Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing for Pool Surfaces

Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing for Pool Surfaces. Pressure washing and soft washing both offer unique advantages and disadvantages in their respective cleanings. There isn't a one-size-fits-all approach, and St. Louis pool owners will need to evaluate their pools before deciding which one to go with.

Fortunately, St. Louis's top pressure washing company, CleanPro, offers both pressure washing and soft washing options, so we can adapt to all your needs. We work with a variety of industries and have over a decade of experience helping local businesses, just like yours.

If your pool needs a cleaning, call us now at (314) 72-CLEAN or get in touch online for a free quote.

Blog Summary - Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing for Pool Surfaces.

In this post, we will discuss:

• The difference between pressure washing and soft washing.
• The advantages and disadvantages of each.
• What materials from your pool, patio, and/or deck are best pressure-washed versus. soft-washed.

While there is not a single answer on which to use, you can examine what materials your pool is made of to figure out which parts need to be soft-washed (e.g., vinyl siding) versus which parts can be pressure-washed (e.g., concrete floors).

CleanPro offers both pressure and soft washing options for all our customers. For many pool patios and decks, we use both in tandem to give you the best clean possible. Our mission is "to work together to make St. Louis the cleanest place to live and work," and we bring over a decade of experience to every job and evaluation. We're here to help you figure out what your pool needs!

What's the Difference Between Pressure Washing and Soft Washing?

Pressure washing and soft washing are very similar processes. Both need a water source, use a pump to build pressure, and then spray the water out of a nozzle on a hose. The key difference is in the nozzle - soft washing uses a special nozzle to limit the water pressure as it exits the unit.

Soft washing also tends to use more and/or stronger cleaning detergents in order to make up for the lower power levels. It's normally a bit easier to handle, though professional technique is still needed to get the most out of soft washing.

As we mentioned at the top, there's no clear-cut answer for which you should use for your pool surfaces - it depends on the material itself. The quick version is that for any hard, unfinished surfaces, pressure washing should do the job well, but for softer or finished surfaces, soft washing will protect the condition.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pressure Washing Your St. Louis Pool Surfaces

Pressure washing is generally considered to be the stronger and faster wash, and is commonly used in many commercial applications. It is a valuable tool across industries, though it does also have its drawbacks:

Tough surfaces like a concrete or brick pool patio are great candidates for pressure washing. Its powerful force provides a thorough clean, while the material can easily withstand the water pressure. Pressure washing is also better at dealing with deep-seated contaminants, like tough stains on the patio. However, for pool decks made of wood or another soft material, the pressure washing may be too strong, causing damage if used improperly.

Pressure Washing Advantages:

• 1,500-4,000 PSI of force gives pressure washing a strong clean.
• It's effective at taking debris off a surface and eliminating contaminants that have already sunken in.
• Pressure washing is faster, which makes it less intrusive for your business.

Pressure Washing Disadvantages:

• It also has the potential to strip paint or designs from a surface.
• It can be damaging to softer materials.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Soft Washing Your St. Louis Pool Surfaces

Soft washing is used for residential purposes as well as several commercial uses. Most often, it's used for building siding, but any softer surface can benefit from the gentler touch. This does come with its own disadvantages, though.

Pool decks, when they're made of wood, are generally best off being soft-washed rather than pressure-washed. Soft-washing is less likely to damage the wood, and the cleaning chemicals can have a longer-lasting effect if they are absorbed into the wood. Concrete pool decks or patios can also utilize soft-washing, for example, if there is a special finish on the patio. Soft washing is great at removing algae and mold, and can be used for most of these organic contaminants.

Soft Washing Advantages:

• 150-500 PSI is gentler on surfaces, protecting them.
• With less power, soft-washing is generally easier to operate.
• It's easy to modify a pressure washer into a soft washer.

Soft Washing Disadvantages:

• Soft washing is generally a slower process than pressure washing.
• Its reliance on chemical cleaners can be a pain if you run out partway through a cleaning.

Should I Use Pressure Washing or Soft Washing for My St. Louis Pool?

Ideally, you won't have to be the one to choose. Because they are so easy to switch between, it's not a problem to shift between one and the other as needed for a given project. If you bring in an expert to do the cleaning, then they can evaluate what surfaces will be able to withstand the high PSI of a pressure washer, and switch to a soft washer for anything else.

Here are some examples of what might fall into each category:

Materials to Pressure Wash:

• Most pool patios made of concrete or stone surfaces
• Bricks
• Paved paths
• Any spots or stains that aren't coming off with soft washing

Materials to Soft Wash:

• Wooden materials, like many pool decks
• Pool patios with stained or finished concrete.
• Most roofs
• Vinyl siding
• Storefronts (particularly with graphics)

After reading through those materials, you might have an idea of which would be a good fit for your pool - for example, above-ground pools with vinyl linings should be softwashed, while in-ground pools made from concrete are good to pressure wash. Though ideally, the professional cleaner you hire will have both options available.

CleanPro Offers Both Pressure and Soft Washing to Fit Your Pool Needs

Whatever kind of pool you have, CleanPro has options to fit your needs. We are pool cleaning experts, using both pressure and soft washing to ensure we give you the best clean possible without damaging your business's property.

Reach out online or call (314) 72-CLEAN today to discuss options and get a free estimate for your St. Louis pool.