Why Water Alone Won’t Cut It (and What to Use Instead)
Many people fall into the same costly trap when using a pressure washer: they assume pressure alone is enough to remove grease, oil, stains, and grime. But while water under high pressure can dislodge loose dirt, it's not always effective at breaking the chemical bonds that hold soil, grease, or biological build-up to surfaces. That’s where the right detergent makes all the difference.
What Can Go Wrong When You Skip Cleaners:
Longer cleaning times — you’ll likely need multiple passes to complete the job.
Poor results on porous surfaces like concrete, tile, or brick.
Increased wear and tear on your pressure washer due to longer run times.
Wasted water and energy, which increases both operational cost and environmental impact.
Surface damage risk from trying to “blast away” grime with high pressure instead of dissolving it first with detergent.
The reality? High pressure without chemistry can lead to lower productivity, higher costs, and unsatisfactory results.
Pro Tip: Let Chemistry Do the Heavy Lifting
Certain tough jobs, in particular, need a little more help, including:
Greasy restaurant floors, waste bins, and dumpsters
Machinery and industrial equipment
Oil-stained driveways and garages
Brick walls and stone walkways
Trucks, trailers, boats, and RVs
Food-safe environments like commercial kitchens and processing plants
To clean effectively, it's not just about force—it's about breaking bonds.
Pressure washing removes visible debris, but microscopic residues like grease, oil, proteins, and carbon soils often stay behind without the right detergent. These soils are chemically bonded to surfaces and need surfactants, emulsifiers, or alkalinity to break them down. That’s why the best pressure washing results come from mechanical action (pressure) and chemical action (cleaner).
Key Cleaning Principles:
Like dissolves like: Solvents in citrus cleaners work well on oily or greasy soils.
Alkaline cleaners: Best for breaking down fats, oils, proteins, and carbon-based grime.
Emulsifiers: Help lift and suspend soils so they can be rinsed away, rather than just moved around.
Choosing a detergent designed for your cleaning task saves time, reduces water usage, and prevents surface damage from excessive pressure.
So What Should You Use?
Firstly, we recommend always referring to your equipment manufacturer’s manual to confirm chemical compatibility and proper dilution instructions before use. Using incorrect products or concentrations may damage equipment or reduce performance.
Overall, here are 4 top-performing cleaning solutions designed to supercharge your pressure washer results.
SPRAY AHEAD: Our first option is a convenient, ready-to-use option that you can manually spray on the surface before pressure washing.
Swish® Citro Gleam™ All Purpose Spray Cleaner
A ready-to-use citrus-powered cleaner that works fast on greasy, oily, or sticky messes. Great for:
Quick spot-treating equipment, engine parts, workbenches, and door frames
Pre-treating surfaces before pressure washing
Removing disc brake dust, laundry stains, and food soils
Leaving a fresh citrus scent with no lingering residue
Use full strength or diluted based on soil load. Apply directly and let sit for 1 minute before rinsing.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Citrus-powered formula cuts through grease, oil, and sticky grime
Versatile: works full-strength or diluted depending on the job
Effective on washable surfaces, laundry, kitchen counters, benches, and more
Great for removing disc brake dust, ink, crayon, and tough stains
Leaves behind a fresh citrus scent—no harsh chemical residue
Made in Canada
FOR PRESSURE WASHERS: Many commercial and industrial pressure washer models come with onboard detergent tanks or downstream injection systems. These allow you to feed cleaning solutions directly into the spray system, giving you the power of pressure and chemistry working together.
FOR INDUSTRIAL SURFACES & EQUIPMENT
Swish® Facto HD41™ Heavy Duty Alkaline Cleaner
This CFIA-approved degreaser delivers industrial-strength results with or without heat. Ideal for:
Manufacturing floors, equipment, and engines
Food processing plants where degreasing needs to meet hygiene standards
Concrete, metal, porcelain, and other hard surfaces
Cold water or hot water pressure washing
Dilute from 1:5 to 1:100 based on soil level. Apply via spray, steam gun, or high-pressure system.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Cold-water degreasing power—no heat required
Contains emulsifiers and builders to break down heavy oils and soils
CFIA approved for food-safe applications
Ideal for concrete, presses, engines, conveyors, and industrial surfaces
Dilutes for light to heavy cleaning (1:5 to 1:100)
Phosphate and caustic-free; safe for a wide range of surfaces
Made in Canada
FOR VEHICLES & FLEETS:
Swish® Facto AT31™ Brushless Liquid Vehicle Wash
No scrubbing needed! This caustic-free concentrate is perfect for:
Commercial trucks, trailers, delivery vans, and fleet vehicles
Painted, chrome, and aluminum surfaces
Removing road film, salt, and bug residue with no damage to finishes
Reducing labour while improving shine
Use at 1:25 (cold) or 1:50–1:100 (hot). Apply bottom to top, let dwell for 3–5 minutes, rinse top to bottom.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Brushless formula removes road grime and bug residue fast
Caustic-free—won’t damage painted, chrome, or aluminum surfaces
Hard water tolerant for consistent results and reduced waste
Leaves a glistening finish with no scrubbing required
Use with cold or hot water (dilution: 1:25–1:100)
Saves time and labour—ideal for fleet maintenance
Made in Canada
POWERFUL & FOOD-SAFE:
Swish® Facto HD40™ Heavy Duty Citrus Cleaner/Degreaser
When you need next-level degreasing in kitchens, shops, or industrial zones, HD40 is the go-to. This citrus-based formula emulsifies oils and leaves surfaces squeaky clean and citrus-fresh. Ideal for:
Degreasing kitchen floors, cooklines, hoods, and prep areas
Auto shops and industrial settings with oil, tar, or petroleum residues
Food processing environments (CFIA Approved)
Hot or cold water pressure washing systems
Dilute from 1:5 to 1:40, depending on severity. Works exceptionally well in hot water applications.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Citrus-powered degreaser for fast removal of grease, tar, ink, and more
Safe on tile, concrete, stainless steel, engines, and more
Fresh citrus scent—no harsh chemical odours
Use in spray bottles, mop buckets, or pressure washers
Made in Canada & CFIA approved for use in food facilities
Takeaway:
Don’t let pressure do all the work. The right detergent will save you time, protect your surfaces, reduce equipment strain, and deliver dramatically better results. With Swish’s premium cleaners, your pressure washer becomes a more effective cleaning tool.
Need help choosing the right cleaner?
Our specialists can recommend the perfect formula based on your soil type, pressure washer model, and surface material. Contact us now.
