Pump & flow
The pump sets your flow, and there's a range to pick from — from compact diaphragm pumps to engine-driven units. More flow means faster coverage, and enough push to reach a two-storey roof from the ground.
Guide
How to choose a
How to choose a
soft wash system.
There's no single "best" soft wash system — the right one is the one that matches the work you do. This guide walks through the choices that actually matter, so you buy once and buy right: downstream or a dedicated system, pump flow, tank size, hose reach, mixing and how it's mounted.
Start Here
Start with the work, not the gear.
Before you look at pumps and tanks, look at your jobs. A soft wash system's whole purpose is to apply a cleaning solution at low pressure and let the chemical do the work — but how much system you need depends on what you're cleaning.
The work sets the spec — anything from residential house washing up to big commercial roofs. A few house washes a day needs reach and a steady mix; a full day on large commercial roofs needs more flow, more product on board, and enough push to get solution up high. Get clear on your typical job — the surfaces, the height, and how many you do in a day — and every other choice gets easier. (New to it? Our soft wash systems guide covers what each part does.)
The Big Decision
Downstream injector, or a dedicated soft wash system?
This is the choice that shapes everything else. A downstream injector draws chemical through your pressure washer's high-pressure line — affordable, simple, and more than enough for a lot of jobs. The trade-off is that it dilutes your mix, so you're applying at lower strength.
A dedicated soft wash system pumps your solution straight from the tank at low pressure and full strength, with far more control over what you put down — run it batch-mixed, or through a blend manifold to adjust your strength on the fly. It's faster and more capable once you're washing regularly.
There's no wrong answer — plenty of operators start with downstreaming and move to a dedicated system as their volume grows. If you're not sure which suits you, tell us what you clean and we'll point you the right way.
What to Get Right
Six things that make or break a setup.
Tank size
Balance your day's volume with the space you've got and — importantly — your vehicle's payload, since water weighs roughly a kilo per litre. Leave room to upsize later rather than maxing it out now.
Hose & reels
Soft wash hose isn't the same as pressure washer hose — the right size and pressure rating change with your system. Run enough to reach the work without moving the rig (50-100m is common) on a solid reel that saves your back. Swivels and manifolds matter too: stainless beats steel for corrosion, and a size up means less restriction, more flow and better performance.
Mixing
Batch-mix in the tank, or fit a blend manifold to dial strength on the fly at the turn of a dial — no re-mixing between jobs.
Mounting
A skid to drop into a ute, van or truck, or a trailer for a standalone rig. We can build it around your vehicle.
Guns, lances & nozzles
The right nozzle sets your fan and flow, and a good gun or lance lets you apply evenly and reach up high. A dedicated soft wash system needs different trigger guns and nozzles to a pressure washer — and different styles of system need different ones again, so match them to your setup.
Working out mix strength or nozzle size? Use our free spray-mix and nozzle calculators.
Our Advice
Start simple, then scale.
The most common mistake is over-buying on day one — or under-buying and outgrowing it in a month. The sweet spot is to start with a setup that comfortably covers your current work with a bit of headroom, then add to it as you grow.
A downstream kit or a small dedicated setup gets you earning; a bigger tank, more reels or a second pump can come later. Because we supply everything from a single fitting to a full rig, you can build up over time without replacing what you've already got — or have us build the whole thing when you're ready.
Why Softwash Source
Advice from people
Advice from people
who actually wash.
- Honest advice, not a hard sell. We'll help you match the gear to your work — including telling you when you don't need to spend more.
- Everything in one place. Pumps, tanks, reels, injectors, nozzles, chemicals and complete kits — build your own or have us build it.
- Room to grow. Start simple and add to it as you scale, without throwing away what you started with.
- Built and supplied in New Zealand. Backed by people who've run this gear in the field, not sales people who never have.
FAQ
Choosing a soft wash system.
What's the best soft wash system for a beginner?
Start simple — a downstream injector on your pressure washer, or a small dedicated setup with a modest tank. You can soft wash plenty of jobs with either and upgrade as you grow. The main thing is matching the gear to the work, rather than over-buying up front.
Do I need a dedicated system, or can I just downstream?
Downstreaming is an affordable, simple way in, but it dilutes your mix so you apply at lower strength. A dedicated soft wash system pumps your batch at full strength with more control. Many start downstream and move to a dedicated system as their volume grows.
What size tank do I need?
It comes down to your work, your vehicle's payload and the space you have, and the rules around how much chemical you can carry — so there's no one-size-fits-all. Tell us what you clean and what you're mounting it on, and we'll help you spec it right.
Can I build my own system?
Yes — build your own from our parts with our advice, or have us build it for you. Either way we'll help you spec it right for your work.
Not sure what you need?
Tell us what you clean and we'll help you choose the right soft wash system — or build one around your work.