Your concrete driveway takes a beating over the years from all the cars and trucks that drive on it. Not to mention, it can get stained with oil, dirt, and grime.
That’s why many homeowners are turning to soft washing to clean their driveway and keep it looking new. Soft washing is a gentle yet effective way to clean the surface of your driveway and remove any built-up dirt, grime, or oil. Plus, it’s a great way to protect your driveway from future staining or damage.
Plus, unlike pressure washing, soft washing won’t damage your driveway. So, soft washing is the way to go if you’re looking for an easy and effective way to clean your driveway.
In this post, you will learn why soft washing is better than pressure washing your driveway (or any concrete surface), and why you should consider soft washing for your own home.
So let’s get started!
Driveway Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing – 11 Reasons why Soft Washing is Better:
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between pressure washing (power washing) and soft washing. Here’s a quick explanation:
When you pressure wash your driveway, you:
- Use high-powered water to blast away dirt, grime, and stubborn stains
- Can damage your driveway if you’re not careful
- Have to be careful of any plants or flowers near your driveway
- May not remove all the dirt, grime, and stains
On the other hand…
When you soft wash your driveway, you:
- Use low-pressure water to remove dirt, grime, and stains gently
- Won’t damage your driveway
- Can safely clean around any plants or flowers near your driveway
- Are more likely to remove all the dirt, grime, stains, and other organic matter.
Now that you know the difference between pressure washing and soft washing concrete driveways Let’s go over eleven reasons why soft washing is the better choice for cleaning your driveway:
1. Soft washing is a gentle way to clean your driveway and won’t damage it.
Did you know that when you pressure wash your driveway, you can actually damage it?
That’s because the high-pressure water can strip away the top layer of your driveway, leaving it vulnerable to future staining and damage.
While effective, pressure washing can also be damaging, particularly to soft surfaces like brick or stone.
How pressure washing can damage your driveway:
- High pressure can etch your driveway – Pressure washing can etch the surface if you have a brick or stone driveway. This is because the high-pressure water can penetrate the pores of the brick or stone, which can then lead to water damage and staining.
- High pressure can loosen or crack sealant – Pressure washing can also reduce or break the sealant used to protect your driveway. This can lead to water damage, staining, and mold growth.
- High pressure can damage concrete and asphalt driveways.- Pressure washing can also damage concrete and asphalt driveways. The high-pressure water can erode the surface of the concrete or asphalt, making it more susceptible to cracking and damage.
If you just put down concrete, hold off on power washing for a while. Concrete must age at least a year before it can bear this kind of pressure. If you want to clean concrete without using too much force, try mixing water with dishwashing detergent and scrubbing away the stain or color yourself.
The good news is that you don’t have to wait a year to clean your driveway. You can just use the soft wash method.
2. Soft washing removes dirt, grime, and stains more effectively.
The soft washing method is the way to go if you’re looking for a deep clean. That’s because soft washing equipment uses specialized cleaners to break down and remove stubborn dirt, grime, and stains.
In contrast, pressure washing only removes the top layer of dirt and grime, which means that the build-up will quickly return.
Soft washing is a more effective way to clean your driveway and keep it looking new.
3. Soft washing won’t strip away the protective sealant on your driveway.
We touched on it earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again: pressure washing can strip away the protective sealant on your driveway.
This sealant is important because it protects your driveway from water damage, stains, and other build-up.
But when you pressure wash your driveway, you can strip away this sealant, leaving your driveway vulnerable to future damage.
Soft washing, however, won’t strip away the sealant on your driveway. Soft washing is a more effective way to clean and protect your driveway.
4. Soft washing is a great way to protect your driveway from future staining and damage.
When you pressure wash your driveway, you can damage the surface and leave it vulnerable to future staining and damage.
But when you soft wash your driveway, you’re actually protecting it from future build-up. That’s because the gentle cleaning solutions used in soft washing help break down and remove stains, dirt, and grime.
5. Soft washing is safe for the environment.
Soft washing is the way to go if you’re looking for a green and eco-friendly way to clean your driveway.
That’s because soft washing uses gentle cleaning solutions that are safe for the environment.
6. Soft washing is safe for your family and pets.
In addition to being safe for the environment, soft washing is also safe for your family and pets. That’s because the gentle cleaning solutions used in soft washing won’t harm people or animals.
In contrast, pressure washing can use harsh chemicals that can harm people and animals if inhaled or ingested.
7. Soft washing won’t harm your landscaping.
If you have plants or other landscaping around your driveway, you’ll want to be careful when cleaning it. That’s because pressure washing can harm your plants.
The high-pressure water can strip away the top layer of soil, leaving your plants vulnerable to damage.
But when you soft wash your driveway, you don’t have to worry about harming your landscaping. That’s because the low-pressure water used in soft washing won’t damage your plants.
8. Soft washing is a great way to clean your whole home.
Soft washing isn’t just for driveways – it’s a great way to clean the whole exterior of your home. That’s because soft washing is gentle enough to use on any surface, including your roof, siding, windows, decks, and patios.
Plus, soft washing is a great way to clean hard-to-reach places, like gutters and eaves.
9. Soft washing is affordable.
When you hire a company or contractor to pressure wash your home, it can be pretty expensive. But when you soft wash your home, you can save money.
That’s because soft washing is a more affordable way to clean your home’s exterior. Plus, you won’t have to worry about damaging your home or landscaping when you soft wash it.
10. Soft washing is more efficient.
Unlike pressure washing, which moves at a snail’s pace, soft washing is a more efficient way to clean your home. That’s because the gentle cleaning solutions used in soft washing work quickly to break down and remove stains, dirt, and grime.
No more standing there waving your spray wand back and forth (and back and forth) or having to get a special concrete cleaning attachment for your pressure washer. Just sit back, relax, and let the soft washing chemicals do their job.
Not only will your back thank you, but your home’s curb appeal will as well!
11. Soft washing is easy to find equipment for rent or purchase.
Although we recommend hiring a professional for the best quality results, soft washing your driveway is doable with some essential equipment that can be rented or purchased relatively easily.
You’ll need a garden hose, a pump sprayer, and a bucket to soft wash your driveway. You’ll also need a mild detergent or cleaning solution.
- Once you have all your equipment, mix the detergent or cleaning solution with water in the pump sprayer.
- Then, wet the surface of your driveway with the garden hose and apply the cleaning solution to the surface.
- Gently scrub the surface with a brush or broom to work the solution into the dirt and grime.
- Then, rinse the surface with the garden hose to remove the cleaning solution.
- Allow the surface to air dry or use a leaf blower to speed up the drying process.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully soft-washed your driveway.
Now, enjoy the clean and fresh look of your driveway. Rest assured knowing that you’ve protected your investment by gently cleaning your driveway.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many benefits to soft washing your driveway. Soft washing is a safe, affordable, and efficient way to clean your driveway and keep it looking new.
Plus, soft washing is easy to do yourself with some basic equipment. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and give your driveway a good cleaning!
Would you rather hire a professional? No problem! We can help you with that!
If you’re looking for a safe, affordable, and efficient way to clean your driveway, you should consider hiring Hydro Clean Soft Washing Services.
Our soft washing services are the perfect solution for removing dirt, grime, and oil from your driveway. Plus, our gentle cleaning solutions will protect your driveway from future staining or damage.
Give us a call today to schedule a free consultation! We look forward to serving you.