Pressure Wash Or Softwash?

[Marcus]

Marcus, who are some tank suppliers there in Houston that have both the totes (I have seen some guys selling them on craigslist) and the large round tanks that sit flat that have the opening off to the side like what they have on farms? I might pick them up while there in Houston for the drive back home.

Thanks.

I buy my tanks from Tank Depot 13085 I-10 East Freeway, 77015 and they also have a location in San Antonio. I also found a coupon for them. I am glad that Doug saw this as he lives by Houston Intercontinental airport and I am an hour or so away. Thank goodness I have work every day through Wednesday. Call me while you are in town and maybe the three of us can get together. Most of the used commercial trucks like Isuzu are on the East end of town and you could see what they have in stock. Take care.

 

[Marcus]

I have never posted on your site before, I’m Greg and my company is Neighborly Services. I am currently considering changing my name to Neighborly Soft Wash, for several reasons including search engine results. I use pressure where needed at different levels depending on the job, there is a balance between chemical & pressure concentration for almost every situation, IMO. I don’t like the idea of being grouped into one method of cleaning.
Thanks for bringing this up, I am now reconsidering my name change. Is softwashing beware an industry thing between commercial & residential guys? Is there a perception amongst consumers that soft wash companies are limited to chemical cleaning?
Thanks for any advice.

Hello Greg we are glad you posted. Like Chris said I would not use the terminology "soft wash" in my company because it is too new. AC Lockyer (see post above) invented the soft wash process and I believe he is in the process if he has not done it yet of copyrighting that term. Good Luck!

 

[Guy Blackmon]

Greg, I think there is a "Big" misconception out there to exactly what "Soft Washing" is, and unfortunately the misconception is being marketed to the Contractor first. From what I see if you're using a pressure washer you're Not "Soft Washing" and when I say this I'm talking House Washing here.

The line is blurred because of the Roof Systems that are coming out. Makers of these Systems know that most Contractors can't make a living just washing roofs so they are marketing that Contractors can also wash houses with these systems. Which is true....To a point.....but these systems do not put out the psi to properly wash the home. 60-90 psi is fine to chemically "Treat" siding, but not enough to to rinse the siding without extra labor time in brushing bad spots i.e. webs, wasp nests, etc. Soft Washing with a PW is (IMO) 4 times faster & 4 times better at this than electric pumps. That being said these systems are awesome for roof cleaning and applications where you need stronger chemical ratios to chemically pre-treat an area before pressure washing it.

We've been soft washing houses for years, 500 psi (At The Gun), hot water, less time (More Money) and use less detergent than most. Now all I have to do is switch nozzles and I can pressure wash (3000 psi) concrete brick or whatever, kind of an "All In One" type thing.

I have one of Bob's set-ups and the new one from Paul K. these and others are great additions to any PW business.

 

[Sea to Summit]

Greg, I think there is a "Big" misconception out there to exactly what "Soft Washing" is, and unfortunately the misconception is being marketed to the Contractor first. From what I see if you're using a pressure washer you're Not "Soft Washing" and when I say this I'm talking House Washing here.

The line is blurred because of the Roof Systems that are coming out. Makers of these Systems know that most Contractors can't make a living just washing roofs so they are marketing that Contractors can also wash houses with these systems. Which is true....To a point.....but these systems do not put out the psi to properly wash the home. 60-90 psi is fine to chemically "Treat" siding, but not enough to to rinse the siding without extra labor time in brushing bad spots i.e. webs, wasp nests, etc. Soft Washing with a PW is (IMO) 4 times faster & 4 times better at this than electric pumps. That being said these systems are awesome for roof cleaning and applications where you need stronger chemical ratios to chemically pre-treat an area before pressure washing it.

We've been soft washing houses for years, 500 psi (At The Gun), hot water, less time (More Money) and use less detergent than most. Now all I have to do is switch nozzles and I can pressure wash (3000 psi) concrete brick or whatever, kind of an "All In One" type thing.

I have one of Bob's set-ups and the new one from Paul K. these and others are great additions to any PW business.

Guy, this is perfectly written and I agree 100%. We have an electric pump in our trailer and have been using them for years to apply stain strippers to decks or to apply stronger chemical ratios to certain areas before we pressure wash them. It may even be true to say the wood restoration guys were the original Soft Washers in our industry.

When I first started reading about non pressure roof cleaning years and years ago, I was already set up with my electric pump and basically had market that I could do it. When using electric pumps to clean houses become all the rage, I tried it but quickly found there was no comparison between my electric pump and with the low pressure cleaning I could achieve with my pressure washer.

 

[Guy Blackmon]

Hello Greg we are glad you posted. Like Chris said I would not use the terminology "soft wash" in my company because it is too new. AC Lockyer (see post above) invented the soft wash process and I believe he is in the process if he has not done it yet of copyrighting that term. Good Luck!

Marcus, AC can't copyright the word "soft wash" that's like copyrighting the word "fast food". He can however apply for a unique word copyright like the one he says he's working on which is "SoftWash Systems"

 

[Marcus]

You are right Guy that there is a lot of misconception between the terms Pressure Washing, Power Washing, and Soft Washing.

Pressure Washing and Power Washing both utilize a pressure washer.

Pressure Washing- When you use a pressure washer with a small diameter nozzle and no injector you create high pressure.

Power Washing - When you use a pressure washer with a large diameter nozzle (ie roof cleaning nozzle .30 or .40 dia) and an injector you create low pressure which creates a venturi effect at the injector which draws a cleaning solution of your choice downstream through the hose. This is what I use to clean houses. Power Washing is just a technique that utilizes a pressure washer.

Soft Washing - Utilizes a roof cleaning pump either electric or air and you spray the house with a diluted roof cleaning mix of AC's proprietary cleaners and then switch a valve from those chemicals to water to rinse it.

 

[Marcus]

Marcus, AC can't copyright the word "soft wash" that's like copyrighting the word "fast food". He can however apply for a unique word copyright like the one he says he's working on which is "SoftWash Systems"

You have a good point. The whole thing is not my problem. It is AC's or I may have understood.

 

[Guy Blackmon]

Power Washing - When you use a pressure washer with a large diameter nozzle (ie roof cleaning nozzle .30 or .40 dia) and an injector you create low pressure which creates a venturi effect at the injector which draws a cleaning solution of your choice downstream through the hose. This is what I use to clean houses. Power Washing is just a technique that utilizes a pressure washer.

Soft Washing - Utilizes a roof cleaning pump either electric or air and you spray the house with a diluted roof cleaning mix of AC's proprietary cleaners and then switch a valve from those chemicals to water to rinse it.

Marcus, I respectfully disagree.

Who or where does it say that using a pressure washer with a large dia. tip (We use .50 & .60's) with a gun psi of 500 psi or less isn't Soft Washing? By the time it hits the surface it may be in the range of 150-200 psi, myself and many more would consider this Soft Washing.

With all due respect to AC, he didn't invent Soft Washing. He invented what he calls the "SoftWashing System" or even "SoftWashing". It's a play on words that confuse a lot of people.

Understand, I am not arguing here just a good discussion on a topic some may be confused about, and I am in no way trying to disparage AC or his system in any way.

 

[Marcus]

Guy, We will just have to agree to disagree. lol What do you define as power washing?

 

[Mark 8262]

The key word is SOFT. How the chemicals or water is applied is irrelevant as long as it hits the surface SOFT. It could be said the the use of the electric pumps is pressure washing it just LOW PRESSURE or SOFT. I soft wash a great deal of the time and most of the time it is with my pressure washer and when necessary I use my fat boy or air compressor with a pump.

 

[Guy Blackmon]

Guy, We will just have to agree to disagree. lol What do you define as power washing?

Agree To Disagree It Is My Friend. No Worries


Pressure Washing or Power Washing I would say 1000 psi or above.
"Low Pressure" would be 500-999 psi.
"Soft Washing" 0-500 psi

Again just my opinion.

 

[Christopher]

I buy my tanks from Tank Depot 13085 I-10 East Freeway, 77015 and they also have a location in San Antonio. I also found a coupon for them. I am glad that Doug saw this as he lives by Houston Intercontinental airport and I am an hour or so away. Thank goodness I have work every day through Wednesday. Call me while you are in town and maybe the three of us can get together. Most of the used commercial trucks like Isuzu are on the East end of town and you could see what they have in stock. Take care.

Thanks Marcus. I found a couple tanks that might work from them, glad to see they have a distributor there in Houston.

I will let you guys know when I will be there to get the truck.

More than likely I will be flying Southwest, I think that is the Hobby airport?

Thanks again.

 

[Christopher]

There will be a lot of us that disagree on the pressure for soft washing, that is ok, we are all entitled to our opinions.

I tell customers that soft washing will not damage painted surfaces, stucco, wood, etc.... and I might even show them using the downstreaming nozzles with my hand in front of the spray about a foot or two away so they see it does not damage my hand, I tell them that not everyone does it this way but I prefer to as it does not damage property and does a great job with the specialized detergents I use that are engineered for painted surfaces like on their home.

 

[Guy Blackmon]

The key word is SOFT. How the chemicals or water is applied is irrelevant as long as it hits the surface SOFT. It could be said the the use of the electric pumps is pressure washing it just LOW PRESSURE or SOFT. I soft wash a great deal of the time and most of the time it is with my pressure washer and when necessary I use my fat boy or air compressor with a pump.

Mark, I don't disagree with that one bit.

I do disagree with what I see as a movement trying to separate Pressure Washers (Our Companies) from the term "Soft Washing". As in if you don't use this XXXXXX (elec./air) system you're not "Soft Washing", and using a pressure washer (the machine) is bad. Again I'm talking houses or buildings not roofs.

 

[Guy Blackmon]

I tell customers that soft washing will not damage painted surfaces, stucco, wood, etc.... and I might even show them using the downstreaming nozzles with my hand in front of the spray about a foot or two away so they see it does not damage my hand, I tell them that not everyone does it this way but I prefer to as it does not damage property and does a great job with the specialized detergents I use that are engineered for painted surfaces like on their home.

Same here Chris!

 

[Johnson]

Agree To Disagree It Is My Friend. No Worries


Pressure Washing or Power Washing I would say 1000 psi or above.
"Low Pressure" would be 500-999 psi.
"Soft Washing" 0-500 psi

Again just my opinion.

I agree Guy. That ex. is what I've always thought soft washing and low pressure washing was. Way before soft wash systems made an appearance in the market.

 

[Greg R]

Hi Len, we took the SNL certification class together in Charleston, how's it going? I totally agree with the posts from you and Guy
I have many ways to apply cleaning compounds to any given surface. Since I have a 2 pump pressure washing system I can turn the valve on one and get a higher draw ratio when DSing, I can strengthen my mix also, or x-jet, 5+ gpm electric pump,2+ gpm elect pump, pump up sprayers. They can all be applied with safe low pressure considered soft compared to high pressure.
Thanks Chris you are right about my name I am an exterior cleaning and sealing company. Until I started developing a website it didn't matter what I called myself, but I need to break into the digital age. I will educate my customers about the differences discussed here. After sitting in on one of AC's webinars I am sold on top down marketing, which means statistically you can only up sell a certain percentage of the service you are called out to perform, so make it your most expensive service and you'll make more $ statistically, and mine is roof cleaning or wood & paver sealing.</SPAN>

 

[bigchaz]

If someone thinks AC "invented" softwashing that's absurd. People have been putting bleach in a pump in sprayer and rinsing it with a hose for years. Heck I met a guy who used to put bleches tire white cleaner on a sponge and wipe down his siding long before anyone ever heard of AC.

If someone wants to capitalize a couple letters in a fancy font and put a copyright on it thats fine. But lets not get it twisted if someone tries to claim they are the only person to clean without a pressure washer before

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[Ron Musgraves]

If someone thinks AC "invented" softwashing that's absurd. People have been putting bleach in a pump in sprayer and rinsing it with a hose for years. Heck I met a guy who used to put bleches tire white cleaner on a sponge and wipe down his siding long before anyone ever heard of AC.

If someone wants to capitalize a couple letters in a fancy font and put a copyright on it thats fine. But lets not get it twisted if someone tries to claim they are the only person to clean without a pressure washer before

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

Next you going to say I didn't event pw?


Ron Musgraves text me for
questions 480-522-5227 Pressure Washing Institute.com

 

[bigchaz]

That depends...are we still allowed to use the word pressure washing?