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Softwash mix

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A surfactant in your hypo mix makes it stick to the surface better. So for instance on a roof, it keeps more of the mix in contact with the tiles instead of running straight off. Be careful though of what you add to hypo, you don't want to cause a chemical reaction.

Paul

 
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View attachment 6723

A surfactant in your hypo mix makes it stick to the surface better. So for instance on a roof, it keeps more of the mix in contact with the tiles instead of running straight off. Be careful though of what you add to hypo, you don't want to cause a chemical reaction.
Paul
Click to expand...
I just used dairy detergent from same place I get hypo

It thickens it up and foams too

I think that anything acidic would react with hypo ?? Anyway did another nice house wash today

Must get back on Windows now

 
Mixing hypo with an acid would cause a nasty reaction, the likelihood of this happening in an undiluted form probably wouldn't occur in normal use but a toxic chlorine gas cloud shouldn't be on anyone's list of things to try. We store hypo and hydrochloric acid in the same building where I work and we have to follow strict fire precautions and separation guidelines.

Any other 'additives' that people use?

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Mixing hypo with an acid would cause a nasty reaction, the likelihood of this happening in an undiluted form probably wouldn't occur in normal use but a toxic chlorine gas cloud shouldn't be on anyone's list of things to try. We store hypo and hydrochloric acid in the same building where I work and we have to follow strict fire precautions and separation guidelines.Any other 'additives' that people use?

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Click to expand...
I wasn't suggesting acid as an additive - I said it would react meaning it would make some bad ass ****

 
Sorry - I was confirming what you said in your post. I wasn't suggesting anyone 'adds' an acid - was just giving my two pennies worth as I have to risk assess a lot of these chemicals for work and it's amazing what would happen if you mixed them!

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Sorry - I was confirming what you said in your post. I wasn't suggesting anyone 'adds' an acid - was just giving my two pennies worth as I have to risk assess a lot of these chemicals for work and it's amazing what would happen if you mixed them!

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Oh I see no worries

So what do you recommend adding to hypo then

The yanks add all kinds of soaps , cherry , lemon etc .

 
I've never had the balls to experiment with things like that. I - too - have read that the yanks put dish soap in it and the like - so I would be tempted to try an ecover type detergent if I was that way inclined. Saying that I have some sodium bicarbonate lying around that might complement it - what % hypo do you use. If I get chance in a bit I might do some 'controlled' testing to see what affect it has. [emoji90] look out for the gas cloud over Burton-On-Trent everyone!!!!

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That's what I have read also @Taxlossloz that the surfactants are pretty much what ever dish soap you favor.
Only heard @Eviestevie recommending baby shampoo but he does know powerwashing .
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He's a very sensitive guy

Snowed off today so will be watching some softwash vids and ordering some gear ' join the revolution ' ! ( mark cave - softwash uk)

 
Experiment over - no one died so that's a plus.

Hypo with sodium bicarbonate - no real difference, if a little foaming.

Hypo with ecover - went 'gloopy' and foamed quite well.

Hypo with cheap morrisons hand wash - no real affect on viscosity, foamed very slightly.

The mother of all cleaners is still hydrochloric acid - that would raise a few eyebrows if that was used!!!!

Better get some work done now!

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I would highly recommend any cleaner to offer this

I have only spent £30 on a stiff brush ! Done four days ,four houses , four big payments

I have also convinced three other customers to stop the pressure wash guy coming and making a mess , ruining joints and not actually killing the algae - and softwash is quicker therefore cheaper

 
Been looking on and off for a good while at this softwash cleaning style and it looks superb, watched loads of utube videos, and as @Taxlossloz knows I have been asked to do a large render clean up on 2 care homes done top to bottom in render thats all green... Along with these there are 2 large blocks of flats that they want done in the summer, these are clad top to bottom very USA style in blue cladding and are filthy. Got me thinking about setting myself up to be able to do this kind of work more frequent as I see loads of dirty render on my travels and also the options of going into drives/patios etc, now doing a drive or a low roof it seems fine to be able to just use a sprayer and rinse it off with low cost outlays, but I like and need a way of projecting the mix up 3 stories from the ground like I see these guys in the states doing on those jobs, it will save loads of time and perhaps win me the work as I can price it well… My question is what are they using, are they using there pressure washer feed tube directly from a mix of hypo/water/soap and pulling it through the pump surely that would not last long? It looks that way but would that not last long and damage the pressure washer pump? I've seen the Xjet one that bypasses the pump and lance maybe that would work? These buildings really need this system to do in a timely and cost effective manner as using a brush on it would take forever and a day, be like painting the whole buildings and also back breaking just aint got the time or drive to do that. Can see a brush been ok for a small house but not these.

So some advice on what kit to look to invest in and how to setup would be great so I can consider my options of providing this service to my business. /emoticons/smile.png

 
I just got off phone to Ben at Rutland pumps

They do softwash technology website

You can make it as simple as you want Trev

Or spend / invest

 
Yes mate I've seen loads of different ways but none of the videos seem to want to give away any info on how to setup, I think small jobs yes it's ok to just brush on and invest in a stiff brush and hose off, just like the idea of been able to do these bigger jobs in a way that aint going to take days to complete and kill me in the process, presumably any pressure washer using a low pressure setting at the right attachments will project the solution to where it needs to go, then using a surfactant to hold it on the render, then simply rinse it down with water.

The Xjet seems quite simple and will do what I need it to do, just attaches to a lance, set the right mix ratio using the right proportioner and spray it on, then remove it and rinse down.

 

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