If you’ve been looking into getting your driveway, patio, or property exterior cleaned, you’ve probably come across both jet washing and soft washing. They sound similar, and both involve water — but they work in very different ways, and using the wrong one on the wrong surface can cause real damage.
Here’s a straightforward guide to what each method involves and how to work out which one you need.
What Is Jet Washing?
Jet washing — sometimes called pressure washing — uses a high-pressure stream of water to blast dirt, staining, algae, and debris from hard surfaces. The pressure does the heavy lifting. It’s fast, satisfying to watch, and very effective on the right surfaces.
It works well on:
- Concrete driveways and paths
- Block paving
- Tarmac driveways
- Stone patios
- Brick walls (in good condition)
- Garden furniture and hard outdoor surfaces
- Wheelie bin areas and bin stores
The key here is that these surfaces are hard, robust, and can withstand the pressure without being damaged. Jet washing on the right surface removes years of built-up grime quickly and effectively.
What Is Soft Washing?
Soft washing uses low pressure combined with specialist biodegradable cleaning solutions to remove biological growth — moss, algae, lichen, and mould — from more delicate surfaces. The cleaning is done by the solution, not the pressure, which means the surface isn’t subjected to any force that could cause damage.
It’s the right approach for:
- Render and painted exterior walls
- UPVC cladding, fascias, and soffits
- Roofing tiles (all types)
- Timber decking and wooden fences
- Conservatory roofs
- Caravans and motorhomes
- Solar panels
These surfaces would be damaged or stripped by high pressure. Soft washing cleans them thoroughly without risk, and because the solution kills biological growth at the root, results tend to last longer than pressure washing alone.
What Happens If You Use the Wrong Method?
Jet washing a render wall or a roof can strip the surface, damage the material, or drive water into joints and cavities where it causes damp. Pressure washing solar panels can void the manufacturer’s warranty. Pressure washing timber decking can raise the grain and leave the wood more vulnerable to weathering.
Conversely, soft washing a heavily soiled concrete driveway will clean it, but it won’t remove deep-set staining and ingrained dirt as effectively as a proper pressure wash would. You’d be paying for a less effective result.
How Do I Know Which One I Need?
As a general rule: hard, robust surfaces — jet wash. Softer, painted, organic, or delicate surfaces — soft wash.
Many properties need both. A home with a concrete driveway and a rendered exterior wall would typically have the driveway jet washed and the render soft washed. Getting both done at the same time is efficient and often more cost effective than two separate visits.
What About Decking?
Decking is worth a specific mention because it causes the most confusion. Timber decking can be cleaned with a very low pressure wash — but it needs to be done carefully, with the correct nozzle and technique. Poorly done, it damages the wood. A professional will know the right approach for the type of decking and its condition.
We Do Both — Across Torbay and South Devon
At MD Elite Cleaning, we carry out both jet washing and soft washing across Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Totnes and the wider South Devon area. Whether it’s a driveway, patio, rendered wall, fascias, or roof, we’ll advise on the right method and get the job done properly.
If you’re not sure what your property needs, just give us a call on 01803 640041 or fill in the enquiry form and we’ll take a look and advise you before any work begins.
