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How to Build a Budget Soft Wash System

How to Build a Soft Wash System

Not everyone can afford to buy a professional soft wash system because they are usually pretty expensive. Hence the reason you want to know how to build one yourself! If you can’t afford it, build it! That is what we did.

We have prepared some guidelines on how we would personally proceed. We are not saying it is better or worse, it is just what we would do. Although it isn’t the simplest of things, if you do it well enough, you should have a pretty decent soft washing setup that can generate money on a daily basis. I can personally say that our few hundred dollar chemical pumps have generated us a lot more money than our few thousand dollar pressure washer pumps…

What is Soft Washing?

Before you start building yourself a soft wash system, we want to explain a few things about what soft washing is.

Soft washing is a cleaning technique that involves spraying a cleaning solution to eliminate living microorganisms such as algae, bacteria, molds, and mildews. These microorganisms commonly occupy the exterior of structures, especially on the north face and any other shaded areas of the structure. You should periodically remove them since they not only look unsightly, they can cause deterioration in the quality of roofs and various sidings, become slip-hazards, and even pose some health risks.

The most optimal and flexible option would be to use a soft washing system. I want to emphasize that you can also soft wash with a pressure washer by utilizing a downstream injector and the proper nozzles. That method is useful, however, it limits you in the strength of the cleaning solution that you can apply and is a bit more prone to creating overspray. A soft wash system will allow you to shoot full-strength chlorine if the job calls for it. You could never accomplish that with a pressure washer and a downstream injector. The “downstream” process requires at least a 4 to 1 ratio. That would be 80% water that is introduced and mixed with the cleaning solution, which ultimately dilutes the strength. However, if the job only calls for a 1% or 2% solution, downstreaming can be very time efficient and may be the best option!

We suggest soft washing the exterior of structures instead of pressure washing because it is gentle on the materials. If used incorrectly, a pressure washing system can permanently damage some commonly used exterior materials, especially shingles on a roof! That is why roofing manufacturers wouldn’t replace damaged shingles that were still under warranty if they know they were cleaned with a pressure washer.

Now that you know what soft washing is and its functions, let’s get on with how you can build one for yourself.

Principles For Building A Soft Wash System

There are a couple of principles for building soft wash systems that I want you to keep in mind.

First, hose diameter. Simply put, the bigger the better. Your system will function much more efficiently utilizing 3/4″ instead of 1/2″ hose. The only downfall to going with 3/4″ are the weight and cost. But as far as functionality for the actual soft wash system, 3/4″ is far superior.

The same logic applies to electrical. The bigger the better…

Next, when plumbing (or wiring) everything together, think about the path of least resistance. When you mount everything, you don’t want any hard 90 degree turns or U-turns. The shorter and smoother the run, the better. Meaning, you don’t want a 15′ intake line doing a bunch of turns. Or your battery mounted 10′ away from your pump and switch.

How to Build a Budget Soft Wash System

What you will need

Connect the pump to the 12-volt battery with the power switch and the inline fuse.

Check to make sure the pump is fully functional before moving forward.

Plumb the 1x short non-collapsible hose to the intake of the 12-volt pump utilizing a stainless steel hose clamp. Drop the other end of that short hose into your bleach tank. I would not use an actual “drop stick”. I would run the intake hose THROUGH a piece of PVC and then drop that into the tank at most.

Cut one end and plumb the 1x long hose to the outlet of the 12-volt pump utilizing the other stainless steel hose clamp. 5/8″ hose will work with 3/4″ hose barb. There 2 ways that I recommend going about getting 5/8″ hose to go over a 3/4″ hose barb. First, use a heat gun to warm up the hose. Second, I would boil some water and dip the end of the hose in the hot water and then quickly pull it out of the water and slide the hose barb in.

Connect the soft wash gun on the other end of the long hose.

Done.

There are a million ways to skin a cat, just know that your pump should be mounted and everything else should be tied down and secured. Tipping over 55 gallons of roof mix can have disastrous side effects. Keep your eyes out for a blog that goes more into depth on how we mount our soft wash system.

Sodium Hypochlorite, Surfactant, Water

Now that you have your soft wash system up and running, you will need to know the right chemicals and concentrations. All professionals use sodium hypochlorite, better known as chlorine, to get rid of algae, mold, and mildew. Soap is added as a wetting agent, to allow the active ingredient to stay wet and work longer. Laundry detergents are also quite safe for use with chlorine but there are also professional-grade surfactants that can be bought from reputable pressure washer supply houses. And lastly water is added to create different dilutions…

Sodium hypochlorite at the correct concentration is the name of the game. That is a whole different animal that will have to be tackled in another blog. Just know that house washes usually require a 1% to 3% solution to clean, and roofs usually require 3% to 7%. You may have to hit gutters or some problem areas with 10% for the desired results.

The essence of soft washing, unlike pressure washing, is to kill molds, mildews, and algae with the use of chemicals, not pressure wash them and blow them all around the property.

I cleaned this roof with a 5 GPM 12-volt pump

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Q: Is a soft wash system different from a pressure washer system?
  •  A: Yes. A soft wash system uses a chemical pump, while a pressure washer uses a pressure washer pump. A pressure washer pump requires water. Only after the pump can any type of chemical be introduced into the system. A soft wash system can pump actual chemical with no water if need be.
  • Q: Is soft washing safe for house roofs?
  •  A: Not only is it safe, it is recommended by the American Roof Manufactures of Association
  • Q: Should I soft wash regularly?
  •  A: This would depend on the material. Vinyl or aluminum sidings can last years, while more porus materials may require cleaning more often.

Read Also: Tampa Bay Soft Wash And Pressure Cleaning Formulas, Top 3 Reasons To Hire A Professional Gutter Cleaning Company

In Summary

We hope the steps we have detailed here help you in your quest to make soft washing affordable. As you might have noticed, all you need is a little elbow grease. If you become overwhelmed and would like to hire a professional soft washing company, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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