Howdy....been searching previous posts until my eyes have glazed over, and I can't find this answer, so I though I'd pose the question here: What purpose does the alcohol serve in the sauce mix? It is for cleaning, "surfacing", reaction or for a different reason altogether?
This also leads me to another question. Typically when I do a roof/house combo cleaning, I'll take my leftover roof sauce, re-soap and dilute it for the house washing. Will the alcohol in the Billy Bob damage paint/siding, etc?
Ray
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Howdy....been searching previous posts until my eyes have glazed over, and I can't find this answer, so I though I'd pose the question here: What purpose does the alcohol serve in the sauce mix? It is for cleaning, "surfacing", reaction or for a different reason altogether?
This also leads me to another question. Typically when I do a roof/house combo cleaning, I'll take my leftover roof sauce, re-soap and dilute it for the house washing. Will the alcohol in the Billy Bob damage paint/siding, etc?
Ray
The rubbing alcohol seems to speed up the reaction by acting as a Big Football Lineman, opening a huge Hole in the defensive line for his running back.' Alcohol is a penetrant, and seems to aid the faster penetration of the sodium hypochlorite into the Algae. There is NO Alchol in Appe SAUCE It is in Apple CIDER ! Be aware that Alcohol will make the tank Smoke when you add it, so be sure it is vented a little ? And also be aware it will burn up the mix faster, so make only what you need ? I know many people who use it, along with the Amonyx LO, in house wash mixes. Think about it, many window cleaners use it. And no, the small amount of alcohol we use wont damage anything, but slime!
BTW had the chance to speak with Lori today, she was very helpful and I'm going to start using her for my chemical supply. I'm gonna get all "chemically fancy" like you guys!
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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
HI and welcome ray. I like to use the ISP (alcohol) In my mix. It definitely seems to speed up the time before you will see dead moss as well. I add a little more for mossy roofs.
Billy Bob is the name we gave bto the Amonyx LO Chrorine Stable Surfactant found by Billy of H2o Cleaning here in Florida. His name is Billy Jensen, so we call it the Billy Bob
Okaaaaaay.... So is it appropriate to were cut off sleeve flannel shirts, unbuttoned, with cutoff jean shorts, with ankle boots while using it????????? LOL
We haven't been using alcohol in our mix but we'll need to soon for some roofs with moss on them. I've read many times that the alcohol will burn up the mix. Any thoughts on how quickly that happens. Will the mix be good for a couple of days, one day, a few hours, etc.?
Hey Bill, Once you put your alcohol in the mix it's only about a day before it starts to dillute the strength of the SH, at least from what I noticed in my mixes. If your not using Ammonyx Lo the soap will eat your mix faster than the alcohol. When you start using alcohol use the 99%, it's a lot stronger which will help enhance the cleaning.
-- Edited by PrestigePressure on Friday 2nd of April 2010 12:18:49 AM
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Prestige Pressure Washing and Roof Cleaning Roof Cleaning Dayton Ohio Pressure Washing Dayton OH 888-477-9274 Proudly Cleaning Ohio & Indiana since 2007 4633 W Wenger Rd. Clayton, OH 45315
Thanks Shawn. I posted this in another subject, but do you use Borax with the alcohol?
Borax is in Apple Sauce, NOT Cider. Borax keeps roof clean longer, but should be used with TSP for best results.
For a beginning roof cleaner, a simple solution of SH and water with some Dawn Ultra works ok, but carry some Rubbing Alcohol to add right before starting the cleaning. Yes, the Ammonyx LO is far better, but reality is reality, you must crawl before you walk. Many just starting out may not have funds for 5 gallons Ammonyx, or even a gallon, so just use Dawn Ultra, until you do. Your GOAL is to start using Ammonyz, not only is it chlorine stable, but it is a bad azz surfactant, roofs done using it take on a luster you will be proud of, especially up north, where yu guys see more atmospheric pollutants then we do here in florida.
Thanks Chris. I may not have asked that the right way. I guess my question is, why not use Borax in the Cider mix. Seems like it would help the mix last longer like it does with Apple Sauce. And for the bad roofs, the alcohol would still give the mix that extra kick it needs. Do Borax and alcohol not play well together?