Personal Protective equipment?

I’m just getting ready to startup a PW business and I have been reading the MSDS on the chemicals that I might be using and they have pretty serious health warnings. Watching everyone’s videos it seems like nobody wears much more than muck boots and nitrile gloves. I get that the chemicals are usually getting diluted, but I’m concerned about long term exposure to the chemicals. I feel like I would want to wear a full face mask respirator and a tyvek suit and good boots. Does anybody wear that much protection? Does it scare customers?

If I saw someone washing my house looking Dustin Hoffman from Outbreak I’d be concerned. At the same time it’s normal to want to protect yourself.

For a house wash you’re putting .6 to 1.0% SH on the walls so most don’t wear respirators for a house wash. Roof washing you’re putting down 3 to 6% SH so much stronger concentration…many more wear respirators for that. I have a 3M with pink chemical cartridges I got at Lowe’s I use for spraying degreaser on hood vents since it’s enclose inside. The whole body suit thing is overkill for a house wash. Just get some polyester shorts and shirts and go make money.

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I wear a mask and goggles when applying chem, even just DS’ing HW mix. A little won’t hurt you but my long term health is worth the discomfort. Just my $.02

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How often do the pink filters need to be replaced,?

Depends on how long you wear them and how often. If they are stored in a cool dry place between jobs they will pick up less moisture. You should be able to smell more chemicals when they are getting needing replaced.

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I got tired of my face getting peppered with dirt from my turbo nozzle and found a face shield is a necessity when doing surface work.

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Thanks for your feedback guys!