Power Washing: What It Is and Why It’s Important

So, you’re wondering, what is power washing? To start, the terms power washing and pressure washing are synonymous, regardless of what other sites say. The real difference is in the terms Pressure Wash and Soft Wash, but we will cover that shortly.

Also, while many people buy or rent their own power washers (which can be great), they may not use the right amount of pressure to avoid damaging surfaces and landscaping. And, many people who use their own power washers don’t use detergent and only rely on the pressure of the water to clean surfaces. This can lead to using unnecessary power and result in damaging the surface.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about power washing and how to use the right amount of pressure.

What is Power Washing?

Power washing or pressure washing is the use of pressurized water to clean surfaces, such as concrete, buildings, sidewalks, sheds, siding, asphalt, or many others. The pressure is built within the power washer by gas or electric power. The pressurized water can remove loose paint, algae, dirt, and many other contaminants.

But like anything, there are various attachments and methods of utilizing a power washer to clean. With those different attachments, there are many variables to determine which to use for each project. The most important thing to know when power washing is whether to use soft wash or high-pressure wash. Using the wrong pressure setting can damage your surface or fail to clean it properly.

Pressure Washing vs. Power Washing

When browsing the wonderful World Wide Web about this topic, you may quickly become confused. Some people say power washing uses hot water while pressure washing does not. Or, maybe that a pressure washer only uses high pressure.

Actually, neither are true. In reality, the terms pressure washing and power washing are used synonymously. A good rule of thumb is to think about how strong or delicate the surface material is. The more delicate, the softer the pressure you should use. This is called a soft wash.

On the other hand, strong surfaces, such as concrete, require a higher-pressure to remove all the dirt buildups. And those surfaces can withstand the extra pressure.

At All Clean Exteriors, we have the experience to use the most effective and safest method applicable for each job. By utilizing our proprietary detergents, we are able to almost always accomplish the best results without using high-presssure. This ensures the safety of your surfaces while they are in our hands. Let’s see some examples of both:

Soft Wash Examples

Soft washing is the process of using a lower water pressure while relying on detergents and sometimes a soft brush to clean a surface. The best example of when to use a soft wash would be with most roofs.

The common asphalt shingled roof is a very delicate material. As a result, you let the detergents do the majority of the cleaning and not the water pressure. (And yes! These detergents are environmentally friendly and safe for pets and plants.)

Another good example is the siding of your house. Although, the exact amount of pressure varies depending on the material, a soft wash on your house will transform your home from green to clean.

High-Pressure Wash Examples

High-pressure washing means utilizes high water pressure to remove those stains deep in the pores of strong, durable surfaces.

For example, concrete is an extremely strong and durable material. It is also very porous and tends to hold onto those nagging stains. That is why you need high pressure to blast those stains off.

Another time to use a high-pressure wash would be preparing for work on deck or surface for new paint. The high-water pressure will easily remove any chipped or peeling paint. But be careful! If you use pressure that is too high on wood, you can destroy it.

If you feel unsure about the amount of pressure to use on your deck, contact us for a free quote and to learn about our 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

Why Power Wash?

I could go on for days about why you should power wash your property. And it’s not because we want to the convince you to hire us.

Proper cleaning of your home and property improves the appearance, strength, and cleanliness. This is something we all want to do and try to do, but there is always so many projects to tackle. Sometimes, there never seems to be enough time to complete them all.

Additionally, knowing the proper way to clean and maintain those surfaces is the trick. You can’t scrub all the surfaces by hand, so knowing when to use a soft wash or a high-pressure wash is key to getting the job done quickly and properly.

Furthermore, using the right detergent will rid the surfaces of any harmful mold or mildew. It’s important to avoid solely relying on the pressure of the water to clean a surface. By properly controlling the water pressure, you can ensure the cleanest and safest results.

Apply the Right Pressure to Clean Your Property

Power washing is an easy way to clean your home or business, as long as you use the right amount of pressure and add detergent to avoid doing more harm than good.

Is there algae on your roof? Now is the perfect time to clean it! Learn about our Roof Cleaning Services and how quickly we can clean it for you.