For the next couple week we’re going to go over some of the soaps we use and their purpose, detailing specific surfaces they work on, what makes them unique, and then talk about the benefits of our proprietary soaps in general. While we do mostly use bleach and water, it’s important to also utilize certain soaps that can get the job done well.
Soaps and Equipment, SO MUCH to Love!
Clear Vision SoftWash is not a franchise of SoftWash Systems, and I say that because it’s often the first question folks will have when they learn about our affiliation with an entity of that size who operates on a global scale. Clear Vision operates independently, but we do utilize sound practices taught and shared by other network companies, and that includes using the soaps that we do. SoftWash Systems manufactures the skids and equipment on our trucks, and they also create most of the soaps we use as well.
What is a Good Steward?
The Good Stewards is a SoftWash Systems pledge to the community that the equipment and soaps in-network companies like Clear Vision SoftWash uses are not only compliant with federal and local laws like the Clean-Water Act, but the practices and methods we use are an extension of that enthusiasm for compliance. SoftWash Systems soaps are 100% biodegradable, they ship non-hazardous all over the world, they are water based, produce very low VOC emissions which are volatile organic compounds, they’re engineered to be safely combined with bleach, and they don’t release any chloramines or haloforms, which can cause cancer. The soap is also made to work with our equipment and all with the user experience in mind. Ultimately, Good Stewards is about being conscious of our environment and being enthusiastic about compliance!
Lean, Mean and Bio-Friendly!
Our first soap is GreenWash. By itself this soap can clean all organic growths, it’s that good. But when combined with bleach and water it’s a really fantastic tool in our disposal. Remember about bleach being an oxidizer, and what that means? A chemical reaction takes place when the bleach comes into contact with that organic growth. It reacts and starts to create suds, that’s what it looks like. The bleach oxygenates and eats up all the disgusting growth. It requires oxygen in the environment for that chemical reaction to take place though, and then even still you can aid that chemical reaction by introducing other elements: Agitation, Temperature and a Catalyst. The first is agitation. You know when you clean your hands with soap, what do you do? You put soap in your hands and you put them under the water, and that’s it right? No. You rub your hands together and agitate the surface with friction to cause the suds to form. With surface cleaning we can introduce agitation by using a hard bristled brush, and we will do that sometimes. The next is temperature. Bleach will work all the way down to 48 degrees and then it just stops. Warmer temperatures will allow our solutions to break the bonds of growth much easier though, and while it doesn’t get too cold here in Florida, we still try to only work when it’s warm to give our solutions the best chance to work. The last aid we can provide the bleach is by introducing a catalyst into the reaction.
Catalyst Scratch Fever!
A catalyst is something that when introduced into a chemical reaction either accelerates it or starts it at a lower temperature. GreenWash is our catalyst. When we combine it with bleach and water it reacts and cleans with less agitation, and at a lower temperature of around 42 degrees. It’s still important that we use proper technique to clean surfaces and not drown the liquid, disallowing it to breathe and become agitated, but GreenWash certainly helps. It also allows us to use less bleach which is already a differentiator, because a lot of companies will take Dawn dish soap and combine that with bleach and throw it up on a roof and expect it to clean. The problem with that is that a lot of soaps do have ammonia in it, and do you know what you get when you combine ammonia and bleach? You get a toxic poisonous gas that can kill you if you inhale it. Like we already mentioned, our soaps are bleach-stable! You’re seeing why that’s important now?
Smells Just Like Laundry!
GreenWash is used specifically on organic based stains. This is the soap that kills living bacteria, algae, fungus, molds and lichens. It also is a surfactant which means it lifts those growths off of the surface so they be rinsed away. Remember we need to break the bond from the surface. GreenWash does just that. It also has a cover scent we use called RainFresh. It smells just like laundry. It’s a wonderful scent. GreenWash also has a spore blocking inhibitor which keeps surfaces clean for 4-6 times longer. Are you seeing now how fantastic of a product this is, and why we use it? GreenWash is our bread and butter when combined with bleach and water, especially on roofs. This is our roof soap always, but we can use it elsewhere as well. It is our main weapon in our arsenal.
