Hey guys, I’m researching what to use in place of Elemonator for a vinyl house wash. I’ve got a couple jobs scheduled tomorrow and unfortunately didn’t get my order in on time.
Have you used anything succesfully in place of the pressuretek chems?
Seems that some have used Gain in a roof mix, but I’m unsure if it’s safe for vinyl.
Thank you for any input
Where are you located? There’s 20 different posts with white stains on vinyl where people used dish soap so I’d walk away from that about as fast as I could.
I don’t know about Gain in particular, but I have read a ton of vinyl (and awning) manufacturers recommended cleaning methods and bleach is always on the list with laundry soap OR woolite. Woolite is apparently super gentle.
I’d probably mix up a small spray bottle and do a test spot and order another 5 gallons of Elemonator while it dwells. Lol
If the house is not bad dirty, just us SH…I washed houses growing up, using nothing as a surfactant.,they cleaned up fine.
Lol, I have some Elemonator on the way as we speak! I’m located in the Chicago Suburbs. This particular job I have scheduled is a house that was egged last fall. They cleaned most of it themselves, but have been unsuccessful in reaching the high peaks on the 2 story. Vinyl siding on this home. They said the leftover egg has turned black, most likely due to mold.
If I’m mixing 2 gal SH to 3 gal H2o, how much laundry soap would you add? If any?
@JimLuke did you have any issues with the SH not sticking on the house w/o any surfactant?
Never an issue…they always cleaned just like the ones I clean now, using surfactant. Now, I am not saying that surfactant does not serve a purpose and make a difference on really dirty houses…I am saying that you can get by without it in the short term.
As for the laundry soap…I have no idea as I have never used it.
Also, most yard guys in my area that wash houses don’t use any surfactant.
Thanks for the tip @JimLuke
Most things I’ve ever read from manufacturers says 1 cups of Clorox to 1 gallon of water and 1/2 a cup of soap.
That’s way too much in my opinion. I get by with a few drops of Elemonator per gallon SH so I’d say 3-4oz per 5 gallons is probably more than enough.
I’d probably go @JimLuke route though without surfactant save yourself a test spot and unknown from using something you’ve never used before.
Unfortunately, that egg stain will probably still be there when you leave. Like the black trim over a vinyl round top window. Just a nemesis
When I started washing houses I used TSP with bleach. Worked just fine.
M1 housewash at Home Depot works really well if I’m out of commercial surfactant.
Gain dish soap will work in a pinch. You’ll be alright.
That egg stain might not be a stain… that long & it may have ate away the paint
Ditto. Set realistic expectations to the customer.
I use EBC as a surfactant. It’s SH stable, you can mix a brew and leave it.
It has great hang capacity to let the SH work better, and you don’t use much.
Love the bubbles, makes me thinks it is a good product.
Arm and Hammer laundry detergent with the oxi clean in it will work great. Runs about $8/gal down here. Put about 5oz per gal if downstreaming to start. Adjust to get the suds you want.
+1 on the M1.
If you put dish soap in your wash mix, you have to add Jet-Dry to your rinse water. 
I have not used elemonator since trying the green Gain. I have a brand new gallon in my garage at the moment. I buy out the dollar store of their green gain. Its the only thing Ive ever bought from Dollar general. It appears it does not react with bleach and customers love the smell. I use about 4 oz per 10 gallons of HW mix to be DS. I have zero rinse issues and feel it rinses easier than Elemonator. Leaves windows shining
Good to know. Do you know your tds? I almost never do a house wash without cleaning the windows after and being a window cleaner at heart I just don’t feel right leaving tap water on their glass. In my area tds is usually around 300ppm and leaves hard water stains in a matter of hours. If I can’t sell them on an exterior window cleaning I usually still rinse the glass with pure water. I know alot of you don’t do anything with the glass other than rinse it and have always been curious about how you avoid hard water stains.
I’m not sure what tds are or pure water but I’ve rinsed a few hundred thousand windows with everything from well water to city water and never had anyone call about spots. Phone will probably ring tomorrow now though.
