Soft Washing vs Pressure Washing FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions at Alblaster
The soft washing process uses detergent instead of pressure and heat to clean the surface. Soft washing sprays the cleaning solution and the rinsing water at about 60 psi significantly reducing the chance of damaging the exterior, penetrating the structure, or leaving permanent marks on other surfaces. For reference, pressure washing is typically putting out 4000pst. The soft washing process not only cleans the surface it also sanitizes it. Once the detergent has done its work, we rinse off the area using a spray gun that releases 8 gallons of water per minute.
With the soft washing process, the detergent does the work instead of the pressure. The detergent kills mould, mildew and algae. It can then be rinsed off with clean water at low pressure. For tougher areas like aluminum gutters or metal window trim, a bristle brush is used for agitating.
Yes usually. It all depends on what material you are cleaning. There are surfaces and certain conditions wherein high pressure is necessary, but the professionals at Alblaster know just what the right situation is for that. Some advantages to soft washing are that it requires less pressure than a pressure washing, the final result is that the surface isn’t just washed, it is disinfected, the detergent does a better cleaning job, the clean lasts longer, there is far less chance that the water will damage the surface or structure of your building. This process dramatically reduces the chance that the water will damage the surface you’re cleaning.
That depends on your location and what your surface is made of, but typically washing your surface every 2 to 3 years is a good idea. If more time goes by, the mould, mildew and algae can build up and cause possibly cause permanent damage and cause costly repairs. You’ll notice the difference, once we’re on the job.
The two main detergents we use are Sodium Hypochlorite (bleach), along with a surfactant or foaming agent. There are different types of surfactants for different surfaces. Alblaster makes sure that all of our detergents and chemicals are 100% non-toxic and biodegradable.
Yes. But avoid soft washing roofs in the rain. They should not be soaking wet when the detergent is applied, and it is a much safer job on a dry day.
Yes, just use responsibly. It is safest to make sure everyone other than the operator avoids the area during the cleaning process. Plants are not a problem, as long as you wet-them-down before and after applying the detergent. Ultimately, the Bleach is biodegradable. It would be best if you keep your pets inside during the cleaning.
– Close and secure all windows and doors
– Unlock gates or any entrances that might prevent access to your property
– Make sure all garden hose tapes have a water flow.
– Report any faucet leaks or concerns at the time of estimations
– Please place a towel behind the bottom of the doors.
Yes with the right amount of degreasing, you can easily remove these stains.
– PSI stands for “Pounds Per Square Inch”. When talking about pressure washers it’s the strength coming out of the nozzle. Your typical garden hose has about 40 PSI.
– A lighter-duty electrical pressure washer has anywhere from 1000 to 1200 PSI. A heavy-duty gas modal pressure washer operates at the 3000 to 5000 PSI range.
Not necessarily. The correct washing technique is to use light pressure (PSI), with the right cleaning agents and a large amount of water.
Typically most people tend to pressure wash their properties in the spring/summer. Makes sense, it’s the nicest time to enjoy it. However, there are some situations you may want to reconsider. If by any chance you have a business or home facing north you will notice moss tends to grow and stain even faster. In these situations, the more frequent the cleaning, the less pressure needed, which is better for the material.
Usually, we can give you an estimate within a day or two.
These lines are called wound marks. Typically you’re not supposed to use wands to clean driveways for this reason. You should always use a flat surface cleaner.
Flat surface cleaners provide a more even and streak-free clean. Surface cleaners are a very important pieces of equipment that Alblaster Pressure Washing has in every truck.
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We live in a condo building in Olympic Village with a roof top community garden. I just came from watering my plants 5 minutes ago and I was shocked at what I came to see. The cleaning equipment was left in people's gardening area and it seemed as though my tomato plant was knocked by the ?water hose and many of the tomatoes fell and one was stepped on. I feel a bit angry and upset that this happened in our community garden was somewhat disrespected by the crew who was scheduled to clean our building windows. I didn't see anyone yet this morning so I am assuming it may have been left like this over night. I fixed my tomato cage this morning but it was a bit tilted as well. I had seen it two days ago and it was perfectly fine. I acknowledge I do not fully know what transpired but seeing what I saw this morning, I can't help but assume that this was from the cleaning company who has been here cleaning all sides of our building windows the past 1~2 weeks. I understand it might be hard to navigate around the garden area with their equipment, butI feel like there are better areas where they could have at least put down the equipment after their work was complete besides on people's plants. To be fair, they have not finished cleaning our windows yet so I don't have any reviews on their ability to get the cleaning job done. They started yesterday and there is still bird poop on my window, so I'm hoping they are coming back to our side. UPDATE (SEP 12): This is a week late update, but I received a personal letter of apology and some plant gifts from the company leadership (although I could not be home to receive it). The letter was handwritten, felt personal more than generic, and very professional. I was very much in shock, but also appreciative they took the time to stop by and bring us some things. They actually left some tomatoes, which was so thoughtful as it was my tomato plant I had mentioned in this post. The response I had received from their team was so amazing, quick, empathetic, kind, and thoughtful that I can actually say this is one of the best customer (?) experiences I have gone through. Huge thank you to the team and leadership at Alblaster for hearing my concerns and addressing them.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very friendly staff!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Josh did a fantastic job outside of our shop in Yaletown! Team was very friendly and efficient, with great communication whenever needed :)Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I frequent Bill Curtis Square to decompress and journal....It was pleasant to see my fave spot getting power washed...I interacted briefly with Milin from Alblaster...who was very courteous and attentive of people sitting and walking by.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a fantastic experience with Alblaster for our recent power washing! They did an incredible job-our storefront and street looks spotless and refreshed. The team was extremely professional and took great care to avoid any damage during the cleaning process. A bit of water ended up leaking inside through the bottom of our main door, (no fault of theirs) they were quick to notice and immediately offered to clean it all up, which we really appreciated. On top of everything, Milin even went above and beyond by cleaning our windows, which was a nice surprise! Highly recommend them if you're looking for quality work and excellent customer service.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quick, professional and detailed. Brendan was so courteous and accommodating with his work during our business hours and made sure to allow our clients easy access to the shop! Would hire again, the team is as professional as it getsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very professional, very friendly!. They showed up on time, 3 fully equipped trucks to power wash our concrete 8 unit complex including 2 levels of parking and courtyard, plus 5 flights of stairs. Included in their work order were windows , which were all cleaned better than ever. All residents were very pleased with the results!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great work done by the team.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We greatly appreciate Gerard's professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction. For reliable, high-quality pressure washing services, we highly recommend Alblaster!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had Alblaster come in to clean our parking garage, and the results were outstanding. From start to finish, the team was professional, efficient, and detail-oriented. Camilo and Mike in particular went above and beyond—super friendly, hardworking, and made sure everything was spotless. Highly recommend Alblaster for any pressure washing needs. Great service all around!Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
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