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Pressure Washing VS SoftWashing

Adam Robbins • Mar 19, 2024

Pressure Washing VS SoftWashing

Pressure Washing is old school, what we all know and it has been the only method of pressurized exterior cleaning. Pressure washing is what we were taught by our parents and what we see when we hire a company to wash our homes. But did you know that Pressure Washing can be super damaging, super time consuming and super expensive. Pressure Washing involves using a Gas or Electric Powered Machine to move water through a pump that pressurizes it to a High Pressure or PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch). That same pump on your Gas or Electric Machine also has a volume of water it moves which is GPM (Gallons Per Minute). For Example 3200 PSI @ 3.2 GPM. This means your machine pumps 3.2 Gallons of water per minute and shoots that water out of the Lance at 3200 Pounds per square inch. That's a lot of force coming out of your machine and this can severely damage surfaces like Vinyl Siding, Concrete, Limestone, Wood & Stucco. Imagine aiming that Lance at your foot or your hand and pulling the trigger to have that much force hitting you. Even with distance it's still damaging from far away with such a precise high pressure water stream shooting out. Especially if you dawn the frowned upon RED (0 Degree) Tip. Throw the RED Tip OUT!


SoftWashing isn't new and is well known to be the professional cleaners go to method. SoftWashing is not taught by our parents or in use by many companies because it requires training, education and experience to do. SoftWashing involves using a lot more water (GPM) to make sure a flood of water breaks the ionic bond of soils and rinses it away completely. Like a wave coming in and washing away your foot marks in the sand and usually in the range of 5-10 Gallons Per Minute (GPM). The secret weapon to SoftWashing is the professional cleaning solutions (chemicals) like sodium hypochlorite (Pool Shock) to provide a deeper clean. Think about when you do dishes and you use Dish Soap to do those dishes faster and to make sure any deep soils are properly washed. You don't just turn the tap on full pressure to wash your dishes. You use chemicals that help loosen the soils, a little bit of scrubbing and then a gentle rinse. That's SoftWashing! SoftWashing on a contractor scale does involve a Gas or Electric Powered Machine. The BIG difference is the SoftWashing Lance uses LOW Pressure to clean just like your dishes. To accomplish this we put Oversized Tips/Nozzles on our Lance to provide more Water Flow (GPM) and Less Pressure. We first apply our carefully measured cleaning solution onto the surface and let it sit to let it go to work. From bottom to top we apply this cleaner with a soap tip that allows us to suck diluted chemical out of a bucket and onto the surface via the Lance. Or we can apply it with a pump up sprayer. After it has sit (Dwell Time) for several minutes we then switch to our oversized tip and start rinsing from top to bottom with LOW Pressure and High Water Volume. The Cleaning Solution kills organic growth like mold and mildew so it won't grow back quickly, degreased, eliminates rust and also provides a deeper clean so we avoid those awful strips or lines when it dries. Our Low Pressure rinsing insures Zero Damage, Zero Headaches, Faster Cleaning and a 100% Clean!


Below are common surfaces that should be SoftWashed.


  • Vinyl Siding
  • Stucco
  • Most Brick
  • Natural Stone
  • Aluminum Siding
  • Hardy Board
  • Log or Wood Sided Home
  • Windows
  • Gutters & Soffits
  • Vehicles
  • Outdoor Furniture & Toys
  • Statues
  • Sensitive Surfaces
  • Stained or Painted Surfaces
  • Wood Deck & Fence
  • Composite Deck & Fence
  • Concrete (To Not Remove the "Cream" Layer)
  • Patio (If Joint Sand is Installed)
  • Pool Surrounding
  • Graffiti Removal
  • Moss Removal
  • Roof Cleaning


Why Roof Cleaning is Important

By Adam Robbins • 28 Mar, 2024
Roof Cleaning & Moss Removal

5 Ways to ADD Curb Appeal & Value

04 May, 2023
1. Roof Cleaning Maintaining your roof whether its Asphalt Shingles, Metal, Tile, Slate or Cedar is very important to avoid replacing it prematurely. AR Property Services can help you make sure you don't void any warranties and avoid any infestations or unsightly build ups. Black Algae, Roof Moss, Pest Feces, Pollution, Tree Branches & Much More can ultimately have you calling a Roof Company for a Expensive Replacement Quote. Avoid that by calling us and having us deliver you a NO Pressure, Free Estimate to have your Roof Softwashed without any damage. Our Process is the recommended method for cleaning Roofs by the Shingle and Tile Manufacturers and we stand by our process. 2. House SoftWashing House SoftWashing is a great way to add Curb Appeal in one day. House SoftWashing makes sure all Contaminates including Mold, Mildew, Algae, Pests, Spider Webs, Pollution and Dirt are washed off in a safe and effective manner. House SoftWashing also makes sure things like Vinyl Siding breath properly with unclogged Weep Holes. We do not use High Pressure to wash your Home and are fully insured. We apply a Safe Detergent and simply Rinse this Cleaner off to reveal a shiny and clean Surface - Including your windows! We clean Vinyl, Brick, Stucco, Hardy-Board & Wood Siding. 3. Gutter Cleaning Having clogged gutters can make or break your homes exterior potential. When debris clogs up your gutters it will certainly start to decay, smell and attract pests both big and small. Making sure your gutters are cleaned inside and out is our top priority when it comes to adding curb appeal and also making sure everything is draining properly to avoid costly repairs. We can remove those nasty black tiger streaks off your gutters with a gentle brushing and our exclusive safe detergent. We also make sure your gutters are flushed out with high volume water and identify any issues to you that may need a gutter repair person. 4. Patio Washing Your feet are important and when you have contaminates like mold, mildew and dirt on your patio it can be easily tracked indoors. Let us help you remove these stains and contaminates with ease. Our safe and biodegradeable detergent will not only remove these contaminates but also sanitize and disinfect any surface we wash. Its not just your Patio but also your Pool Deck, Driveway, Walkways, Porch and any flat surface that may see foot traffic or those precious summer time moments. 5. Deck & Fence Restoration There's a huge difference when cleaning and restoring your deck and fence. A cleaning simply uses big box store cleaners like bleach and lots of pressure to damage and often quickly clean your wood surfaces. A restoration uses specific and safe detergents to gently restore your wood surfaces back to like new and a bright wood grain color. A restoration certainly takes longer and also costs more but it adds value right away by fully removing all contaminates and restoring old wood surfaces back to like new without a costly replacing. 

5 Things Pressure Washing Companies Do To Cut Corners

04 May, 2023
1. They Don't Use the Right Equipment From a low GPM (Gallons per Minute) machine to not using a Surface Cleaner attachment. Companies go right to Home Depot or Lowes and buy the cheapest pressure washer machine they can and try to wash your house or patio with it. Only to figure out a job that should take a Pro 2-3 hours now takes 9-10 hours to complete. All because they never did their research and wanted a cheap machine with an excellent return policy. A big misconception in this trade is how fast you can go to get the job done vs getting the job done right the first time. And when the house or patio dries you see all the wand marks leftover from using way too much pressure, not enough or no detergent, and going way too fast with the wrong nozzle tip. A Professional company like AR Property Services only uses Contractor Grade Equipment that is NOT bought in big box stores but from Professional Pressure and Power Washing Manufacturing Companies like Easy Kleen. 2. Not Using the Right PSI or Pressure We see this all the time that a homeowner either hires a bad company or does it themselves. The striking wand marks all over the patio or house siding that can be seen for miles. They wonder why it happened and every Pro knows why - Lack of Experience and Knowledge. The Proper PSI/Pressure is very important when cleaning sensitive and delicate surfaces like Vinyl Siding or your Wood Deck and Fence. For example a Wood Deck or Fence should be cleaned with 500-1500 psi and Vinyl should be Softwashed with 100-500 psi. Not knowing what to use or how high you can go will only lead to a mess and damage. That can certainly lead to a lawsuit or a costly replacement, repair and headaches you don't need to deal with. At AR Property Services we are professionally trained by Floridians and Texans who do this everyday. We know the difference between low, medium and high pressure. We know what SoftWashing is and we have the experience needed for all surfaces to be washed properly the first time. 3. Using NO Detergents or the Wrong Detergent. Like washing your dishes by hand or in the dishwasher the right detergent makes all the difference. Not using a detergent and only high pressure cold water will lead to still soiled surfaces and perhaps damage. Surfaces like wood need a detergent that lifts and loosens the contaminates and then the wood must be neutralized back to a normal pH or you risk long term damage. Surfaces like vinyl must use a detergent that kills any organic organisms like algae, mold and moss or it will grow back within months. When you hire a professional like AR Property Services, we know what to put on each surface so the contaminates loosen up and can be washed, cleaned and sanitized. We have been trained professionally to know what each surface needs to make sure a perfect clean happens every time. Best of all our detergents are Eco-Friendly and Biodegradable so you know your plants and animals wont be affected, and your home and property won't be damaged. 4. Very Little or No Employee Training You don't want that company who just wings it and figures it out on the fly. You especially don't want that BIG Franchise who gave their Technicians video training, 1 week of practical training and a big beautiful truck to work from that they paid 80 Grand to start their own business. At AR Property Services we have have 12 years of Pressure, Power and Softwashing Experience. In fact our owner was a Property Services Manager for McDonald's for 8 years. AR Property Services has been professionally trained by the best companies in Florida, Texas and New Jersey and provides Top Tier Services to Mansions, Estates, High End Homes and Cottages. 5. No Insurance When you purchase anything that costs a pretty penny you must make sure they are insured for any negligence or damage that may happen. Your home is one of your biggest investments and any damage to it may cost thousands of dollars that you do not want to pay. At AR Property Services we have 5 million dollar liability insurance to protect you and and your property. We care deeply for your home and your property so nothing is damaged. We treat your home like our own and do everything with excellence the first time around. 
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