Bio-Degardable Cleaner help

I Have been useing a product from Cleaner today it has no bleech and you do have to get rather close to the siding in most cases to get rid of the dirt, but it has been working pretty good. I have only been in business for a year so I am still getting my feet wet, pun intended. Also I am still learning so I really like this forum to help me gain more experiance.
 
I feel you're doing the right thing of starting with something you know is safe, and then looking for something stronger. I start everything new I learn, the same way. I had to ask the question on here of if it was okay to start up my machines with ball valve closed, because my first machine years ago had no bypass/unloader, and that's all I was used to haha.

There are obviously correct and incorrect ways to clean anything, and sometimes more than one way to achieve safe results. I like to use this forum to see how others are doing it, do an insane amount of rigorous testing myself to see if it's true for me in my area as well. Then bring it to a job site, always doing test spots if there is anything left to question.

For me as well, sodium hypo at a <1% solution would do just fine for the picture Ralph posted. Jeff has a thread here where he explains his setup, and his experiences.
http://www.propowerwash.com/board/upload/showthread.php?32762-A-Need-For-Correction&highlight=a+need+for+correction

I'll conclude the novel I'm writing here with stating the obvious of really, really research the chemicals you want to use. Know what chemicals can clean what, know what they will damage. Whether I'm cleaning cars or buildings I look at them like a schematic, knowing if my chems and methods could compromise anything. If there's any questions, for me it's usually a pass.
 
ahamer said:
I Have been useing a product from Cleaner today it has no bleech and you do have to get rather close to the siding in most cases to get rid of the dirt, but it has been working pretty good. I have only been in business for a year so I am still getting my feet wet, pun intended. Also I am still learning so I really like this forum to help me gain more experiance.
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When cleaning vinyl you don't want to get too close with your pressure washer wand. You can blast water behind the panels which leads to mold/mildew behind the siding..... Not good.


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bighals said:
When cleaning vinyl you don't want to get too close with your pressure washer wand. You can blast water behind the panels which leads to mold/mildew behind the siding..... Not good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Want to start by saying: asking this strictly as educational- no "rights or wrongs" implied.

For me here is a good example on how in different areas, things are done different. The construction company I worked for in South FL here did everything, including siding. We always installed put up knowing we have days with 100% humidity, hurricanes etc. It's made to get moisture behind it, AND if installed and working correctly, will drain and be able to release moisture as it dries. Otherwise every storm with sideways rain we get would leave a lot of moldy houses.

Picture on this site has wood siding as an example. The company I worked for would use the same or similar drainage system for vinyl, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/technical/moisture/1_5.html (website source)
http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/technical/moisture/images/large/19.jpg (picture from website)

Not trying to call anyone right or wrong, searching for the truth. Did the company I work for educate me wrong?
 
johnnyb said:
Want to start by saying: asking this strictly as educational- no "rights or wrongs" implied.

For me here is a good example on how in different areas, things are done different. The construction company I worked for in South FL here did everything, including siding. We always installed put up knowing we have days with 100% humidity, hurricanes etc. It's made to get moisture behind it, AND if installed and working correctly, will drain and be able to release moisture as it dries. Otherwise every storm with sideways rain we get would leave a lot of moldy houses.

Picture on this site has wood siding as an example. The company I worked for would use the same or similar drainage system for vinyl, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/technical/moisture/1_5.html (website source)
http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/technical/moisture/images/large/19.jpg (picture from website)

Not trying to call anyone right or wrong, searching for the truth. Did the company I work for educate me wrong?
Click to expand...

i somewhat agree with that- That most vinyl siding installations even here in the NE are designed to vent & drain

However- there is always the possibility of moisture being trapped hence the advice to not get so close when house washing

to the posters original question about biodegradable cleaners- most are

House wash mixes are probably different all over this board depending on where you live and what the conditions are
 
All great replies, thanks John, but to be honest I am still trying to figure out %'s of soultions and trying to decifer what is what and how much I need to add to how many of gallons etc. I'm a fill the bucket to this point with water and add two puches of cleaning powder to the bucket, stir then go, so far that has worked out. But I know there is a LOT more to learn and I hope this is the place where I can turn to learn as long as I do not piss people off when I ask questions that may seem freshmen like.

Also I am trying to stay away from bleech for the reason of being as green as possiable but if I learn by deluting it to the point where it can be safe AND effective that is where you pros come in for guidence. I agree now that I have a year under my belt, I need to branch out and learn what product cleans better for certin situations, and I am sure my wife wont mind me testing on our house as long as I do not melt the siding off our house, so I like the test bucket idea.
 
I appreciate the response Mike, as I was just speaking generally. I don't advocate using pressure around siding, and absolutely agree its not wise to intentionally introduce water behind it. (Wanted to make sure my post didn't sound as if I love getting water where it shouldn't be, especially if it's more than just plain water.)

And Halston, I fully agree with no pressure around it, and not to get water behind the panels. I should of started off with that.

Alan - Sorry to hijack thread, it got things going off subject. Bucket tests are great, test spots around the house are great too.
 
Thanks again everyone, I try not to get too close to the siding but have found with my current cleaner I have to get close for heavy dirt area, that is why my orginal post about what others are using,

I see on the youtube that a lot of PW people just spray on cleaner and rinse it off and that is where I would like to get to because to tell you the truth, with my current cleaner it seems that I need to wash panel by panel and it takes me about three to four hours to wash a average sized home, tough to get two houses done in one day to earn some money.

So if there is a better mouse trap I would love to hear it, but again if I can stay away from bleech that would be great, biodegardable is a big selling point and I would like to keep that true if I can. I know what works for some may not work in others, but here in Massachusetts my time for making a living is only around 6 to 7 months so if I can get as many done as I can with not taking short cuts I and my customers will be happy.
 
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SH is completely safe,..and is one of the most used products in the World. In regards to your current product,..if you have to get really close and clean every square inch with pressure,..then it's not working,..you are. If you're gonna be afraid to use the most accepted practices you may as well hang it up now.

What are you using to clean the stripes from gutters? How about rust?,..What about heavy dirt stains that can be 3-4 pieces of siding down from the soffit on homes that may have never been cleaned? Products that come in pouches and then added to water isn't gonna clean much at all in the real World of exterior cleaning,..especially if you want happy customers.

This is knowledge you need to set you on an equal playing field with those who know what they're doing,..albeit,..they are few and far between in the PW business. Which knowing the proper methods will then set you above those clowns.

In a nutshell,..Ralph pointed you to the better mousetrap already,..if you refuse SH and soap,..you're gonna be all alone on this board and may want to go to one of the "Eco" boards and listen to their blabber.

Seriously though,..after a year in business it's time you learn more about proper cleaning,..you need to spend many hours on this board reading.

People who bash bleach usually do it for a couple of reasons:

(1) They have a product they want to sell
(2) They want to use it as a selling point to gain clients,..usually in a last ditch effort to survive in the business by going "Green"
(3) They're plain stupid

Jeff
 
814jeffw said:
SH is completely safe,..and is one of the most used products in the World. In regards to your current product,..if you have to get really close and clean every square inch with pressure,..then it's not working,..you are. If you're gonna be afraid to use the most accepted practices you may as well hang it up now.

What are you using to clean the stripes from gutters? How about rust?,..What about heavy dirt stains that can be 3-4 pieces of siding down from the soffit on homes that may have never been cleaned? Products that come in pouches and then added to water isn't gonna clean much at all in the real World of exterior cleaning,..especially if you want happy customers.

This is knowledge you need to set you on an equal playing field with those who know what they're doing,..albeit,..they are few and far between in the PW business. Which knowing the proper methods will then set you above those clowns.

In a nutshell,..Ralph pointed you to the better mousetrap already,..if you refuse SH and soap,..you're gonna be all alone on this board and may want to go to one of the "Eco" boards and listen to their blabber.

Seriously though,..after a year in business it's time you learn more about proper cleaning,..you need to spend many hours on this board reading.

People who bash bleach usually do it for a couple of reasons:

(1) They have a product they want to sell
(2) They want to use it as a selling point to gain clients,..usually in a last ditch effort to survive in the business by going "Green"
(3) They're plain stupid

Jeff
Click to expand...

Jeff/Ralph- as usual you pretty much nailed it-always spot on with your posts

Ive seen many guys try and reinvent the wheel

SH is your friend if you use it correctly

Let the chemicals work and do the cleaning!-

use the proper tips for the proper surface

If you make your house wash mix right (for me DS-2gals 12.5 SH,3 gals of water,6-8 oz of elemonator) sometimes a bit stronger, sometimes a bit weaker depending on what im cleaning and how dirty it is usually works for me

Read this board and keep it simple!
 
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