Maintaining your home’s external appeal and structural health involves regular cleaning, and the two most widely-used techniques for this task are soft washing and pressure washing. Both approaches serve the common objective of sprucing up your property’s exterior but operate differently and are best suited for distinct types of surfaces.
What is Pressure Washing?
As suggested by the name, this cleaning technique uses high-pressure water streams to get rid of dirt, grime, mildew, and other tough stains. Using only water pressure, this technique provides a thorough, deep clean. It works particularly well on porous surfaces with high staining potential, such as patios, driveways, and sidewalks. However, softer, more delicate materials like shingles, vinyl, and wood may not hold up well to the high force of pressure washing.
The Gentle Approach of Soft Washing
On the other hand, this way of cleaning takes a gentler yet highly effective approach to cleaning your property. The term “soft” shouldn’t be misconstrued as less effective, as this method also ensures a clean and fresh exterior. Instead of using high-pressure water, soft washing incorporates a mixture of gentle detergents and algaecides. These cleaning agents dissolve and break down grime and dirt, leaving surfaces immaculately clean after a gentle rinse.
Because of all of these factors working together, this technique is typically safer for delicate surfaces like vinyl siding, roof shingles, and wooden decks that a washer’s high pressure could harm. Furthermore, the cleaning solutions used in this process can deter the growth of moss, mildew, and algae, ensuring a clean exterior for a longer period of time.
How to Choose Between the Two
The type of surfaces you plan to clean primarily determines which of these two cleaning methods you should use. Tougher surfaces, such as brick or concrete, can benefit from the intense cleaning power of pressure washing. On the other hand, for surfaces that are more susceptible to water damage or are of a softer material, soft washing is typically a safer bet.
Moreover, it’s crucial to consider the kind of dirt or stains present on your property. Pressure washing can efficiently remove superficial dirt and loose debris, but it might struggle against organic growths like mildew or mold. Conversely, soft washing, with its specialized cleaning solution, can eradicate these organisms and help prevent their recurrence.
In conclusion, both offer a great deal of unique benefits. The optimal method largely depends on your property’s specific needs. For a comprehensive, safe, and enduring clean, it might be advantageous to use a combination of both techniques – using pressure washing for the more resilient surfaces and soft washing for the ones that are more fragile.
It’s worth noting that professional cleaning services have the expertise in these techniques and can guide you in selecting the most suitable approach for your home’s exterior. So why not let Spruce Services & Solutions help with that if you are looking for a professional pressure washing service in Greenville, SC.