I hate power washing

[mas3372]

I did my first practice job today for an uncle in preperation for my scheduled jobs next week. He has a large colonial, painted yellow, mildew, mold, and black gutters. The scary thing is, he cleaned it last year. I got started by cleaning is asphalt driveway and cement steps with some hot water, tuff stuff soap and a 15 degree nozzle, did a great job. Even got mold and rust off his steps.

Then on to the house. I mixed 12% hypochlorate 2 parts with 2 parts tuff stuff. Sprayed it on with a down stream injector. Let is sit about 10 minutes and watched the mildew and mold turn brown and come to the surface. I was smiling. Threw on a 40 degree tip on my telescoping wand and started to rinse.

This is when I decided I hate power washing. Nothing happened. The mold and mildew just lauged at me. Accomplished nothing. I washed his cars and my truck and packed up for the day. Thinking I need to rethink detergents. My emulsifier should be here on monday and I am hoping this helps.

For the fun of it, I took some 12% and put it in the pump sprayer and hit a few spots of the mold and then the house shined.

Do I hate power washing? No, I love the challenge. I think it is apparent that I need to better proportion the chems and as I guessed, this is will be the hardes part of the job to get down.

Now that I have vented, does anyone have any advise. I think it is safe to assume that my mixture sparyed on at 20:1 is not enough.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[FCPWLLC]

You're right on. Just need a better chemical injector. When it doesn't come off the first time over, just repeat. Kind of like the shampoo bottle says. Rinse and repeat.

You'll be fine. In the begining, you won't be fast. You won't get it all off the first time. Oh and wait til ya hold that wand for 6 hours and feel it the next day. LOL

 

[Larry B]

You are on the right track. It is a dilution problem. You need to hit it with a final dilution of around 3%-6% and it will clean much easier. Your downstreamer is probably giving you a 20:1 dilution ratio. That coupled with your initial mix of 12% mixed down to 6% then downstreamed, gives you less than a 1% solution of hypochlorite on the surface. You need either an x-jet, shurflo/pump-up or 7:1 downstreamer to be able to get a strong enough solution on the surface to clean easily.

 

[mas3372]

Thanks for the help. Is it the chemicle injector or to weak of a concentration I am using. It is a fixed injector and I have an adjustable on order. Perhaps more of the weaker or less of a stronger solution should do.

 

[PressurePros]

A good soap will work synergistically with sodium hypochlorite. I rarely hit a house with more than 2% final dilution and I never leave the ground, nor do I use a telescoping extension.

 

[MPW]

I like that Ken. You must use a great housewash.

 

[PressurePros]

Always in a state of refinement, but it's dialed in fairly well.

 

[mas3372]

Thanks everyone for the help. I will strengthen my mix and use my adustable injector I should be getting monday to see if I can get a better mix on the surface.

Can someone tell me what a sureflow pump is, I keep reading them but have not found them online. I have considered the x-jet but wanted to see what I can do with a normal downstream first. Does the x-jet really really speed things up more than my method now. I would like to find the quickest method possible while not compromising quality.

While you guys are giving me some great help. Can I pick your brain a bit more with bleach.

Will a strong concentration lighten asphalt shingles, composite decking or wood?

Pennpros. If you want to share your great house washing chem recipe with me. that would rock. mas3372@cox.net.

Thanks again. Mike

 

[YVPW]

the injector that you have will work fine if you don't dilute the bleach before you run it through your downstreamer, I run mine 17 to 1 with bleach and it takes everything off just fine, just make sure you give it a few minutes to have time to work.

 

[mas3372]

Thanks for the help.

I think I should invest in the x-jet, shur flo or m-jet. However, there are so many different views on which of the three works best. Given my situation, can anyone offer some advise I which of the three I would benefit from.

here are my intentions.

1. Speed is money, so the faster the better

2. Mostly 2 story houses, some with dormers, so 30' will be a need.

3. Would like to avoid the telescoping pole

4. Not to concerned with lugging a bucket around. I rather have a short hose with jug by my side I can just carry with me.

5. Mostly vinly and painted homes.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

[drivewaysonly]

Oh and wait til ya hold that wand for 6 hours and feel it the next day. LOL

Next day? Next six months! I seem to have a pain rule of thumb: For every hour I spend holding a telescoping wand, I will spend one day in recovery. so, to ease the pain, I take the money I made while acquiring the pain, spread it out on my bed, and roll around in it. sometimes I even put ICY-HOT on the sore parts so the money sticks to by body.

Most likely, that is a visual most of you don't want in your head.