Soft washing vs pressure washing: which does your home need?

Billy HomeShine • October 18, 2026

How the two methods compare, and which surfaces need which

Last updated October 2026 · Home Shine

Soft washing and pressure washing both clean the outside of your home, but they work in different ways and suit different surfaces. Using the wrong one can strip paint or etch render. Here's how they compare.

In short

Soft washing uses low pressure and a cleaning solution to kill mould and algae. It suits painted walls, render, weatherboards and timber.
Pressure washing uses high-pressure water. It suits hard surfaces like concrete driveways, paths, pavers and roofs.
Most homes need both: soft washing for the walls, pressure washing for the roof and the ground.

How do soft washing and pressure washing compare?

	Soft washing	Pressure washing
Pressure	Low, similar to a garden hose	High
How it cleans	A biodegradable solution kills mould, algae and lichen at the root	Water force blasts dirt off the surface
Best for	Painted walls, render, weatherboards, timber fences and decks	Roofs, concrete driveways, paths, pavers and brick paving
Risk if misused	Very low	On the wrong surface it can strip paint, etch render or force water behind windows
How long it lasts	Longer, because the growth is killed rather than just removed	Shorter on surfaces where mould grows back

When should you use soft washing?

For anything painted or delicate: the walls of your house, render, cladding, eaves and timber. It's also the right choice before a repaint, because it leaves the surface clean without damaging it.