How to make your own House Wash Mixture

Mix up a simple blend of common cleaning products to clean the mold and mildew from your home. You may either apply with an long wand and soft bristle brush or with a pressure washer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 5 Gallon Bucket
• 18" Stir Stick
• 1 Gallon Common Bleach
• 2 Cups TSP
• 1 Cup Borax
• 1/4 Cup common dish soap
• Pressure Washer
• X-Jet

1. 
    
   5 Gallon Bucket

   Take 5 Gallon bucket and fill 1/2 with water

2. 
    
   1 Gallon Bleach

   Stir water and while water is still circulating add 1 Gallon Liquid Bleach.

3. 
    
   2 Cups TSP or TSP Substitute

   Stir Water and While water is still circulating add 2 cups TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate). You can usually get this at your pool store or at your local hardware store in the paint section.

4. 
    
   1 Cup Borax

   Stir Water and while water is still circulating add 1 Cup Borax.

5. Blend this mixture very well and for the last step add 1/4 cup liquid dish washing soap and finish filling bucket with water. If you find that you need more soap add to desired effect. The soap is used to thicken the mixture and allow greater dwell time on vertical surfaces.

6. This Blend makes 5 Gallons of exterior house wash.
   
   Take preventative measure when applying such as pre-watering and/or covering plants and foliage in the work area. After finishing project always rinse with straight water and as a final step wet down any plants 1 final time.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a pressure washer with an X-Jet and/or Down Stream Injector.
• Allow Mixture to dwell on surface at least 10 minutes.
• Rinse Using a Pressure washer with Green Tip (25 degree)
• If TSP and/or Borax is in Powder form it maybe easier to mix using warm water.
• Do not swallow or injest.
• Do not allow to remain on plants or outside furniture with out rinsing off.
• When applying use best practice methods such as Eye and Respiratory protection.

[stratus]

on 3/22/2009 Thanks - I always buy this stuff. Great idea, 5*'s

[harrietcat]

on 2/16/2009 This sounds like it would work and would be super for an apartment building or office building especially, but I'm concerned about my plants around my house. Do you think using borax alone would work? 5*