Soft Washing, What is it?
What is soft washing?
If you live in a humid area or coastal area, you probably own a pressure washer to clean your home. Pressure Washing is one of the common ways people think of when it comes to Exterior cleaning. Pressure washing can be beneficial when used for the right surfaces, and used correctly, to no cause harm. The problem, with some pressure washers / washing companies is they used Pressure Washers to “blast away” the organics growing on your home. Organics include mild, mildew, and other harmful micro organizims growing. ?
Pressure washing is very effective and can get the job done, but there is a high chance if you don’t know better like most pressure washing your home can cause damage, discoloration, and even worse paint loss.
So what if your home has delicate siding, painted siding, or wood siding how should you clean it without ruining its overall look? The answer to this question is Soft Washing. This is a secondary option to cleaning your exteriors, next to pressure washing. However, recently, soft washing has become more popular, and requested by homeowners who know the benefits of it. So what can be soft washed and why?
Vinyl – when exposed to high pressure vinyl can oxidation to the coating which leaves lines and discolors it. To even worse high pressure can crack the siding causing for residing and more expensive repairs. Most companies, who “pressure wash” used way to high of PSI to clean vinyl siding. The best option for cleaning Vinyl is soft washing.
Brick - Brick tho it was made as one of the strongest materials for buildings and more, it can still be damaged with Pressure. Brick can be pressure washed, however, it has to be done with a lower psi than “traditional” pressure washers. Using pressure however, can cause the mortar joints holding bricks together to be blown out or cracked, so be careful not to use to high of pressure.
Stucco- Stucco tho common in most hotter environments like Florida, Arizona, California, it can also be used in your own back yard. . We have always found Stucco to be tricky to clean, especially when painted. Stucco regardless of Pressure Washer, should be avoided, and should be Soft Washed.
Wood – Natural & Lively! Wood surfaces are very likely to be damaged if used under pressure. Wood should be cleaned properly with a Soft Wash process. High pressure can cause fibering, lines, and end in a bad look. Cleaning wood is a process and if not done correctly can cost you thousands more in repairs or replacement. It must be soft washed.
Shingles – Wait Shingles? Learn about Roof Washing here. Shingles are the “outer shell/Protector for your home. Roof shingles should never, ever, be power washed, and should always be cleaned with a Soft Wash process. Learn more here.
Metal – Becoming more common on Commercial A Frame Buildings and Residential Roofs metal can be difficult to clean for many reasons.
Cleaning metal surfaces can be tricky for a variety of reasons. For one, metal is simply an umbrella term to describe a set of materials varying in toughness. Some pressure washers can dent or blow holes through aluminum, while a steel frame would be otherwise unshaken. To further complicate the matter, some surfaces, such as galvanized metal, are metals with protective coatings; high pressure can damage some of these coatings. Due to these differences, some surfaces can be soft washed while others can be pressure washed. It is best to contact a professional cleaning company if you are unsure of which option to pursue.
How to Soft Wash on Your Own
Now that we have discussed which materials should be soft washed and which should be pressure washed, we will show you two ways to get started in soft washing your delicate surfaces. We always recommend non-professionals wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and read the product info and safety data sheet (SDS) for any chemicals they choose to use. Always perform a test spot on an inconspicuous area of the surface you wish to clean.
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Method 1) Pump Sprayer
For this method, you are only going to need three items: a pump sprayer, garden hose, and your chemical(s) of choice. If you are unsure about which chemicals to use on different surfaces, check out our other pressure washing tips before making your informed decision.
First, rinse any nearby plants to prevent chemical damage to the root system and leaves. Second, starting generously applying your chemical mixture to the surface you would like to clean, being mindful of any overspray onto plants. Let the chemicals dwell until you notice the algae, mold, etc. is starting to melt away. Finally, rinse down your surfaces and your landscaping with your garden hose to remove all of the chemicals. Repeat this process if needed. Below is an example of a soft wash project we performed in Ladson, SC.
Method 2) Soft Wash System
Another option to soft wash your home is to buy a semi-professional soft wash system. The most popular option for homeowners is the NorthStar system. This is one of the only well-known ready-to-go soft wash kits for DIYers. It operates at 4.0 gallons per minute, which is below the standard 5.5 gallons per minute provided by residential water spigots.
The process is the same as with the pump sprayer: pre-soak plants with water, apply chemicals, and rinse thoroughly. You can wash much faster with this system than with a pump sprayer, and you can reach second story heights with it. The only caveat is that it can be heavy to haul around, and you have to perform routine maintenance on the soft wash system periodically.
Summary
In this article, we outlined the surfaces you can soft wash and the surfaces you can pressure wash. Some hard surfaces that can be pressure washed may need soft washed if they have protective coatings, paint, or are older constructions. Below is a bulleted list to help you remember the next time you embark on your own cleaning:
Soft Wash
Pressure Wash
We also provided a couple options for soft washing by yourself. Although residential soft wash options are limited, 1-story and 2-story homes can be soft washed by DIY homeowners with the right equipment and chemical knowledge.
If you don’t feel comfortable performing your own pressure wash or soft wash project, or if you don’t want to spend hours learning about soft washing chemicals, our team at Mount Pleasant Pressure Washing can handle your exterior cleaning project. We are the Charleston Metropolitan’s premier luxury exterior cleaning and restoration company servicing Mount Pleasant SC and surrounding areas. With our expert chemical knowledge and state-of-the-art equipment, we can tackle just about any project. Through contacting us, you can learn within minutes if your project fits our requirements by giving us a call or using our intake form.