Two-step housewashing

ckingclean

ckingclean

Cleaning with Aloha
I've searched and read a lot about two-step truck washing on this board. Does anyone out there frequently two-step stucco houses?

The homes and buildings we clean are extremely stained from the local red soil (containing iron oxide) being blown onto the siding by strong and frequent winds. Acid based cleaners have proven to be the only thing that cuts the stain. We use acids a lot on stone and concrete, but getting acid onto the siding presents a lot of problems - skin contact, over spray, wind drift, glass, metal, etc.

Has anyone done a lot of work removing this type of stain from buildings? Are there cleaners that have acidic properties that aren't as dangerous?

Thanks
 
We have problems with some of the older homes having corrosion on the metal and alum siding from the salt used on the roads in the winter. In areas where the homes are closer to the street it clings to the siding when the cars drive by making the "salt mist" during the winter.

I have had very good results two stepping with my regular truck wash chems to remove the corrosion. Just be very careful of the windows, prewet, and neutralize quickly with soap if you get any acid on them.
 
HF is the only acid I know of that will etch glass. Shouldn't be washing houses with HF.
 
Citric Acid

I've seen aluminum brighteners with citric acid as a replacement for HF. Has anyone found these to actually work? Usually I find that safer alternatives don't do the same job.
 
From wikipedia...

"Sodium hydroxide slowly reacts with glass to form sodium silicate, so glass joints and stopcocks exposed to NaOH have a tendency to "freeze".[citation needed] Flasks and glass-lined chemical reactors are damaged by long exposure to hot sodium hydroxide, and the glass becomes frosted."

While it is not as aggressive as the acids in the right mixture and allowed to dry on the glass it can create a foggy appearance.

Muriatic will etch as well.
 
I have good luck with oxalic on red clay. It's funny I just read this, the job I did today had red clay stain all over a painted concrete patio. Cleaned it up nice. I've used it on siding as well,...where the rain splashes the clay up on it. Just another option for you maybe, nice to have around too, as it comes in granular form and can mix as needed.

Jeff
 
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