Power, Pressure, and Soft Washing: What’s the Difference?

It’s time to hire a professional to clean the exterior of your home or your driveway. How do you know which washing service to get?

We don’t expect you to be an expert in cleaning services—that’s why we’re here, after all—but we think it helps customers to understand the basic differences between a pressure wash, power wash, and soft wash. A basic understanding of each type of service will give you a better idea of which one is best suited to meet your needs.

In this article, we’ll explain the differences between the three types of jobs, what surfaces they are best suited for, and how you can benefit from each solution.

Pressure Washing vs. Power Washing

Let’s start with pressure washing versus power washing. You’ve probably heard these terms, but do you know the difference? The answer will make a big impact on what service you choose when you hire a company like ours.

Here’s the main difference: power washing uses heated water to clean a surface. Pressure washing, as you can probably guess from the name, uses highly pressurized water for a cleaning job but does not heat the water to do so. Power washing is your better option for particularly dirty areas, as the hot water can loosen up contaminants and make them easier for us to dispose of.

So when should you use a pressure wash? We recommend using a power wash on harder surfaces (concrete, stone, brick). Pressure washing can be safely applied to softer areas, like siding and decks built from wood.

We don’t recommend using either solution to clean surfaces for asphalt roofing (it could damage the roof), stained wood (it’ll remove the stain), or anything painted.

Soft Washing vs. Other Washing Jobs

A soft wash differs from a pressure wash in two ways. It doesn’t use highly pressurized streams of water, but it instead makes use of chemical solutions that are safe for surfaces as it cleans out dirt, grime, and other contaminants. The chemicals work over time to break down the dirt that has built up on the exterior of your home.

We recommend using a soft wash solution on surfaces including vinyl and wood panel siding, outdoor wooden furniture, and screens. This solution will clean those areas and maintain the beauty of your home and surrounding lounge areas.

Ready for a Cleaning?

Want to learn more about how these types of cleanings can benefit your home? Contact us at (910) 273-4416 or send us a message. We’d be happy to share what type of cleaning will work best for you.