One of the most common questions we get at Southeast Softwash is about our surfactants. If you’re in the soft washing industry, you already know how important the right surfactant is for breaking down grime, improving dwell time, and ensuring an even clean. But one of the biggest challenges in house washing is getting windows spotless without leaving behind streaks or haze.
That’s why we created our Southern Drawl (Lemon Scent) and Southern Slime (Cherry Scent) surfactants. Today, we’re going to break down why surfactant selection is so important, especially when it comes to glass surfaces, and demonstrate just how well our surfactants perform—even in extreme conditions.
Surfactants & Soft Washing – The Science Behind the Suds
A surfactant's job is simple:
✅ Break Surface Tension: It helps your bleach and water mixture cling to surfaces longer, improving effectiveness.
✅ Enhance Cleaning Power: By lifting dirt, mold, and algae off surfaces, surfactants allow for a more thorough clean.
✅ Improve Rinse-ability: A good surfactant should rinse clean without leaving residue—especially on windows.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is using a surfactant that doesn’t rinse off properly. If your soap dries on the surface, it can leave behind a haze that homeowners will definitely notice when looking out their windows.
The Ultimate Glass Test – Proving Our Surfactant Works
To put our Southern Drawl and Southern Slime to the test, we conducted a worst-case scenario experiment:
1️⃣ We mixed a super hot 3% bleach solution—way stronger than what we’d use in a normal house wash.
2️⃣ We dialed our metering valve wide open to apply an excessive amount of soap to large glass panels.
3️⃣ We let it completely dry on one window while rinsing the other using only a low-pressure 12V pump.
The Results – Streak-Free, Haze-Free Windows
💧 The Rinsed Window: Came out crystal clear, even under extreme conditions.
💨 The Unrinsed Window: Developed a white, hazy residue—demonstrating what happens when soap dries on glass.
Once dry, we tried rinsing the second window to see if the haze would easily wash off. Thanks to our surfactant’s hydrophilic properties (meaning it loves water), the haze rinsed right off, leaving the window spotless once again.
Why Hydrophilic Surfactants Matter
The biggest advantage of our surfactants is that they are hydrophilic, meaning they naturally bond with water instead of repelling it. This is critical because:
🔹 It prevents streaking and hazing on windows and smooth surfaces.
🔹 It rinses clean without extra effort, saving you time and water.
🔹 It ensures a professional finish, so customers don’t complain about cloudy windows.
Not all soaps are created equal. Some competitor surfactants can bond too tightly to glass, making it nearly impossible to remove once dry—forcing you to reapply chemicals just to fix the issue.
With Southern Drawl and Southern Slime, you don’t have to worry about that.
Do You Really Need Pure Water Window Cleaning?
We get this question a lot:
💭 “Do I need to offer pure water window cleaning as an extra service?”
The answer: It depends on your business model. If you specialize in high-end window cleaning, then yes, pure water systems are great. However, for the majority of house washing jobs, our surfactants get windows clean enough that you don’t need additional window cleaning services.
This means you can upsell window cleaning as part of a standard soft wash, without needing expensive equipment or extra time on the job.
Final Thoughts – The Right Surfactant Makes All the Difference
At Southeast Softwash, we’ve spent years perfecting our Southern Drawl and Southern Slime surfactants so they provide the best results possible. They:
✔️ Enhance bleach performance for a deeper clean.
✔️ Prevent haze & streaks on glass and smooth surfaces.
✔️ Rinse easily with just water—saving you time and effort.
If you’re serious about soft washing, having the right surfactant in your mix is a game-changer.
Ready to get the best results in your business? Grab a jug of Southern Drawl or Southern Slime today!
👉 Shop Now at Southeast Softwash
Bonus: Serious About Soft Washing? Get Hands-On Training!
If you’re looking to level up your soft washing game, don’t miss the Serious Starter Softwash Boot Camp with Aaron Parker on March 21-22, 2025.
✅ Hands-on training with industry experts
✅ Learn chemical mixing, equipment use, and marketing
✅ Avoid common mistakes that cost businesses time & money
📅 Spots are limited, so secure your ticket now!
👉 Reserve Your Spot at the Serious Starter Boot Camp
Hope this helped, and we’ll see you in the next one! 💦🚀
