How to run a soft washing business in cold winter weather

January 12, 2022

Soft washing can be carried out all year round when the ambient temperature is not freezing or near freezing. The main thing to consider is that softwash chemicals will take longer to produce their full effect in cold conditions.

To offset this, you could:

When soft washing and other outdoors work is not possible at all because of adverse cold weather, it's good business practice to fall back on doing tasks that often get put to one side during busy periods.

Here's some ideas:

• Build/edit your website.
• Create/edit your marketing materials.
• Create/edit your promotional videos.
• Canvas new work for completion during warmer months.
• Maintain your equipment.
• Clear, tidy and organise your workshop and van.
   

Effect of cold weather on softwash chemicals

Although the task of killing the biofilm is usually achieved at lower than 8 degrees, the effects of Bio Cleanze's ongoing deep natural cleansing can be slower to show. 

Results can also be slower to show when using Lightning Cleanze. For example, red stains may take 3 days to shift in winter instead of 3 hours at the height of summer. Because of this we recommend, whenever possible, applying at a high enough temperature for customers to see some consistency of results.

To offset the longer activation time of softwash chemicals during cold weather, it may be possible to use a stronger dilution, but only if it is safe for the surface, humans and animals to do so. And only when full PPE is worn to protect the operator from the stronger softwash chemicals.

Quick tip: It's important not to saturate porous surfaces, such as render, with a softwash solution in freezing conditions as the expansion of ice can damage them.

Some contractors warm the water used for mixing, say to around 40 degrees (no higher, to prevent adverse effects to the softwash chemical). By the time it hits the surface the temperature will have dropped to around 20 degrees.

Mitigation of the effects of low temperatures on softwash chemicals can also be achieved by:

• Spraying during the warmest available days
• Timing your work so that the softwash products are applied at the warmest part of the day
• Allowing the longest contact time possible. 
  
  

We hope this information is helpful and sincerely wish you great success in your soft washing business,

Ben, Leo, Fiona, Stevie & Anthony

Click here to explore all Benz softwash cleaning chemicals & equipment

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