douseahouse

i've tried a couple of different methods on window cleaning. naturally when you add bleach it's easy to streak the windows especially in the summertime and they dry so fast. i've just started using the simple cherry wash additive that helps the windows rinse without the streaks. i have also used the window wash that you hook up to the garden hose to help remove those streaks. it's fast and pretty inexpensive. as far as removing screens, i've never had to do that yet. removing screens means that i will have to go inside the house. i'm not too crazy about that. if that was a requirement then naturally i would have to charge extra. rando

this year i am looking to purchase either a work truck or van. i'm currently pulling a trailer and i feel like it's time to upgrade. i like the idea of a van because of the great advertising space available on the sides. i also like the fact that i can lock up all my equipment giving me protection from thieves and also protection from the weather. for those of you that have already crossed this path i would appreciate your input on what you purchased and why. what are the pros/cons to either? thanks gang, rando

yes, step vans are nice and roomy. unfortunately i need something that i can run my business and also use it for personal use also. i just don't have the luxury at the present to have a work and personal vehicle. that's where a cargo van may come in handy. if i get one i would want to get the extended version or the heavy duty type. i suppose i need to consider how much a tank of water/chemical weighs and also how to vent. a truck would come in hand there so any fumes would not be harmful. i'm still looking, thinking, and reading. thanks, rando

if you're using 12.5% shc then you should dilute it more than 50/50. this mix is the standard for roof cleaning and cuts your shc level down to 6.250%. house washing generally only requires around 1% to 2% depending on just how dirty it is. i have never had to have more % to this date when cleaning vinyl or wood siding. i feel like you can use this mix for the brick and siding and get great results. i like to add the simple cherry mix in my solution to help mask the chlorine smell and also help keep the streaks off the windows. good luck, rando

if i run out of 12.5% shc then i will use regular 6% household bleach. i get good results either way although the household bleach costs just a little bit more. as ken mentioned, you want around 1.5% to 2% shc to hit the house for best results. i also use the simple cherry additive and have been satisifed with the results. check with bob at pressuretek.com and he'll even recommend a good mix for you. good luck, rando

i used some "aluminum brightner 2" today to clean a patio with rust stains. it is actually hydroflouric acid and it worked reasonably well but still did not remove all the rust. this stuff scares me as it is very harmful to the human body. i'm interested in trying the oxalic acid but i have no idea where to buy or what to expect to pay. is there a general purpose concrete cleaner out there that will remove oil, grease, and rust stains? thanks in advance and oh yeah, happy new year all, rando

first off, welcome to the forums. i've never used the stuff that you are currenty using but i will stand up for the products that you are thinking of going to. i'm using the simple cherry mix that i got from bob at pressuretek.com. it's a powder that you add to your bleach mix. you don't have to add alot so it mixes really well. i understand that the citracleen is a good product also. you can get that from steve at thecleanernetwork.com. both of these guys know their stuff so feel free to email them for assistance. good luck, rando

if you're gonna clean houses then you need one of these. i like the adjustable spray for super coverage and the power to clean upper levels. this baby kept my wand on the rig today which was nice. now i'm wondering why i didn't get one sooner. i did not use a proportioner for the first job and it ate my cleaning chemical up. for those using an m5, what is your recommended proportioner if using 12.5% shc? thanks bob at pressuretek for the great customer service and fast shipping. the gutter gernade and the simple cherry worked beyond my expectations. rando

i like the idea better of metering by valve or proportioners. changing the mix in the bucket would also work but i went through a 5 gallon bucket in no time. thanks for the suggestions gang. merry xmas, rando

i am going to be giving an estimate on a house wash in a couple of days and the homeowner said that there is some stain from the privacy fence that got on the vinyl siding. i have not run across this problem yet so i hope someone can tell me what will remove this stain or if it can be removed. thanks in advance for your suggestions. happy holidays, rando

is this available at lowes? home depot? thanks ken, rando

i'm not sure if i'm posting at the right place but here goes. i got my first call on cleaning the brickwork on a newly constructed house. i'm sure that i will need some type of acid to do this but i'm not sure what to use, how to apply, and how to price. anyone good at this one? thanks, rando

i'm looking for the "ultimate" vinyl siding cleaner. i've got a large job coming up on an apartment complex that i'm going to have to use an x-jet/m-5 to reach the upper floors. this will be my biggest job yet and wanted to have everything in order. i currently use shc/laundry detergent/water and have had great results on houses using a downstream injector. if you have a great recipe using an x-jet that you would like to share please accept my thanks in advance. you guys are great! rando

wow, great info on this one. concerning the citracleen, i am faced with alot of green mold on the vinyl siding and you say that the citracleen just melts it away. do i need to add any shc? does it also leave a good smell? thanks all, rando

tell me about citracleen. why do you like it? who sells it? how do you mix it? i've heard good things about this product but if i'm not mistaken it comes in liquid form only and that is a little costly to ship. please correct me if i'm wrong. thanks for the input. rando

thanks for the recipe...is it for the x jet or downstreamer? i've never used the sun brite products but the people there seem so eager to help. again thanks, rando

i'm going to open up an old topic just to see if anyone has come across anything that will remove artillery fungus. i came across another home this weekend with the stuff on it. the siding was vinyl and cleaned up great with the exception of the artillery fungus. the homeowner wasn't expecting me to remove it but it sure would have been nice and impressive. anyone having any luck with the stuff? (besides dynamite that is)

i use a couple of methods to apply cleaning solutions to a house. one is i premix my housewash in a tank and then use a pump to apply. the other is by using my chemical injector on the pw. when i use this method i can drop the injector line directly into a gallon of 6% household bleach. if i had 12.5% shc and diluted it 1:1 then could i inject it the same way? thanks, rando

alright, we'll go with paul. what is his website? rando

if i had some e-plus i would definitely add shc to it. i have never tried the e-plus but have heard great things about it. it is a product made to work hand in hand with shc (bleach) additives. check out the www.envirospec.com web site who sell the e-plus and they have a good article on the stuff. good luck, rando

i've got a CAT version of the x-jet nozzle. it's got an adjustable flow rate injector so i'm experimenting. i put the injector hose in a gallon of water and filled up a 5 gallon bucket. i used up about 1 quart of my "solution" to the 5 gallons of bucket water. so, what is my mix ratio? if i had use one quart to 4 gallons then i would say my ratio is 4:1. i'm thinking that my mix is going to just be slightly higher. thanks in advance. rando

thanks ryan, this is just a quick fix for the weekend. as i mentioned, i'm not using the right nozzle for my equipment. but, it's good to know what to expect with what i have. thanks all, rando

i think what i'm trying to do is make something out of nothing. squirt is right, this thing is "exactly what i paid for" and it's really not the right one for my unit as it's make for one with a lower psi/gpm. what i am going to do is purchase an m5 with a proportioner kit. from all i have heard this is a nice piece of equipment to have around. i usually premix my chems and use a booster pump to shoot the higher peaks but my pump is down right now and i'm looking for a quick fix untill i'm back up. i'm hope this little cheapo will get me by this weekend. thanks all, rando

oh no ken, i'm going to be pulling the shc straight and then it will dilute at approximately 1:13.3 giving me the .9% final solution. sorry if i confused you. i confuse myself all the time. i don't think that emmitt was the best dancer but he was definitely the most popular. is it time for american idol? rando

me too ken. i had this x-jet clone for my now backup machine. if i open the flow control as much as i am allowed i'm only going to get the .9% that you have so generously calculated for me. i may be able to add some jomax or tsp and boost it up. i'm going to give it a try this weekend. the house is a two story and i need to shoot it pretty high so i wanted to try this method. thanks guys. you're all winners. now, back to "dancing with the stars". rando