Ricky Coschigano of Critic's Choice Window Cleaning runs a soft wash training success story worth studying. We caught up with him at the Huge Convention in Branson, Missouri, where he broke down exactly how soft wash training and the ProTool Clever Softwash Sprayer transformed his business from a solo window cleaning operation into a two-crew exterior cleaning company.

The Problem: Dirty Roofs and a Missing Revenue Stream

Ricky operates in New York's Hudson Valley, where humid summers and tree cover turn roofs into breeding grounds for algae and black streaks. He saw roof cleaning demand everywhere but had no system for delivering it. Two years ago he attended a one-day soft wash training class at J. Racenstein's New Jersey facility. He left knowing how to clean roofs — but not how to sell the work.

That distinction matters more than most new operators realize. Chemical ratios and spray technique are table stakes. The bottleneck for most contractors adding soft washing is closing the first 20 jobs, not mixing the first batch.

What Changed: Two-Day Training and a Sellable System

Ricky came back a year later for the two-day course. The difference: the second day covered pricing, estimating, and marketing soft wash services — the business side that turns capability into revenue. "This time I learned not only how to do the job, but how to market my business," Ricky told us.

On the equipment side, the ProTool Clever Softwash Sprayer removed the complexity that slows down new soft wash operators. Batch mixing introduces room for error — wrong ratios, wasted chemical, callback-generating weak mixes. The Clever's metering system eliminates that guesswork. You dial in your mix ratio and spray. Ricky credits this simplicity as a direct contributor to his ability to scale: when your system is repeatable, you can hand it to a crew member.

The Results: From Side Hustle to Full-Time, Two-Crew Operation

After completing the two-day training, Critic's Choice Window Cleaning's growth forced a decision. Last September, Ricky quit his day job as a school bus driver to go full-time. Today at least 50% of his revenue comes from soft washing — roof cleaning, house washing, and flatwork. He is actively hiring a second crew.

That trajectory — window cleaner adds soft washing, revenue doubles, operation scales from one truck to two — is not unusual among contractors who invest in both training and the right equipment. But it requires the training piece. The ProTool Soft Wash Skid or the Clever will sit in your truck collecting dust if you cannot price, sell, and schedule the work.

Key Takeaways for Contractors Considering Soft Washing

• Training pays for itself fast. A two-day course that covers marketing and sales — not just chemical application — is worth more than a week of YouTube.
• Simplify your mix system. The ProTool Clever and metering plates remove batch-mixing errors so your crews can deliver consistent results without you on-site.
• Soft washing is additive. Ricky didn't drop window cleaning — he layered soft washing on top. Existing customers became roof cleaning customers.
• The revenue math is compelling. Roof and house wash jobs typically run higher per-stop than residential window cleaning, and the work is faster once your system is dialed in.

Products Mentioned

ViPower Electric Soft Wash Sprayer SKU: 150-0433M	ViPower Electric Soft Wash Sprayer SKU: 150-0433M	Soft Wash Metering Block SKU: 150-0454M
ProTool Soft Wash Skid 12V SKU: 150-047M	ViPower Electric Soft Wash Sprayer SKU: 150-0433M	ProTool Soft Wash Metering Plates SKU: 150-045M