The short answer
Pressure washing uses mechanical force to clean hard surfaces like concrete, brick, and stone. Soft washing uses a cleaning solution and very low pressure to treat delicate surfaces like vinyl siding, stucco, painted wood, and shingle roofs, killing algae and mildew at the source instead of blasting them. Using pressure on a surface that needs soft washing can etch, streak, or drive water behind the cladding — so the two aren't interchangeable.
Pressure washing — force, for hard surfaces
Driveways, walkways, patios, pool decks, and masonry respond well to pressure when it's applied evenly. The key word is evenly: a bare wand held too close leaves stripes — a permanent record of where the operator stood. A rotating surface cleaner holds a fixed distance and lifts the whole slab in one consistent tone.
Pressure is the wrong tool for siding. It can force water behind the panels, lift paint, and carve lines into softer materials.
Soft washing — solution, for delicate surfaces
Vinyl, stucco, painted surfaces, and asphalt-shingle roofs don't need force. They need the right cleaning solution, time to dwell, and a gentle rinse. That combination lifts algae, mildew, and the green film on a north-facing wall — and because the organic growth is treated rather than just knocked back, it stays gone longer.
Done well, soft washing leaves no wand marks and no zebra striping.
Most homes need a mix
A typical Charlotte home: soft wash the siding and the roof, pressure wash the driveway, walkways and patio, and detail the transitions by hand. One visit, two methods, matched to each surface.
Last reviewed September 2026. Written by the Aloe Cleaning team.