Soft Washing

How to Build a Soft Washing System

A soft wash rig is simple at heart. You need a pump that can move your mix at the right flow, something to dial in the ratio (proportioner or batch tank), and a gun and hose rated for what's running through them. Get the sizing and the compatibility right, and the system sprays clean all day. Get any of it wrong (undersized pump, mismatched chemical resistance, leaky fittings) and you'll spend more time troubleshooting than washing.

Start with the right pump

Pump choice is the biggest call in any soft wash setup, and it usually comes down to 12V vs. gas. 12V pumps like our Remco 5.3 and 7 GPM models are quiet, light, and cheap to run. They fit residential roofs, weekend work, and anyone just getting into the trade. Gas-driven pumps like the Comet P40 and AR45 push 11+ GPM at around 150 PSI working pressure, which is what you need for full-time commercial volume, three-story houses, and HOA contracts. If you're cleaning more than a few houses a week, size up to gas. 12V pumps usually only last around six months under heavy daily use.

Match your proportioner and chemicals to your pump

Once the pump is picked, your proportioner and metering valves need to match its GPM. Our proportioners are built from materials chosen for sodium hypochlorite specifically: UHMWPE manifold blocks, CPVC metering valves with Viton seals, and CPVC/polypropylene check valves with stainless steel springs. That combination handles 12.5% SH for years instead of failing in months like the standard PVC kits sold on Amazon. You'll also need a surfactant to thicken the mix and slow runoff. Our Apple Juice, Cherry Blast, Mango Mauler, and Lemon Fresh surfactants are all bleach-stable and run cleanly through batch tanks, downstream injectors, and proportioners.

Don't skip PPE

Sodium hypochlorite at the strengths used in soft washing will burn skin, irritate lungs, and ruin clothes on contact. Bulk SH ships at 10% or 12.5%, then gets diluted on the wall to 1-2% for siding, 2-4% for stucco and concrete, or 3-6% for roofs. Wear a soft wash respirator with organic vapor cartridges, chemical-resistant gloves, and eye protection on every job. There's no exception worth a chemical burn.

Soft Wash Pump Sizing by Job Type

Related Categories

• Soft Wash Sprayers
• Cleaners & Surfactants
• Soft Wash Bundles
• Valves
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
• Pressure Washing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is soft washing?

Soft washing is a low-pressure cleaning method that uses sodium hypochlorite, water, and surfactant to kill and remove algae, mold, mildew, and lichen from delicate exterior surfaces. Pressure stays under 150 PSI. The chemistry does the cleaning, not the spray. It's the standard for roofs, vinyl and stucco siding, screened enclosures, cedar shake, and anything else that can't take 3,000+ PSI without damage.

What equipment do I need to start soft washing?

At minimum: a soft wash pump, a gun and hose rated for SH, a way to mix your chemicals (proportioner or batch tank), surfactant, and full PPE. Most beginners start with an X-Jet M5 on a pressure washer to keep costs under $200, then move up to a dedicated 12V or gas pump once the jobs are paying. Our soft wash bundles include everything you need in a single SKU.

What's the difference between soft washing and pressure washing?

Pressure washing uses 3,000-4,400 PSI of water to physically blast dirt off hard surfaces like concrete and brick. Soft washing uses under 150 PSI plus a sodium hypochlorite mix to chemically kill organic growth on softer surfaces like roofs and siding. Most pros do both, and a lot of our customers run dual-purpose setups like the Pressure Ranger 2-in-1.

What chemicals do I need for soft washing?

The core mix is sodium hypochlorite (sold in bulk at 10% or 12.5%, also called SH or bleach), water, and a soft wash surfactant. SH does the cleaning, water brings it to the right ratio for the surface, and the surfactant thickens the mix so it clings to vertical surfaces. For jobs near landscaping, add a bleach neutralizer like NeutraPods to protect plants from runoff.

Can I use my regular pressure washer for soft washing?

Not as-is. Running sodium hypochlorite through a standard pressure washer pump destroys the seals within weeks. You have two options. Add an X-Jet M5 downstream injector that draws chemical at the nozzle so SH never touches the pump, or buy a dedicated soft wash pump with chemical-resistant Viton seals. The X-Jet route is cheaper, but it locks your dilution ratio to a set of color-coded proportioner tips and ties you to whatever your existing pressure washer can do.

How much does a soft wash setup cost?

You can start soft washing for under $200 with an X-Jet M5 and your existing pressure washer. A dedicated 12V soft wash pump setup typically runs $1,500-$2,500 once you add the pump, plumbing kit, gun, hose, and tank. A gas-powered commercial rig (Comet P40 or AR45) plus proportioner runs $4,000-$6,000 fully built. Which tier makes sense depends on how many jobs per week you're realistically taking.