Soft wash vs pressure washing: what your roof and siding need

“Pressure washing” is often used for everything from a driveway to a roof, but they are different jobs. The surface decides the method, and getting it wrong is how roofs, siding and screens get damaged.

What a soft wash is

A soft wash uses low water pressure together with a cleaning solution that is left to work on the algae, mildew or mold, and then rinsed. The solution does the cleaning rather than force. The mix and the rinse are the pro’s call, which is why it is worth asking what they use.

Why roofs are the sensitive one

Asphalt-shingle manufacturers and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) advise against high-pressure washing of shingle roofs, and describe low-pressure cleaning with solutions instead. High pressure can displace the granules on shingles and push water under them. Check your own roof’s manufacturer guidance, and your warranty, before anything is done.

151 pros in our directory list roof cleaning (as of November 4, 2026), and 77 of them say they use a soft wash on roofs.

Siding and painted surfaces

Vinyl, painted stucco and wood siding are also commonly cleaned with a low-pressure solution wash, because force can drive water behind panels and strip paint. Ask what the pro does around windows, door seals and vents.

171 pros list house washing and soft wash.

Where higher pressure is normal

Concrete driveways, sidewalks and similar hard surfaces are the usual place for pressure washing. Even there, pressure and nozzle choice matter, and some surfaces such as pavers and wood can be marked by too much of it.

176 pros list driveway and concrete cleaning, and 87 pros list deck and fence cleaning.

What to ask

• Is my roof cleaned with a soft wash or with pressure?
• What do you do to protect plants, gutters and screens?
• Is the method written on the quote?

Our trust check includes a “soft-wash for roofs” item. It reflects what the pro says on its own site. How to choose a pressure washing company