Pressure cleaning techniques explained
The difference between high-pressure cleaning, soft washing and roto surface cleaning.
Many homeowners do not give cleaning the exterior of their home much thought, but it is important not to neglect the exterior of your home as the build-up of things like dirt, mould and algae can have a negative effect on you and your property.
Cleaning your external walls, deck, roof, patio, and other outdoor areas obviously makes your home more aesthetically pleasing, but exterior home cleaning also has a multitude of other benefits beyond aesthetics, such as preventing the build-up of soot, mould and algae growth.
With the right pressure cleaning technique, you can remove mould, pollen, dust, dirt, leaves, mildew, bird poop and other contaminants that make your walls and home not only look dirty but also have the potential for negative effects on your health.
When is exterior house washing necessary?
People use house washing for different reasons, but the following are common signs your home needs washing.
- Discoloured walls and roof
- Stained deck
- Cobwebs and dust in corners
- Grimy sidings
- Stained deck
- Stained driveway and walkways
Home pressure cleaning may seem like a challenging task, but with the right techniques, it can be a relatively simple process.
Pressure cleaning techniques
Different techniques are available, with varying pros and cons. They include:
High pressure cleaning
High pressure cleaning is an efficient, quick and modern option for cleaning your property with precision. This method uses water at high pressure between 5000 – 10000psi or 34 – 70MPa to remove loose paint, mud, dirt, debris, dust, mould and other stubborn dirt from surfaces.
Water is the most common cleaning agent in this technique because it can dissolve more substances than other cleaning liquids. The water-soluble dirt dissolves from the surface, and the high pressure increases the water-cleaning capacity. It provides a mechanical action that weakens the bond between the dirt and the surface.
Pressure cleaning can be done with a machine or manually using a hose. The high-pressure cleaning equipment is attached to a pressure washer operated with a trigger. This delivers water at high pressure for cleaning.
The intensity of the water pressure depends on the cleaning requirement, using a professional for this type of cleaning will often provide the best results and reduce the time and effort involved.
What are the benefits of high pressure cleaning?
The equipment used for high-pressure cleaning makes any cleaning, especially your home cleaning, safer and easier. High-pressure cleaners use a modern mechanism to safely remove dirt without toxic chemicals. Unlike traditional cleaning methods that require much more effort and time, high-pressure cleaning can save you energy and time.
This cleaning technique breaks down accumulated algae on different surfaces like brick patios and walls. If your house has an algae problem, getting a professional to carry out high-pressure cleaning can help this problem.
Unlike regular cleaning methods that need lots of water, high-pressure cleaning doesn’t need as much water because the high-pressure cleaner releases water at high speed, and the pressure removes dirt quickly. This means a smaller amount of water and more effective cleaning of surfaces. For regular cleaning methods, you need to soak the dirty areas several times with chemicals and water to remove dirt.
The pressure helps to remove contaminants from concrete, floors, walls, driveways, piping, walkways, footpaths, roofs, glazed tiles and timber decking. High-pressure cleaning can transform your wooden deck and also make your exterior surfaces more appealing.
Pros of high-pressure cleaning
Some advantages of high-pressure cleaning over other cleaning methods include the following:
Clean hard-to-reach areas
A high-pressure cleaner can get into hard-to-reach corners, cracks, overhangs and gutters.
Reveals maintenance issues
If you carry out pressure cleaning annually, it can reveal areas that may need further maintenance. For example, removing grime during high-pressure cleaning allows you to seal your garage floor or varnish the deck, if necessary.
Cons of high-pressure cleaning
While pressure cleaning is effective and has different applications, it has certain drawbacks you need to know.
Heavy-duty, high-pressure cleaners produce dangerously high pressure that can damage walls.
If an inexperienced person handles the high-pressure machine, the pressure can cause serious injuries and damage the property.
Soft washing
Soft washing is a common cleaning technique. This effective and safe cleaning method uses low pressure of about 400psi with a mixture of water, surfactants, algaecides and bleach to remove mildew from exterior surfaces.
Water runs through a pump and hose with little pressure in soft washing. This pump also directs the cleaning solution and is sprayed on the surface to remove the dirt.
The soft wash system consists of a high volume of water with cleaning solutions. The waster application is gentle with less pressure from the hose.
Depending on the surface, the solution remains on it for a while to kill contaminants before rising the off solution. Soft washing addresses the cause of growth and eliminates spores without damaging the property. Unlike high-pressure cleaning, soft washing doesn’t wear down surfaces but gives a long-lasting result.
Soft washing your walls and exterior surfaces can treat unwanted biological growth such as bacteria, mould, fungus, moss, green and red algae, pollen and lichen without high pressure. Depending on the property’s position and weather conditions, this method can keep your exterior surfaces clean for up to five years.
Soft washing for house cleaning
Using high pressure on walls may weaken the wall, but soft washing with the right chemicals will give a good result without damaging the wall. Soft washing for wall cleaning is advisable, especially if the house is old, with doors and windows that may have moved out of place.
Soft washing for roof cleaning
Soft washing is a preferred cleaning method for tin. It is also suitable for cleaning terracotta roofs and tiles. Unlike high-pressure cleaning, soft washing doesn’t hammer on thin roofs or blast away concrete tiles because it is gentler.
Soft washing doesn’t decolourise tiles and can’t force water under the tiles, which may cause damage.
Pros of soft cleaning
Highly effective
Gentle
Simple to manage
Reduces harmful growth
Cons of soft washing
Slower cleaning
May not remove some stains
Soft washing can remove grime but may not remove certain stains that high-pressure washers can easily remove, like embedded dirt.
High-pressure cleaning vs soft washing
High-pressure cleaning and soft washing are effective techniques. However, high-pressure may be a better option if you want to clean bricks, driveways, hard concrete, asphalt or pebblestone. High-pressure cleaning may also be a good option if you want to clean a large area like a parking lot, but soft washing is suitable for cleaning walls and roofs.
Roto surface cleaning
Roto surface cleaning is an advanced process that uses higher air velocities at the suction point to remove dirt and grime. Roto surface cleaning is ideal for removing stains from flat concrete surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks.
The roto surface cleaner uses the right measure of pressure, flow output and chemicals to clean surfaces without damaging them. The machine produces hot water and reaches down through the porous areas of the flat surfaces to draw out dirt that makes the surface dirty and stained.
Roto surface cleaning can remove mildew, mould, grime and dirt from most external home structures, such as laminate, wood, PVC, vinyl, concrete or tile.
What are the benefits of roto surface cleaning?
Protect the surface
Different chemicals and substances can erode concrete and other surfaces, and if they remain for long, it damages the surface. Surface cleaning will remove the damaging substances to prevent any damage.
Keep driveways safe
Grease and oil are particularly hazardous because they make the area slippery, but surface cleaning easily removes spills making the driveway safe.
Enhances curb appeal
Stained concrete surfaces can be an eyesore, and most people neglect to clean their outdoor areas. However, first impressions matter, and you can increase your curb appeal using surface cleaning techniques to remove unsightly stains on surfaces.
Pressure Washing Sunshine Coast
Pressure washing, also known as power washing, is a technique that uses a high-pressure stream of water to remove dirt, grime, and other contaminants from surfaces. Unlike traditional washing methods, pressure washing can penetrate deep into porous surfaces to remove debris. It is commonly used to clean outdoor surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, decks, and siding.
Pressure washing machines come in a variety of sizes and strengths, ranging from small electric models for home use to large gas-powered machines for commercial applications. The pressure can also be adjusted depending on the surface being cleaned, as too much pressure can cause damage to some materials.
Overall, pressure washing is a powerful and effective cleaning technique that can restore the appearance of a variety of surfaces, making it a popular choice for both residential and commercial cleaning projects.
Maintaining your property is necessary to maintain the building’s integrity, enhance comfort and make your home more aesthetically appealing. High-pressure washing, soft cleaning and roto surface cleaning are common options for cleaning and maintaining your home.
Depending on the state of your home, you can use different pressure cleaning methods, but consulting an experienced pressure cleaning service provider will greatly enhance your results. A professional cleaning company will recommend the right technique and have the necessary tools, and equipment, and know how to complete the job without damaging your property.
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