What is a Softwash Solution Mix? Ratios Explained
What is a 6% or 1% Mix of SH (Sodium Hypochlorite) when SoftWashing?
Soft Washing has come a long way since the early 1970s. From the original batch mix systems that ran in Far North Queensland to skid systems and delivery available today. Original wetting agents have developed into HouseWash soaps and Vertical Holding agents like Sticky Blue.
What is Sodium Hypochlorite Sodium
Sodium Hypochlorite is a chemical compound with the formula NaClO, widely used as a disinfectant, bleaching agent, and deodorizer. It is a salt form of hypochlorous acid. It is used in a variety of household and industrial cleaning products, including laundry bleaches, toilet bowl cleaners, and swimming pool chlorine.
To understand a solution mix we will discuss Proportioners and Mixing. What is a Proportioner?
A soft wash proportioner is a device used to mix a concentrate of cleaning solution with water in precise proportions. It is used in soft washing, a technique used to clean the exterior of buildings without using high pressure. Softwashing uses a low-pressure spray of cleaning agents to safely remove dirt, grime, moss, lichen, and other contaminants from the surfaces of buildings. The proportioner ensures the precise concentrations of the cleaning solution to achieve the best results.
What can affect ratios and considerations: There are many variables in SoftWashing, that will have various different effects on solution ratios.
Bends/Elbows
When bends, elbows, or restrictions are added to a plumbing system, the flow and set ratios of the system will be affected. Bends, elbows, and restrictions can cause an increase in pressure drop and a decrease in flow. This can lead to a decrease in the flow-to-pressure ratio of the system, resulting in a decrease in the system’s overall efficiency.
Can the Battery Voltage/ Rpm of a pump affect Flow
Yes, low voltage and/or low RPM can affect the performance of a Flow performance. Low voltage can reduce the flow rate, while low RPM can reduce the pressure within the system. This in turn can reduce the overall performance of the Flow performance.
Hose length will this affect pressure and flow
Hose length will affect the pressure and flow. Longer hoses will generally reduce pressure and flow due to friction loss, while shorter hoses can increase pressure and flow due to reducing friction loss.
Does the quality of a metering valve control or affect the desired result in ratios and percentages?
The quality of a metering valve can control or affect the desired result in ratios and percentages. Metering valves are often used to control and regulate the flow of fluids in systems, and the accuracy of the metering valve will determine the accuracy of the resulting ratio or percentage. If the metering valve is not precise, it can lead to incorrect measurements and inaccurate results.
Choosing the correct hose diameter for flow and pressure.
How does this affect relations with desired or predicted results choosing the correct hose diameter is important in order to ensure that the flow and pressure of the system are within the desired or predicted results. If the diameter of the hose is too small, the flow rate and pressure of the system will be lower than expected and could lead to inefficient operation of the system. On the other hand, if the hose diameter is too large, the flow rate and pressure of the system will be higher than expected, leading to increased costs and potential safety hazards. Therefore, selecting the correct hose diameter is essential in order to achieve the desired or predicted results.
Choosing the right concentration or ratio of chemicals is important, to be able to carry out the cleaning task in a timely manner, with the application of using as little chemical ( SH – Sodium Hypochlorite) and soaps, surfactants to accomplish the task.
So when we use a soft wash proportioner a device that takes a concentrated cleaning solution and mixes it with water to create a cleaning solution to the desired strength.
When you set up a Soft Wash system from Blue Tongue Industries in Australia with a proportioner added and you select a ratio of 6% on the bleach valve what do you get? Considering all the above let’s look below.
I as the author look at it as the % of SH at the nozzle. (12.5% -125mg )
On a metering valve then,
- 100% mix will equal 12.5% of SH
- 50% mix= 6%SH
- 25%mix= 3%SH
- 10%mix=1.25%SH
For reference, a high draw injector on a pressure cleaner might get you a 2% at the nozzle.
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Last updated: March 6 2023