The Hidden Truth Behind Pressure Washer Cleaner for Cold-Water Machines
Published:
9/27/2021
Choosing the proper water pressure and temperature is essential for any pressure washing job — but so is selecting the right detergent (and the right amount of detergent). If your cleaning solutions aren't a good match for the project or the temperature, you can end up damaging the surface, not getting a thorough clean, or wasting too much detergent in your solution.
Choosing the right cleaners should be a strategic decision that your team makes long before a specific job starts. The European Business Review puts it best:
What's the best pressure washer soap or detergent right now? The answer depends on a few factors, such as the purpose of cleaner, intended result, and the surface to be cleaned... Note: Once you find the right brand, use it for good. Using different brands on the same surface can lead to discoloration and deterioration of materials.
Hot-water and cold-water machines each follow their own rules when it comes to the best-fit detergents. Cold-water machines need extra attention to ensure that they have the right cleaning power. In this guide, we'll cover why the temperature of the water has such an impact on the effectiveness of detergent and what solutions you can pair with cold-water machines to make them function just as well as hot-water machines.
Hot Water vs. Cold Water Pressure Washer Cleaner
Pressure washers come in two main types: hot-water cleaners and cold-water cleaners. Hot-water cleaner units are large tools that use heated water at temperatures of up to 200°F. The hot water can more easily break down the bonds in grease and oil and strip away organic material like bacteria from a surface.
Other advantages of hot-water cleaners include the ability to use them for sanitation in highly regulated industrial or commercial environments (such as food processing facilities) and the ability to maneuver around frozen water lines in extremely cold environments.
Cold-water pressure cleaners, on the other hand, rely on water pressure instead of temperature to provide strong cleaning capabilities. Because cold water doesn't have the same bond-breaking capabilities for grease and oil as hot water does, they often need to be paired with detergents, which is a more cost-effective choice for outdoor surfaces.
Cold-water cleaners can also clean plastic or wood surfaces that could otherwise be damaged by exposure to high-temperature water. Both machines have their place in industrial and commercial cleaning, so it's important to pick the right unit for each specific job.
Improving Your Cold-Water Machine
As a general rule, both the hot temperature and the extra ability to hold more detergent make hot-water machines more popular. However, they may be out of your budget, or you may not have access to one. They're also not the right fit for every surface, while cold-water machines typically serve as an all-purpose cleaner. If you want to get the same cleaning power from a cold-water machine as you might get from a hot-water one, you need to carefully choose your detergent and technique.
Hot-Water Active Ingredients
Detergents with hot-water active ingredients transform cold-water detergents into super-powered versions of themselves. These powerful ingredients activate the detergents, meaning you can get more mileage out of each unit of detergent without overloading your pressure washer or wasting excess soaps.
At NorTex Sales & Service, we specialize in providing cleaners that have an extra boost of cleaning power. Our inventory includes a wide range of hot-water detergents, cold-water detergents, cold-water detergents with hot-water active ingredients, and safe cleansers that can be used on fragile surfaces. Browse our supply or contact a sales agent today to find the right cleaning solutions for your projects.
Power Your Pressure Washing Projects With NorTex Sales & Service
Knowing the science behind why different water temperatures and cleaning solutions produce different results empowers your team to choose the right tools for any job. Not only can they start every job off on the right foot, but this expertise results in less waste, damage, and material costs for your organization.
This can help set your brand apart from other competitors and help you retain more clients. To learn more about what tools you should use for a cost-effective, highly effective clean reach out to our team today. We maintain warehouses in Dallas, Kilgore, and Odessa, to serve our clients with convenient options and services.
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