Start to Finish Soft Wash Systems & Vinyl - Certified SoftWash Roof Cleaning

Ryan Freidline · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Start to Finish Soft Wash Systems & Vinyl

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Ryan,

The steps are easy. I like x-jets and they were a great tool for their time. Dragging a 5 gallon bucket around just doesnt work. Though of ANY down stream device the X-Jet gave more chemical delivery than anything ever created before them. I just love being able to grab a 300' hose and run not having to worry about the bucket.

With a SoftWash Systems TM Cradle Skid or any other one batching system you attack the project like this.

1. Mix up a soft wash cleaning solution of in a 50 gallon tank,

1 gallon of 12% Pool Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or 50 ounces of Powder Bleach Alternative (calcium hypochlorite)
48.75 gallons of water
32 ounces of Soft Wash Systems Green Wash
2 ounces of SoftWash Systems Bleach Accelerator
Agitate with your wand for one batch method.

If you are using a SoftWash Systems spraying system you will,

Transfer one gallon of water in your 50 gallon tank or 50 ounces of Powder Bleach Alternative (calcium hypochlorite)
Add balance to full in water
Adjust valve setting to allow bleach pump to fold tank contents.
tank is now fully prepped

In a 5 gallon bucket place 5 gallons of water
Add 32 ounces of SoftWash Systems Green Wash
Add 2 ounces of SoftWash Systems Bleach Accelerator
Place Green Wash Injector tap into bucket.
Set your Green Wash Injection Pump to 60 BPM (bursts per minute)

Make sure all customer property is moved away from the house all garbage cans, BBQ's flags, clothes, seat coushins, anything that could get in the way and or be damaged by bleach.

1. Treat the home top to bottom in a clockwise direction completing one wall at a time allowing for rinsing 5 min after treatment.
2. Use a 20/00 tip to treat the high areas including soffits and higher walls.
3. Use a 20/40 fan tip to treat lower areas using less chemical.
4. Be careful not to put direct rinsing pressure on door jams and or window seals because you may blast bleach into the home ruining furniture and or carpet.
5. After rinsing you can use SoftWash Systems Bleach Wash, bleach neutralizing soap to rinse the windows and even wax the siding. This product has a HEAVY waxing agent and will make surfaces shine. (rinse with cold water)

Did I miss anything? Hope this helps.

AC

Ryan Freidline · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Thanks AC. I will take some time to wrap my head around that :)

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

What is the bleach accelerator?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

michael derose wrote:
What is the bleach accelerator?

New product being released in June. AC

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Oh good stuff ac.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Apex Roof Cleaning Wilkes-Barre PA wrote:
Oops! I'm use to the traditional 30g SH to 70G water method

That strong will strip paint off a house! Go here for better mix ratios, http://softwashsystems.com/page_mixology.htm

AC

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Nice excited to here about the bleach accelerator? Is there any plant concerns when using the 2% solution? You didn't really mention much about plants, except moving everything that can be damaged? Does your ground guy work along side you watering anything that falls down off the side of the house?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Apex Roof Cleaning Wilkes-Barre PA wrote:
Nice excited to here about the bleach accelerator? Is there any plant concerns when using the 2% solution? You didn't really mention much about plants, except moving everything that can be damaged? Does your ground guy work along side you watering anything that falls down off the side of the house?

The one gallon SH in 50 gallons of water isnt a 2% solution. Its a .25% solution of available SH or BLEACH. The Bleach Accelerator just activates the available bleach and makes it clean just as good as a bleach solution three times stronger.

This activation of the bleach at a lower concetration helps TREMENDOUSLY with plant damages.

AC

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Oops! I'm use to the traditional 30g SH to 70G water method

Ryan Freidline · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

ok, lemme see if I got this correct...

Using a cradle skid; In a 50 gallon batch tank, mix 1-2 gallons SH, and 48-49 gallons water. Set the injector at 60bpm. Wash top to bottom.

Now the activator goes in as well to reduce watering the plants. Right?

And instead of rinsing- use the bleach wash. Will that sprayer reach the eave on a 2 story colonial?

What are the actives in the bleach wash? It obviously neutralizes the bleach ( for lack of a better word) but are there other rinse agents in the bleach wash?

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Ryan,

Activator makes bleach work better at a lower strength so I guess that would mean less rinsing on plants but Id still rinse the heck out of them.

Rinse the walls with water first then with bleach wash as a finishing rinse. Let dwell for 5 min then rinse again with clean cool water.

Yes Bleach Wash also has a THICK cheater wax and other rinsing agents.

AC

Schall Bradley · Sophmore Member

More information about the sh activator, is it out and were to buy.

Ryan Freidline · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

VIN: We were talking about the " Green Wash" It IS the activator for SH. We use a lot less SH these days.

Schall Bradley · Sophmore Member

Ok, what I meant was the bleach accelerator that AC referred to in the house washing instructions. This sounds like the best thing since sliced bread. Mixing the solutions at much lower concentraitions would all but eliminate the plant kill problems, Even when cleaning roofs.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Shall,

I have run into packaging issues on that for a few. You will find if you do a search here we discuss a simular product you can buy online.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

AC Lockyer wrote:
1. Mix up a soft wash cleaning solution of in a 50 gallon tank,

1 gallon of 12% Pool Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or 50 ounces of Powder Bleach Alternative (calcium hypochlorite)
48.75 gallons of water
32 ounces of Soft Wash Systems Green Wash
2 ounces of SoftWash Systems Bleach Accelerator
Agitate with your wand for one batch method.

AC,

Am I correct in assuming that the above mix is for a 1% or 2% final solution? If so, is the above mix 1% or 2%??

THANKS! smile

John Smith · Lead Tech Certified

1 ounce of CH per gallon gives you 1%, should be anyway

AC Lockyer · Administrator

John Smith wrote:
1 ounce of CH per gallon gives you 1%, should be anyway

Yes depending on how old the CH is.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Thanks John & AC,

I use SH. So, as little as "one gallon" of 12% SH in a 50 gallon mix will yield a 1% batch? (as long as I use the accelerator??)

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Let Us Spray wrote:
Thanks John & AC,

I use SH. So, as little as "one gallon" of 12% SH in a 50 gallon mix will yield a 1% batch? (as long as I use the accelerator??)

My mind was blown on this one also. When I was first doing the calculations, I thought this had to be a 1-2% solution. It's really .20% I need to get my hands on some of this accelerator. The biggest thing that slows me down on house washes, is plants, and hose movement. AC I feel like your moving your hoses alot if your Cleaning,Rinsing,BleachWashing, and final rinsing.

Thats like 4 full times around the house.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Danny,

We use appliances that snap onto the garden hose so we are using the same hose each time.

AC

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

AC Lockyer wrote:
Danny,

We use appliances that snap onto the garden hose so we are using the same hose each time.

AC

I purchased the hose end sprayer you recommended. That makes sense for bleach washing windows.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Hi Danny,

YEA!! It's hard to wrap my mind around being able to use so little SH with the accelerator. I picked up some accelerator at Leslie Pool Supply here in Richmond for a great price. Going to try it out soon.

So, when making my new cheat-sheets...

If 1 gallon of SH in a 50 gallon mix = a 1% final solution (with the use of the accelerator) then....

4 gallons of SH in a 50 gallon mix should render a 4% final solution, correct?? biggrin

Michael Hickey · Junior Member

AC

I hadn't noticed this bleach wash accelerator before. If it works so well on house washing, why is it not used for roof cleaning as well?

Michael

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Theoretically, it should. However, I'm no chemist. Seems like it would be BEST for both applications though, really. Less plant damage all the way around - whether you're cleaning siding or roofs or what have you.

Just need to know how many ounces of accelerator to add to 50 gallons of:

3% mix

4% mix

AC Lockyer · Administrator

In. 50 gallon tank every 5 gallons of 12% sh brings you 1% of soloution. No matter your strength of soloution add 2 oz of the pixi dust in 50 gal of mix.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Ok, so that recipe above where you suggested to only add 1 gallon 12% SH to the 50 gallon tank must be much, much weaker that 1%, right? confuse

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

AC Lockyer wrote:
In. 50 gallon tank every 5 gallons of 12% sh brings you 1% of soloution. No matter your strength of soloution add 2 oz of the pixi dust in 50 gal of mix.

AC

AC,

I know you said the bleach accelerator was fine with either SH or CH alone. Can it also be used with the augmenting mix (CH & SH)

Thanks!

Gregg

John Smith · Lead Tech Certified

It is my understanding that the green wash was the excelerator

SoftWash Systems™ Green Wash™ 30 Gallons

All-In-One Bleach Cleaning Solution Additive. Non-Hazardous
1. Helps cleaning solutions bleach better at a lower concentration.
2. Surfactants allow deeper penetration into mildew, algae and bacteria.
3. Bleach stable and will not release harmful gasses.
4. Rain Fresh scent helps cover bleach and dead algae odor.
5. Rinse agent added for more complete soft washing end result

So what am I missing?

Gregg Austensen · Lead Tech Certified

John, Your correct on that. GW helps bleach do what it does better. Pixi dust/Fresh and Clear from Leslie's Pool is a non chlorine shock that releases available free chlorine from the pool/mix. It does this immediately and will exhaust your mix within 4 hours. This will increase bleach power without increasing %. It will also make it "hotter" for those cold days. I think I got that right. Let me know AC if that's wrong. Gregg

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Yes you can almost leave what cant be sucked from the tank and dilute it and clean vinyl. AC

AC Lockyer · Administrator

GAustensen wrote:
AC Lockyer wrote:
In. 50 gallon tank every 5 gallons of 12% sh brings you 1% of soloution. No matter your strength of soloution add 2 oz of the pixi dust in 50 gal of mix.

AC
AC,
I know you said the bleach accelerator was fine with either SH or CH alone. Can it also be used with the augmenting mix (CH & SH)
Thanks!
Gregg

Yes, either, or and both.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

John Smith wrote:
It is my understanding that the green wash was the excelerator

SoftWash Systems™ Green Wash™ 30 Gallons

All-In-One Bleach Cleaning Solution Additive. Non-Hazardous
1. Helps cleaning solutions bleach better at a lower concentration.
2. Surfactants allow deeper penetration into mildew, algae and bacteria.
3. Bleach stable and will not release harmful gasses.
4. Rain Fresh scent helps cover bleach and dead algae odor.
5. Rinse agent added for more complete soft washing end result

So what am I missing?

It is but we reduced that some for those one batching so it wouldnt burn the mix. The monopersulfate catylist really REALLY kicks bleach in the butt. AC

Michael Hickey · Junior Member

AC,

Some questions for you

Does the bleach accelerator help in cold weather?
Does it cause any reactions with slate. or stone tiles?
Why not use it in the roof cleaning mix?
Is it something that can easily be bought over the counter?
If I was to buy it in Ireland what would I be looking for?

Thanks as always

Michael

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

It is but we reduced that some for those one batching so it wouldnt burn the mix. The monopersulfate catylist really REALLY kicks bleach in the butt. AC

I had read earlier and was under that one of the big benefits of Green Wash was that it was "chlorine stable" and wouldn't diminish the batch at all over time. Now I read that it has an ingredient (monopersulfate) that will. With that catylist in the GW recipe, how long can I expect my mix to last before I have to recharge it with more SH????

AC Lockyer · Administrator

No mark we made GW stable back in April 2011. The monopersulfate is a seperate chem.

Mike, there is an entire post on the powder accelorant in this BB. Yes it can be used on a roof.

AC

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Thanks AC. I used the accelerator yesterday on a roof job and it worked great. Especially because it was a cooler day. At only 2oz per 50 gallons, allowing me to use less SH, I can't go wrong. Thanks again!!

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Let Us Spray wrote:
Thanks AC. I used the accelerator yesterday on a roof job and it worked great. Especially because it was a cooler day. At only 2oz per 50 gallons, allowing me to use less SH, I can't go wrong. Thanks again!!

Very cool.

Randy Ashley · Lead Tech Certified

Have a question. In the mixology page it says a 1% solution using CH for 100 gals is 100 ozs. In the lead tech module it says use 128 ozs of CH to get a 1% solution in 100 gals. Which is correct?

Also, I have a vinyl cleaning job to do and want to use the accelerator as the temp will be around 50 degrees when I am scheduled to do it. Is anyone using the accelerator and how much CH would you use in a 50 gal. batch with the accelerator?

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I think 50 degrees is warm enough to use a regular mix without any accelerator.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Randy,

All we did was back down on the measurment to an even 100 oz to make the math easier. Also in cooler temps the CH isnt going to disolve as readily.

Hope this helps.

AC

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

What is Soft Wash Systems Bleach accelerator? Can I one Batch a 3% mix of SH &CH thru my gen2 twin pump system using more CH than SH? If so ,what would the formula look like?

Mike Wedge · SoftWash Systems Master Certified Applicator

Hey Gang, Do these figures make sense? Add 32ozs of Green Wash& 2ozs SoftWash Systems Bleach Accelerator to each 50gal formula (Always Add water first)

1%mixes: a)1gal of SH or 64ozs of CH

2%mixes: a)2gal of SH or 128ozs of CH

b)1gal of SH + 64ozs of CH

3%mixes: a)3gal of SH or 192ozs of CH

b)2gal of SH + 64ozs of CH

c)1gal of SH + 128ozs of CH

4%mixes: a)4gal of SH or 256ozs of CH

b)3gal of SH +64ozs of CH

c)2gal of SH+128ozs of CH

d)1gal of SH +192ozs of CH

Does anyone know where to get the SoftWash system Bleach Accelerator?

Troy Layman · Lead Tech

Start to Finish Soft Wash Systems & Vinyl

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Great bump, Troy. I hadn't read this thread before now, just read the entire thing, and I'm curious to know the answers to your questions as well. I have yet to use pixie dust myself and would appreciate a little fresh light shed on the subject.

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Leslie's pool supply sells it under the name Fresh and Clear. We only use it in cold weather. I have not used it as an enhancing powder to lessen the amount of bleach. Just rinse rinse rinse....

Josh Agadoni · SoftWash Systems Authorized Professional

Well then I guess it doesn't apply to me here in San Diego. ;) John, would using pixie dust not be a cost/time savings for you? Or at least not enough to justify using it?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

keep in mind the water you are using to make mix is still extremely cold and it takes north side a bit longer to warm up. You can put pails below the valleys and in areas over plant you can also rinse a bit

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Josh,

no real savings for me of any kind. It only helps in temps below 45 degrees from what I have experienced. We use anywhere from 4-8 ounces per 50 gallons of mix, and we try to only use it on roof or concrete cleaning. Seems like it adds rinsing time to house washes. It definitely helps in the cold mornings here.