Pressure washing, also called power washing, uses high-pressure water to blast dirt off hard, durable surfaces like concrete and solid masonry. Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution to kill algae, mold and mildew on surfaces high pressure would damage, like roofs, siding, stucco, EIFS and older brick. Most commercial buildings need both: pressure washing for the flatwork, soft washing for the building itself.
Pressure Washing
High-pressure water physically blasts dirt and grime off the surface. The force does the work.
- Sidewalks, parking areas and drive lanes
- Loading docks and dumpster pads
- Concrete, brick and masonry in good condition
- Gum, mud, oil stains and heavy surface buildup
Soft Washing
A cleaning solution at low pressure breaks buildup down and kills algae, mold and mildew at the root, then rinses gently.
- Roofs
- Siding and painted surfaces
- Stucco and EIFS
- Older brick, mortar and window sills
Because soft washing kills organic growth instead of just stripping the top layer, results on the same surface typically last longer than pressure washing would.
Why the wrong method causes damage
High pressure aimed at the wrong surface doesn't just clean it, it harms it. It can strip paint, force water behind siding, crack stucco and blast out mortar joints. On a roof or an EIFS facade, that's an expensive repair waiting to happen.
Soft washing on heavy flatwork has the opposite problem: it doesn't have the force to lift gum, oil and ground-in dirt from concrete.
What this looks like on the job
A 103-year-old sugar refinery
Domino Sugar's Baltimore refinery still has its original early-1900s brick, mortar and window sills. High pressure was off the table, so we soft washed the entire facility, lifting a century of buildup without harming the masonry, and the factory never shut down.
Read the case studyA 16-story casino hotel tower
The Golden Moon tower at Pearl River Resort has an EIFS facade that shows every streak and absorbs cleaning solution. We used a low-pressure, high-volume soft wash system and adjusted the mix through the job to break down years of buildup without damaging the finish.
Read the case studyMost buildings need both
Most commercial properties need both methods on the same visit: pressure washing for sidewalks, parking areas, loading docks and durable masonry, and soft washing for the roof, siding, stucco, EIFS and painted surfaces. A good contractor should tell you which method they'll use on each surface and why. If every surface gets the same answer, keep asking questions.
What about tall buildings?
Height doesn't change which method a surface needs. It changes how the cleaning gets there. Upper stories have traditionally meant boom lifts, scaffolding or rope access. We use cleaning drones to deliver either method to upper floors and facades, so the crew stays on the ground and the building can usually stay open.
Quick reference
| Concrete sidewalks and parking areas | Pressure washing |
|---|---|
| Loading docks and dumpster pads | Pressure washing |
| Solid brick and masonry | Pressure washing |
| Roofs | Soft washing |
| Siding and painted surfaces | Soft washing |
| Stucco and EIFS | Soft washing |
| Historic or older brick and mortar | Soft washing |
For a deeper breakdown by surface, see our guide to pressure washing vs. softwashing.