My landlady just hired a pressure washer to clean the outside of her buildings and the sidewalks. The man used a strong chlorine bleach solution and killed almost ALL of my flowering plants. Is this NORMAL in your business? Do you routinely use bleach?? I find it quite disturbing, and will be quite expensive (money I dont have) to replace all the plants this company killed. I( know I will get straight answers here. Thank you!

We downstream on buildings usually and use pressure on concrete. We only run about 2 % SH and if you wet plants down before starting and hose off when finished that part of the clean plants are OK. We only use SH and harder chemicals on commercial concrete. Always taking into account clients plants. He sounds like a soft wash guy that didn't care about what else he did apart from clean the building. Using stronger concentrations doesn't mix with gardens.

He told me he uses "400 lbs" of pressure (whatever that means). He also said he would "go light" on the bleach. I had to leave for work, so I wasnt home to watch or rinise the plants until much later in the day. Almost half of my flowering plants took a huge hit. I have since rinsed them all 4 times, and trimmed almost everything. Only time will tell if they survive.

Could you explain what you mean by "soft wash?" I want to learn. And thank you for answering!

It's a different setup at lower pressure that you can mix it chemicals at higher rates. Different pumps and tanks than pressure washing. It's great of softer things and does a good job but you have to remember that the chems are stronger.
You can also 'downstream' that will introduce chems into your pressure lines but it is hard to get a setup that introduces high concentrations. This uses a venturi and has to run at lower nozzle pressure than standard pressure washing. Hope that helps.

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I am not a pressure washer. I am a customer of one who did a whole lot of damage to my beautiful garden, using way too much bleach.

Howdy, I would get the contact information of the company that killed your plants and ask them to pay for the damage. As a pressure washer, I have killed plants before and have always replaced them.

My landlady refused to give me the name of the gy who did this. Nor did she offer to reimburse me. Its a done problem anyway - after a lot of rinsing and watering, pretty much everything survived. I had to replace maybe 3 plants.

I think it is just a learning lesson for all pressure washing people. Try not to hurt things on the property! Do not use too strong a bleach mix. Be CAREFUL how you do things! And - work safely. Breathing in bleach fumes is not good for your lungs, your heart or any other part of you.

Good advice. One thing everyone needs to do is practice safety.

I should have been more clear. ALL of us cleaning people, whatever your specialty is, should work safely and carefully. Few of us can afford the kind of insurance to pay huge medical bills if we get hurt on the job!

One thing to think about is this: Not all damage to your body SHOWS on the outside or FEELS on the inside - until perhaps it is too late. Using many chemicals without proper safety precautions can hurt you, and it could happen suddenly, or over a long time. Not much different from smoking cigarettes or cigars, or drinking too much, I guess. Getting many chemicals on your skin can burn you or damage your skin. Breathing in many chemicals can sort of "burn" your lungs, much as smoke does. Not wearing gloves consistently is a big factor. Now, I admit I HATE wearing gloves!!! Why? Because my hands sweat more when I wear them, and all that salty water ends up causing cracks in my finger skins around the nails. But I DO wear gloves, because the alternative is dangerous. We cleaning people deal with bacteria and viruses on all surfaces daily! I keep hand lotion made for problem skin in my car and on breaks I use it, after drying my sweaty hands.

Thanks for the info. I don't know why but I never thought of it that way, all the viruses and such.

That is why my being an RN of many years helps me do my work. These are things the average non-medical person does not know or think about.

I used to poo-poo people who used those hand wipes and cart wipes in grocery stores. Well, now I use them religiously. Why? Because two years ago, I came down with a mild case of "community acquired" pneumonia. "Walking pneumonia" is what many call it. I was not terribly sick but I did feel weak, tired and was coughing too much. An Xray showed I had a small pneumonia and antibiotics cured it fairly quickly. Now, I always use those hand/cart wipes.

We all learn new things. If we open our minds, anyway.

I'm also interested in starting a pressure washing company. Any advice for how to get started?

Buy the best gear you can afford to separate yourself from the handyman.
Read softwash and pressure cleaning forums. Don't believe half of it. lol
Start little but put your hand up for larger commercial jobs if you have backup.
Introducing the correct chemicals (downstream)at the handpiece saves so much time and gives a better result.
Hope that helps.
Pete

Did you ever get this solved?

I woulda had filed a complaint with the company and at least got your plants paid for.

Hello, what are some of the best products you guys recommend?

I'm loooking for some pressure washers, but I don't know where to look

Also, please try to keep them on the cheap side, I don't want to spent too much money

Thanks! please let me know of replies

It was really sad!!

Unfortunately bleach is the most overused and mis-used agent in the industry. While a great many companies use bleach, they also understand the proper way to use it. It certainly can be very hazardous to landscaping if not used properly. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important to vet and check out your cleaning company you choose. These homeowners who hire dirt cheap “Chuck in a truck guys” Sometimes get amazed at how much a cheap job can wind up costing. And yes our particular company uses “bleach” every single day. It’s not necessarily what is being used, but much important WHO is using it!