First House Wash

[Bob Warfield]

After using a pressure washer for almost 18 years I washed my first house today. It's built with "Arkansas Stone" lime stone I guess. I used a bleach and Jomax mix. I used much more bleach than the 3 quarts to 5 gallons of water as suggested on the Jomax bottle. There was a lot of mildew and the suggested Jomax mix wouldn't clean it. Here's what I finally used, 1 qt. of Jomax, 4 gal. of 6% bleach, 1 cup of Dawn. The house looks real good with the exception of the windows. They look extreemly nasty. Is this normal to have to clean the windows after a house wash or did I do something wrong? I used hot water and thought I rinsed real well.
Thanks,
Bob Warfield

 

[ron]

ron p

How did you get your chem from bucket to house?

 

[Larry L.]

wouldn't say if you did anything wrong or not,there would be some things you didn't think of.

Always forwarn the customer you do not do windows or you can add it in as a extra in your pricing.

House glass is thin which it doesn't take long for the soap to dry,if it dries it leaves a soap stain that takes a little elbow greease to get out.You need to keep the windows wet by reappling your soap mix,when you start rinsing start with the windows and keep them wet until done rinsing.Usually they'll dry fairly clean if you don't let the soap mix dry,that look extreemly nasty gives you a bad name unless the customer is told you do not do windows.

 

[Bob Warfield]

Ron P. - I tried several different ways. Pump up sprayer, X-Jet, and dual lance. I think on this one the dual lance worked best.

Bigboy - Thanks. I think your probably right about the soap drying. It's my own home so no irritated customer other than my wife to worry about.
Thanks,
Bob Warfield

 

[john orr]

Bob,

Try adding a little liquid Jet Dry to your mix. I use the store brand and it works great. No streaks, no spots.

Around here, if there is a film on the windows, it is probably oxidized paint (usually the sunny-side of the house) that sheets down the entire window. The Jet Dry will help, but the only way to get it off is to rinse-rinse-rinse...especially around the top of the window - or squeegee them while they're still wet.

 

[Tim Smith]

Add about a cup of liquid car wax to your mixture - really puts a shine on vinyl & alum siding.