Hey,

How are you guys been diluting your Sodium Hydroxide for decks? My mix currently seems a little too strong. Would like to see how low I can get it. I'm using hot water. Suggestions?

Don't use hot water for starters.

Celeste

Carolina ProWash

why not hot water? also what about the mix?

You are much more likely to "fuzz-up" wood when using hot water. Before adjusting how hot your mix is, try using cold water and see if that solves your problem.

Other than that, I downstream SH for cleaning un-stained decks/fences and even some oil-based stains. I use RPC Roof Magic (I suggested making a label calling it Deck Magic) and have a 5'er of RPC 4X - just in case.

John Orr
Low-Pressure Exterior Cleaning
Chesapeake, VA

john,

are you saying you downstream sodium hydroxide or hypochlorite? thanks.

Well, that depends. My comment was for sodium hydroxide, but there are occasions when I will downstream sodium hypochlorite onto a deck - painted wood, solid stain, removing mold mildew only.

John Orr
Low-Pressure Exterior Cleaning
Chesapeake, VA

good to know. i was hoping i might be able to downstream it. are you using a dual lance wand to lower your pressure. i typically do with a yellow tip in it. 3500 psi unit.

I don't care for the dual lances. I use a chem (black) tip on a single lance. As for the tip I use to clean, I prefer the 40 degree (white) tip. On your machine, I would probably use a 10 (4010 or 40100) tip. This tip will reduce your pressure to about 600 psi and leave your flow at (I assume your machine has) 4gpm.

John Orr
Low-Pressure Exterior Cleaning
Chesapeake, VA

it's 4.7 gpm. i haven't heard of the tip you're describing. is it a wider fan than white tip?

In that case, a 12.0 would give you close to 600 psi.


Every tip has two measurements, the spray angle (white is 40 degrees) and the size of the orifice. So, a 40120 is 40 degrees with a 12.0 orifice. The bigger the orifice, the lower the pressure.

John Orr
Low-Pressure Exterior Cleaning
Chesapeake, VA