In recent times, soft wash pressure washing has become a rather popular option for many people regarding house cleaning. Aside from house cleaning, soft washing is a method used by professionals in many other situations.
However, not many people are as knowledgeable about this method as they are with pressure washing. That is where Homishguide comes to play by answering some of the more common questions you might have. Of course, we will also answer some questions that aren’t as common.
Our wish is to learn all you need to know about soft wash pressure washing. And then use this information to better clean your house and or store. So let us answer the what, who, where, when, why, and how of soft wash pressure washing.
Table of Contents
What is soft wash pressure washing?
To put it simply, soft wash pressure washing, or soft washing as most calls it, is a type of pressure washing that uses less pressure and more chemicals. With less pressure and more chemicals, soft washing is perfect for a thorough cleaning.
The table below will provide more information on the difference between the common type of pressure washing.
| Type | Temperature Range | Pressure Range |
| Soft Washing | ≦140℉(60℃) | ≦500 PSI |
| Pressure Washing | ≦140℉(60℃) | 1500 – 4400+ PSI |
| Power Washing | ≦311℉(155℃) | 1500 – 4400+ PSI |
Who does soft wash pressure washing?
Now that you have learned what soft washing is, you might be wondering who does it. And the answer to this question is rather easy. Most businesses that provide pressure washing will be able to do soft wash pressure washing.
This is because the process of soft washing and pressure washing are similar. Also, there will be jobs where the cleaner will need to do a soft wash pressure washing before starting pressure washing.
However, it never hurts to call your local or neighborhood pressure washing business and ask them. When you call them, ask them if they can provide you with a soft washing or do they only do pressure washing.
Where is soft wash pressure washing best for?
Since soft washing involves using less pressure than a pressure washing, you should be using it on delicate surfaces. The best places to soft pressure wash are surfaces that can’t withstand the high pressure of pressure washing.
For your benefit, we have put together a list of places that can be soft washed:
- Vinyl, cedar shake, or wood panel siding
- Stucco and coquina
- Outdoor wood furniture
- Paver, brick, and tile
Hopefully, you have gotten an idea of whether or not you will need soft washing. While our list is small, we have mentioned the common places your local pressure washing company will do soft washing. If you need more info, please call them and ask them directly.
When should you do soft wash pressure washing?
There isn’t an exact time or place when you should soft wash; however, there are some signs we can point out to you. In general, soft washing is a process that is meant to clean up the exterior without damaging the surface.
So to help you figure out when you should soft wash, here are some of the common signs we saw and read about:
Exterior looks dirty
One of the most common signs is dirty walls or dirty surfaces around you. Having your house look dirty or unsightly will lower its value. However, if you just pressure wash, you run the risk of ruining your walls instead of cleaning them.
Discoloration and streaks
I know many of you have seen those houses or businesses whose walls have streaks or are discolored. The main reasons for these are due to mold, algae, or other similar things. If you see these stains, you should soft wash instead of a pressure wash.
Overflowing gutters
More often than not, most people tend to forget about gutters even though it’s essential. When gutters are clogged, it will stop the flow of water from the roof. If this happens and you don’t soft wash the gutters, you will damage your roof.
Temperature irregularities
This is a sign that isn’t as easy to figure out as the other ones we talked about, but it’s just as important. With heavy mold build-up on the exterior, you will see changes in the temperature of your interior. This, in turn, will increase your electricity bill, and to decrease it, you will need soft wash pressure washing.
Why is soft wash pressure washing important?
As I have explained above, there are particular signs you need to look out for when you should soft wash. These signs are the main reasons why soft washing is important. Aside from these reasons, there are some other secondary reasons for soft washing.
For example, your bills will increase if you don’t soft wash the mold out of your walls. The main reason for soft washing in this example is cleaning mold, and the secondary reason is lowering your bill.
How to do soft wash pressure washing?
Before you get into how to soft wash, you should know about what you will need. Firstly there are the chemicals you will use. Each of them has a different purpose and is used in different amounts. Here are the common types of chemicals used:
- Bleach: It’s the most powerful of all the chemicals and is the best at killing off bacteria.
- Surfactants: Reduces surface tension of liquids. This helps other liquids to spread and go through grime and mold.
- Neutralizers: Helps cleaners by stopping chemical runoffs from harming the plant life around your houses.
The cleaners use these chemicals and special nozzles to do multiple washes over every exterior. Once they are sure that all surfaces are covered, they wait a while before using clean water to rewash the walls. This is basically the whole process. For a better idea, we have attached a video for your viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
Which is better soft wash or pressure wash?
Both processes have their use, but you should do a soft wash for most houses instead of pressure washing. Soft washes are best for untreated wooden surfaces, while pressure washing is best for concrete driveways.
What is power washing?
Unlike soft washing or pressure washing, power washing uses hotter water and a greater amount of pressure. Using higher temperature water cleaners can kill some of the more powerful grimes.
Is soft wash pressure washing easy?
All types of pressure washing require some skill to be done properly. However, if you are an entry-level cleaner, then soft wash pressure washing should be the first type of pressure washing you should learn as it’s the easiest out of all.
How long does soft wash pressure washing take?
This is a common question, and the answer to it is simple. The amount of time needed will be dependent on the size of the house being cleaned and the amount of experience the cleaners have. However, since more chemical is being used, the time needed should be lesser than other types of pressure washing.
Conclusion
Soft wash pressure washing is a common method for cleaning your house of mold and other bacteria. Hopefully, the things you have learned in this article will be useful the next time you think of hiring a pressure washer. Unlike the other pressure washing articles, how often to pressure wash a deck and how to pressure wash a balcony, this article is meant to help you figure out should you soft wash your house.
