Pressure Washing With Bleach – Uses and Complications

When pressure washing with bleach, make sure your workers have all the required power washer safety gear, including goggles, apron, impervious gloves, and waterproof boots. If any of the bleach solution splashes on skin, follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding first aid, which usually includes rinsing with lots of clear water. When using a bleach solution on the outside of a house, the surrounding grass and vegetation should be flushed with large quantities of fresh water to prevent the runoff from killing the vegetation.

Bleaches are highly reactive compounds. In layman’s terms, that means they have a nasty habit of causing chemical reactions. When bleach is mixed with acid, chlorine gas will form, which will irritate skin and burn lung tissue. When bleach is mixed with ammonia, the gas produced can be explosive. Consequently, when you are pressure washing with bleach, never combine bleach with another cleaning solutions unless that detergent is compatible with bleach. You should also make sure, when storing liquid bleach solutions, never to store them in containers which were used for other compounds, unless those containers have been thoroughly rinsed.

Liquid bleach will slowly lose chlorine content over time, and exposure to heat, air and sunlight will speed up that loss. The best way to store bleach is in a powdered form until just before it is needed, then mix it with water. If you must store liquid bleach, use a solid-color container in a cool, dark area.

Bleach should not be avoided – it is an effective compound when used correctly. When pressure washing with bleach, though, you should stay aware of its limitations and nasty habits.

The publisher of these pages is in no way responsible for any damage caused to you, your pressure washer, anyone else, your property, or anyone else's property by trying to implement or by successfully implementing the above-mentioned performance and services.