Tampa Bay Soft Wash and Pressure Cleaning Formulas

Struggling to find the right chemical ratios for exterior cleaning? We'll break down the exact soft washing and pressure cleaning formulas you need for a spotless finish without damaging surfaces. Tampa Bay Soft Wash provides expert exterior cleaning services in Clearwater, FL.

Tile Roof Washes

In a 100-gallon container, thoroughly mix the following:

• 50 gallons of 10–12% sodium hypochlorite
• 50 gallons of cool water (CAUTION: never use hot water)
• 4–16 ounces of Slo-Mo Softwash Surfactant (or about 50 to 150 ounces of bleach-stable surfactant)

Shingle or Composite Roofs

In a 100-gallon container, thoroughly mix the following:

• 30 gallons of 10–12% sodium hypochlorite
• 70 gallons of cool water (CAUTION: never use hot water)
• 4–16 ounces of Slo-Mo Softwash Surfactant (or about 100 to 150 ounces of bleach-stable surfactant)

Metal Roofs

In a 100-gallon container, thoroughly mix the following:

• 20 gallons of 10–12% sodium hypochlorite
• 80 gallons of cool water (CAUTION: never use hot water)
• 4–16 ounces of Slo-Mo Softwash Surfactant

Do not let it dry; rinse quickly. You can follow up with a water-based wax or protective rinse for a uniform sheen.

House Washing

Including vinyl siding, brick, Hardie plank, and stucco. Use a watered-down version of the roof wash by adding more water and using your soft wash system, downstream chemical injector (General Pump 3–5 GPM), or an X-Jet in conjunction with your pressure washer.

• Downstream Injector: Extend the length of your 1/4″ injector pickup hose to drop it into your batch tank. Most downstream injectors draw up to 20% of your batch mix. Use your 0030, 0040, or 0050 soap nozzles to apply soapy mixtures under eaves multiple stories up without needing a ladder.
• X-Jet: Place your house wash mix in your container and allow the X-Jet proportioner to apply a diluted ratio of your mix to the house.

If you need to remove a large number of spider webs or eggs that usually require brushing, use a slightly stronger house-wash mix to dissolve the spider webs and eggs. Adding a degreaser/surfactant booster helps remove this mess in Tampa Bay and Pinellas County!

How to Neutralize Salt Residue on Plants

To neutralize sodium hypochlorite salt residue on surrounding landscaping and soil, apply sodium thiosulfate chlorine neutralizer or agricultural gypsum and flush thoroughly with fresh water.

Irrigation Rust Removal Formula

(For well-water irrigation rust stains on concrete/stucco — see our Rust Stain Removal Guide for full PPE steps.)

• Oxalic Acid Powder or Granules 99% (white powder; active ingredient in commercial rust removers)
• Mix 8 to 16 ounces of oxalic acid per 1 gallon of warm water (warm water helps dissolve the powder thoroughly).
• Add a surfactant like Dawn dish soap as a wetting agent to extend dwell time.
• Mix thoroughly and apply with a dedicated acid-safe pump-up sprayer.
• Rinse thoroughly after dwell. Multiple applications may be needed; let dry completely between coats for best results.

CAUTION: DO NOT MIX WITH ROOF WASH, SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, SODIUM PERCARBONATE, OR HIGH-PH ALKALINE SOAPS.

Cedar Shingles, Wood Siding & Fences

(Be sure to check out our complete Wood Restoration Guide for a detailed walk-through.)

Become familiar with wood structure based on species. Sodium hypochlorite applied at excessive strength will break down wood cellulose and strip natural lignin. Instead, use a two-step percarbonate/caustic clean followed by an organic acid brightener/neutralizer:

Why We Avoid True Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)

CAUTION: True Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is used to etch gloss on painted surfaces prior to repainting. Avoid adding true TSP to your soft wash mixes for two primary reasons:

1. If left to dry on glossy surfaces such as window glass, anodized frames, or painted garage doors, TSP can permanently etch and de-gloss the finish.
2. Phosphate runoff into storm drains can trigger algae blooms and eutrophication in Florida waterways, creating Clean Water Act liability. Use phosphate-free Sodium Metasilicate instead when an alkaline degreaser booster is required.

Please keep your recipes simple.  Before adding anything to your recipe, EXHAUST yourself researching whether or not it will negatively react with the sodium hypochlorite or anything else including your equipment.

ALWAYS take before and after pictures of EVERY JOB including dead plants and previously damaged property or roof tile.  Having photographic evidence of dead plants, property damage, broken tiles or shingles before you arrived or against a dirty home or building prior to providing your services will save you thousands of dollars in replacing plant life or repairs that should not have been your responsibility.

DO NOT USE Calcium Hypochlorite.  It contains an insoluble, inert, white filler that is left behind on the surface that it was applied to.  It does not wash clean from windows without the need to re-wash the surface.  It does not break down into a product that is good for the plants. Sodium Hypochlorite is easy to find, biodegradable and degrades extremely quickly into salt and water.

Concrete and Heavy Degreasing

If you are tackling heavy oil stains, grease, or restaurant exhaust hoods, you will need a dedicated degreaser. Our local supplier, Pressure Washing Products (PWP), produces two fantastic options:

• PWP’s Stampede Plus Degreaser: Best for petroleum oil and greases (Gas Stations, Drive Thru’s, Heavy Equipment, and Driveway Stains).
• PWP’s FOG Away: Best for Fats, Oils, and Greases from food by-products (Restaurant Rear Entrances, Barbecue Grill Drippings on Decks, Sun Tan Oil, and Restaurant Exhaust Hoods).