Pressure Washing vs. Soft Washing in London Ontario: What's the Difference?

Exterior Cleaning · 5 min read

"Pressure washing" gets used as a catch-all, but there are really two cleaning methods — high-pressure washing and low-pressure soft washing — and using the wrong one can damage your home. Here's how to know which your surfaces actually need.

What Pressure Washing Is

Traditional pressure washing uses a high-pressure stream of water to blast away dirt, grime, moss and stains. That force is exactly what you want on hard, durable surfaces: concrete driveways, paving stones, brick and sturdy walkways. It strips off built-up grime quickly and prepares surfaces for sealing. The catch is that the same pressure that cleans concrete can carve into softer materials.

What Soft Washing Is

Soft washing uses low pressure combined with specialized cleaning solutions that break down algae, mildew, mould and dirt, then rinse away gently. Because it relies on the cleaning agents rather than brute force, soft washing is safe for delicate surfaces — and it kills the organisms at the root, so growth stays away longer. It's the right choice for anything that high pressure could damage.

Which Surfaces Need Which?

Use pressure washing for concrete driveways, interlock, brick, and unpainted hard masonry. Use soft washing for roof shingles, vinyl and other siding, painted surfaces, wood decks and fences, and stucco. Blasting high pressure at shingles can strip the protective granules; aiming it at vinyl siding can force water behind the panels; hitting an older wood deck can splinter and gouge it. Matching the method to the surface is the whole game.

Why It Matters in London

Our humid summers and snowy winters create ideal conditions for green and black algae, moss and mildew on north-facing siding, shaded walkways and roofs. Knocking that growth back not only restores your home's appearance but protects the materials underneath. The key is doing it without causing the very damage you're trying to prevent — which is why a pro assesses each surface and chooses the right approach rather than blasting everything at full power.

Let a Pro Match the Method

A good exterior cleaning service walks your property and uses pressure washing where it's safe and soft washing where it isn't — often on the same visit. Many London homeowners book this alongside driveway sealing, since a freshly cleaned driveway is the perfect surface to seal. See what we cover on our pressure washing page.