I have a question regarding bleach. Is there a way to prevent the smell of bleach becoming your natural smell with pressure washing. I have noticed that after doing a lot of washes that I am starting to really have the smell of bleach. Is this normal or am I just not protecting myself enough. Also what is the best outfit to wear if you have extreme sensitive skin. I seem to get bleach rashes anytime it touches my skin. Does anyone know a specific outfit with a link to purchase or just a list of protective wear I need. Are there any shampoos or conditioners and body washes out there on the market to deal with the harsh chemical bleach. If someone knows about this or a solution that would be great. I need serious thoughts because I want to make sure I stay as protected as possible out there. Thank you
HI washer, thanks for joining the forum. Maybe you could start by telling the fine members on here what you are using (equipment) and what you are washing/cleaning or doing?
There are plenty of threads on here regarding the smell of SH and PPE. You could use the search function to find those.
Let’s start with some basics.
- Everyone’s nose is a little different, so it is possible you may be having a reaction that another member wouldn’t. Same with skin. You may have allergies.
- Skin is a barrier for the human body, it isn’t a chemical shield. SH is a chemical and you should use PPE. I don’t care what you may have watched on youtube or tik tok, at a minimum glasses and gloves, wear clothing that sheds liquids rather than absorbing them. Wear appropriate clothing such as a full shirt or pants. Wear a hat with a wide brim (also limits your exposure to sun).
- Gloves used should repel SH not absorb. Nitrile are ok, but you must use the appropriate size and replace when they rip and they rip often.
- Never spray in an enclosed area without supplemental ventilation or a respirator. Spray with the wind when possible.
- Wash yourself off…immediately. You may have a rig with a remote or a three way switch. At a minimum you should have a hose from your tank for filling buckets/pump ups and for personal flushing/decontamination. Personally, I just switch to water and hose myself off (after ensuring the chem is out of the line).
- When you get home and take a shower - do not use hot water. Hot water opens your pores on your skin. When washing your head, tilt your head backwards so the stuff in your hair does not run down your face.
Lastly, make sure you are using the appropriate percentages of SH for what you are cleaning. Too much SH is a waste of money and could be detrimental to you and the surfaces you are cleaning…not to mention vegetation. It might sound stupid, but you shouldn’t be getting much SH on you, maybe some mist, once in a while you get some backsplash, some porch roof dripping, but it shouldn’t be an ongoing thing. Mostly you will be getting HW mix on you, which is pretty diluted. Maybe you are too close or using too much pressure or the incorrect nozzle.
I used to teach chemicals munitions for a government agency, so I kind of feel a little qualified to make these statements.
You need to read more. This forum is full of gold.
I’d go so far as say to use a respirator all the time while working. I used to be in the camp where I didn’t care. Then I did a few roofs while wearing it for appearances last summer. Then I took it off.and went back up there for one reason and almost got sick. It was a real AHA moment for me.
I think that a homeowner can get away with winging it occasionally. We have a lot more exposure than a homeowner.
Grundens or helly Hansen fishing wear. It’s thick equipment made to keep rain out. It does the job and is easily rinseable. Downside is it’s 200% waterproof which means you’re going to sweat A lot.
Xtra tough deck boots are what I like to wear because they have pretty good grip on wet surfaces, keep your good footwear out of the mud, but have that same 200% waterproof issue. You also get the added bonus of feeling like you’re wearing clown shoes. I also wear noise cancelling earbuds and those seem to help filter out loud noises. Learned that from someone on here so thanks whoever it was for recommending jlab pro ANC earbuds!
Did you mean ‘manutention’ instead of ‘munitions’? Obviously autocorrect…
This was a great answer, lots of good advice.
No, munitions. Chemicals agents used against people. Law enforcement uses a plethora of munitions as a non lethal form of control for individuals or groups utilizing a large assortment of delivery methods. I also did a little training in the military too, but that was more robust stuff than what law enforcement uses, chemical, biological, and radiological junk and stuff.
I had to do a bit on decontamination procedures too, because of lawsuits and stuff. Notorious drug dealer hell bent on tearing apart the town becomes an altar boy that gave back to the community and was tortured by law enforcement.
Oh well that’s interesting ! Sorry i just assumed autocorrect changed the word.
We’ve had a ton of real windy days lately. It’s almost impossible to wash anything w/o getting covered. I’ve been wearing the old john deere plastic rain jacket and my neck gaitor that I can pull up.
I used to get the ole raSH on my forearms… not anymore. I put a Y splitter on the incoming water supply to the buffer tank & it works like a water faucet. Pre wet my arms & face, then rinse off every time I walk to the trailer to turn off soap. Nitrile coated work gloves are my go to. I also have a wide bream hat that has been awesome.
The SH not as much as spraying acid 30’ up in a 20+ mph wind I had this afternoon. White vinyl siding house in a newer subdivision. It makes them shine. I did a lady’s on the main road which was almost orange a couple of weeks ago. Used 5 gallons of acid on just the front and back. Everyone in the entire neighborhood talking about now. Have picked up 4 jobs in there past 10 days. But it can be brutal in the wind.
First pic doesn’t show how nearly the entire front was orange from 2+ years of baked on red clay dust
Pretty amazing….never had to do that to that magnitude. Don’t have red clay like that around here. Did you downstream the acid I imagine. Was that the wheel acid?
What’s it made of? I have 1 cloth and 1 leather…
Oxalic acid?
What’s the process for that clay? Just the acid and rinse?
yes, it’s 6% hydroflouric and 6% phosphoric acid.
No, I don’t use ox. I wash it first, that will get some of the dirt and of course organic stuff. If it stioo has the reddish tint, then I hit it with the wire wheel cleaner
Did you DS it at 100% strength? Or any dilution prior to the DS injector?
