Concrete mix...soap or not

[mitchell205 14]

Hello I'm new to the forum good stuff here .... Question I have is does anyone use dish soap in there concrete pre treat? ... I currently use 12.5% SH at a 30/70 mix with water... I have a new to me skid sprayer for roof and concrete... Just wondering if anyone has seen any difference using say dawn like I do in my house wash mix.. I live in Alabama so we always spray the SH/water before we use the surface cleaner ... Also do any of you spray SH after using surface cleaner and not rinse it off?.... Thanks

[Pat Norman 18]

Yes I often use just a regular housewash mix on moldy mildewed concrete. Sometimes after I also spray and leave it . Especially if there are tannin stains in the concrete. Makes it look great. If there are rust stains or red dirt stains I may spray and leave oxalic acid.

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[Patrick Rhea 15]

What % of SH and soap are you using for House washes?

[Pat Norman 18]

I downstream using an 8gpm machine so I am told I should draw about 1 gallon soap for every 16 gallons water. I have never tested it but I believe I'm drawing a good bit stronger. Wheather I'm using 12.5% or just store bought bleach I still get good results filling a bucket half water and half bleach. Depending on what im washing I add two or three cups simple cherry or sodium metasilicate or tsp. If I'm using just household bleach I add a cup of caustic soda to help kick up the cleaning power. I can easily clean the nastiest houses with this mix.

[Patrick Rhea 15]

When do you use or not use the TSP?

Vinyl?

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[Pat Norman 18]

Typically I only use tsp on painted siding when prepping for repaint. Too strong a mix can mess up glass im told but I've never had a problem. Tsp etches the paint microscopically to help the new paint hold better.

[Chazz 14]

Pat, i mostly used the store bleach. The new clorox goes up to 8.5 percent sh. This caustic soda your using is safe on houses of all material? Where do you get it?

[Pat Norman 18]

Caustic soda beads aka sodium hydroxide. It's used in making bleach. It is common at any chemical supplier. I get mine from Univar. Don't make it too strong it strips stain from decks and can strip paint in string solutions.

[Chazz 14]

Ok thanks