Hey guys, I appreciate all of the valuable information I’ve learned from this forum. It has truly been an asset in building my business. Currently I’m looking to add on to my rig which is right now a very simple build with no tanks. I’m down streaming from a 5 gallon bucket and mixing a small amount of surfactant for my house washes. My question is if it is common practice to “batch mix” my SH and surfactant in a tank instead of separate for the time being until I’m ready to acquire a soft wash system. My biggest concern with doing this is how will the surfactant affect the “strength” of the bleach over time if I don’t run out that same day. Last night I purchased a 15 gallon ATV fertilize sprayer, and I plan for this to be my chem tank. For a buff tank I have a 275 gallon IBC tote. It seems that mixing the chem and surfactant in the 15 gallon tank may be the most cost effective method with surfactant being so high. I’ve attached a picture of my build in case it can help in any answers given.
Yes, the batch will be fine for days. I buy 50 gallons at a time and mix in soap that day. Depending on how many decks I’m washing and staining, I’ll have that 50 gallons sometimes for weeks. No probs. Gotta use a quality surfactant though.
Also, you don’t need a soft wash system if you’re just washing vinyl or doing concrete.
Not sure what you mean about cost effective. Using the right amount of surfactant you need will cost the same no matter how you mix it.
What I meant as far as cost is I would be having to buy more to fill a whole tank versus buying enough for what you’re mixing. I get what you’re saying though, I guess it really comes down to how you’re set up to wash. I use Elemonator as a surfactant.
I batch mix in a 15-gal drum routinely and use Elemonator as my surfactant. Usually 15 gallons of mix will get me through 2-3 houses depending on size of house and how much concrete is also being washed with each house. Doing this part time, it is often that the batch will sit in the tank for a few days to a week before I use it all.
Also, for down streaming/ house washing you really dont need all that much surfactant. I think for some reason the standard amount of surfactant, usually elemonator, you will find people using is way way way more than necessary for a quick, easy, and effective clean.
I have followed @Innocentbystander advice on dialing back the surfactant and if im not mistaken has said that he uses maybe 8 ounces (a coffee cup full) or so in his 55 gallon drums. I use similar ratios and put 1 maybe 2 ounces per 10 gallons of bleach. It pulls the dirt off the houses, suds up a driveway enough, and gets just enough cling. Then it rinses right off. You could go more sure but if im not mistaken, there are plenty of guys using like 1 ounce per gallon of bleach or something like that and i just cant imagine trying to rinse that off of windows in the summer heat. Elemonator specifically because it is a concentrate.
So in this scenario your 15 gallon batch tank can be filled up 64 times on one gallon of elemonator. Still 32 times if you use doube what i use. Pennies per house wash really.
Make sure it isn’t a fimco.
Y’all have been a ton of help with this. Thanks for all the responses. The brand is “CountyLine”
County Line is just a rebranded Fimco. Take that thing back. UV will degrade that tank in a hurry and you’ll eventually leak your SH out all over that nice trailer.
Go to a carwash and ask them if they have any old carboys that their soapa come in. I’ve pulled probably a dozen or more out of one carwash’s “recycling” area. Just be sure to ask permission first but most of them will give you as many as you’ll take. The 15 gallon ones work fine but they also make 20 gallon ones if you can find one. Those carboys are HDPE so they’ll withstand SH and sunlight just fine. If you were local I’d give you a couple.
Oh wow, I’m glad you told me that. I’m going to get in touch with some of the car washes in my area this week and see what they have.
Do you happen to have a picture of the container you’re talking about?
If you get lucky and find a blue one that would be nice so the sun doesn’t degrade your SH as quickly but I’ve always ran the “natural” white ones and never had any problems but my bleach doesn’t sit around long.
Thanks a lot, I’ll see what I can find
Never heard of bleach degrading a plastic container before… I had a couple of those when I was starting out for batch mixing. Used it for about 5 years without any issues except maybe replacing the drain cap.
My SH supplier uses the 5 gallon carboys. I have 1-2 develop leaks each season. Kind of annoying. Maybe it’s from all the jostling on the trailer. But I really need to just go to some heartier like DP is suggesting.
I believe those Fimco tanks are LDPE and they don’t resist UV rays as well as HDPE. Maybe you just got lucky 
I’ve noticed those 5 gallon carboys get pretty weak in the corners over time.
Ah, I put SH when I meant to say UV. The bleach certainly won’t help the plastic any but the real concern is the UV rays degrading the plastic.
Yeah, I really need to just install a second chem tank or install one bigger chem tank. It was on my offseason To Do list but didn’t get to it.
Don’t feel bad. I had about 17 things on that list that didn’t get done and now the season is upon us lol
For sure! My season has taken off like crazy!
It does seem like when the weather warms up, I’m more motivated to be in the garage working on stuff. Spent a few hours yesterday organizing and cleaning out.
