1st soft wash job comeing up. Help me understand

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1

HI…
Well, got my first softwash job comeing up. Can ya help me understand a few things??
I will be useing a x-jet. The job is a white lime stone house with black (MOLD?) on the north and south sides
My wonders are…
Since i am useing a x-jet, do i use a STRAIGHT sodium hypoclorite, calcium hypoclorite and simple green mixture in my 5 gallon chem jug
OR

do i make a MIXTURE of Sodium hypoclorite (Sh 10%), calcium hypoclorite (Ch 65%). simple green and WATER for the x-jet to suck up???
Thanks for the help Paxpags

2

I heard something about chemical lockout if water is not added.
Opinions?

3

Sorry cant help you with the xjet part. never used one. The mix is not anything I have heard of. What is the CH for?

4

[MENTION=3025]pagliachi[/MENTION] You may want to ask that question here: Pressure Washing Resource

You can log in with your wcr credentials

5

I just googled whether you can mix sh and ch and here is the answer

Well, it depends. You don’t want to directly mix the two, and you should never use cal-hypo in a chlorine feeder made for trichlor. Cal-hypo can have hazardous reactions with many organic compounds.

Do some research I have never heard of using ch before.

6

OK I use an M-Jet and here is my mix:
10-1 proportioner, 3 gallons of SH, 2 gallons of H2O, and 16 oz of simple cherry.

Never had an issue. If you don’t have simple cherry use some dish soap.

DO NOT mix chemicals if you don’t know what you are doing, you could harm/kill yourself or others. Do some homework, study up on here and PWR, google stuff, ask lots of questions until you feel 100% confident.

7

Found this on the inter web while doing research…
"Softwash mix
Examples given in one tank / one batch method and will have measurements for both liquid bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or powdered bleach (calcium hypochlorite). Choose either / or of one of the mentioned bleach compounds for the first four examples. At the end of the sheet we discuss Augmenting. Use both sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite for Augmenting.

Augmenting Method for 3% Roof Cleaning Solution

This mix ratio will clean as effeciently as the traditional mix above but with far less liquid bleach and far less salt. Less salt means less plant damages. The net bleach savings per 100 gallon mix can be up to $70.00. See SoftWash Systems Chemical Mixology Training Module for a one hour educational presentation on mixing soft washing chemicals and saving time and money on soft washing jobs.

Add Water To The Tank First. (100 gallon tank example)

Water70 Gallons
**Liquid Bleach (SH 10%)20 Gallons
**Powder Bleach (CH 65%)128 Dry US Ounces
Green Wash64 Liquid US Ounces
Completed 100 Gallon Cleaning Solution
**Use both liquid and powder bleach in this example."

Nuff said. Paxpagd

8

You may be better off with information from any other source but the one you’re using.

9

First, forget about cleaning with any kind of powdered bleach or CH. Maybe in the future this will be perfected -but up until now - it’s been a HUGE failure.

Sodium Hydroxide can change the color of limestone to an off white/orange color. Be careful. Not saying it will, just saying the potential exist. Do small test spots. Make sure you’re not using a mix that is stronger then what you need. A limestone cleaner from EaCo Chemcial may be a smart idea.

Using an x-jet is not SoftWashing. It’s possible to clean properly with an x-jet, but I would never put my hand in front of an x-jet - so in my opinion it’s not truly SoftWashing.

Having said this, a limestone building of any kind is probably not where you want to learn how to SoftWash. It could be likened to detailing a car for the first time… would you want to cut/polish/wax a Ford Focus or a BMW the first time? I think I’d feel more comfortable with the Focus.

10

Yeah, so soft wash your own car first, before you mess with your customers BMW. Oh, oops. I mean X-Jet it, since that doesn’t count as soft washing. :wink:

11

Hi ho…
Advanced…
Thanks for the info…
Thats more like what i am looking for
John D.
I used info from a SOFTWASH pro, info from WCR, and PWR. Other than you where else should i be looking at???
EcoClean…
Thanks for helping me understand the process better.
While its true it may not be the best building to start with, one must start with what they got.
I fully expect it to take longer for my first time trying this
I WILL take your advice and do a TEST spot first (EXCELLENT ADVICE!!)
I can agree with you that the X-jet should not be called SOFTWASHING i am just putting it into the group.
The jobs comeing up in a few days. I will post BEFORE and AFTER pics…
THANKS!!! Paxpags

12

Limestone is a soft stone. Be very careful as you can dig into it with pressure. You aren’t Softwash washing with an x-jet. We use the xjet a lot and it is not a Softwash tool. We also run Softwash air driven and 12v systems. Make sure you know what you are doing before playin wit chems. You could be replacing a lot of expensive stone work. Take pics of what you are looking to clean ad email them to ecochem. They have great products and good advice. Onerestore is a good cleaner for limestone. You apply it with a pump up sprayer. The stone will suck it up unless you prewet the stone. Don’t use pressure! Watch for metal as well. But I really wouldn’t do trial and error on a house when you aren’t clear what softwashing even is. Sounds like this house may end up costing you a lot of money and a bad reputation. Stay with what you know and go forward with a smaller step than an expensive limestone home. If your set on going for it go to PWI AND READ A LOT. Contact Ecochem. Best of luck and don’t hurt your business just because you have an offer for business. My .02 :wink:

13

Try PTstate too lots of good info there.