Vinyl Oxidation

We must have seen the same video as that is where I got the impression that was what polishing was…
I wasn’t using just a piece on the tip of my finger, i was using the whole pad as filthy as they were.
I have since learned that bronze pads are better to use as they do not rust when they get wet. Haven;t tried it yet. Maybe one of the window pros can chime in on this

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People been using 0000 steel wool to clean windows for 40 years.

Most old school window cleaners do it included in a normal window clean.

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HUH? You might be well served to do more research about oxidation, youngster.

Do tell

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Better advice to a newbie might not have to do with disturbing oxidation, but with how to keep that oxidation from grabbing the chemicals on their march to the ground and causing that staining that we all fear and hate. When we clean houses, that doesn’t include removing oxidized vinyl.

Exactly that. My limited experience has taught me that to remove oxidation from vinyl I use a brush and gutter grenade. dip the brush, scrub it in and rinse. WAY TOO MUCH WORK, and unless the house is being prepared for sale not a job I recommend to my customer. BTW, the oxidation is always most advanced onb the southern side where the sun beats on it daily…

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@CFH not that new

Valid point but it wasan’t really the topic of conversation. I make certain assumptions when I talk to certain people here.

Like how some people would be annoyed if you called them youngster, but I’m not cus I know you personality and I know your good people. :wink:

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the issue of oxidation and how it can affect the outcome of a house wash is still so unknown. NOBODY has an actual reason to why and how… I can’t stand speculation, especially on this topic.

@Sharpe and @MrSparkleVA your both kind of right. Most houses, even it is has oxidation can be washed correctly and have a good outcome. Certain colors, certain manufactures, other factors, and you can wash a house like you have the last 100 and all of a sudden your in a pickle.

I still wish there was some science, data, or something to really look at.

All we can go off of is our personal experience. Every house I wash has some form of oxidation on it, and my success rate is 99%…but that still left me with two house that looked like crap at the end.

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What happened with those two houses that looked like crap, if you don’t mind me asking? Did you have to manually scrub to make it look right?

Do you forewarn homeowners and/or make them sign anything regarding oxidation?

Hopefully someone will come up with an explanation why after cleaning it the oxidation can become more noticeable. Also I would like to see a spray on rinse off product to correct it.

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It’s like scratches on your car. Hard to see them until you wash it. Dirt and ,mildew over oxidation hides it until it is cleaned sometimes.

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I don’t recommend it…but I two stepped the wall with a citric acid and then a product called film fighter ( caustic truck wash) One house it worked great and the other one it removed the oxidation ( no powder when you wipe your hand ). But had to scrub one area to get rid of one area

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You don’t recommend manually scrubbing or you don’t recommend forwarding homeowners/making them sign something?

I don’t recommend using a 2 step process on a wall. I did it very cautiously… but I don’t recommend it as it can cause more damage if not done correctly

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I washed a light green vinyl house 2 years in a row. It’s clean not dirty and almost no algae to be seen. It’s my friend’s parents house. 3rd year after I wash it the South wall shows a yellow tint on the green siding. It’s more visible looking at it from an angle but still visible straight on. Same process every year with the same machines, same elemonator and mix of SH. The 3rd year the siding decided to change color. It would not have changed color if I didn’t wash it so in a way it’s my fault but I believe over the years it could have become gradually worse. I was lucky the customer is a carpenter and has an understanding of oxidation. He knows its not my process or chemicals because only one wall changed. It you can explain to the customer what oxidation is and that it’s not your process or soaps but the reaction of the oxidation you may walk away fine. If not you can always scrub it.

I had a customer with green siding who had her whole house resided because it oxidized in three years was under warranty. It was never washed in those 3 years. Of course she did it in green again.

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Find a guy that installs vinyl siding, make friends! In the end if it cant be corrected your going to be responsible for it.

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For those of you aspiring to improve your window cleaning and need some training, here is a video by Ralphie May’s cousin that you can enjoy.

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That’s where customer education comes in handy. You know before hand if that siding can potentially be problematic and you let the customer know ahead of time that their siding isn’t in great shape and even if you do everything right the oxidation can still potentially be an issue. If nothing happens you look good and if something happens your butt is covered.

I agree. I would love to do estimates through Google Earth but I’m afraid I’d miss something that could potentially become a problem. Oxidized siding is top on my list.

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These guys might be good at cleaning windows but pressure washing is definitely not their specialty. I was going to work for them last year but decided to learn the PW business on my own. Glad I did after seeing their equipment, cleaning techniques, and chemicals.

I thought the video was hilarious. Yes, he gets the window clean but using a huge bath towel and did you pick up on the use of the word irradiate, 5 Mississippi of soap, etc.

Someone that seems to be really good at window cleaning and does nice videos is Trad-Man. He is an Irish fellow.

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