This is a topic that has been hotly debated in chat rooms, on forum boards and at round table discussions for years. And the fact is there is NO SINGLE best truck wash soap. Or any soap for that matter.
The best soap is what ever gives you the best results for the job and regulatory situation your business may come across. This may change quite often to hardly ever at all.
Here are 5 things to consider and determine for your self as to what soap is the best truck wash soap for you for each job.
Do I have waste water issues to consider that can not be easily fixed, possibly with just reclamation?
If so you may first want to see if the job can be done effectively with a “Green” product or by using a two step, waste water neutral process. Remembering though that even when using a 100% “Green” product the materials that are being washed off will NOT be “Green” and you may still have some waste water issues to deal with.
Is the soap going to require that the washing process take too long and take too many steps to complete to be cost effective?
For instance is the soap a no brush that can just be sprayed on and rinsed off? Or could the soap cause an additional step, like having to apply aluminum brightener, to be required for surfaces dulled by the use of the wash soap? Is the soap a "safe finish" product that won’t harm poly coats, glass or aluminum?
Is the soap easy and safe to use for equipment and operator?
You need to find the right balance for you and the job you are doing. Can the product run though the pump or must it be down streamed. Some times you must take extra safety measures, goggles, wet suit, water proof shoes, etc to have a chemical strong enough that will do really tough work. Other times the best cleaner can be as safe as plain water.
What will be the final cost to use the soap you chose?
Just because a product is expensive or inexpensive should not be the biggest factor in what you should choose. You can buy an expensive product and end up using only a few ounces, spending pennies a gallon, compared to another inexpensive product that you must use at full strength that ends up costing you many times more a gallon.
Finally how good and how long will the vehicle look once washed?
Because face it, if a soap does only a fair job of cleaning, and does not get and keep the results the customer wants, they will find someone else to do the job next time.
