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9b2c4b44fb86522964124ed80d03c5e8 Power Washing and Soft Washing: What's the Difference? | Cates Pressure Washing

The Tri-Cities of Tennessee, Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, make up a beautiful part of the South. As spring is about to be sprung upon us, the natural beauty of our area is full of frequent precipitation, and humidity, which can take a toll on our homes. 

Keeping up with cleaning your outdoor surfaces can be challenging, and each type of surface needs specialized cleaning.  There are several ways to clean and prevent issues like mold and mildew from spreading, and two of those ways are Power Washing and Soft Washing. 

 

The Basics of Pressure Washing

Soft washing and power washing are both great ways of cleaning surfaces around your property. However, either of these is not a one size fits all method for cleaning the surfaces of your property, as each has specific applications where they work best. 

While pressure washing is harsher, it can handle tougher to get the grime out of porous surfaces. Soft washing uses lighter pressure, making it easier for more delicate surfaces to handle. Furthermore, soft washing is the best way to achieve the ”brand new shine.”

Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is the most common form of high-pressure washing that contractors will use to clean surfaces. It is one of the most effective solutions and, unlike power washing (which we will go over later), does not use hot water. Pressure washing is typically used to clean surfaces such as:

  • Decks
  • Stone Paths
  • Patio Furniture
  • Sidewalks
  • Anything with deep grooves and cracks

Due to the high pressure, it is best to leave it to the professionals, as it is effortless to cause damage or injury. If you want to know more about pressure washing, you can check out our blog post, “What You Need To Know Before You Begin Pressure Washing.”

Soft Washing

Soft washing sounds strange coming from a company that sells “pressure washing” services; however, pressure washers are often used for soft washing by the same professionals that offer pressure washing and hot water power washing. 

Soft washing simply uses lower pressure to clean surfaces that are typically less durable or need finesse. Soft washing is preferred in situations where the surfaces are:

  • Cedar shake siding
  • Wood panel siding
  • Outdoor rooted plants
  • Stucco and Coquina
  • Outdoor wood furniture
  • Screens, enclosures, and lanais
  • Vinyl siding.

We know that these surfaces may not handle high pressure and high heat, so soft washing utilizes eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for use on protective coatings on your house exterior. 

Power Washing

Power washing is often confused with pressure washing, but while they are similar, power washing uses hot water at high pressures. Not only does the hot pressure help further break up dirt and grime, but it also sanitizes surfaces and is the absolute best at cleaning materials such as:

  • Driveways
  • Stone walls
  • Rough Concrete
  • Removing paint from wood and aluminum siding
  • Prepping a deck for stain or paint

Power washing should only be done by well-trained professionals. Not only is the high pressure dangerous, but the hot water is typical of a high enough temperature that you are likely to end up in the hospital if there is an accident. Also, it is easy to damage property when equipment isn't correctly used.

Do I Need to Hire a Pressure Washing Contractor?

Many may think that they can easily purchase a pressure washer and handle all their pressure washing. However, with so many options and techniques out there to clean surfaces around your property, in almost every case, you are better off hiring a professional contractor to help you decide what kind of washing your surfaces need. 

Because of the variety of styles of application, it would be way too easy to apply too much pressure or use the wrong nozzle. Lack of expertise also could lead to severe injuries. 

Pressure washers sent an estimated 6057 people to the emergency room in 2014 alone. Some of these injuries led to severe infections because the wounds may have appeared minor but were indeed serious.

Request a Power Washing Estimate Today

There are many differences and similarities between the different types of surface washing. Still, one thing is for sure, hiring a professional contractor to take care of your pressure washing needs is a must. With so many things that can go wrong, it is best to trust a contractor that has been around for years and has a good track record of service. 

At Cates Property Services and Pressure Washing Contractors, we have been serving northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina since 1997. Our professional pressure washing contractors specialize in residential, commercial, and new job pressure washing. We can do it all, from concrete, decks, siding, etc. 

Contact Cate’s Pressure Washing today for more information about how you can trust your pressure washing project to the professionals.