Powerwashing a commercial property comes down to the chemicals the pros use. Professional pressure washing companies work from a short list of products, and just as important are the proper methods of application, the specific ratios needed for different surfaces, and the steps that protect a customer’s property from damage.
There are a ton of different chemicals that can be used when pressure washing, but a few are worth highlighting.
- Sodium Hypochlorite: The Main Chemical
The main chemical used in pressure washing is called sodium hypochlorite, or SH.
Yes, it’s essentially just bleach, but SH is substantially stronger than what you typically get in a household bleach.
Commercial Powerwashing Ocean County, NJ
The SH that professionals buy is not available to the general public, or at least not readily available on a store shelf. It’s bought in bulk from chemical suppliers or pressure washing supply houses. It’s like the difference between a Ferrari and a Honda: both are cars, but they perform differently.
SH does a phenomenal job of disinfecting, removing stains, and killing organic material like mold, mildew, and other things that might be growing on the property or home exteriors.
Stronger Means More Care
With that being said, it’s very important to understand the proper methods of application, the specific ratios needed for different surfaces, and what needs to be done to protect the customer’s property from damage.
Dilution Methods
Full-strength 10 or 12 percent SH is never used for cleaning. It gets diluted in several different ways: batch mixing, downstreaming, or using a metering system to achieve the target mix.
- Surfactants and Soaps
Lots of pros also use surfactants, known as soaps, mixed in with their SH. Store-bought soap can be okay, but never use a dish detergent like Dawn. If store-bought is the route, use a laundry detergent, because it’s been specifically formulated to work with bleach, and that is not the case with a dish detergent. There are also lots of options for professional surfactants, like Southern Drawl from Southeast Softwash.
The purpose of the surfactant is to allow the chemical to stay on the wall longer, which makes the cleaning process a lot easier. It provides time for the detergents to do their work, and it also helps trap dirt and other pollutants in the water, which aids the cleaning of the surface when rinsing.
Using one on a house wash is a personal choice, and a lot of people swear by it on every surface, every single day, but a roof cleaner should always get a surfactant.
- Industrial Strength Degreasers
Another chemical professional pressure washers use on a regular basis is an industrial-strength degreaser. Big Dog from LH and Dynamite Degreaser from Southeast are two examples.
A good degreaser is essential because it attacks oil stains, grease stains, and other nastiness through an aggressive chemical reaction. There are several different degreasers available, and while they do a phenomenal job cleaning, they can also damage the surface being cleaned, so be very careful with the surface and with yourself.
- Oxalic Acid for Rust
Another product commonly used in the pressure washing process is oxalic acid. Several name-brand products use oxalic acid in them, and it’s basically a rust remover.
Where Rust on Concrete Comes From
Rust on concrete is caused by a number of things. It could be fertilizer, or it could be iron leaching from the ground. Properties on well water that isn’t filtered can also have rust issues because of higher concentrations of minerals in the water, and the problem can be even bigger if the irrigation system runs on that same well water and sprays all over the concrete and the building. A good rust remover will do a great job treating these types of problems.
- Bleach Neutralizer
Something very beneficial to have on hand, especially with a lot of roof cleaning, is a bleach neutralizer. Roof cleaning means being very cognizant of overspray and runoff onto plants and other vegetation. A bleach neutralizer does not negate the need for watering thoroughly before, during, and after the cleaning process; it’s an added insurance policy to prevent possible damage from happening to the customer’s property.
Everything possible should happen before this step, and the neutralizer adds protection on top of it.
Protecting the Equipment Too
Pressure washing is a corrosive environment. Water and chemicals wreak havoc on equipment, trailers, trucks, and everything in use. Spraying down the equipment on a regular basis with a bleach neutralizer can definitely help prolong the life of the gear.
- Removing Black Gutter Stripes
This one is a great add-on service. The property has been washed, and it’s looking great, but there are still those ugly little black stripes all over the gutters. These aren’t coming out with a standard house wash. The stains are a direct result of a chemical reaction between the asphalt in the roof shingles and the anodized aluminum in the gutters.
They’re not just stains; they’re in there good, and they’re going to stay in there. A typical house wash isn’t going to do anything to help, maybe lighten them up a bit, but they’ll still be there after the washing is done.
Removing them takes a specifically formulated product designed to break down the bond and remove the stripes. There are a bunch of different options out there, and every stain is different, so the application, the dilution, and the method of cleaning are going to vary. Sometimes it just sprays on and rinses off; other times it may require a little agitation with a brush or a little more pressure. Gutter Guard is a go-to product for this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main chemical used in professional powerwashing?
Sodium hypochlorite, or SH. It’s essentially bleach, but substantially stronger than what you typically get in a household bleach, and it’s bought in bulk from chemical suppliers or pressure washing supply houses.
Can dish soap be mixed with bleach for pressure washing?
Never use a dish detergent like Dawn. If using a store-bought soap, use a laundry detergent, because it’s been specifically formulated to work with bleach.
What causes rust stains on concrete?
Fertilizer, iron leaching from the ground, and unfiltered well water with higher concentrations of minerals. The problem gets bigger when an irrigation system runs on that same well water and sprays the concrete.
Will a regular house wash remove black gutter stripes?
A typical house wash isn’t going to do anything to help. It may lighten them up a bit, but the stripes need a specifically formulated product to break down the bond between the asphalt and the aluminum.
Why keep a bleach neutralizer on hand?
It’s an added insurance policy against damage to plants and property during roof cleaning, and spraying down equipment with it regularly helps prolong the life of the gear.
Conclusion
There are a ton of different chemicals that can be used out there, and these are just a few worth highlighting:
- Sodium hypochlorite is the main cleaner, and a surfactant to keep it working on the wall longer.
- An industrial-strength degreaser for oil and grease, and oxalic acid for rust.
- A bleach neutralizer for protection.
- A specifically formulated stripe remover for the gutters.
