[concept]

Ok, tried to glean the forum for a definitive guide on how to use hypo but can't find anything, as seemingly people want to keep it a bit of a trade secret...

We were asked to come in and rectify a job done by another firm where lichen spots were not removed, yet they were charged a fortune for the job.

It's a good sized commercial, which has Indian sand stone and some block paving.

Looking at it, it needs more than just a blast with a machine, it needs treatment.

Perfect for hypo...

As hypo is a hazardous chemical, I'd like some proper guidance on how to use it, would anyone be so kind as to give me some definitives?

I've spoken with Roger before on the subject, but didn't take notes properly, and I think it would be beneficial for not only me, but others, if someone could advise on it, before I blow myself up with it!

Now, watch the replies come flooding in 

[Clever Forum Name]

Simon are you talking about pool chlorine?

I see a guy using this today.

He basically diluted it, put it in a watering can. Watered the block stone. Left it for 10 mins. Then pressure washed off.

When i did my banking this morning, by the time i had done that, it had worked. Awesome job.

He told me add the CH to water and not acid to water and dont get it on grass.

HTH 

[Ian101]

its simple enough to use however do not pea in the bucket with the hypo mix in in the back of your van.

from my limited experience mix it in a long bucket ... diluted down to a strength that shifts the crap .. use broom to disperse ............ some jobs I had to use neat to shift the stubborn stuff..

HOWEVER all the above may be wrong as im a NEWBIE    (the peaing in the bucket however is accurate)

[JetVac Cleaning]

So you could just buy a bottle of thick bleach and dilute it?

[Roger Oakley]

So you could just buy a bottle of thick bleach and dilute it?

No.

[Roger Oakley]

Simon are you talking about pool chlorine?

I see a guy using this today.

He basically diluted it, put it in a watering can. Watered the block stone. Left it for 10 mins. Then pressure washed off.

When i did my banking this morning, by the time i had done that, it had worked. Awesome job.

He told me add the CH to water and not acid to water and dont get it on grass.

HTH 

Hypo is not an "acid" 

[chris scott]

"Strong thick bleach" is about less than 2% When people talk about "hypo" it is generally around 15% .
The solution you need to make up would be around 5%. Adding "soap" to it will make it more efficient as it sticks to the surface longer,given that tho' it kills the soap in about 15/20mins.

Whilst it is a valid addition to the "pressure washers" list of cleaning products I feel people use it too frequently...ask anybody who uses it they will all admit to having a dodgy experience with it. When mixed with acid (p or other cleaning chemicals) it gives of mustard gas. It burns skin,grass ,clothes and can damage property .
If it gets into the rain water system...as it would in our area of use, you would get prosecuted if caught. If you employ people I doubt you could write a risk assessment for spraying it.
The term "I use it all the time and it's ok " does not ring true with me. It's useful yes...but great care must be taken!!
I think for this reason you will not get much help with how to use it. Too many accidents/incidents and it will become another product that you will not be able to buy. I know that there are already restrictions coming in for it's safe use ,handling and storage shortly.
I have added a list of materials that react with it thanks to Lee @Blast-a-way for compiling it . The list is not exhaustive and Roger @ R&A pressure washing could add a list of wood/soft material aswell.
We will now get a load of posts saying "I use it all the time and it's ok" ...You make your on mind up.

Corrosivity to Metals:
Sodium hypochlorite solutions (15%) are corrosive to brass (aluminum, naval and silicon) bronze,
carbon steel, cast iron, Hastelloy, Inconel, nickel, stainless steels (types 304/347, 316 and 400
series) and silicon copper. Concentrated sodium hypochlorite is corrosive to most metals,
including aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, carbon steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, lead, Monel, nickel
and stainless steel type 400 series. Sodium hypochlorite solutions are not corrosive to tantalum,
titanium and zirconium. Dilute solutions are not corrosive to Hastelloy C/C-276 (10%), Incolloy
(5%) and high silicon iron.

Corrosivity to Non-Metals:
Sodium hypochlorite solutions attack some plastics (such as nylon, Bisphenol A-fumarate and
isophthalic polyesters), elastomers (such as soft rubber, neoprene and nitrile Buna-N) and
coatings (such as coal tar epoxy, epoxy and vinyls).
Sodium hypochlorite solutions do not attack acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Butyl rubber,
isoprene, hard rubber, natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
(CPVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Teflon and Viton.

[G O Cleaning]

"Strong thick bleach" is about less than 2% When people talk about "hypo" it is generally around 15% .
The solution you need to make up would be around 5%. Adding "soap" to it will make it more efficient as it sticks to the surface longer,given that tho' it kills the soap in about 15/20mins.

Whilst it is a valid addition to the "pressure washers" list of cleaning products I feel people use it too frequently...ask anybody who uses it they will all admit to having a dodgy experience with it. When mixed with acid (p or other cleaning chemicals) it gives of mustard gas. It burns skin,grass ,clothes and can damage property .
If it gets into the rain water system...as it would in our area of use, you would get prosecuted if caught. If you employ people I doubt you could write a risk assessment for spraying it.
The term "I use it all the time and it's ok " does not ring true with me. It's useful yes...but great care must be taken!!
I think for this reason you will not get much help with how to use it. Too many accidents/incidents and it will become another product that you will not be able to buy. I know that there are already restrictions coming in for it's safe use ,handling and storage shortly.
I have added a list of materials that react with it thanks to Lee @Blast-a-way for compiling it . The list is not exhaustive and Roger @ R&A pressure washing could add a list of wood/soft material aswell.
We will now get a load of posts saying "I use it all the time and it's ok" ...You make your on mind up.

Corrosivity to Metals:
Sodium hypochlorite solutions (15%) are corrosive to brass (aluminum, naval and silicon) bronze,
carbon steel, cast iron, Hastelloy, Inconel, nickel, stainless steels (types 304/347, 316 and 400
series) and silicon copper. Concentrated sodium hypochlorite is corrosive to most metals,
including aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, carbon steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, lead, Monel, nickel
and stainless steel type 400 series. Sodium hypochlorite solutions are not corrosive to tantalum,
titanium and zirconium. Dilute solutions are not corrosive to Hastelloy C/C-276 (10%), Incolloy
(5%) and high silicon iron.

Corrosivity to Non-Metals:
Sodium hypochlorite solutions attack some plastics (such as nylon, Bisphenol A-fumarate and
isophthalic polyesters), elastomers (such as soft rubber, neoprene and nitrile Buna-N) and
coatings (such as coal tar epoxy, epoxy and vinyls).
Sodium hypochlorite solutions do not attack acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), Butyl rubber,
isoprene, hard rubber, natural rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
(CPVC), polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Teflon and Viton.

blimey very good young chris
Only use it a the lAst resort, worked for yrs without it. If u purchase it from a decent  supplier they should give you clear advice on how to use it.

[Simon@Pristine Pathways]

It is quite addictive once you start using it, it like crack for pressure washer junkies. Ive not got to the addiction level as Lee yet he brushes his teeth with it in the morning!

[Roger Oakley]

[/quote]
Only use it a the lAst resort, worked for yrs without it. If u purchase it from a decent  supplier they should give you clear advice on how to use it.
[/quote]

The only thing is suppliers are suppling for swimming pool cleaning/treatment, not the same as how we (pressure washers) use it. They should be able to give you some do's & don'ts but that's it.

[concept]

Thanks for that Chris, we've spoken about it before, just wondered if anyone would give some guidelines.

So what alternatives are there for removing lichen?

Seems opinion is split, although so many posts I read say, used hypo....

[Matt Gibson]

I rarely use it to clean. Always just use the FSC or lance, then once it's clean, i see if hypo is needed. Then go around and spot spray.

[BDCS]

So the answer is " don't buy it unless you know what you are doing". people should not be asking on here then sploshing it everywhere. If you cannot write Rams for its use then you should not buy it

[concept]

So the answer is " don't buy it unless you know what you are doing". people should not be asking on here then sploshing it everywhere. If you cannot write Rams for its use then you should not buy it

Thats why I am asking....

So many on here say they use it, but nobody is really forthcoming with the info.

So kind of stuck.

[Kevin Miller]

So the answer is " don't buy it unless you know what you are doing". people should not be asking on here then sploshing it everywhere. If you cannot write Rams for its use then you should not buy it

Thats why I am asking....
So many on here say they use it, but nobody is really forthcoming with the info.

So kind of stuck.

Think this bang on, I came on here to learn and saw the term hypo being used a lot and it seems like loads of people are using it. So I thought it is a must in driveway, patio, decking cleaning industry yet when you ask the question not many want to answer like its a massive secret or something. Surely it would be better to educate then people would not go buying it and spraying everyone without really knowing what it is or how to use it.

[BDCS]

I'm all for educating people but a few tips here is not adequate training if you have no background in handling chemicals. You feel free to use it but first ask yourself if you end up in court could you honestly say you were competant. We all have to start somewhere but haw many of us carry MSDS sheets for our chemicals ? Its bad enough writing rams for all the jobs. I am trained in chemical handling, CIP's and have an understanding of industrial cleaning. You just need to understand the implications when it all goes pear shaped - does your PL cover it ? Just cover your bottom

[G O Cleaning]

The only thing is suppliers are suppling for swimming pool cleaning/treatment, not the same as how we (pressure washers) use it. They should be able to give you some do's & don'ts but that's it.

Understand what your saying,  my post was probably a bit short sighted. We buy from local pressure washing / Chem 'supplier', they are far more qualified then anyone on here (no disrespect meant!)
Roger thks for that rec the other day, they wanted the roof clean carried out in March !
Looking at the job next week but have told her earliest end of April, to be honest realistically probably end of May now.
 
Simon, I gave you contact details for pressure washing company they are also chem suppliers, speak to them they 'may' be willing to give you more details / information. You have to appreciate this is an open forum, hence any 'muppet' can read / write posts

[Ian101]

 You have to appreciate this is an open forum, hence any 'muppet' can read / write posts

You looking at me 

[chris scott]

So the answer is " don't buy it unless you know what you are doing". people should not be asking on here then sploshing it everywhere. If you cannot write Rams for its use then you should not buy it

Thats why I am asking....

So many on here say they use it, but nobody is really forthcoming with the info.

So kind of stuck.

Thats because nobody should be using it for what we use it for.....

[Roger Oakley]

The only thing is suppliers are suppling for swimming pool cleaning/treatment, not the same as how we (pressure washers) use it. They should be able to give you some do's & don'ts but that's it.

Understand what your saying,  my post was probably a bit short sighted. We buy from local pressure washing / Chem 'supplier', they are far more qualified then anyone on here (no disrespect meant!)
Roger thks for that rec the other day, they wanted the roof clean carried out in March !
Looking at the job next week but have told her earliest end of April, to be honest realistically probably end of May now.
 
Simon, I gave you contact details for pressure washing company they are also chem suppliers, speak to them they 'may' be willing to give you more details / information. You have to appreciate this is an open forum, hence any 'muppet' can read / write posts

Your like me get your chems from a chemical supplier or manufacture but most would be looking to eBay or swimming pool outlets so no real info from them in how to use it.
Re the recommendation no problem, it's not our field of work as you know so would rather pass it on to someone that can do the job, Good Luck with it, if it's a nice earner just add a % on