To maintain the lighter color of a concrete driveway, many homeowners turn to cleaning with bleach, but you should not power wash with bleach because it can damage your pressure washer.
Both power washing chemicals should be diluted with water in order to be effective and not damage the surface. Bleach is great for killing mold and moss, ensuring it doesn't come back. Chlorine is a solid option for getting rid of grease stains on concrete. Which one you choose depends on your project.
There are several reasons not to put it in your pressure washing system: While bleach is effective in killing mold and mildew, it really is not the best solution for cleaning. Bleach can be used to prep for paint, but it will corrode hose nozzles and pump seals. It can essentially destroy your pressure washing system.
Spray in The Correct Motion
If you're pressure washing a wall or siding, move the wand in short, downward motions, starting at the top. This will prevent dirty water from splattering upwards and ruining your hard work. Also, make sure not to direct the spray of the water on a single spot for too long.
Here's a short list of some of the usual chemicals used in commercial pressure washing: Oxalic acid – useful in rust removal and other similar cleaning processes. Citric acid – stain removal and cleaning of concrete driveways or wooden decks. Sodium hypochlorite – disinfects and removes stains.
The short answer to this question is that no, it generally is not safe for your machine to use bleach in a pressure washer. If you were planning on filling up your tank with straight bleach in order to have it sprayed all over those grimy surfaces that you want nicely cleaned, you should definitely scrap that idea.
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
Best Time of Day to Power Wash
House washing can be performed at basically any time of the day, as long as you have sufficient light needed to safely complete the job. Extreme summer heat can make it difficult to properly wash your house, especially while working with certain chemicals.
Whether they're petroleum-based stains, grease stains, or something you can't quite identify, we have a cleaner for you. Overall, we recommend Zep Purple Pressure Wash (US$13.98, The Home Depot). Alkaline cleaners are great for lifting oil stains, grease stains, and other petroleum-based stains from concrete.
For Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach, read the label and dilute as directed. For best results, add 5 minutes after the wash cycle has begun to agitate in order to avoid destroying enzymes and fluorescent whiteners in the detergent. For Oxygen Bleach, add directly to the wash water before the clothes are added.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
The right ratio for these two substances is one part bleach to four parts water or three parts water to one part bleach, depending on the circumstances.
You already know that bleach is a trusty household product for brightening up stains on garments. But that's not all; chlorine bleach can also be used for cleaning the concrete driveway. Of course, you should dilute it with equal parts of water or a 1:1 ratio.
Chlorine bleach should never be poured directly onto clothes in a sink or washer because it can remove color completely and dissolve the fibers. Either add the bleach to an automatic dispenser or into the washer water before adding the laundry. Add laundry detergent as you would normally.
Some common chemicals used for cleaning concrete include alkaline cleaners, acid cleaners, and enzymatic cleaners. Alkaline cleaners are effective for removing general dirt and grime, while acid cleaners are used for removing rust stains or mineral deposits.
Clean From the Bottom Up
Using the cleaning solution, start power washing at the bottom of the house and work your way up. Working from the top down can cause water and suds to run down the side of the house, making it more likely you'll miss a section.
It's not necessary, but you can absolutely use soap or detergent when pressure washing your house. Washing with a mixture of soap and water will ensure your siding is spotless when you're finished. However, in many cases it is not necessary to use soap and you can still achieve a powerful result without any product.
It depends on what you're cleaning. Cold water is recommended for high volume low pressure applications to knock away caked on mud and debris or when stripping away paint. For all other applications Hot water will allow for faster cleaning and reduce the amount of detergent required.