Soft Washing Equipment for Exterior Cleaning Professionals

By Mark Cave June 12, 2026

Soft Washing Equipment for Exterior Cleaning Professionals

Soft washing has revolutionised the exterior cleaning industry in the UK by offering a safe and effective method for removing dirt, algae, mould, and other contaminants from various surfaces. Whether you're a contractor, property maintenance professional, or an avid DIY enthusiast, understanding the right equipment to use is paramount. In this guide, we'll explore essential soft washing equipment, practical advice for use, and best practices.

Understanding Soft Washing

Before delving into the equipment, it's crucial to grasp what soft washing is. Unlike power washing, which relies on high-pressure water, soft washing uses specialised equipment to apply cleaning solutions at low pressure. This method protects delicate surfaces like render, roofs, and siding, ensuring they are cleaned without damage.

Essential Soft Washing Equipment

Successful soft washing hinges on having the right tools. Here's a breakdown of essential equipment:

Soft Wash Systems: These systems include a pump, hoses, and a wand to deliver the cleaning solution at low pressure. A popular choice is the Clever Injector Dosatron, which ensures precise mixing and application.
Chemical Tanks: Designed to hold and transport cleaning solutions, these tanks often come with easy-to-use valves for safe and controlled mixing.
Pumps: A critical component, pumps like the Dosatron Biocide Injector provide consistent flow and pressure to ensure complete coverage of the cleaning solution.
Wands and Nozzles: Adjustable wands and nozzles allow you to control the spray pattern, ensuring you can cater to different surface needs.
Protective Gear: Safety goggles, gloves, and appropriate clothing are vital to protect against chemical exposure.

Choosing the Right Chemicals

The efficacy of soft washing heavily depends on the cleaning chemicals you choose. The Soft Wash Pro 50 DDAC is a professional-grade biocide ideal for tackling organic stains on surfaces. For those needing a versatile surfactant, the Clever Wash Surfactantenhances the effectiveness of your chosen solution by increasing its dwell time on surfaces.

Practical Advice for Soft Washing

Implementing soft washing involves a blend of technique and knowledge:

Surface Evaluation: Assess the surface material and level of contamination. This will guide your choice of chemicals and mixing ratios.
Mixing Ratios: Always adhere to the recommended chemical mixing ratios to prevent damage and ensure effective cleaning.
Application Technique: Apply the solution from the bottom up to prevent streaks and ensure even coverage.
Rinsing: Appropriate rinsing is crucial to remove all residues and prevent chemical streaking. Use clean, low-pressure water for this step.

Safety and Best Practices

Safety is essential when handling cleaning chemicals and equipment. Always follow these guidelines:

Wear protective gear at all times, including gloves and goggles.
Ensure your work area is ventilated to prevent inhalation of fumes.
Clearly label chemical containers and store them safely.
Undertake a soft wash training course to gain practical skills and safety knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What surfaces can be soft washed?Most exterior surfaces, including render, roofs, and decking, can be soft washed without damage.
Can I use household cleaning products for soft washing? No, only use professional-grade chemicals designed for soft washing to ensure effectiveness and safety.
Is professional training necessary?While not mandatory, professional training enhances your skills and ensures you follow best practices.

Conclusion

Utilising the right soft washing equipment and chemicals is vital for achieving superior results and maintaining safety standards. By incorporating professional tools such as the Dosatron Injector and professional-grade biocides like Soft Wash Pro 50 DDAC, you can ensure excellent cleaning results. For those seeking to enhance their expertise and safety practices, consider exploring SoftWash UK’s Softwashing Knowledge Hub.

If you're ready to elevate your exterior cleaning projects, trust SoftWash UK as your supplier of cutting-edge soft washing equipment, chemicals, and training courses.

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Soft Wash Calculator App

Now you can say I've got an app for that!

Available NOW Click Here To Download

Softwashing calculator is an indispensable tool for juggling complicated chemical mixes. It helps reduce wastage and keeps operating costs down by giving accurate proportions

If you are having difficulty getting your head around the maths, trying to work out what percentage of softwash you need, how much chemical, surfactant and water to add, then this is the App for you.

The Soft Wash Calculator App allows you to work out your soft wash recipe by telling you exactly how much chemical, how much water and how much surfactant to add to get the desired soft wash recipe.
It doesn't stop there!.
- It can also remix your leftover softwash to a new stronger or weaker recipe.
- all controls in one place for see at a glance operation
- ease of input via pre-loaded dials. no more calculator style typing
- instantly responds to changes of complex combinations
- works in both Litres and US Gallons
- tested for Protan and Deutan colourblind users
- links to SoftwashingUK website

Take this scenario
You started with a 1% soft wash recipe of 50 gal (or litres) for a deck clean and you’re left with 13 gallons.

You get a call from a prospective customer to clean their roof. Past experience tells you a 4% soft wash recipe is needed, but what about your leftover mix at 1%?.

Do you waste time and effort driving back to base to transfer into a standby tank?
You could consider the 13 gal as just water, top up the tank and start again.
But that’s throwing away the value of the mix and raising your overhead.

Soft Wash Calculator App to the rescue.

You get to the new job and it requires 100 gal / litres.
Switch into remix mode , confirming the 13 gal already in the tank
Move the dials to your new recipe and the app immediately updates the different amounts to add in front of your eyes including the correct amount of extra surfactant.

You now have a 100 gal / litres tank of 4% soft wash recipe ready for your roof clean job!

Not forgetting you’ve saved money too, all without stress and uncertainty . Don’t underestimate what confident calmness has on your customer putting out referrals.

The same applies if you have a 4% recipe left in your tank and you need to dilute it down to 2%. Again the app will tell you how.

Softwashing calculator will also work for any chemical recipe. For instance you can use it for Sodium Hypochlorite, Bleach, Biocide , TFR traffic film remover and degreaser. Even the mathematically-challenged rocket scientist can top up their booster tanks to new fuel mixes after launch delays caused by changing weather conditions.

Using this app you will know exactly what chemical strength to put on any surface giving you the confidence and the knowledge of a professional soft washer and you’ll save money as well.

So if you have little knowledge of how to mix a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.
If you have little knowledge of how to remix a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.
If you want to save money when mixing a soft wash recipe then this app is for you.

This app is also backward compatible to devices running iOS7. We've done this so you can re-purpose an old iPhone 4 or iPod Touch 5 for what could be hazardous work environments. Just toss one in your cleaning van's toolkit.

Once you learn the methods and procedures of how to apply the soft wash to the different surfaces that need cleaning you’ll be unstoppable!

The app also has a guide to what percentage for what surface. And if you are the lucky owner of a Clever Injector it will remind you the correct setting for the job.
However you should always consider and risk assess what soft wash recipe you need to clean the surface.

** A major iOS code-base change may require a re-purchase. The appiverse at the time will confirm our promise that we won't do so unless the necessity is apparent.