Russell Cissell

many cleaners use a form of oxygen bleach similar to what oxy clean is made of. This compound is "reactionary" meaning that the cleaning effect that you get from it is only effective during the products reaction period. After an hour or so the product simply looses it's effectiveness. Simply put, just think of them as being "fizzed out." Speaking to HD-80 and Citralic, as Beth said they are both very stable formulas and will keep their effectiveness for long periods of time when stored in a sealed container. You can easily store either of those products for a month in solution. Best of Luck! Russell Cissell

Come join us this evening from 7:00 to 9:00 central for wood chat. Simply click on the chat link at the top of this page. If you are a first time user you will be guided through the breif registration process. Hope to see you there! Best of Luck Russell Cissell Extreme Solutions, Inc.

I hear this sort of thing all the time and it always strikes me as humorous. Your friend, the painter, has called upon you for your expertise. He is either too busy, or not skilled in wood restoration. He obviously knows that you are skilled or he would not be referring the wood to you. Why is it then that he presumes to want to tell you the right products to use? My best advise to you is to ask him why exactly he has made this recommendation? It could be that he has some sort of guarantee that is backed by the manufacturer of these brands. It could also be that he has no real legitimate reason, it is simply what he has heard works well. Remember you are the expert when it comes to wood restoration. You should be the one recommending the best product for the job. If he trusts your expertise it stands to reason that he would trust your choice of products. As restoration professionals, we do our best work when using products that we are familiar with and produce predictable results. Best of Luck Russ

The proper mix rate for HD-80 is 1/2 lb per gallon of water. If you have 20 lbs in the pail you would use 40 gallons of water . You should not need to use hot water to dissolve it. Mixing HD-80 will cause a rise in the water temp. naturally. You will have the best results by pulverizing the block of material as best you can. You want to break it into the smallest pieces you can before introducing it to the water. If you are patient and keep with it, you should be able to salvage what you've got there. Once in solution you can cut it back with water if you don't need as much bite and you want to save a little money. This solution will be very stable and should keep for at least a month without settling out. Keep it covered and secure. Do not store in an area where children play unattended. Best of Luck Russell Cissell

I would highly reccomend wearing a respirator if you are going to be using bleach on a regular basis. Best of Luck! Russell Cissell

If you are cleaning the interior floors then L x W will give you the area of the floor. If you are bidding an exterior building wash, treat each individual wall as it's own surface. Measure L x H then note the figure. Repeat for each wall surface then add all of your figures together and you will have the total square footage of the surfaces you intend to clean. I hope this helps!

My thought for the day: "At least it's not snowing!" I don't know how much I can expand on the information that Beth and Ron have posted. One thing I would like to add is the user safety factor. I believe that is something we all need to take very seriously, especially if you are going to be in business for a number of years. Typically Percarb cleaners are billed as "Green"or environmentally friendly. They can be used on many different types of surfaces without damage and most importantly pose very little hazard to the user. NEVER mix a percarb with bleach! Sodium Hydroxide though it is a very popular ingredient in heavy cleaners and strippers it requires several other activator to make it truly effective. Sodium Hydroxide because of it's high pH will kill most grass and plants. You should wear a respirator when using this type of product. You should also take care to avoid contact with your skin. Bleach is just mean. Avoid contact with skin and eyes and most importantly do not make it a habit of breathing the fumes. Bleach should not be overlooked as an effective tool, but should be used in moderation and with care. Bleach is not the best choice for asphalt shingles as it tends to degrade the tar causing it to become brittle. If you have any specific questions, feel free to post them and I will do my best to get you the information you need. Best of Luck

Beth would have my head if I didn't chime in! Extreme Solutions, Inc. manufactures HD-80, EFC-38 and other specialized restoration products. The popularity of these products stem from years of research and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. Extreme Solutions, Inc. was built on the basic philosophy of synergy. Aware that our success is directly proportionate to the success of our customers we put contractor support at the very top of our priorities. Our number one goal is to assist you as a contractor in reaching your full potential. Our network of experienced professionals will provide not only first rate product support but also information that will help you in making those crucial business decisions that will allow you separate yourself from your competition and DOMINATE YOUR MARKET! With the restoration season upon us, we look forward to helping you reach your goals for this year as well as the future! Best of Luck Russell Cissell Creative Director Extreme Solutions, Inc. 636-899-1769