Softwashing verses Pressure washing

Both pressure washing and soft washing can get surfaces clean. Depending on the surface you are trying to cleaning one method is better suited to one compared to others. Often times professional cleaning businesses have a preference to use one method compared to others. Especially in the last 10 years in the UK softwashing is only just becoming an accepted method of cleaning having already been well established in the USA since the early 90's.

The best place to start when comparing the two cleaning processes is with simple definitions. Firstly soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method using diluted sodium hypochlorite (bleach) with water and surfactants (soap) applied at low pressure to external hard surfaces to clean them often with amazing results that completely sanitize the area of any mold, algae, and mildew.

Pressure washing is using high pressured water to clean a hard surface blasting away impregnated grime. For residential cleaning often using ultra high-pressure water between 1500-3500psi. High pressure water equipment can reach pressure much higher than this but can easily damage materials if the cleaned incorrectly. This is not exclusive to high pressure water but the same can be said for soft washing too. Understanding the cleaning process and the pros and cons of each cleaning method is important to each business owner so they can deliver the best results for their customers while staying safe.

The short answer is No. Softwashing is not better than pressure washing.

We have found that using a combination of soft washing and pressure washing often delivers the best results when running an external cleaning business in the UK. Everyone has a different priority as a business but delivering the best results to the customer while still making FAT profits. The key to this is having the right knowledge, equipment and mindset.

In the UK many of our residential customers want us to clean blocked paved driveways, paving slabs, natural stone patios, render and K-Rend walls, and more popularly roofs. Due to the damp conditions and the way many homes are built in the UK we require a mix of different cleaning methods to suit our climate and the density that some of our homes are build up in.

Block paved driveways struggling with moss and weed growth. The best way to clean these surfaces for the best results is with a pressure washer. Then for the most professional that wow's your customers requires a post treatment softwash which helps to remove the organic staining left that pressure washing alone cannot always remove. Lichens that just don't seem to be easily removed with pressure washing alone benifit from a softwash process can often give the best results to the customer FAST!

Unfortunately, there are debates between pressure washers and soft washers as to which method is the best... Here at Hero Softwash, we see the value in both pressure washing and soft washing and think why should you have to choose when you can use both.

Cost of softwashing verse pressure washing equipment

The cost of equipment for pressure washing and soft washing can vary significantly based on a few variables.

As a rule, you will always pay for the quality of the components. Much of the best equipment comes at a cost because it has been tried and tested over time. For example, with pressure washing equipment a widely held belief is that honda produces the best engines and the Italian interpump or Prazoli range produces the best high-pressure pumps.

There are several different manufacturers of varying quality and reliability on the market all coming with a different price tag to suit most budgets.

When we are talking about soft washing equipment, there are several variables again just like pressure washing equipment. Many of the budget setups available use components that are not suited to the abrasive nature of sodium hypochlorite. This means over time the equipment will fail.

Moving up in budget allows you to increase the quality and reliability of your soft washing equipment. There are manufacturers out there such as Everflo that produce their very own soft wash bleach-safe pumps. For a medium-level budget, you can buy this equipment and make your very own softwash system or buy a premade softwash setup from Hero Softwash or another manufacturer on the market. A great intermiediate more DIY set up is our Big Boy Softwash Plate

Below we have included a handy budget guide to help you set a budget for your next soft washing or pressure washing setup.

Choosing the right pressure washing and softwashing equipment

You first need to understand which customers you are serving. If you are catering to residential customers and this is your main business a professional setup would be required. This is so you can deliver professional results FAST!

Having an efficient process when you are cleaning is very important because time is money.

If you are completing one job now and then, investing in a professional setup might not be for you just yet.

But if you are committed to your business and growing your company having an effective system that can tackle all the issues you will come across in the UK climate is important to have an effective system that allows you to complete your work safely, fast, and deliver brilliant results.

This is why HERO SOFTWASH has created a UK softwash and pressure washing system. We have tested our system within our pressure washing and window cleaning business and it has delivered fantastic results. It has made such a big impact on our productivity we thought it was only fair to share our product with others in the industry.

Having been heavily influenced by the American soft washing industry we found the ways that they work are not fitting with the UK environment and generally the way our homes are laid out. The way softwash solutions are applied in the american market is not fitting for the UK environment with winds, rain, and mossy conditions and density many homes are in.

For the best softwash and pressure washing equipment in the UK try us at HERO SOFTWASH. Made by engineers, and operators for the UK market.

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