Most Central Florida homes are stucco, and most of the green and black streaking you see on them is algae and mildew. The instinct is to blast it off with high pressure. That is exactly what you should not do to your home.
Here is the difference between soft washing and pressure washing, and how to know which one your surfaces need.
What is pressure washing?
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water to physically strip dirt and growth off a surface. It is the right tool for hard, durable surfaces like concrete driveways, sidewalks and curbs. For flat concrete, we use a rotary surface cleaner, which spreads the pressure evenly and prevents the stripes and etching you get from a wand held too close.
What is soft washing?
Soft washing uses low pressure, about what you would get from a garden hose, combined with a properly mixed cleaning solution. The solution does the work: it breaks down algae, mildew and organic staining at the root, then everything is rinsed gently away.
Because it treats the growth instead of just knocking the surface layer off, a soft wash typically stays clean longer than a pressure wash on the same surface.
Why high pressure and stucco do not mix
- It can scar the finish. Stucco texture and paint can be etched or chipped by a concentrated stream.
- It can force water into walls. High pressure can drive water behind trim, around windows and into small cracks.
- It can strip paint. Painted block and stucco can lose paint in patches, leaving an uneven finish.
- It often does not last. Blasting removes what you can see but can leave growth behind in the texture, so streaks come back sooner.
Which method for which surface?
Is soft washing safe for plants and pets?
When it is done correctly, yes. Landscaping is pre-rinsed and protected, the solution is diluted appropriately for each surface, and the areas around your home are rinsed before and after. Keep pets inside during the cleaning and until surfaces are dry.
A note on DIY
Renting a pressure washer for your house is where most damage happens: etched stucco, stripped paint and water where it should not be. For your home's exterior, the method matters more than the pressure.