screened-in porch

[ghouchu]

i'm gonna be cleaning the wood framing inside a screend-in porch the floor of which is plywood covered by an indoor-outdoor carpet that is wall-to-wall but not secured to the floor. the wood is in excellent shape--the dirt i'll be cleaning off is indoor dirt--no mildew, no crap from trees, no sun damage. i'll also be cleaning the carpet with her residential model rug cleaner.

i could use some help figuring out how to minimize the amount of water that i'll have to remove from inside on the rug. my machine is 4 gpm and i don't know of any way to back that down without damaging the engine--is there a way?

i'm thinking i'll use some type of cleaner on the wood, but it needs to be easily rinsed or else i'll spend 2 days getting all the soap and suds out of the carpet. would a brightener do the trick? i use one that is about 70% oxalic acid and 30% citric. would that stain/discolor the screen? damage the carpet? any other suggestions?

the screen is set in a groove in the framing, not just tacked on--what do ya'll think about how much pressure i can safely use?

of course, if there is some way to clean the wood efficiently and effectiveluy without a pressure washer i would love to hear about it.

thanks

richard

 

[ron]

ron p

skip the pressure washer and use a bucket and brush/sponge
spic n span with hot water maybe use a sponge mop.
never know what type of plywood it is maybe not rated for water[interior grade]
use a 45 deg tip and a good truck wash to clean the screens[not too close]
if the paint is not in good shape use TSP and get the paint job.
dont use TSP unless you are going to paint.

 

[Aplus]

Take the carpet out and wash it in the driveway, then hang it up to dry. If you're intent on using your p/w inside, then get a good floor squeegee to move the water out. Actually I think I like Ron's idea better to wash it by hand.

You didn't state whether the screen is poly or metal based. If metal, then watch the acids around it, don't want any corrosive effects.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Why not just get the carpet wet?? Its made for it. Just tell them it will take a few days to dry. I'd just wash it like I would anything else. You can even rinse some of the chemicals out of the carpet (low pressure, 40 degree tip).

I wouldn't worry about it so much.