Soft Washing & Pressure Washing: Everything You Need to Know.

Having your home treated with soft washing or pressure washing can make a world of difference for the curb appeal of your home. It is pretty satisfying to witness the laters of dirt and grime washed away.

When cleaning your home you will see the layers of surface-level dust run down the sides of the home almost immediately, even with a residential water hose. Unfortunately, it is not possible to truly get rid of the build-up on your home with the same approach used to rinse dust. This is where a professional can help you to get the job done right.

When on the search for the right pressure washing company, it is likely that you will come across the terms soft washing & pressure washing. You more than likely asked yourself, what is the difference between the two? This is where we, the experts at Buell Pressure Washing, come in to help!

What is Soft Washing?

Soft washing is a much more gentle approach to clean substrates that will be damaged while using the high pressure required for traditional pressure washing. Soft washing is done using about 1/50th the pressure per square inch (PSI) used during pressure washing.

Soft washing is the correct technique to clean fragile surfaces such as vinyl, shingles, stucco, slate roofing, wooden decking, and many more. Soft washing is the low-pressure application of bio-degradable chemical that kills the organic matter adhering to the surface. This killing of the organic matter (algae, mold, lichen, etc.) does away with the microscopic spores on the surface, whereas pressure washing does not. The spores, when not eradicated, will make the organic matter return at a much higher rate than if completely cleaned using soft washing. Soft washing can also be done from the ground, eliminating the need for ladders and safety hazards, for up to 4 story homes!

This method is the newest and most effective method to clean all surfaces, and even when pressure washing is appropriate, it is much more effective when paired with soft washing to effectively kill and fully remove the organic irritants from your home.

What is pressure washing?

Pressure washing is the process that has been used effectively in the cleaning industry since the creation of the pressure washer in 1926. Pressure washing uses water expelled from a wand at a high pressure, 8 gallons per minute at 3500 pounds per square inch (3500 PSI) in Buell Pressure Washing’s professional-grade pressure washers, to blast the grit & grime off various surfaces.

Pressure washing is an extremely efficacious method of cleaning WHEN the substrate that one is cleaning can tolerate these astronomical levels of pressure without being damaged. This cleaning method is effective on hard scapes such as concrete (not stamped), brick, asphalt, etc. that can tolerate these higher pressure levels without sustaining damage.

The secret: a little bit of both

Both cleaning techniques, when done correctly, can help to safely maintain your home. However, the most effective cleaning method is a combination of the two methods. When cleaning concrete the cleaning is much more thorough, and longer lasting, when the concrete is pre- & post- treated with a soft wash application of organic matter killing chemicals. This helps to kill and remove the spores from organic matter, more effectively cleaning the concrete and prolonging the life of the clean.

On the flip side, pressure can not be used on soft washing applications without causing damage, so what’s the answer? Increasing the volume of water being applied. This is the reason that Buell Pressure Washing has high-grade equipment that is capable of putting up to 14 gallons per minute (GPM) of water on the surfaces to effectively remove the dead organic matter without causing damage. This 14 GPM is in comparison to the average 2.3 GPM of residential pressure washers. This is the reason that when individuals are cleaning their own homes they must get closer to the home to remove the dead material, increasing the likelihood of damaging their home.

The takeaway

Any cleaning method, when performed appropriately, can help to maintain the integrity of your home. Even Forbes delineates pressure washing as a technique that boosts your home’s resale value. This demonstrates that not only will your surfaces look cleaner, but they will also remain in better condition for longer, especially in regards to roof’s integrity. Your home, roof, driveways, decks, fences, and more will have longer lifespans if they are properly cared for. When irritants such as dirt, moss, mold, algae, and lichen are left to inject roots and build up it can endanger the structural integrity of your home, directly impacting the resale and the quality of your experience with your home.

To learn more about Buell Pressure Washing’s techniques and cleaning capabilities visit our contact page or reach out to us via email, phone call, or text message at our contact information listed below!