Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Chemical suggestions to use on a really ugly siding

waxman18324 · Founding Member Rest in Peace

My suggestion would have been Craig's F-9 rust remover as we have done a ton of houses similar to this siding. Most are in town along a major thoroughfares. I mixed 5 ounces per gallon of water in a pump up spray. We applied, brushed and then rinsed never letting it dry. It worked for us.

Hank

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

We have had those as well and I swear it is exhaust related. The only thing that worked for us was a strong degreaser, full strength with more brushing than we want to do.

Fred W · Guru

I would try some One Restore

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Baton Rouge Roof Cleaner wrote:
I would try some One Restore

We tried it all and degreaser was the only thing that would work.

Eric Schnaible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I would try ultra one heavy duty degreaser.

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thank you for the suggestions.

One aspect of this project was a few years ago a local pressure washing "plowed this siding" with heavy pressure and removed the dirt but left it dingy and yellow. He has damaged the veneer of the siding and the fact this shop does a lot of fire work dust is a constant factor

HHandywork · Exterior Cleaner

When I used the EBC with a brushing as Hank suggested it worked great with the soot stains on a vinyl job that I recently finished. I definitely didn't have as much soot or car exhaust as your job Steve. I would you interested on how you apply Agent Blue to your cleaning if you could PM sometime when you get a minute please.
I read a post that you had great results with Agent Blue for oxidation on vinyl siding and wonder if you would use this after cleaning this Firestone job.

HHandywork · Exterior Cleaner

Seems like the worst spot to have a vent with car port overhang. I had a lot of trouble cleaning a pallet stove soot of vinyl

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Tayib
Agent Blue is good for oxidation removal. We are careful not to use a strong mix unless we want to remove oxidation.

I still find Vinyl Renu's Oxidation Cleaner/ Remover the best to remove heavy oxidation. This cleaner is formulated specifically as a oxidation remover before apply Vinyl Renu Sealer.

Doug Rucker · Vender

Did you try two stepping it??

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I remember talking about this grunge numerous times over the years,..an acid with HF in it is what works best,...even cheap Hydrochloric will work,..just much harsher,..won't hurt the siding though,..just sucks using it. But as the above mentioned by Doug,..I two-step usually,...on the DRY siding apply the acid and let it sit a few minutes,..and then come back with Purple Power and apply over the acid,..without rinsing in between,..and that very hard to remove stain will simply wash away.

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
I remember talking about this grunge numerous times over the years,..an acid with HF in it is what works best,...even cheap Hydrochloric will work,..just much harsher,..won't hurt the siding though,..just sucks using it. But as the above mentioned by Doug,..I two-step usually,...on the DRY siding apply the acid and let it sit a few minutes,..and then come back with Purple Power and apply over the acid,..without rinsing in between,..and that very hard to remove stain will simply wash away.

Jeff

Good stuff Jeff!

Chris Mozick · Approved Exteior Cleaner

No matter you still have to brush usually. Charge accordingly for your labor.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Actually, two-stepping properly will eliminate the brushing. Sounds too good to be true I know,..but if done properly with the right products,..it will simply wash away.

Jeff

Steve Salley · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thank you Jeff
I will stop by and two step this and see what happens. Of course, that is assuming PA weather decided to cooperate...

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Hey Steve,..yea,..warm weather is a detergent accelerator on it's own,..the warmer it is,..the better and faster it will work. But it will still work in cooler temps,..just not as effortlessly as in July!! If I were doing it,.I'd certainly be using the Aluminum Brightener with Hydroflouric at full strength. Because although Hydrochloric will also work,..it doesn't work as well as Aluminum Brightener,..and with these temps,..you need every advantage you can get. Put it on dry siding.

I do this all the time in mild to wild cases of grungy siding,..many times it's just under the soffit a few feet as a minor stain,..but,..looks so much better when it's removed. It's usually on houses that have never been done,..and then after that,..the next time you do that house it will be a routine wash.

*Even if you do have to brush a little due to the temps, it won't be like scrubbing,..basically just agitation and evening out,..but that will look so much better when cleaned.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Tuesday 27th of November 2018 05:47:32 AM