Chlorine: The Ultimate Cleaning Chemical

You may not be able to drop thousands of dollars on a high flow commercial pressure washer, but you can substantially improve the results you get from DIY pressure washing using an easily purchased chemical called sodium hypochlorite (a.k.a. pool chlorine, a.k.a. bleach). This is the secret sauce that industry professionals use for removing and preventing the regrowth of organics like algae, moss, mold, etc. It can yield amazing results, but caution must be taken when using it, because it’s quite strong and can be harmful to you or your property if used incorrectly.

What will it fix?

It will brighten concrete, siding, and many types of hardscape by killing off organics that darken and discolour these materials.  

What won’t it fix?

-        Oil/grease stains

-        Rust stains

-        Wood discoloration (it may help, but isn’t the ideal solution)

How do I use it?

Once you’re finished pressure washing concrete, you simply spray it on using an appropriate pressure washer, let it sit for 10-15mins, and then rinse it off. This is all it takes to remove lingering organic grime, and bring your hard surfaces from pretty clean to sparkling.

In the case of siding, you shouldn’t pressure wash it first, but instead, dampen the siding with a soft spray of water followed by an application of chlorine (in addition to a scrub with a soft brush if necessary) and then rinse after 10-15mins.

What could it damage?

-        YOU!

-        Your lawn/plants

-        Fabric including outdoor furniture and clothing

-        Your pressure washer (it is only suitable for use with a downstream injector that adds it to water that has already passed through the pump, many consumer pressure washers come with a “soap injector” tank that will cycle chemicals through the pump. If you put strong chlorine into one of these it is liable to destroy your machine. A suitable injector can be purchased for $40-250.

What concentration should it be?

Chlorine is usually purchased in a 12% concentration, but before you use it at home it must be diluted. A good starting point for strength is 1-1.5%. keep in mind that the water your pressure washer mixes it with will dilute it, but you need to calculate exactly how much it will be diluted based on the specs of your machine.

Where do I get it?

Most pool supply stores will sell it to you if you're buying in bulk and have your own container. Alternatively, you can buy it from a store with a pool section like Canadian tire or Walmart. The latter options costing you about twice as much by volume, but offering it prepackaged and in small quantities.

How do I protect my plants?

Chlorine is great at killing algae, but will also kill many other plants (including grass) if given the chance. This risk can be minimized by softly but thoroughly soaking plants with water before and after chlorine application.

Disclaimer

Do with this information what you will, but don’t consider this short article to be a comprehensive guide that will leave you fully prepared to use this chemical on your own. If you go this route, its best to consult other resources, get hands on instruction from professionals, and most important of all, don’t blame us if you destroy something. If in doubt, give us a call at (647) 212-6460, and we will do the hard work for you.