Whether you’re cleaning moss off your aluminum siding or stripping patio furniture in preparation for a new paint job, some tasks require more elbow grease than human elbows can provide. Surface-cleaning projects are challenging, especially when you’re dealing with years of exposure to the elements, built-up debris, or extra layers of grease and muck. For these cases, there are two popular solutions: sandblasting and power washing. But when it comes to sandblasting versus power washing, which cleans better? Here are a few thoughts and tips on the subject to help you decide which one you and your project need.
Understanding Sandblasting and Power Washing
Sandblasting and power washing excel at removing unwanted debris on surfaces, but each accomplishes this in different ways.
Sandblasting, perhaps better described as abrasive blasting, involves propelling fine particulate matter at a surface to remove the debris, paint, or what have you. Sand is only one type of medium that sandblasters use. Other materials include glass beads, walnut shells, garnets, dry ice, bicarbonate of soda, and others, depending on the task. Sandblasting is an aggressive form of cleaning, more occupied with removing grime, rust, and corrosion from harder surfaces like concrete and metal.
Power washing is aggressive in its own way but uses water rather than solid media to remove the offending matter. Power washers may also employ hot water and detergents to clean multiple surfaces, including wood, metal, stone, siding, and so on. Power washing may not be as abrasive as sandblasting, but it still packs plenty of punch.
Which Is Right for Your Project?
Here’s a breakdown of the benefits of both methods so you can determine which is more appropriate for your project.
Benefits of Sandblasting
Sandblasting is highly effective for addressing tough cleaning challenges, such as stripping off layers of paint, rust, or graffiti. If you need a complete surface reset, this method ensures a fresh start.
However, though sandblasting can be rough, you can also fine-tune it for delicate tasks. For instance, sandblasting can assist art and sculpture restoration.
Benefits of Power Washing
Want to clean something quickly without causing damage? Power washing is terrific for blasting dirt, grime, and more from driveways, patios, pathways, porches, and so on.
Moreover, when you don’t use detergents or other cleaning agents, power washing is an environmentally friendly means of cleaning. High-pressured water merely runs off and evaporates after the cleaning is done.
Which Cleans Better?
It’s not a question of which method is better so much as which is more suited to the job at hand. For heavy-duty tasks like stripping paint or rust, sandblasting is the right choice. Power washing, on the other hand, is the go-to for routine cleaning. Because power washing is somewhat less intense, it is well-suited for easily damaged materials.
Now you know about the basics of sandblasting versus power washing and which cleans better. Both provide professional-looking results if you match them to the job!
