Hey, I didn't know that regular bleach had the hydroxide in it too! Learned somethin' new today

Celeste

Carolina ProWash

what chemical do you use to replace bleach help thanks

We prefer a sodium percarbonate product as opposed to sodium hypochlorite, however, sodium hypochlorite, in certain circumstances is acceptable for use on wood.

Celeste

Carolina ProWash

I was going to put a long harangue in about how beach can damage certain things etc. etc.
But the thing is without knowing the components of each type of vinyl siding who knows? The things missing here are
1. A controll group- IE do part of a wall with bleach and part without, then go back for 10 years and see the results
2. specific standards of comparison things that are more spcific then "looks good" "Customers call back in 3 years"
That said

"Hypochlorite is a strong oxidizer, and the products of the oxidation reactions are corrosive, and can burn skin and cause eye damage, particularly when used in concentrated forms. Hypochlorite must not be mixed with organic materials (e.g. dirt), as the resulting trihalomethanes (also called haloforms) are carcinogenic. The extent of the hazard thus created is a subject of disagreement."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite

Also when producing bleach the only thing that can be used to filter it is asbestos. nothing else they have found will hold up to strong Cl solutions.
But I still will use it diluted to kill mold and such.
Also if you read the label on MANY commercial cleaning products for decks houses etc you will see "Sodium hypochlorite" AKA bleach many are bleach and lye, AKA caustic soda, sodium hydroxide.
the only other chemicals I have scene are
sodium metasilicate (a detergent)
TriSodiumPhosphate (also a detergent)
sodium carbonate
sodium percarbonate (oxi-clean, )
and citric acid
also some have
butyl based stuff like
ETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER-
AKA (take a deep breath)
2-Butoxy ethanol; Butyl cellosolve; Dowanol EB; Butyl oxitol;
Ethylene glycol n-butyl ether; n-Butyl Cellosolve; Ethylene Glycol Mono-n-butyl; Ethylene glycol butyl ether; n-butoxyethanol;

"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country".—Hermann Goering, April 18, 1946

I have been doing research and expermintating on the
"bleach" question for many months. After eight years of being a heavy bleach user, I am now about 90% bleach free.

I have switched very successfully to oxygen bleach cleaners. They are great cleaners and very enfironmentally friendly, more than any cleaner I know of. It breaks down into natural ingredients very quikly, and it is non corrosive.

It will not " bleach" out color like hypochlorite will, but is does clean very well and kills mold better than bleach. It has taken some time to learn how to be efficient with it, but it is paying off.

We all should do our part to become "greener" and there is no better way than to use oxygen bleach.

Chris LeBas
Exterior Cleaning Services, Inc.
www.exteriorcleaningservices.com
chris@exteriorcleaningservices.com

Where are you purchasing oxygen bleach? I am always for a safer cleaner