Spring is all about new beginnings and clearing away the debris of winter, inside and out. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean overhauling closets and reorganizing the pantry, though. In fact, the exterior surfaces of your home are likely to be in sore need of a spruce-up after winter’s debris-shedding dormant season. Learn the benefits of soft wash versus power wash.
Organic debris and discoloration, including lichen, mold and mildew activity, can all seem more apparent in the clear, bright light of spring. When your concrete surfaces are stained, your home’s exterior streaked with mold or mildew, your gutters overflowing with last summer’s bounty, it’s obvious you need a high-powered plan of attack. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to reach for the highest-PSI pressure washer you can find to blast all that debris away, however. Find out how a more effective, non-abrasive soft wash can restore all your exterior surfaces to their glory days, boosting your curb appeal just in time for spring and summer.
What’s the Difference Between Soft Washing and Power Washing?
While the term “power washing” can be applied to both soft washing and pressure washing, there are very distinct differences between these two methods. When they’re used appropriately in the right situations, both pressure washing and soft washing can be incredibly effective. For many surfaces, pressure washing is simply too abrasive and potentially destructive. On the other hand, soft washing is inherently non-damaging to surfaces while also protecting plant life and landscaping.
Pressure washing machines clean surfaces by unleashing the abrasive power of water under high pressure. This rapid-fire stream can definitely clear away lichen, mildew, and stains, but it can also strip the paint right off your home and permanently etch the surface of concrete. Reliant on the sheer force generated by the machine, pressure washing can be dangerous to the operator and the surfaces being cleaned.
Soft washing doesn’t rely on brute force to strip away stains, discoloration, and organic growth. Instead, highly specialized solvents, detergents, and surfactants are used to remove unsightly dirt without risking the integrity of concrete, peeling the paint off your shutters, or damaging siding. Expert knowledge of both cleaning products and machinery is required, but soft washing is capable of removing years of built-up discoloration and debris gently and effectively.
Choosing the Right Cleaning System for Your Exterior Surfaces
When you’re ready to boost curb appeal and improve the livability of your outdoor spaces, specialized cleaning really can give you the biggest bang for your buck. Not only can your home exterior, trim and flat surfaces shine like new again, you also won’t be likely to end up with a repair bill.
Cleaning vinyl siding with a pressure washer, for instance, can disturb naturally occurring oxidation to cause streaky discoloration called “clean marks.” These marks are incredibly difficult and expensive to remove, on top of the costs incurred during the initial pressure wash. Permanent etching can damage the surface of concrete walkways, patios and driveways. Joints and mortar in concrete and paver walkways can be damaged by pressure washing, too.
Soft washing doesn’t rely on brute force to remove discoloration and stains, so you’re not running the risk of etched concrete, clean marks on vinyl, demolished trim work or stripped paint. Just knowledgeable use of products designed to clean your surfaces for a safe, effective clean you don’t walk away from with repair bills and stress.
In the end, a quick-fix session with a pressure washer can be far more expensive and less effective than a single, comprehensive cleaning plan tailored to the needs of your unique property. If you’re ready to reclaim your exterior surfaces, removing dirt, debris and organic growth ahead of the warm season, Carolina Power Wash can help. Expert-level attention to detail means each area of your property gets precisely the cleaning attention it needs, leaving your home gleaming like new construction in one fell swoop.