Let’s clear up the confusion upfront
Please do not be confused with the words pressure washing or softwashing. I am guilty along with 100% of other exterior cleaning contractors of using these words in the wrong context. When customers search for a company to clean their home they are typing in “pressure washing service near me”. No one is searching for “Softwashing Services”. That said, most pressure-washing contractor webpages have the phrase “pressure wash siding” or “pressure wash roof ” all over their sites. WE DO NOT use High Pressure on siding or roof shingles as it will damage those substrates. To feed our families we have to “trick” Google into thinking that we are the service that the customer needs. I know that sounds shady but below I will clarify for all.
Soft washing is the combination of water, chemicals, and surfactants that are applied to substrates at low-pressure
Low pressure allows you to safely place your hand in front of the spray tip and not damage the skin. (WARNING DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME). If you are using the wrong tip you could severely injure yourself. Soft washing (low-pressure cleaning with chemicals) is preferred for cleaning home or business exteriors. It’s safer than blasting with high pressure and provides a superior quality job. Soft washing can also remove any tiger stripes and/or swirl marks left on concrete. Have you recently pressure washed your driveway only to notice faint black lines reappearing just a few months later? This is because your only visually cleaned the surface. Algae and mold down in the pores of your concrete were not properly removed because softwashing solutions were not used.
Pressure washing is utilizing a low volume of water at high pressure
There is a time and place to use high pressure. Such instances are cleaning unfinished concrete, unpainted block or your street curbs. Even then soft washing chemicals will be applied to remove mold your pressure washer leaves behind. If you have used a surface cleaner then you have most likely seen the swirl marks they leave behind. These marks are created by using the wrong tips or by walking too fast when cleaning. Most DIY’ers end up disconnecting the surface cleaner because of poor performance. They end up finishing the job with a wand and often still leave those unsightly tiger stripes.
Power washing is the use of high-pressure HOT water to clean
Hot water pressure washing “helps” to remove oil stains and gum on concrete or pavers. A myriad of commercial-grade degreasers on the market claim to remove oil stains, yet when applied at home they seldom work. Cold water pressure washing combined with degreasers alone is not enough to completely remove a set-in oil stain, you will need hot water. Plenty of pressure washing companies have the words “Power Washing” in their company name yet do not have the equipment to generate hot water. I get it “power washing” sounds like you are working harder, but 99% of the time most of us are simply pressure washing. I agree that hot water power washing will effectively and quickly remove chewing gum, but unless you are frequently cleaning high-traffic shopping centers, there is no need for a power washing unit.