tcolborg
New member
So I will finally be getting my skid from Paul and the powerwashstore.com next week and now need to get some chem's for cleaning. I have been reading stuff all over the place on the forum and still need some help here. Here is what I feel like I have figured out and if you guys can chime in with input I would appreciate it. Please don't rip me one if I am wrong on any of this. There is so much information on this site that it can almost start to become confusing. I hope that this can be used to help many other new people to pressure washing.
Sodium Hypo: Basically strong version of bleach, want to get at least 10%. Will kill plants and grass if not presoaked before, during, and after use. Used for many cleaning applications such as house washing, roof cleaning, concrete cleaning (residential not a lot of grease or oil), can be used on fences and decks but might not be best choice.
Caustic Soda: Known as sodium hydroxide, comes in beads, flakes, and liquid format. Very aggressive cleaner! Used for things like concrete cleaning (heavy grease, oil, drive-thru, etc), can be used to strip fences and decks, KEC, any others???? Mixed with water and generates heat from chemical, dangerous to skin exposure and breathing exposure. Can damage metals and stain asphalt if not rinsed.
Butyl: Known as E-B Glycol Ether. A lot less aggressive then Caustic soda. Used for things like concrete cleaning (heavy grease, oil, drive-thru, etc) but not as effective as caustic. Can cause skin and breathing irritation but not as bad as caustic. Can dangerous to plastics.
Sodium Percarbonate: A mix of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide, not as strong as SH. It is an oxygen based bleach that starts to work once combined with water. Can be used on roofs and mainly for wood and decks. Good for cleaning but won't really strip the wood from current seals or stains.
Oxalic Acid: An organic compound used to neutralize caustic washes. Can be used to brighten wood as well as concrete, but will stain asphalt white if left.
Roof Snot, Simple Cherry, etc: Surfactant used to break surface tension and help detergents clean better. Also help control runoff of chemicals.
EBC: Cleaner that can be used for multiple situations grease, oil, house wash, etc. Also a surfactant and helps boost SH cleaning power.
So that is what I have figured out so far but I am sure there is a lot I am missing.
I appreciate any help on this guys.
Sodium Hypo: Basically strong version of bleach, want to get at least 10%. Will kill plants and grass if not presoaked before, during, and after use. Used for many cleaning applications such as house washing, roof cleaning, concrete cleaning (residential not a lot of grease or oil), can be used on fences and decks but might not be best choice.
Caustic Soda: Known as sodium hydroxide, comes in beads, flakes, and liquid format. Very aggressive cleaner! Used for things like concrete cleaning (heavy grease, oil, drive-thru, etc), can be used to strip fences and decks, KEC, any others???? Mixed with water and generates heat from chemical, dangerous to skin exposure and breathing exposure. Can damage metals and stain asphalt if not rinsed.
Butyl: Known as E-B Glycol Ether. A lot less aggressive then Caustic soda. Used for things like concrete cleaning (heavy grease, oil, drive-thru, etc) but not as effective as caustic. Can cause skin and breathing irritation but not as bad as caustic. Can dangerous to plastics.
Sodium Percarbonate: A mix of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide, not as strong as SH. It is an oxygen based bleach that starts to work once combined with water. Can be used on roofs and mainly for wood and decks. Good for cleaning but won't really strip the wood from current seals or stains.
Oxalic Acid: An organic compound used to neutralize caustic washes. Can be used to brighten wood as well as concrete, but will stain asphalt white if left.
Roof Snot, Simple Cherry, etc: Surfactant used to break surface tension and help detergents clean better. Also help control runoff of chemicals.
EBC: Cleaner that can be used for multiple situations grease, oil, house wash, etc. Also a surfactant and helps boost SH cleaning power.
So that is what I have figured out so far but I am sure there is a lot I am missing.
- What would you recommend getting to start for cleaning mainly residential with some commercial cleaning mixed in
- Other safety issues or possible damage caused by each of these?
- Cost effectiveness of each?
- Best distributors for chemicals?
I appreciate any help on this guys.