Methods
What is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water to clean hard surfaces such as concrete driveways, walkways and pavers. Soft washing uses low pressure with a cleaning solution to lift algae and film from delicate surfaces like stucco, painted siding, wood and roofing. Using the wrong one damages the surface.
The short version
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water to clean hard surfaces such as concrete driveways, walkways and pavers. Soft washing uses low pressure with a cleaning solution to lift algae and film from delicate surfaces like stucco, painted siding, wood and roofing. Using the wrong one damages the surface.
- Concrete, brick and stone tolerate high pressure and clean fastest with it.
- Stucco, painted siding, wood and composite need soft washing to avoid etching or fuzzing.
- Roofs should always be soft washed — pressure lifts granules off shingles and voids many warranties.
- A good crew switches methods surface by surface within the same visit.
Related questions
- Can soft washing damage plants?
- Not when landscaping is pre-wetted and rinsed afterwards. That rinse step is standard on every ADG soft wash.
- Which method is right for my stucco house?
- Soft washing. Stucco is porous and high pressure drives water behind the finish, so it should always be cleaned at low pressure.
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