Soft Wash vs Pressure Wash | Which is Better?

The age old question wood care professionals debate on over and over is soft wash versus pressure wash, which is better? Today we show how to clean and restore these 20 year old fence panels using both methods with tools most DIYers and Contractors easily have access to. We are using Stain & Seal Experts Eco Cleaner, Wood Cleaner and Wood Brightener. Some of the footage was filmed using RayBan Stories.
Subscribe for weekly videos- bit.ly/3Gsoj2p
Checkout our official Expert Stain Shop here: bit.ly/3GkA5M2
Order Calebs Expert Field Guide and Staining Company SOP here: bit.ly/3EBcar6
Join the webs largest Stain & Seal community, Staining University here: bit.ly/3Ezj8wY
Listen to the Stain & Seal Experts Podcast Here: apple.co/3pythne
Private Coaching and Mentorship from Caleb Roth - Apply Now: bit.ly/3ExVYHn
Follow Caleb on social media:
Instagram: bit.ly/3owojrN
Facebook: bit.ly/3DBqej8
Twitter: bit.ly/3rK7Xhq
LinkedIn: bit.ly/3dt5Ypf
TikTok: bit.ly/3Go2eli
Pinterest: bit.ly/3ECvft6
To reach the Stain & Seal Experts team you can email:
[e-mail]
Subscribe for weekly videos- bit.ly/3Gsoj2p
#stainandsealexperts

[@user-mz8hg9bz7u]

The cat is terrific.

[@StainSealExperts]

Yup

[@lauriecraig2760]

Who thinks the cat stole the show?? Love from Canada!

[@StainSealExperts]

He's a curious one!

[@brandonsmith5673]

I don't know how eco friendly it is, but i put 1/2 a gallon of lemon scented bleach in my 2 gallon kobalt battery powered sprayer with a couple tablespoons of dish soap. The fence came clean almost instantly. I used 7 gallons of bleach to clean the front and back of my fence. It is not a small fence. I bought 8 gallons for $52.87. My sprayer was $100. I use it for other things too. My fence is almost 4 years old. It was never sealed. It was a dark gray color. It looks brand new. I did not rinse it. I sprayed today. It's about to rain for 5 days. Otherwise I would have rinsed it. I did all that today sitting in a wheelchair with limited hand function. I only had help filling the sprayer. I did the rest.

[@StainSealExperts]

Good job getting after it

[@stainxpert]

Great video Caleb !!! I love watching your videos several times over to pickup more tips & tricks 🤙

[@StainSealExperts]

Post your questions

[@muchacabesa]

Great job, Caleb. Thank you.

[@cressdiligent]

So what psi is 'low' and what psi is considered 'high' in this demo

[@walleyeye]

Wow. Thats amazing!!!

[@wardthegeneral5006]

Great presentation. Seems like a great product. I really liked the video and editing!!

[@StainSealExperts]

Thanks so much! We appreciate you!

[@selcukfidan4119]

Thanks for sharing! Very good👍

[@StainSealExperts]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@devildog291]

Love it! Awesome job

[@StainSealExperts]

Thank you! We appreciate you!

[@washlife5679]

Best ever thanks

[@DerekMaddox]

Great video Caleb!

[@StainSealExperts]

Thank you! We appreciate you!

[@mikecouch5751]

Great stuff!

[@StainSealExperts]

Glad you enjoyed it! We appreciate you!

[@teardowneverything588]

Awesome video! Looks like Stanton wasn’t the only one who bought those fancy glasses!

[@StainSealExperts]

Thank you! After seeing his video, we just had to give them a try!

[@GuardianPressureWashing]

Good job with the oxalic. It also prevents and clears up nail bleed!

[@planetfabulous5833]

His hair game is solid!

[@kf5705]

Love it. Thanks. I was hoping to skip the cleaning and brightening process on a new fence. It's not as scary afterwards, but dealing with 190 ft long fence will require some patience

[@StainSealExperts]

You can do it

[@stoneyswolf]

I like the Sodium Percarbonate. Keeps the wife happy and it can be used for many things around the house.

[@bitTorrenter]

Oxygen Bleach, it's a little like 'Vanish' but 100% not 40-50%.

[@laurellwomack6846]

Thanks, this was very helpful. We live in Chicago and had our semi-private Pine fence instaled in mid November of 2021. Do you think we should clean it first? and what stain is best for this area, oil or water? The winters can be very harsh and we need something that provides heavy duty protection but is cost effective. Can we find Stain & Seal products our local big box store? Thank for your help.😊

[@calebroth7599]

We always recommend an oil based penetrating stain product as it will prevent warping, cracking and twisting of your fence. I do recommend cleaning it first, the Eco Cleaner & Brightener is probably the best choice that. checkout restorativewoodproducts.com

[@gregorytownsend9318]

Love it

[@StainSealExperts]

Thanks! We appreciate you!

[@sprytnaexteriorcleaning6163]

Here Kitty kitty.

[@StainSealExperts]

Wild cat

[@midwestemma3156]

I’m sorry, that cat 🤣🤣🤣

[@StainSealExperts]

I know, right!!

[@alejandrobardo97]

Would you use the eco cleaner for cleaning boat docks? Is the oxalic ok for that as well? I really want to get into cleaning and staining marinas, but not sure what the process would be, especially in regards to the laws and keeping all the fish and water safe.

[@StainSealExperts]

Most people do, better check with local authorities

[@miva0601]

What PSI pressure washer are you using?

[@irishcubs01]

Psi, gpm & what tip on the machine, 25 degree?

[@antoniocavazos5053]

How long do you wait between each step? For example, how long should I wait before applying the brightner? And how long should I wait before the final rinse? And how long before staining?

[@StainSealExperts]

It depends on how dirty the surface is for dwell time. Once you are finishing cleaning you can brighten right away

[@MultiTestPage]

Very professional explanation. I'm about to treat my 10 year old fence that seems to have some old solid pigmented paint on it that is flaking off. I'm assuming this stripping product will prep is correctly?

[@Swschrader]

How do you keep the fence from Furring up? Does it go away over time. Or does the stain and seal solve that? Can i use pump sprayer for your clear transparent stain and seal? Thx

[@StainSealExperts]

You want to use the mildest chemical for cleaning as necessary. Harsh chemicals and too much pressure during cleaning causes furring. Yes, all of our stains can be applied with a pump up sprayer, you just might want to backbrush after.

[@commercialand]

We have a 30 yr old fence with boards that are cracked with holes, and un even and my mother in law wants to stain them white. I told her it would only magnify the old age of fence. And its also very brittle and some parts of the wood brushed off like dust. Planned on sanding some areas. But would pressure washing this be a good before staining? The fence is in ok shape over all to stain with a dark stain to match.

[@StainSealExperts]

Sounds like a perfect fence to restore, I would clean and brighten it then apply a much needed conditioning oil penetrating stain and sealer. Checkout realgoodstain.com

[@anthonytorres5213]

any cleaners recommended for soft washing roof shengals. for paint application. Thank you.

[@StainSealExperts]

We do not have experience with roofs

[@masonjeffries2455]

so 8oz per gallon, but how far does that go (on average of course). Thinking about purchasing these products but I don't know how much to buy. I need to do 300' of 6' privacy fence. Thank you, great video!

[@StainSealExperts]

around 150-200 sq ft

[@e.j.c1795]

The cat 😸 ahahhahahah

[@StainSealExperts]

Wildcat

[@RyanW413]

My brother and I have experienced the fencing becoming almost like fury. Is that because we are using SH or is it because our pressure is too high?

[@StainSealExperts]

I can be both. Too much chemical can make the wood fuzzy, and too high of pressure can as well.

[@briandecker9932]

Don't use sh it's a whitener not a cleaner Sodium precarbonate or sodium metasillacate like this guy did

[@Swschrader]

I used green ox renew and it furred up today. I was disappointed. Did I use too much chemical? Didn’t feel like I was over applying. Will the fur go away if I use your transparent stain and seal? Or will it just go away over time? Can I use stain and seal with a pump sprayer?

[@darrenairey5938]

​@@Swschraderwood fuzz doesn't go away unless you sand and it you don't sand U will use much more stain or sealer...also the fuzz can hold the dirt like rough wood. Best to always sand old wood after cleaning/stripping.

[@Theflyinghoneybadger]

Been doing this for years. Still see zero difference between the wood cleaner and using just SH and water. The key difference, is your 3 step process is extremely time consuming, increases the drying time by days, and decreases profit margins exponentially

[@ktpowerwashing]

Use sodium metasilicate instead of sh, it's soo much better and doesn't bleach out the wood

[@Theflyinghoneybadger]

@@ktpowerwashing we can agree to disagree. Ive done side by side comparisons of each. Zero difference in the way the stain looks and 1/3 the time and cost.

[@ktpowerwashing]

@@Theflyinghoneybadger definitely makes a difference if not staining. In regards to profit and time, sodium metasilicate is less expensive than sh, and oxalic acid is not needed to "brighten" or restore the wood to a natural appearance. We literally pump spray (8oz sodium metasilicate per gallon of water), let dwell about 5 mins (extra dwell time does not hurt nor help) and use a 40° spray tip to rinse it off. That's it. No other steps needed, other than apply the oil based stain the following day (in Houston weather)

[@ktpowerwashing]

We offer 5 year No fade or organic penetration on our stain fence projects

[@bitTorrenter]

​@@ktpowerwashingIt's also VERY alkaline.

[@tracyben1412]

I just got a wooden fence 2 days ago and it has mold and green Allergy should I be responsible for pressure washing it or should the company be responsible for pressure washing it

[@StainSealExperts]

You might want to check with the builder to see what their policy is.

[@cfmill74]

Not necessary to pre wet?

[@kristianjovanov2666]

Is there a link for cleaner?

[@StainSealExperts]

restorativewoodproducts.com

[@danielsalazar1935]

👍🏽

[@al5u]

Do you think cleaner is going to kill the lawn under the fence?

[@StainSealExperts]

It could stunt the growth

[@raywilson3166]

What's the chemicals in the stronger one

[@StainSealExperts]

Sodium Metasilicate based Available at realgoodstain.com

[@Boodieman72]

More like a pressure rinse than a pressure wash. A pressure wash would not use any chemicals.

[@StainSealExperts]

Yea

[@taddmcmichael9061]

What is the point in a trying to make a pointless distinction. So you are saying in this video if you use a soap/chem to aid in a cleaning along with the pressure (he was probably 800+ psi) you are not pressure washing? Was he washing? Yes. Was pressure being used in the cleaning? Yes. So that is pressure washing. "Pressure Washing companies" around world use chems.

[@Egalitarian-bt7kz]

How long does it take to dry before you stain?

[@StainSealExperts]

Usually 2-3 days

[@jackshea6937]

What's the cat on?

[@StainSealExperts]

High on life

[@IssaRaeOf10S]

😻

[@CarlosG0224]

Didn’t hear it in the video, is this safe around a pool?

[@StainSealExperts]

It’s best to cover the pool so you don’t get stain in it

[@NautiParrot]

Nice video. Seems the cat sniffed a lil bit of those chemicals. 😅

[@StainSealExperts]

He's a curious one!

[@KJfreshh69]

I like sodium hypochlorite best, works with no effort

[@codygregory5883]

Cat stole the video lol

[@Eastcentralstainingco]

Is that a vinyl fence the panels are leaning up against? Sacrilege!!

[@StainSealExperts]

Yes, Eco Cleaner also works great on vinyl fencing!!

[@jimmiller8917]

So 2 hours per 4' section of fence for cleaning.....got it😂

[@editorjeannie2318]

Tickle tickle Good show guys (yes I just assumed your gender) whoopsy

[@chace7595]

It is hydrogen peroxide

[@StainSealExperts]

Similar