"Pressure washing" has become a catch-all term for any kind of exterior cleaning — the same way "Kleenex" means any tissue. But soft washing and pressure washing are fundamentally different processes, and mixing them up on the wrong surface can cause real damage to your home.
Pressure washing uses high water pressure — typically 2,000 to 4,000 PSI — to physically blast dirt, grime, and debris off a surface. It works well on tough, non-porous surfaces like concrete driveways where brute force does the job without risk of damage.
Soft washing uses low pressure — under 500 PSI — combined with a specialized cleaning solution that kills mold, mildew, and algae at the root. Instead of blasting growth off the surface, the chemistry does the work, penetrating and eliminating the organism so it doesn't grow right back within a few months.
High pressure on the wrong surface causes real damage: forcing water behind siding seams and window frames, causing hidden moisture intrusion and mold growth inside walls. Stripping paint and causing delamination on trim and fascia. Shredding asphalt shingle granules on roofs — a mistake that can shorten roof life by years. Etching and pitting concrete when held too close or at the wrong angle.
Soft wash only: vinyl and aluminum siding, roofs, stucco/EIFS, painted wood and trim. Pressure wash safe: concrete driveways and sidewalks (with proper technique and surface cleaner equipment), some brick and masonry. When in doubt, soft washing is almost always the safer choice — it's gentler chemistry doing the heavy lifting instead of force.
Jet Stream uses the correct method for every surface — never one-size-fits-all pressure. Call (260) 310-4389 or request a free estimate.
Call (260) 310-4389 — we'll tell you which method your home actually needs.