Pressure Washing With Bleach
- Christopher Stiller
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
Hello my name is Chris Stiller and I am the owner of Precision Property solutions (exterior cleaning business located in Putnam County). Here I will be describing the properties of bleach and why it's the most widely used cleaner across the power washing and soft wash industry.
Bleach is not just our product of choice. This product is specified by various manufacturers to properly clean their surfaces. With every job contractors should check the manufacturers specifications to ensure they follow their recommendation.
The utilization of bleach allows exterior cleaning professionals to minimize the amount of pressure used to clean surfaces. This prevents damage and provides better results.
Chlorine as a Naturally Occurring Element: Chlorine is a naturally occurring element, typically found as a gas. It's also used in various forms for disinfection and cleaning purposes.
Weakening of Bleach on Organic Material: Bleach does tend to lose its effectiveness when it comes into contact with organic material. This is because organic matter can react with the chlorine in bleach, rendering it less potent as a disinfectant or cleaner.
Degradation of Bleach in Sun, Heat, and Over Time: Exposure to sunlight, heat, and time causes bleach to degrade.
Reversion of Bleach to Saltwater: When bleach breaks down, it reverts back to salt and water. This is a result of the chemical reactions that occur as bleach decomposes.
Damage Caused by Salt Deposits: Improper rinsing after using bleach can leave behind salt deposits, which can cause damage if not properly addressed. This emphasizes the importance of hiring an experienced contractor.
Presence of Bleach in City Water: Chlorine, in the form of bleach or other compounds, is often added to city water as a disinfectant to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens.
Bleach's Role in Exterior Cleaning: While bleach is not a universal solution, it has played a significant role in improving the quality of exterior cleaning processes. Compared to pressure washing alone, bleach can provide a better finished product while causing less damage then pressure washing.
With the use of bleach comes the responsibility of protecting items such as electrical components and plants to ensure damage does not occur.
Below I have attached a few references from manufacturers containing information about their cleaning recommendations. There is no one size fits all solution. Before providing a proposal for almost any job we check the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure we don't void warranties or cause unwarranted damage.
From Clorox:
From Sherwin Williams:
From Sunbrella:
From 30 Second Outdoor Cleaner: https://30secondscleaner.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Brochure-30-Seconds-Outdoor-Cleaner.pdf
I hope that you benefited from this list. If you have any questions feel free to reach out. I would also love to hear your feedback at NY@ExteriorCleaning.Business
Best regards, Chris Stiller
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