# Is a soft washing system necessary **URL:** \ **Category:** Soft Washing\ **Created:** [December 30, 2021, 7:23am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491 "2021-12-30T07:23:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cory](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Cory](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Cory)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:23am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/1 "2021-12-30T07:23:04Z")
I am brand new to the industry and I am trying to figure out if a soft wash system is really necessary. From what I have read it seems an x jet or h rod should work fine for me since I do not plan on doing roofs. Please correct me if I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Cory](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Cory](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Cory)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 8:29am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/2 "2021-12-30T08:29:08Z")
Nevermind. As soon as posted the question I read on and got my answer. Thank though ---
**Author:** ![jwils](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/jwils/32/35694_2.png) [@jwils](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/jwils)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 8:45am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/3 "2021-12-30T08:45:34Z")
Good on you for finding your answer. I’ve personally found downstreaming tackles most normal house washes easily ---
**Author:** ![PPWofLexSC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/ppwoflexsc/32/41361_2.png) [@PPWofLexSC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/PPWofLexSC)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:47am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/4 "2021-12-30T11:47:05Z")
@Cory As someone that has never owned or operated a true soft wash system I am not versed in all its pros/cons for this industry, but I can tell you that a downstream chemical injector and a j-rod will allow you to clean a lot of house siding and still be able to use the pressure washer for when you need actual pressure - such as wood cleaning, concrete cleaning, etc. ---
**Author:** ![VPW2021](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/vpw2021/32/35865_2.png) [@VPW2021](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/VPW2021)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:48am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/5 "2021-12-30T11:48:26Z")
There is an answer here for just about everything. I did have a 12V system on my trailer, I ended taking it off after this season. I’m part time with washing and we didn’t use it more then three times. If I come across something that needs more then DS, I use an Xjet or pump up. ---
**Author:** ![JAtkinson](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/jatkinson/32/36478_2.png) [@JAtkinson](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/JAtkinson)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 6:54pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/6 "2021-12-30T18:54:45Z")
Are we insinuating definitions such that downstreaming is not just a method of softwashing? Softwashing to me just implies not using “blasting pressure” as the means/method of cleaning. If you’re applying SH & surfactant, and then just rinsing, I think that is all “softwashing”, just utilizing pressure as a tool for reaching, rather than “blast” cleaning… ---
**Author:** ![VPW2021](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/vpw2021/32/35865_2.png) [@VPW2021](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/VPW2021)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:15pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/7 "2021-12-30T19:15:04Z")
@JAtkinson I guess when I hear soft wash system, I think of a dedicated 12V set up. You’re right though, down streaming can be a method of soft washing when using the right pressure. ---
**Author:** ![PPWofLexSC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/ppwoflexsc/32/41361_2.png) [@PPWofLexSC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/PPWofLexSC)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/8 "2021-12-30T19:55:32Z")
@JAtkinson I assumed that when the OP mentioned a soft wash system they were referring to a dedicated skid-type system like the Fat Boy Bandit and such. With that stated, when I quote a house wash for a vinyl sided home I let the customer know that it will be a soft wash even though I intend to use a j-rod on the end of pressure washer. ---
**Author:** ![dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/dcbrock/32/38857_2.png) [@dcbrock](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/dcbrock)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/9 "2021-12-30T20:40:10Z")
I use my jrod for house washes but sometimes the gutters are shockingly filthy with multiple layers of dirt and growth so hitting them with 2-3% from my 12v speeds things along. ---
**Author:** ![Nashvillewash](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/nashvillewash/32/11988_2.png) [@Nashvillewash](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/Nashvillewash)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/10 "2021-12-31T02:28:18Z")
Edit: I still downstream every house I do and call it softwashing. I got my first 12v for the ease and safety of chemical transfer. Once I had it, I realized I was a hose reel and 200’ of flex tech away from adding roofs, stucco, retaining walls and much faster concrete post treatments. Its an easy decision that should have been obvious to me at the start. At the very least, mount one for safe and easy chem transfer. Skip the x jet. ---
**Author:** ![GrimetoShinePW](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/user_avatar/pressurewashingresource.com/grimetoshinepw/32/37686_2.png) [@GrimetoShinePW](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/u/GrimetoShinePW)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://pressurewashingresource.com/community/t/is-a-soft-washing-system-necessary/32491/11 "2021-12-31T02:35:01Z")
Yeah next season I’m going to make a small box with the reel mounted on top something easily movable and compact.