Why Are We Called Chemwash?

Published on: October 18th, 2021

The story behind our name starts in 1981, with a revolutionary new exterior cleaning technique. Right from our founding, Chemwash have been pioneers in the New Zealand industry, introducing a unique low pressure cleaning system (also referred to as soft washing). This system is a much safer alternative to high pressure water blasting, which was the standard practice at the time. Since then, many other exterior cleaning companies around the country have followed our lead in adopting a low pressure approach.

What makes us different?

The Chemwash low pressure washing system involves applying special detergents as well as water pressure. The detergents are designed to do all of the “hard work” of breaking down dirt and grime. Then the low water pressure simply rinses it away, leaving a sparkling clean surface.

High pressure water blasting on the other hand relies on sheer force for its cleaning power. This means it is harsh and abrasive, and often causes damage to the very surfaces it is applied to. You can see why we prefer to avoid this method!

So, when we started back in 1981, we wanted people to know that we were changing the game. We needed a name that showed how different we were from other exterior cleaning companies. At the time, the main thing that differentiated us from everyone else was our use of chemical detergents. Therefore, “Chemwash” was chosen as the ideal name for our company.

What chemicals do we use?

We use a range of chemicals depending on the job. Typically however, we don’t use anything that you won’t find under your kitchen sink. The chemicals we use are each formulated to address a specific problem we face in our day to day operations. If we need to use anything stronger for specific jobs, we will let you know. These cases are uncommon, but when we do need to use stronger chemicals, our experienced staff will take absolute care around your property.

Are our chemicals harmful?

Our salt-based detergents were developed by a leading industrial chemist to be safe to use on any exterior surface. They are also specially designed to be environmentally friendly. As part of their development, they were thoroughly tested to be completely safe around people, pets and plants. The result? Exterior cleaning detergents that are tough on grime, but gentle on everything else. So don’t let the name fool you, not all chemicals are harmful!