[sunshine windows]

Pig of a job earlier

[Smurf]

Nice but a ball breaking job for sure.....And then we wonder why we decide to take those sorts of jobs on

Once I've gone around and cleared the guttering & downspouts I tend to use a mix of hypo & ecovor which kills all the algae on the plastics. Then after a short dwell time I rinse down with either hot tap water or hot pure.

Hypo is your friend but don't get it in yer eye like I did today doing a similar job   

[sunshine windows]

The growth that you can see hanging from the guttering was growing about 2 feet up the roof tiles too. It peeled off like a lump of turf.

I started to doubt myself whether I could clear it at one point.

[Smurf]

You done well getting those sods out for sure...Well done 

The growth that you can see hanging from the guttering was growing about 2 feet up the roof tiles too. It peeled off like a lump of turf.

I started to doubt myself whether I could clear it at one point.

[Smurf]

Did you use a guttervac or ladder at the side of the conservatory?

[paulben]

whats hypo

[Smurf]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
20 ltres of 14-15% Sodium hypochlorite can go a long way and is ideal for mixing with soap to wash plastics, hard surfaces etc
One large concrete paving jobs I used 6 x 20 litres and the areas came up a treat without the need to use a pressure washer mixed 1-1 ratio. For plastics I tend to use a  weaker mix.

whats hypo

[Smudger]

Hypo does this...

Before..



After...


Darran

[Smurf]

That's a good example using hypo...nice one 

[sunshine windows]

Great job on that patio Darran!

No gutter vac yet, hopefully next week I'll be purchasing 2.

I use a telescopic pole at the minute to push or drag the muck through the gutters. I cleared the neighbours for free as she allowed me access to her garden to make things easier. Just the plant growth not the whole lot

[Carl2009]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
20 ltres of 14-15% Sodium hypochlorite can go a long way and is ideal for mixing with soap to wash plastics, hard surfaces etc
One large concrete paving jobs I used 6 x 20 litres and the areas came up a treat without the need to use a pressure washer mixed 1-1 ratio. For plastics I tend to use a  weaker mix.

whats hypo

I would suggest hypo is NOT to be used on uPVC: http://www.anglianhome.co.uk/goodtobehome/guides/how-to-clean-upvc/#.VaE8wbuh3T4

Using hypo on uPVC is quick, however it is not the solution to a professional job. In addition to possibly damaging the uPVC (see link and do a search on Google) it can damage the seals in any pump used to apply it (whether that be a hand sprayer or a pump such as those on wfp trolleys - I checked with the Shurflo supplier Williamson Pumps some years ago). It tends to kill the algae but the dead cells remain as does any dirt unless brushed away. This results in apparently clean uPVC but with a "bed" onto which fresh growth can regrow quicker than if the surface was physically brushed cleaned (this gem of info observed from where someone had cleaned with this method compared where it had been brushed clean).

It's a matter of choice for the service deliverer and the customer. If they are price motivated and they are willing to take a chance on damage, or if the gutters soffits and fascias are  old and/or in poor condition anyway, then hypo may be the way to go. Personally I would never clean this way.

The best way is to use a TFR which is safe on uPVC applied in dilute form via a sprayer, backpack or trolley, agitated by wfp brush then washed with either pure from the tank or if you have a Hozelock connector to your pole, the garden hose. I always use pure just because it's easier (my hose doesn't kink: the custies always do). The effect of this is spotless gutters soffits and brackets that stay clean longer as all surface debris in the form of dirt and algae is washed away.

I'm not having a pop at the OP but if the last pic with the vegetation removed is the final finish I wouldn't pay if I was the customer. Here's a before and after that I did using the method stated. On the other hand it may be a part-finished job.

I always tell the customer that there is "good enough" (that is usually the result if they do it themselves, with the inside of brackets still dirty and dirt behind the gutter) or, if you are paying "as good as can possibly be achieved - sometimes showroom, sometimes just clean".

[Smurf]

Each to their own but if you know what you are doing hypo softwashing mix works well on plastics  as well on many other things as has been used for years.

[Smurf]

Nice one...You can't beat a good hand job as they say.
I would like to see any guttervac tackle that one for sure as they still have limitations what they can actually do. That’s especially on awkward angle jobs like reaching over that conservatory trying to remove those sods.

Great job on that patio Darran!

No gutter vac yet, hopefully next week I'll be purchasing 2.

I use a telescopic pole at the minute to push or drag the muck through the gutters. I cleared the neighbours for free as she allowed me access to her garden to make things easier. Just the plant growth not the whole lot

[Bungle]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite
20 ltres of 14-15% Sodium hypochlorite can go a long way and is ideal for mixing with soap to wash plastics, hard surfaces etc
One large concrete paving jobs I used 6 x 20 litres and the areas came up a treat without the need to use a pressure washer mixed 1-1 ratio. For plastics I tend to use a  weaker mix.

whats hypo

I would suggest hypo is NOT to be used on uPVC: http://www.anglianhome.co.uk/goodtobehome/guides/how-to-clean-upvc/#.VaE8wbuh3T4

Using hypo on uPVC is quick, however it is not the solution to a professional job. In addition to possibly damaging the uPVC (see link and do a search on Google) it can damage the seals in any pump used to apply it (whether that be a hand sprayer or a pump such as those on wfp trolleys - I checked with the Shurflo supplier Williamson Pumps some years ago). It tends to kill the algae but the dead cells remain as does any dirt unless brushed away. This results in apparently clean uPVC but with a "bed" onto which fresh growth can regrow quicker than if the surface was physically brushed cleaned (this gem of info observed from where someone had cleaned with this method compared where it had been brushed clean).

It's a matter of choice for the service deliverer and the customer. If they are price motivated and they are willing to take a chance on damage, or if the gutters soffits and fascias are  old and/or in poor condition anyway, then hypo may be the way to go. Personally I would never clean this way.

The best way is to use a TFR which is safe on uPVC applied in dilute form via a sprayer, backpack or trolley, agitated by wfp brush then washed with either pure from the tank or if you have a Hozelock connector to your pole, the garden hose. I always use pure just because it's easier (my hose doesn't kink: the custies always do). The effect of this is spotless gutters soffits and brackets that stay clean longer as all surface debris in the form of dirt and algae is washed away.

I'm not having a pop at the OP but if the last pic with the vegetation removed is the final finish I wouldn't pay if I was the customer. Here's a before and after that I did using the method stated. On the other hand it may be a part-finished job.

I always tell the customer that there is "good enough" (that is usually the result if they do it themselves, with the inside of brackets still dirty and dirt behind the gutter) or, if you are paying "as good as can possibly be achieved - sometimes showroom, sometimes just clean".

I think those gutters look better dirty. White gone pink 

[Carl2009]

I think those gutters look better dirty. White gone pink 
[/quote]

Yep, the clean colour was a funny pink underneath the dirt. Must have been cleaned with bleach or hypo at some point 

[Smudger]

Interesting posts, I do agree with Carl and the research/example sited I know to be correct from my own experience. It's strange that a high pressure washer fails to remove algae effectively yet can destroy soft brick and mortar, but a brush can't be beaten cleaning gutters, soffits and cladding, even though it's totally useless on brickwork.

Hypo needs to be used with care and in the right dilutions - generally I'd not use it on upvc because it would, if not rinsed off cause premature ageing of the plastic.

Golden rule is to rinse after use!

I'd not be happy with a soft washed soffit fascia gutter clean because of the above reasons - we always agitate with brushes and clean with pure.

Darran

[Smurf]

I did notice it was pink 

I've never had white plastic turn pink on me yet whilst cleaning.  However I've had white plastic stain using ubik 2000.
Most plastics will look sort of ok using just pure/tap water from the ground when using a wfp. Only when you take a closer look they are not very clean at all. The likes of tfr etc does help  but on really badly stained/soiled plastics but it still don't get all of it off unless you get up there and painstakingly do it by hand.  Some plastics are a doodle to do just using water and/or adding a boost like tfr but also some can be pigs to try to get clean properly. That is when I've found using a weak hypo softwashing mix helps. Apply it, agitate with a brush, let dwell, then rinse off using hot tap and/or pure water seems to work for me for those pigs of jobs.  Like any chem including tfr you use common sense how you use it.

I think those gutters look better dirty. White gone pink 

Yep, the clean colour was a funny pink underneath the dirt. Must have been cleaned with bleach or hypo at some point 
[/quote]