Undecided About Soft Wash Systems? Here’s 4 Facts You Need to Know
Soft wash systems, unlike pressure wash systems, use low pressure and various chemical cleaning solutions to remove biological matter from delicate and easily damaged surfaces. It’s a great piece of equipment to add to your home maintenance tool kit.
If you’re unsure which one is best for your specific home needs, here are four facts about soft wash systems.
Differences from Pressure Washing
Soft wash systems are a kind of pressure wash system in that they apply a certain amount of pressure to a surface to clean it. However, soft wash systems use a much lower pressure than traditional pressure wash systems and power wash systems, in conjunction with various chemical solutions to clean your chosen surface.
While pressure washing and power washing remove visible physical contaminants, stains and ground in dirt and residues, soft washing can target the microscopic particles and organisms that can still cling to a surface after pressure washing and remove or kill them. This helps surfaces stay clean for a longer period of time.
Common Chemicals
The most common ingredients in a soft washing solution besides water are bleach, detergents and surfactants. Bleach is effective for stripping away and killing organic matter and lightening stains. Detergents can help break down and remove oils, dirt and other small debris and waste.
Surfactants are a specialized type of detergent or solvent that break down compounds that the low pressure can then clear away more easily. The advantage of chemical soft washing is that you need to employ it far less often than pressure washing because the chemicals involved kill organic matter rather than just removing it.
This means water can be saved, however the chemicals employed aren’t always environmentally safe, so pressure washing should be used responsibly. There are also more biodegradable chemical options being developed to further improve the environmental friendliness of soft wash systems.
Applications and Uses
The main usage of soft washing is to remove organic matter, both flora and small fauna. Organic stains, bacteria, mildew and mold, lichens, spiders and other small insect infestations and debris, dirt, algae, fungus and other kinds of grime are all effectively dealt with by a soft wash system.
These systems are particularly useful when you’re working to clean delicate or easily damaged surfaces. These surfaces include vinyl siding and shutters, asphalt roof shingles and fiberglass or ceramic surfaces. Pressure washing could cause structural instability in these surfaces, which can damage the interior structure of the building.
The lower pressure of soft wash systems is meant to ensure these surfaces remain safe and uncompromised. It’s also useful when you’re trying to clean a surface that is heavily insulated. The lower pressure mitigates the risk of water seeping into the porous insulation.
Common Equipment
Lastly, many of the equipment pieces soft washing systems utilize are similar to those used by power washing systems. They include electric sprayers, telescoping handles to get to harder to reach spots and pumps. These systems also include mixers and tanks to mix and hold the chemical solutions.
Every cleaning method has different strengths and weaknesses. Depending on your needs, you may need a soft wash, a pressure wash or a combination of both. Make sure you choose the right method to adequately clean your surfaces while also protecting those surfaces. You’ll be glad that you did.
