Soft washing a set of steps, a gentle first step after storms. Category: Cleanup Guidance After storms, fires, and flooding, the cleanup order matters as much as the cleaning. Public agencies in California give consistent advice for ash, soot, mud, and debris on driveways, walkways, patios, siding, and doors. Here is the short version. Soft wash vs. Pressure wash Soft washing or a gentle low-pressure rinse is usually the first choice for lightly dirty surfaces. It removes loo