8 Things That Require Soft Washing

High PSI pressure washing produces amazing cleaning results, but all surfaces are not created equally, and in some cases chemically assisted soft washing is required to obtain the best results where highly pressurized water can be damaging. Our soft washing uses a pre-soaking technique with eco-friendly cleaning solutions followed by low-pressure or no-pressure washing to purge contaminants.

Prizm Exteriors has the commercial-grade, heavy-duty equipment for high powered pressure washing of cement, brick, stone, and durable surfaces, but we also specialize in soft washing for gutter, roof, deck, and wood fence cleaning, as well as house washing for homes with delicate siding.

Here are 8 items that should be soft washed and never pressure washed but you can trust Prizm Exteriors to worry about that and to take great care of all of your exterior surfaces.

1. Windows

Water seems like such a soft, non-threatening element, but when placed under high pressure, water can become a weapon of destruction with the power to cut skin and break or crack windows.

2. Asphalt Shingles

High PSI pressure washing can not only cut and completely remove asphalt shingles from your roof, but it also removes those tiny granules on asphalt shingles that are an important factor of your roof's insulation function. Soft washing preserves those insulating granules while cleaning and protecting your asphalt shingles with zero damage.

3. Gutters

Pressure washing is great for clearing clogs the inside of your gutters but should not be used on the outside, as it can damage fascia and detach gutters from the structure.

4. Vehicles

Pressure washing your car sounds like a great time-saving idea, but again there is just too much power involved and high PSI can cause small dents and chip the paint which can then lead to rust and oxidation, requiring expensive repairs.

5. Lead Paint

While the power of pressure washing is perfect for stripping paint in preparation for repainting, lead-based paint is another story. Lead paint is extremely toxic and dangerous, and pressure washing can send the toxic particles of lead paint into the air—endangering those nearby.

6. Old Mortar

Old brick and stone walls or fences with aging mortar holding them together should not be pressure washed. Loose bricks and old mortar should be soft washed to avoid further degrading mortar granules and threatening structural integrity.

7. Stained Wood

High PSI pressure washing can cause scaring on some wooden surfaces, but it's especially important to use soft washing on stained wood as the pressure and heat of power washing can melt and pull the stain from the surface.

8. Air Conditioning Units

Pressure washing may seem like a good idea for removing leaves and dirt from your AC unit, but don't do it! Pressure washing your AC unit can bend and damage the delicate metal fins of the unit and cause airflow problems. Water can also penetrate the interior of the unit and negatively affect electrical circuits. Stay away from AC units when pressure washing.