I know this isn’t window cleaning, but I don’t know where else to ask it.
I was watching a guy yesterday that sprayed a house with a garden hose connected to a spicket then sprayed the cleaning mixture on the house with a pump sprayer then washed it off with the water hose. Does that work just as good as doing it with a power washer? Are there an differences that I should know about if I give this a try?
If he was cleaning vinyl, he most likely had a bleach/water mixture. You spray on, let dwell for 5 minutes or so, then rinse off. The bleach removes any organic material on the vinyl. Works pretty good believe it or not, a lot of business are doing what they call “soft washing”. They use diferent equipment than what that individual was using, he was probably a homeowner possibly. We are getting a power washing rig this spring and will be offering that too. Hope that helps.
This is a kid who just started his company and is growing. He did this because it was cheap which is where I’m at right now.
This is a option that works well and is much cheaper than a power washer and down streaming or a x-jet. You will need a chemical tank which you can get at Tractor Supply or online. https://shopwindowcleaningresource.com/xero-bronze-wool-pad-holder-kit.html
That link is to a bronze pad holder.
So basically the answer to your question is “yes” you can clean a house (sort-of) without a pressure washer if you have a good understanding of the chemicals needed, and the willingness to throw in more effort and manual labour. Here is a blog I did on this very topic when my pressure washer broke mid clean:
http://www.danthewindowman.ca/blog/pickering-eaves-cleaning.html
Basically, because I understood the chems and technique, I could finish the job with an extension pole, ladders, a pole brush and a garden hose.
HOWEVER! It takes WAY longer!!!
There is a reason that pressure washing companies use pressure washers. It is the same reason that window cleaners don’t use tools from home depot.
EFFICIENCY = MONEY
While it’s possible to do a house wash with a hose and a backpack sprayer or whatever clever thing you just thought of, it’s not good enough to compete with the pros. And you won’t make much money. It might help you get started in your business if you don’t have the money to invest in a proper rig, but trust me on this: When you can afford a good pw system, you will abandon anything else and never look back.
@DanTheWindowMan, you said you used an extension pole, a ladder, a brush, etc. That lost me. All the guy in the video I posted did was spray with a garden hose, spray with a pump sprayer then spray with a garden hose and he was done. That was it. I feel like I’m missing something.
How much does everything cost to start washing houses? What are the tools needed?
You can soft wash siding and gutters and such relatively cheap. Just get a few chemicals,extension pole and brush. Check out “Dave the window licker” on YouTube he has some videos that will help you.
So, I hope I am going to end this thread right here. Otherwise this will become a waste of time.
Go do some reading on the PWRA forum. Here is the link:
You should find the answers to your questions there.
HOWEVER! At the risk of actually continuing this conversation (please don’t), the video that you shared is a horrible example of how to wash houses, professionally. It is the equivalent of someone posting a video on this forum of “how to clean windows with paper towel and windex.” It is sub-par, not industry standard and not profitable. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine, go read and search on PWRA.
I have been trying to think of how to answer this question without being insulting, because the answer is way too simple:
Sometimes you need to scrub stuff. And sometimes that stuff is high.
Please just go search and read on PWRA, all the answers to your questions are there, and it can open up a new avenue of revenue for your business. Good luck.
@DanTheWindowMan, I’ve typed out a couple of responses and deleted them because I’m trying to keep this family-friendly. I didn’t ask for your help specifically, but you gave it. A sincere thanks for that. But, you can keep your comments and remarks to yourself and not comment if you don’t like the question. It’s that easy. Did you watch the video I posted? In the video he sprays the house with the hose, sprays it with the cleaner then sprays it with the hose and is done. He doesn’t scrub a thing. I’m trying to find out how he did that, if it’s doable that way or if you have to always have a brush. (Rhetorical thoughts.) How about with a power washer? (Also rhetorical.) I don’t know these things at all. If I’m getting on your nerves then, like I said before, don’t post a reply.
Settle down. The point is you either do it right, and make money, or run around with a pump sprayer and a garden hose.
I gave you a valuable link to a wealth of information, use it or not, I don’t care.
@Stoneface pressure washing and some soft wash kept me busier than anything else this year and I must agree with @DanTheWindowMan on this. The link he gave you should offer you the best assistance, I’ll be checking it out too. If you’d like, feel free to PM me and when I can I’ll share with you some of what I’ve been using on these types of jobs.