6 Effective Bleach Alternative for Pressure Washing You Can Rely On
Wash Safe says,
“Concentrated chlorine such as bleach will destroy plants and the network of life they depend on to obtain nutrients and thrive”
Pressure washing is undoubtedly one of the most efficient methods when it comes to keeping your surroundings amazingly clean. However, if you’re thinking about using bleach, it might be the doom of your pressure washer. You know that, right?
Yes, bleach is one of the quickest ways to disinfect your exteriors. But it’ll destroy your plants, stain your clothes and mess with your pressure washer. Therefore, you should always look for a bleach alternative for pressure washing.
Now the question is, which bleach substitutes will be the best ones? Well, that’s what we’re about to discuss in this article.
Bleach Alternative for Pressure Washing – All You Need to Know
The pressure washing system will be your best friend when you love the fresh and super clean ambiance! And if you’ve picked bleach as your go-to cleaning agent, we understand why you did that in the first phase. After all, it helps you to get rid of mildew, bacteria, and some stubborn spot. And that’s too good to be true!
But in reality, bleach is more harmful than it seems. It’s fatal to the environment, dangerous for your pets, and will devastate the whole pressure washing system. So here is a list of solutions you can use as an alternative to bleach. Let’s take a look.
- Vinegar
- Oxalic Acid
- Potassium Hydroxide
- Citric Acid
- Ammonia
- Sodium Hydroxide
1. Vinegar
As vinegar doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals, it’s safe for the environment and other life forms. Moreover, this solution can effectively clean many surfaces; it’s the most popular bleach substitute for pressure washing.
Vinegar isn’t detrimental to the pressure washer’s parts despite being an acidic cleaner. But make sure you’re using white vinegar for this process to get the best results.
When cleaning a light layer of mildew, dirt, or grime, you can make a 10/1 ratio of water and vinegar. A 6/1 ratio of water and white vinegar will be perfect for heavier buildups and stubborn stains.
However, even if you’re using white vinegar without dilution, there won’t be any damaging effects at all. But you’ll have to buy bigger bottles of vinegar, which can be costly for some people.
2. Oxalic Acid
To make your exteriors more sparkly, oxalic acid is unmatchable. This chemical is the crowd’s favorite when it’s about cleaning years of stains and discolorations.
If your patios have become patchier or grimy, nothing seems to work on them; you can run your pressure washer with oxalic acid to get desired results. It can make the wooden and concrete surface look brand new, which is all you need.
However, this chemical is more on the caustic side. Hence, you shouldn’t use it for your regular pressure washing sessions.
3. Potassium Hydroxide
Potassium Hydroxide may be Potash, which is also an excellent cleaning agent for pressure washing. As this chemical consists of smaller molecules, it can easily penetrate oily surfaces and eliminate grease effortlessly. But you need to mix it with hot water for enhanced efficiency.
Well, this solution is also caustic; hence, using it regularly and its higher concentration should be avoided.
4. Citric Acid
When you pressure wash any surface with citric acid, you will have a cleaner exterior with a refreshing smell. You can use this chemical to clean concrete, wooden, or metal surfaces, whatever seems like the biggest issue.
If rusting or old stains are in your wooden patio or concrete driveway, just take your pressure washer and run it with citric acid. To enjoy super-clean surroundings, you can use a 50/50 water and citric acid ratio. And the pleasant citrusy smell is a bonus!
5. Ammonia
You may already know that ammonia is an excellent glass cleaner. So, you can also use this during your power washing procedures to eliminate staining.
However, pressure washing might be ineffective if you don’t use the proper ammonia solution. For a better experience, mix half a cup of ammonia in 1 gallon of water. And then, include a pint of rubbing alcohol to make it a fast-drying one. With this solution, you can enjoy an exhilarating pressure-washing session; there’s no doubt about that.
6. Sodium Hydroxide
This alkaline, also known as lye or caustic soda, is included in most cleaning agents you see out there. A high-power exothermic process occurs when you mix the sodium hydroxide with water. Therefore, with the help of a pressure washer, you can use it for cleaning super stubborn grease, spots, and layers of dirt.
But if you’re using a higher concentration for this process, don’t leave it too long on surfaces. It can get damaged pretty quickly, and you don’t want that.
Besides, Hydrogen Peroxide and baking soda can also be used as alternatives to bleach.
Tips You Need to Follow for Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is a tricky job, we must say. If you don’t follow the proper procedures, it can be dangerous. So here are some to follow to complete pressure washing without any issues.
Wear Protective Gear
While working with different cleaning agents, you must wear protective gloves while pressure washing. Your skin might be sensitive to some ingredients; thus, the gloves will save you from irritation. And wearing long pants and boots will keep your legs safe too.
Additionally, dirt or debris can get into your eyes while running the device on various surfaces. Hence, you need to put on protective goggles as well.
Don’t Get Too Close
To prevent spraying, keep the hose at least 18 inches away while applying cleaning agents on the surface. This way, you won’t be showered by harsh chemicals while working.
Use Both Your Hands
When you’re pressure washing, sometimes the device gets out of control and flies off! If you want to avoid that, hold down the machine with both hands to keep the device steady.
Perform a Test Run
To ensure your pressure washer is working properly or not, go for a test run first. If something feels odd, fix that issue right away to be on the safe side.
Things That Can Go Wrong While Using a Pressure Washer
Here are a few little things that might go wrong during your pressure washing sessions.
Electric Shock
Sometimes when you fail to follow the security instructions, you may get an electric shock from your pressure washer. To prevent this, follow the user manual and follow the directions properly.
Co2 Poisoning
As most of the pressure washer engine is powered by gasoline, using it in an enclosed space may cause Co2 poisoning. Thus, ensure you have enough ventilation when working on a specific area.
Cracks on the Surface
When the pressure washing device is aimed directly, it can damage the surface. Moreover, if you try to change the nozzle with the engine running, you’ll experience similar consequences.
Infections
While using the pressure washer, you may get injured. No matter how small the wound is, always check up with medical professionals as it can become an untreatable infection. And you don’t want that!
Wrap Up
So here is everything you need to know about the bleach alternative for pressure washing. As we’ve given you an elaborate idea, you’ll enjoy squeaky-clean surroundings from now on. Just follow the tips we shared with you, and hopefully, there’ll be no trouble.
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