Pressure Washing vs Soft Washing: What's the Difference?

"Pressure washing" gets used as a catch-all term, but a good exterior cleaner will actually use different methods depending on the surface. Using the wrong one can damage paint, mortar, or roofing material.

This uses concentrated, high-pressure water to strip away grime, oil stains, and built-up dirt from hard, durable surfaces. It's ideal for driveways, concrete paths, pavers, and brickwork where the surface can handle the force.

Soft washing uses low pressure combined with a cleaning solution to break down algae, mould, and organic growth at the source, rather than blasting it off. It's the safer option for roofs, rendered walls, colorbond fencing, and solar panels, surfaces that can crack, chip, or scratch under high pressure.

As a rule of thumb: driveways and paving usually call for pressure washing, while roofs, walls, and solar panels call for soft washing. If you're not sure, send us a photo and we'll recommend the right method, and give you a free quote either way.