however, you’ll need to rent a washer ($35-$175/day) or buy one ($100-$1000 per unit), of course keeping in mind that entry-level machines won’t hold up over repeated use. See the average cost to pressure wash a home here.
Can I Soft/Pressure-Wash Myself?
Though pressure washing is relatively easy, it does come with risks including understanding material strength so you don’t damage softer materials and knowing that pressure washers can cause lacerations if the strong spray passes over your skin.
It’s important to consider that the cost of renting a machine for the weekend could be more expensive than hiring a professional.
Try Soft Washing Today
Whether you choose to soft wash vs. pressure wash will depend on what type of material or surface you are looking to clean. With the newer technology and eco-friendly cleaning solutions available to us, we are sure a soft wash will keep your home exteriors looking their freshest and lasting their longest.
Browse our website to learn more about our commercial and residential power washing services, then feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment.
