What's new

Soap Scum in HP wash tank

washregal

Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Messages
410
Reaction score
13
Points
18
Location
Pennsylvania
This I am sure is a chronic issue - I know it is with me and my wash's - does anyone have any product they use for HP wash - or anyway to get rid of soap scum in my wash tank? Will Blendco product scum up?

I am open to any and all suggestions.
 

I.B. Washincars

Car Washer Emeritus
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
4,285
Reaction score
1,165
Points
113
Location
SW Indiana melon fields.
If it looks like snot, clean it out and throw a scrap piece of copper in the tank. I don't have any issues with it since I did that. One of the handy little tricks I learned here.
 

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
I tried the piece of copper thing in the foam brush tank, didn't stop it completely but it helped a lot. I got tired of cleaning it regularly and instead kept a weak solution of bleach in a trigger sprayer and once a week spray the inside walls down which keeps it from ever starting.
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,372
Reaction score
943
Points
113
Switched from KR HP product to their low PH product. Snot basically became a non issue. Still, bought swimming pool chlorine pellets and throw one in the tank every once in a while.
 

Randy

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
5,859
Reaction score
2,211
Points
113
The soap scum or snot is a bacterial growth from the water that just loves the soap. I used to get it when I used Turtle Wax soap products and again when I used Kleen-Rite soap products, but only real bad at one car wash. I’ve tried the copper pipe thing, didn’t really work very well. I had the use a HTH 1” swimming pool bleach pellet to get it under control. I used to hang a 1” swimming pool bleach pellet in a 35mm film canister with holes drilled in it in the soap tank, it’d last about 2 weeks before I had to add another bleach pellet. When I switched to JBS soap products it stopped. The inexpensive soap products don’t have enough algaecides in the water to prevent the bacterial bloom or growth from occurring
 

I.B. Washincars

Car Washer Emeritus
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
4,285
Reaction score
1,165
Points
113
Location
SW Indiana melon fields.
I put a piece of 1" pipe about 2" long in each tank. One thing I did before I put it in the tank was to sand off the outer coating so raw copper was exposed. I don't know if that made any difference, but I don't have the snot anymore.
 

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
I put the copper in the tire cleaner tank for a couple weeks which stripped it completely clean before I put it in the foam brush tank. I had 1/2" on hand so I cut four 6" pieces and put it in the flow from the Hydrominder. Before that I just dropped 2' of pipe in the tank and that didn't help at all, but now I don't know if cutting it or cleaning it made the difference.
 

beverly

New member
Joined
Apr 7, 2017
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Toronto
Various tank cleaning products are available in the market. Or go with the bleach or white vinegar, they are the best substitutes to remove soap scum. Make a mixture of white vinegar and distilled water, spray it over the soap scum, wipe it out with brush or sponges. Otherwise, soak the toilet paper or kitchen roll in vinegar and place it over the residue, clean it later using a razor blade or squeegee to remove the residue. Or else, use the mixture of dishwashing soap and vinegar(equal proportions), apply over the soap scum and use a squeegee to wipe the residue (http://www.dispenser.com/blog/organizedbath/can-squeegees-prevent-soap-scum-buildup/). White vinegar is the best way to clean out hard water and soap scum.
 

traveler17

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2019
Messages
861
Reaction score
693
Points
93
Location
SE NC
I put the copper in the tire cleaner tank for a couple weeks which stripped it completely clean before I put it in the foam brush tank. I had 1/2" on hand so I cut four 6" pieces and put it in the flow from the Hydrominder. Before that I just dropped 2' of pipe in the tank and that didn't help at all, but now I don't know if cutting it or cleaning it made the difference.
Hey MEP is the copper pipe trick still working??? I gotta do something!!
 

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
It's not 100%, but it has slowed it from having to be cleaned every couple weeks to maybe every six months.
 
Top