Can I spray TSP siding cleaner from pressure washer?

[GarageWarrior]

I have a mobile home that I need to get ready for sale. Siding needs to be cleaned. Was thinking about pre-wash with TSP, followed by power-washing.

For pre-wash - Can I mix TSP in a large 20Gal bucket and run a garden hose directly to my pressure washer or would that cause problems?

 

[notso]

I spray it on with a pump up sprayer and let it sit for a few minutes then power wash off.

 

[Krodad]

I have found the best thing for applying cleaners to vertical surfaces is to use a foaming gun straight off the garden hose...line pressure.
Good ones are about 40 bucks, but they are very handy. If you want to apply something that dies not foam, like tsp, add the tsp to cheap dish soap and that concentrate will foam and cling. Then powerwash normally.

I do this all the time with my truck- car soap of course, and on other things with simple grean/purple power/dish detergent.

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[Krodad]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000XTH1GY

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[GarageWarrior]

I spray it on with a pump up sprayer and let it sit for a few minutes then power wash off.

And how long would that take to do a the whole house?

I tried one and it was taking forever. It just seems to drizzle a little bit of solution at a time, like for spraying weeds with pesticides.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I have found the best thing for applying cleaners to vertical surfaces is to use a foaming gun straight off the garden hose...line pressure.
Good ones are about 40 bucks, but they are very handy. If you want to apply something that dies not foam, like tsp, add the tsp to cheap dish soap and that concentrate will foam and cling. Then powerwash normally.

I do this all the time with my truck- car soap of course, and on other things with simple grean/purple power/dish detergent.

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Thanks for heads up! Wouldn't tap water dilute TSP too much to be effective? There are pretty pretty bad stains that need to come out.

 

[rlitman]

I would strongly suggest not spraying TSP through a pressure washer.
The current "TSP" is made from sodium metasilicate. If allowed to dry up inside the pump, your pump will be garbage.

 

[GarageWarrior]

I would strongly suggest not spraying TSP through a pressure washer.
The current "TSP" is made from sodium metasilicate. If allowed to dry up inside the pump, your pump will be garbage.

After applying TSP, rinsing will be done with tap water - I think that should clean the pump.

 

[Gerald O]

I would strongly suggest not spraying TSP through a pressure washer.
The current "TSP" is made from sodium metasilicate. If allowed to dry up inside the pump, your pump will be garbage.

You can still get real TSP (trisodium phosphate). Just have to read the label and not grab the fake TSPsubstitute

 

[Nick Danger]

You can still get real TSP (trisodium phosphate). Just have to read the label and not grab the fake TSPsubstitute

Savogran brand is real trisodium phosphate.




Ludmark brand is not. Even though it says "TSP" on the front.

 

[rlitman]

Depends on where you live. In New York State (and many other places) phosphates are banned. Savogran sells a green labeled box that is TSP substitute (sodium metasilicate). Red Devil brand in the bag is cheaper from what I've found BTW.

Either way, while real TSP will not clog up the pump like TSP substitute can, it etches metal (which can still damage the pump), dulls paints and plastics, and is not a good cleaning choice for this. I'd start with bleach.

 

[GarageWarrior]

Depends on where you live. In New York State (and many other places) phosphates are banned. Savogran sells a green labeled box that is TSP substitute (sodium metasilicate). Red Devil brand in the bag is cheaper from what I've found BTW.

Either way, while real TSP will not clog up the pump like TSP substitute can, it etches metal (which can still damage the pump), dulls paints and plastics, and is not a good cleaning choice for this. I'd start with bleach.

I had to clean some mold earlier and had no luck with just straight bleach and it was a fresh batch from the store. Mixed it up with TSP and mold came right off. From what I understand - bleach is a disinfectant and brightener, but is not a very good cleaner.

TSP I have is real stuff the Savogran brand. Thanks on heads-up guys!

On another hand, I also have a box of MEX All Purpose Cleaner. Anybody knows about that stuff? Description states: "A phosphate-free cleaning powder for home, garage and workshop. Mixes with water to any desired strength for tackling all your cleaning needs. Excellent brick and hearth cleaner." My dad gave it to me when he was moving and I've been storing it hoping I can use it for something.

 

[Krodad]

Thanks for heads up! Wouldn't tap water dilute TSP too much to be effective? There are pretty pretty bad stains that need to come out.

No, the foam gun meters from the concentrated solution in the quart cup. You would mix a very strong solution in the cup, and you can vary the mixing ratio. With tsp, you would add a soap to make it foam
Remember the foam will let the stuff cling and dwell longer so it's pretty effective.

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[Charles (in GA)]

I would strongly suggest not spraying TSP through a pressure washer.
The current "TSP" is made from sodium metasilicate. If allowed to dry up inside the pump, your pump will be garbage.

The liquid "TSP" you find (labeled TSP substitute in fine print) is indeed, Sodium metalsilicate (Westleys Blech White whitewall tire cleaner) but Home Depot still sells REAL, powdered TSP in a box.

SAVOGRAN TSP

 

[GarageWarrior]

I spray it on with a pump up sprayer and let it sit for a few minutes then power wash off.

And how long would that take to do a the whole house?

I tried one and it was taking forever. It just seems to drizzle a little bit of solution at a time, like for spraying weeds with pesticides.

Actually tried again yesterday, and after fiddling with nozzle adjustment was able to get pretty good flow out of pump-up sprayer. So now it'll be a toss-up between pump-up sprayer and a pressure washer.

 

[ShaneMSnyder]

I had to clean some mold earlier and had no luck with just straight bleach and it was a fresh batch from the store. Mixed it up with TSP and mold came right off. From what I understand - bleach is a disinfectant and brightener, but is not a very good cleaner.

Normal bleach like Clorox or whatever is only 6% hypochlorite and doesn't always do the job. You need pool cleaning bleach at 12.5% hypochlorite and it kicks but against mold, lichen, and algae on siding and roofs. That's what all the no pressure roof and siding cleaners use.