The Different Types of House Washing: What You Need to Know

It’s important to know the types of house washing and the difference between pressure washing and soft wash methods. Soft wash methods are gentler on your home while still being just as effective at removing dirt and grime from the exterior. Pressure washing is also a great way to deep clean your house exterior, but it can leave behind streaks or residue that needs to be removed by hand afterwards. I will discuss both methods in detail below, so you can make an informed decision on which best suits your needs!

Understanding the Difference Between House Washing Methods

Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is a technique used for cleaning brickwork, concrete surfaces like sidewalks, driveways and patios; siding; stucco; decks; fencing; wood decks or other outdoor structures with a pressurized stream of water spray. The water pressure can range from 40 to 1,500 pounds per square inch (pounds/in²), or more. Water is typically sprayed out of a nozzle at ten to fifteen gallons per minute (gpm) and power washers for home use average about 2.5 gpm.

It can remove mold and mildew, but it’s not fully effective at removing all dirt and grime because of the pressure level. Many homeowners opt to use pressure washing as a first step to clean their brick or siding before using a soft wash method on their home exterior.

Pressure washing is also more likely to damage the exterior paint of your home, so be sure to understand the various pressures on different surfaces. This is something to keep in mind before doing a full power wash on your house.

Soft Washing

Soft washing methods are gentler on the exterior of your home, but they still get the job done by removing dirt and grime from your siding or brickwork. The water pressure level for soft washing is low enough that it won’t remove your paint or damage any areas of exposed wood.

The nozzle typically sprays at 15 gpm, which is about 3-4 times more than a typical garden hose, but it’s not going to strip away all the dirt and grime from your walls or driveway like some pressure washers will! Soft washing methods don’t work well on all types of surfaces, so it’s best to check with a professional before trying this method.

House Washing Tips!

Make sure when using any type of house washing methods that you test your home exterior for any loose paint or other potential damage the pressure wash might cause. You can try soft washing in an inconspicuous area to make sure there isn’t any damage done to the exterior surface before going over the rest of your home.

If you don’t have a professional soft wash system in your home, then be sure to wear protective clothing and goggles when doing a power washing because even small pieces of debris from a regular garden hose can cause harm if they hit you directly! Try giving your home an “allover bath” by washing the exterior of your home at least three times a year for best results.

Pressure washers are typically available in gas, electric and battery-operated styles to make it easy to pick the best option that works with your budget and needs. Soft wash methods might be more expensive because you need to hire a professional or purchase soft washing equipment, but it’s worth the extra cost if you want to protect your home paint from damage!

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