Soft wash vs pressure wash – why is that difference so important? You would think that cleaning surfaces was a simple job, but it isn’t. Even in your home, you use a variety of cleaning tools and detergents to get every object cleaned well without harming it. 

You wouldn’t mop your carpet with bleach or steam your hardwood floor, would you?

Absolutely not! That would cause extreme damage.

In the same way, cleaning exterior surfaces like buildings, lanai, vinyl fences, concrete, or pavers require one of two methods to do the job right — pressure wash and soft wash. Let’s explore what they are, what makes them different, and how they can be safely used to make your property look spectacular. 

Soft Wash

Both soft wash and pressure wash use the same equipment. One of the major differences is the PSI. PSI stands for “pressure per square inch.”

The soft wash method uses close to 100 PSI. To bring that into perspective, that’s twice the force of a garden house or heavy downpour. All of this water is concentrated through a cone-shaped nozzle attachment that widens and breaks up the stream of water. This creates a soft touch that doesn’t erode or damage delicate surfaces. 

Eco-safe chemicals are added to the water to break down the dirt and remove the microorganisms. The professionals at Premier Pro Wash and Seal will expertly mix their proprietary soft wash mix depending on the severity of the job at hand. 

One recipe does not fit every scenario. Using too strong chemicals or pressure could damage vinyl fences and siding, reducing the lifetime you have with them, while roofs need more to wash it well.

The Best Defense Against Mold

At the very end of the job, fungicide is added to the water to leave a coating on the surface. This inhibits mold growth, affording a much longer time between cleanings. When properly applied by a professional, the mold will not grow back on buildings for up to a year, depending on the makeup of the surroundings (humidity, etc.) Roofs can even stay protected for up to 5 years. 

Pure, cool water pressure washing only removes the visible dirt and mold spores but does not kill them. The mold will start working hard to come back, and if you are seriously unlucky, the water spread the mold around more, giving it new places to settle in with enough bacteria and moisture to get comfortable. Yuck!

What to Soft Wash

Now that we know what soft washing is, let’s go over what should be soft-washed.

• Homes
• Vinyl fencing 
• Buildings
• Travertine
• Siding
• Pool cage screens (lanai) 
• Brick
• Sometimes pavers

Pressure Wash

Pressure washing involves high pressure and sometimes high heat too, but no chemicals. The amount of PSI for pressure washing is 30 x more than soft washes, coming in at around 3,000 PSI! The special nozzle used for this method concentrates the water into a narrow stream that helps it achieve a potent punch of cleaning power. 

But that much pressure isn’t natural and can drive water deep into surfaces, creating a bigger problem. That’s why it’s best to only use high pressure on exceedingly durable surfaces without a weakness to moisture.

A turbo nozzle can be used for spot cleaning grooves and smaller jobs but can leave streaks if working on large areas. That’s why pressure washing anything under your feet should be done with a professional-grade rotary surface cleaner. 

What to Pressure Wash

While pressure washing may damage some surfaces, when used under the guidance of trained professionals, it can be a vital tool in achieving a deep clean for:

• Concrete 
• Curbs
• Pavers

A Hard Choice Made Easy

Soft wash is safer than pressure washing for most surfaces — period. So why do so many people choose to pressure wash their home or lanai anyway? 

The chemicals. 

Well, it’s time to put those fears aside and choose what’s best for your home or business!

At Premier Pro Wash & Seal, we take extra precautions to protect your outdoor plants and furniture from harm. We make your property our priority and take care of you like the family we love and admire (not the ones that we only see for weddings and funerals).

We cover delicate plants with plastic to protect them. A safe, neutralizing agent is applied to the rest to prevent them from being damaged. When we use chemicals, we add just enough to provide you with the best results, never more. And after the job is done, we wash the plants to make sure they are completely free of chemicals and looking as good as when we arrived!

If you live in Florida and want your property washed in the Tampa Bay area, get in touch with us!