Aerial View Of Poly Tunnel

From Harsh Chemicals to Roam Eco Clean: a Better Way to Wash Tunnel Film

Horticulture
Agricultural growers worldwide face a persistent challenge: keeping tunnel films free from organic deposits and algal growth. Conventional chemical-based cleaning methods, while effective against algae, often cause lasting damage to the very films they are meant to clean, leaving producers in need of a better solution.

The Challenge

A leading polyethylene film producer identified a critical challenge agricultural growers face. In the absence of a dedicated cleaning solution, farmers had always used high-pressure washing combined with harsh, corrosive chemicals to remove stubborn algal growth from their tunnels. While this approach offered some effectiveness against algae, it came at a cost. The aggressiveness of the chemicals, combined with the force of high-pressure washing, placed stress on the polyethylene films, gradually degrading their structural integrity, reducing optical clarity, and shortening their lifespan. For growers, this meant not only an increased running costs of replacing tunnels but also reduced light transmission affecting the yield of their crops.

Plastic Tunnel
Fig. 1: Visible result of Roam Eco Clean application on strawberry polytunnels.

Our Solution

Roam Eco Clean, developed by Roam Technology, was identified as the solution. An advanced alkaline foam detergent formulated for demanding agricultural environments. The product is designed for use on tunnel films, growing structures, and both vertical and horizontal surfaces, delivering thorough, efficient cleaning without risk to material integrity. Throughout the trials, film integrity was rigorously measured and tracked at each stage.

Over the course of two days, a total of 30 application passes were completed using Roam Eco Clean. The treatment achieved full and thorough removal of algae across the treated surfaces. Throughout every stage of the process, no deterioration of the film was detected. Both the structural and optical integrity of the film were completely preserved, confirming that Roam Eco Clean effectively removed the algal growth without causing any damage to the film itself.

Application protocol
STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4
Prepare solution
3% solution

3 litres Roam Eco Clean per 100 litres water

 Apply foam
2-5 bar pressure

Foaming gun application 1,00 – 1,500 litres per hectare

 Contact time
30 minutes

Allow foam to work for full contact period

  

Rinse clean
Fresh water rinse

Rinse surface thoroughly with clean fresh water

 

Conclusion

Roam Eco Clean delivered on every front. Proven to effectively remove algal growth and organic soiling from tunnel film without causing material damage, it provides growers with a smarter, safer alternative to conventional chemical cleaning products. Beyond surface cleanliness, Roam Eco Clean lays the groundwork for a full clean-and-disinfect cycle, combining high cleaning performance with ecological responsibility in a single, purposebuilt solution.

  • Material-friendly — safe on polyethylene films and tunnel structures
  • Effectively removes algal growth
  • Superior foam ability and stability
Horticulture
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Roam Eco Clean

Roam Eco Clean is a horticultural foam cleaner with an eco-friendly composition. With Roam Eco Clean, Roam Technology offers an ecological foam cleaner that is ideally suited for removal of organic deposits on a wide variety of materials in horticulture.