neutralizing

[ghouchu]

is there anything i should be neutralizing ion addition to decks? painted wood houses? aluminum siding? bricks? any other post-cleaning applications needed for various surfaces? when is it appropriate to use a wax bath, and can i do it with a cold water washer or is hot water required?

thanks to you folks, i've been able to legitimately claim a degree of expertise far beyond my actual experience. better, my results have always borne out my claims of expertise.

richard

 

[Glenn]

I neutralize for two different reasons and you can basically neutralize anuthing you clean with chemicals. One reason is to brighten. After cleaning decks or concrete I use a neutralizer to brighten the apperance on the surface. Also, the neutralizer balances the ph in you runoff so as to to adversely affect the plant life around what you are cleaning. If I clean with a acid I neutralize with an alkaline. If I use an alkaline cleaner I neutralize with an acid. I usually get the best results on wood decks.
Glenn

 

[ghouchu]

thanks for the info. what do you clean with an acid? is stripper acid based or alkaline based or either? i am neutralizing now with a store-bought (national home improvement chain) product that is 10% oxalic acid and is to be mixed 1 part product to 3 or 4 parts water (i forget exactly which) and applied with a pump spray. calls itself a cleaner/neutralizer. recommends 15 minutes dwell then thorough rinsing. is that as good as anything? any reason not to apply it through my downstream injector? would it be harmful or helpful to go back and neutralize a deck i washed with a relatively weak bleach mixture 2 months ago? see what happens when you're a nice guy and answer somebody's question?

thanks

richard

 

[Glenn]

Richard,
The Oxalic is good. The strippers I use are Alkaline based and I use acid to clean aluminum and masonry mainly. Everything else I use an acid to neutralize with.
Glenn

 

[Steven Rowlett]

Richard, Most chemical injectors have a 7:1 ratio. That would dilute the ocylic acid too much. However you can mix it 1:1 and run througt the X-Jet, it has a 1.6:1 ratio. This will give you a 3.2:1 ratio and should work fine. This way you can heat the ocylic acid by running your burner.

 

[Aplus]

I have never heard of anybody heating oxalic acid. What's up with that?

 

[Steven Rowlett]

I feel by mixing the ocylic acid with hot water it works better. It is what we do and recommend.

 

[rvagnoni]

Steven,
I can see what you mean about heating the water when spraying the oxalic acid. Warmer water will soften the wood more allowing the acid to penetrate better. We don't apply it this way and never had a problem otherwise... but I can see your point.