Richard Ivy

Hi all, I use purified water to clean windows here in the UK. There is an assumption here that pure water (000 TDS) can damage the internal workings of pressure washers. Is this view shared in the US among pw users? Thanks for your opinions. Richard

Until my super duper 200BAR pw arrives from the US, I have to soldier on with my crummy 120 BAR machine. I cleaned some cheap looking slabs today for a neighbour, but couldn't get rid of what appears to be, pretty sure of it, stains left behind by leaves. (brown/rusty colours). I think I have read somewhere on TGS about this, but can't find it. Has anyone a tip on removing these stains? Thank you.

I think I'm getting my head around the use of bleach... I bought some bleach the other day - it comes in a 5l container - that's about a gallon to you. Do you simply drop your downstreamer pipe, (for x-jet/whatever) into the container and fire away at the gutter or whatever your looking at getting clean? You don't dilute at all? I sprayed 50% bleach 50% water from a hand sprayer at a faded fence yesterday and it has brough the old colour out of it.

It's ok, and thanks for the consideration - 'Ragu' was a product sold here in the 90s, but I haven't seen it for a long time. I get the point though!

Rod - I don;t think you missed thing mate! Cheers - Maybe we're so used to going into a shop/store and buying stuff off the shelf that these mixes of surfactants and bleaches and heaven knows wht else are kind of daunting. I would have gone ahead and sprayed bleach and nothing else. Now I need to know what as surfatcant is! Don't worry, I will search elsewhere for that - thank you for all you have said. Richard.

Larry, would you just spray this mix up into the areas you want it and leave for a set time? Should I be concerned about the window glass/plants/my breathing? Thank you. (Hope to be running with this kit within a week, and end the speculation!)

Excellent. Thanks Ken.

Wow, I suppose I just take it for granted that the water supply here is relatively clean.

I cannot get over how it is that yuo have this 'rust' in your water! Do you literally mean metal rust is in your water? I find it hard to believe that if I left my sprinkler going, against a white-painted fence that it would have this effect. What do you have in your water to do this? Do you drink it? Is it like this everywhere in the US?

Quickie here... Just want to start pwing and see where it goes - it's an add-on for my main window washig work. Equipment - well, that's linked to no.1 - just setting out pw, so consolidating that stuff - with your invaluable help. Personal - new baby arriving in June, that's a biggie, to go with my first born, of 9 months. Let it roll!

Yes, I thought that xjet was a downstream due to the fact that it is after the pump (end of hose). Am I confused? (easy to do, btw)

If it was windy, would you wear a face mask when applying?

Thanks Jeff, Sleep well (when you get there) :)

You're up late, Jeff! I'm about to get dressed... I am becoming increasingly concerned about throwing up chemicals into the air. Citic based cleaners, the sort found in any kitchen, I can understand, but bleach or oxalic acid? Must be a dangerous thing to do.

You're up late, Jeff! I'm about to get dressed... I am becoming increasingly concerned about throwing up chemicals into the air. Citic based cleaners, the sort in any kitchen, I can understand, but bleach or oxalic acid? Must be a dangerous thing to do.

Hi all, I was doing a window cleaning job today, and I thought I would bring up the subject of pwing the customer's drive, as well as clean their algae (is that what you in the US call 'mold'?) off their gutters and soffits. Anyway, on close inspection of their drive, which, like I say is block pavers, I can see four things to have to deal with: 1) The 'ordinary' grime associated with three years wear and tear 2) Some oil marks, quite a lot, from vehicles, including engine oil and steering mechanism oil 3) Rust stains from a builder's skip bing left in situ while some work was being carried out 4) Tyre marks from vehicles as they turned in the drive and have scuffed off tyre rubber What you think? How would you deal with each of these probs? I have a 200BAR cold water pw, and 20" whirlaway. I am presuming that you are familiar with block paving - usually herring-bone shaped.

Hi Larry , Any idea how much coverage a 5l pump-up sprayer of oxalic acid would cover?

So when you buy chlorine it doesn't come any stronger than 12%?

What is '12%'? Is this a brand or the quanity of bleach to water?

Jeff, in that other thread about 'bleach', does this mean chlorine? I'm confused on that one. Secondly, you say to keep rinsing the windows - question: how much of the guttering would you spray before coming back to rinse? How long before the chems have worked, and crucially, how long before you damage the glass? Assuming you are talking about damaging glass.

ALso, when you say '12%', Jeff, what do you mean by this? Is this the name of a product or the ratio of something you create?

Thanks Jeff, great help as usual. Seems that oxalic can be used against almost any discolouration - I've never heard of those rust stains from irrigation. Nasty - like the fence had been smoking! You know when the underside of gutters gets all dark and grubby with mould (mold??) and algae, could a mix of oxalic deal with it? I think I would be very concerned about spraying oxalic acid, or any other chem, up into the air where it can go anywhere. Not only this, but can this stuff etch windows? (glad to see it's not all work work work!)

Ok, this chlorine you talk of - is this the smae item that goes into swimming pools, or something I buy neat and have to dilute according to my needs? Sorry if I'm duplicating stuff already covered - I am reading the Chemicals thread at this time, but it takes a while to read and digest.

Tannin caused by leaves? Rust caused by metal objects resting on the surface?

Sorry I don't understand what this means: 'Need a good Ph+ oxidizer? Try 12% NaHClO3' Secondly, do you apply oxalic acid dilute in a pump up sprayer? Thank you.