The Short Answer
Pressure washing and soft washing both clean the outside of a property with water, but they are not the same thing, and using the wrong one on the wrong surface is how people end up with damaged siding or a driveway that never quite gets clean. Soft washing uses low pressure and is suited to siding and painted surfaces. Pressure washing uses higher pressure and is meant for hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. Knowing which one your surface needs is the whole point of the question.
What Soft Washing Is Best For
Soft washing is the gentler option. Because it runs at low pressure, it is the right fit for house siding and other painted surfaces, where a strong blast of water could be too much. If you are looking at the outside of your home and wondering how to freshen it up, soft washing is usually the method we are talking about.
Siding and Painted Surfaces
Painted surfaces are the reason soft washing exists. The goal is to clean the surface without punishing it, so the finish and the material underneath are treated with care rather than blasted.
What Pressure Washing Is Best For
Pressure washing uses higher pressure, which is what hard, durable surfaces need to come clean. Driveways and sidewalks are the classic examples. These surfaces are built to take it, and the extra pressure is what gets them looking fresh again.
Driveways, Sidewalks and Other Hard Surfaces
Beyond driveways and sidewalks, we also wash patios, porches and fences, and we work on commercial properties as well as homes. Which method goes on which surface is decided before the job starts, not halfway through it.
Washing Before a Repaint or a Stain
One of the most useful times to wash is right before other work. We wash surfaces before exterior painting and staining so the new finish goes onto a clean surface. Paint and stain only do their job when they have a clean surface underneath them. If you are planning a repaint, our exterior painting service is a natural pairing, and the same goes for our fence and deck staining, where a clean board makes a real difference.
How to Decide What Your Property Needs
If you are not sure, that is completely normal. A good rule of thumb is to think about the surface first. Siding and painted areas point toward soft washing. Concrete walkways and driveways point toward pressure washing. If your project is a mix, such as a house, a driveway and a fence all on the same property, the job can include both methods, each used where it belongs. You can read more on our pressure and soft washing page.
Serving Savannah and the Surrounding Towns
Wheeler Brothers of Savannah is a family owned company based in Port Wentworth, GA. We serve Savannah, Garden City, Pooler, Rincon, Bloomingdale, Guyton, Richmond Hill, Tybee Island, Whitemarsh Island and Thunderbolt. If you are not sure whether your surface needs pressure washing or soft washing, call (912) 220-3901 or send us a message, and we will set up a time to look at the property and give you a free estimate. We are open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm.
