Pressure washing and soft washing are two different services for two different problems. Using the wrong one can damage your home. Here's how to know which you need.
Pressure washing uses high water pressure to physically remove dirt. Soft washing uses low pressure plus biodegradable cleaning solutions to kill organic growth at the root.
Pressure washing is for hard surfaces that can handle force:
The high water pressure (typically 3,000–4,000 PSI) blasts dirt, oil, tire marks, and embedded organic growth out of porous surfaces.
Soft washing is for delicate surfaces that pressure would damage:
Soft washing uses low pressure (under 500 PSI — about the same as a garden hose) plus a sodium hypochlorite-based cleaning solution. The solution kills algae, mildew, and bacteria at the cellular level. Then a gentle rinse washes everything away.
Never pressure wash an asphalt shingle roof. The high pressure strips the granules that protect shingles from UV damage and voids most shingle manufacturer warranties. GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning all specify soft washing as the only approved cleaning method.
Here's the part that surprises most homeowners: a soft-washed surface stays clean 6–10x longer than a pressure-washed one. Why? Because pressure washing only removes the visible growth. Soft washing kills the organism at its root. Spores left behind by pressure washing regrow in weeks. Soft-washed surfaces stay clean for 18–24+ months on average.
Most Fort Wayne homes need both — soft wash for the siding, roof, and trim, then pressure wash for the driveway and concrete walkways. We bundle these together for a full property clean at a discount.
Get a free quote and we'll tell you exactly what each surface on your property needs.
Get a same-day pressure washing or soft wash quote anywhere in Fort Wayne or Allen County.