First time power washing.. having a problem

[Mtxz453]

I am starting to do some powerwashing for some extra money and i am using my girlfriends mothers house as a startup point. She has vinyl siding that has never been cleaned before but the house is only about 10 years old. It has some decent black dirt/grit i'd say on it and i first starting using simple green siding cleaner which did nothing. I could powerwash the first story because i was up close and had enough pressure. The top story won't come off at all. Finally i called someone up and they told me to put one part pool bleach and one part soap and dilute it with water. So i did that and it finally came off. Now the other side is just as bad but for some reason the dirt will not budge. I've tried soaking it and rinsing it 3 times and even tried a 36" extension with a zero degree nozzle and still nothing. Should i be using a different, more potent solution or is my technique or instruments not up to par? I have a troy built that does 2.7 gpm at 3000 psi.

[buc21jrs3]

How long are you letting it sit on the siding for? I use 2 gal bleach/ 2 gal roadshow (or 1 cup simple cherry) / 1 gal water and let it sit for 3-4 minutes before rinsing with a 15-25 degree tip ( I never use a zero degree on houses) and it cuts away most of the grime. Occasionally I may need to spray the previous mentioned on and use an extension brush (20' does the trick) to cut really tuff grime.

[Beth n Rod]

How close to the siding are you with 3000 PSI?
Beth

[jetstream1]

What about the 0 tip you hit it with...???

[Mtxz453]

For the lower siding i was using the one up from zero which i think is 15 and i was about 3 feet away from the house and the dirt was slowly coming off. For the second story the 15 degree doesn't seem like it does much and even the zero has a hard it seems. It seems like the water won't stay in a straight line for more than 15 feet. I was letting it sit for 5 minutes and even let it sit for 15 on the third try. I guess i'll try new products.

[Mtxz453]

I dont think my machine is psi adjustable either i just put it on full throttle and wash away. I must have used about 3 tanks on the one side with little success and an hour and a half of wasted time. And I know the stuff isn't permenantly stained because it comes off on the lower half with more pressure and even a little scrubbing with my fingers will take it off, but for some reason im having trouble and cant figure out why, i've read just about everything i can as far as techniques, and the person on the phone said it isn't so much the soap but the bleach that gets the grime off.

[plainpainter]

newbies.....

[Beth n Rod]

Get an extension pole. Get a soft bristled truck washing brush. Buy an x-jet M5. Promise NEVER to use a zero on a house or a deck. For that matter, bag the 15. Your 40 and 25 are ok. Never wash too close. Never wash at an angle that forces water under the siding. Never work with out liability insurance. Ever. Use the search feature here with a good snack and beverage and read and ask questions.

Beth

[jetstream1]

Originally Posted by plainpainter

newbies.....

hahaha newbies rock.....

[Rick2]

If you really are new at this type of work do yourself a favor and throw that zero degree tip (the red one) in the trash. I cringed when I read you were using it to wash with. Any experienced power washer will tell you that you can get into a lot of trouble with that red tip.

[MMI Enterprises]

What kinda consperacy effort had to happen to where the o tip became standard inclusion with a washer purchase? Like who makes money off it besides insurance adjusters and people surounding the restoration biz?.. Peope should be fired and heads should roll!!

[PressureX]

Right now I'd say you're lucky you dont have a cracked vinyl siding and wand marks and water damage at that home. Like everybody else said .... NEVER use a 0 degree tip.

Get yourself a X-Jet M5 and a 5 gallon bucket. Mix 1 gallon of 12.5% bleach (not the normal clorox off the shelves, get actual 12.5% bleach, some pool suppliers might carry it), mix with 1/2 gallon soap (I use QWIC AllBrite from SunBrite Supply) and 3 1/2 gallons of water.

Mix all that in a bucket, stick the X-Jet in there, and apply the solution from bottom to top. Let it sit 5-10 minutes, then turn the soap off on the x-jet and simply rinse.

I NEVER use direct pressure, I could use a water hose as a matter of fact and the dirt comes off, too bad the water hose doesn't shoot 2 stories high.

Like Beth said, grab yourself a snack and a drink, and read read read. In my opinion "Pressure Washing" a house has very little to do with pressure itself.

[Mtxz453]

ok thanks guys i promise i wont use the zero degree tip.. on the package it actually said use it for second story washing. i really dont think my 15 degree will clean the second story with sufficient pressure, maybe my power washing is not as powerful but like i said ill use the 15. do you think the soap will make a difference from the home depot brand? because i am pretty much using the same bleach and mixing ratios. i guess ill try scrubing next

[Beth n Rod]

The machine's 0 or 15 tip is NOT the answer. The soap, the extension poles, the brushes, the method - that's the ticket. Think soft washing, not high pressure. Be gentle. Be safe. Be insured!!!

Beth

[PressureX]

I haven't used Home Depots Brand as far as soap goes. Are you SURE its 12.5% bleach? if so, ask how old it is hence Bleach weakens over time.

I simply use a soft bristle extendable brush, extension poles, and the right mix of solution.

I sometimes use our 2.6 GPM 3000 PSI backup machine that we had gotten from home depot, just takes longer, so the washer isn't the problem.

Check out these 2 products I personally recommend for house washing:

Simple Cherry from PressureTek
QWIC AllBrite from SunBrite Supply

By myself, with the 2.6GPM/3000PSI machine, a 2 story house shouldnt take longer then 2 1/2 hours including set-up and tear-down. It will also be "squeeky clean".