Soft Washing, Pressure Washing, Or Power Washing: Which Method To Use When

More and more people are becoming familiar with the art of pressure washing, but there's a lot more to it than simply applying a high-pressure stream of water to an exterior surface. Pressure washing itself is both an exterior cleaning technique and an umbrella term for the various methods that are used for all kinds of services, and it's important to understand the differences between them. Even if you're not performing the task yourself, having this knowledge can help you better understand the exterior cleaning process as well as determine whether or not you've chosen a contractor that knows what they're doing.

The team of experts here at Taylor’s PressureWash are well-versed in all areas of professional pressure washing, so if you're looking to work with a company you can trust, then we're just one call away at 405-423-4875!

How To Determine Which Method Is Best Suited To The Task At Hand

There are three primary methods of pressure washing, and they all have their individual uses. Each method is best suited to a particular type of material or exterior cleaning service in general, and it's essential that a contractor uses the right one for whichever service they're performing. So what exactly are these methods, and when are they used? Here's a quick breakdown of each one:

• Soft washing is a lower pressure wash, typically done at or below 500 PSI, and it's used on the more delicate areas of your property. It uses a higher concentration of eco-friendly chemicals to make up for the lack of pressure, so you get a thorough wash without the risk of damage. Services like gutter cleaning and roof cleaning require this method for the best results.

• Pressure washing is the high pressure technique that most people are familiar with. This method is done at a high pressure setting, and it can be performed either with plain water or with detergent to clean harder surfaces like brick, stone, and concrete. You'll see this technique used for services such as driveway cleaning, parking garage washing, and building washing.

• Power washing is sometimes used synonymously with pressure washing due to their similarities, but there's a key distinction between them. They both use high pressure settings, but the power washing method uses hot water to clean and sanitize your exterior surfaces. Additionally, it can only be done with a pressure washer that has a heating element attached.

What Happens If I Use The Wrong Pressure Settings?

The answer to this question really depends on the circumstances. Even though soft washing is primarily for less sturdy surfaces like shingles and gutters, you'll still get successful results when you use this method on stone or concrete. However, the same is not true in reverse. If you use a high pressure technique on an exterior surface that isn't equipped to handle it, you can end up with costly property damage that requires further repairs or even total replacement.