Loaf Shape Heavy Fill Multi Position Brush #4516

Mike Paris · Freshmen Member

Gutter Brighteners

Josh Scavetta · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

gutter zap or gutter gernade... look on google and buy

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

mikeparis wrote:
What product is best to use for a "gutter brightener"? They usually come clean with the washing of the house and seem to do well when hit with the Bleach Wash. Is there something different I should be selling the customer on?

I use F-13 Gutter Granade. Best stuff I have used to date!!!

Buy it from Bob at Pressure Tech.

Buy this brush from Paul at Power Wash Store dot Com. It is by far the best brush I have used.

Loaf Shape Heavy Fill Multi Position Brush #4516

Get this pole from Home Depot

Unger 8ft - 20ft Telescopic Pole - Aluminum 3-Stage with Connect and Clean - Locking Cone and PRO Locking Collar

It will get you all the way to the gutters on a two story home.

If you need to get higher, buy the 30' Unger pole from WCR.

- Mix your gutter cleaner in a 5 gal bucket with a water tight lid.

- Use as needed and secure lid to store till required again.

Chris

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

Here is one of the best before and afters I got for my gutter cleaning.

Used F-13

Chris

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.

Jason Heath · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

I've used gutter zap quite a bit and I like it. I rinse the brush out each time before dipping it again to get the oxidation out. The solution turns milky if I don't and then it seems to get pretty weak by the end of the job. Rinsing the brush out keeps it good and strong for me.
Do you have the same thing happen with the f-13, Chris?

Michael Hickey · Junior Member

We use battery powered backpack sprayers to pre spray the gutters etc with chemical and then use telescopic poles connected to the mains water to scrub and rinse at the same time. Works very well and the chemical we now use leaves a lovely shine. We use " Gardiner Pole Systems " light weight poles and brushes. Not a plug but very light and durable

Michael Derose · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Gm what chemical are you using that creates a shine?

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Chris what ratio are you using with gutter grenade

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

tjteed wrote:
Chris what ratio are you using with gutter grenade

8oz. per gal.

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

PreferredSoftWashing wrote:
I've used gutter zap quite a bit and I like it. I rinse the brush out each time before dipping it again to get the oxidation out. The solution turns milky if I don't and then it seems to get pretty weak by the end of the job. Rinsing the brush out keeps it good and strong for me.
Do you have the same thing happen with the f-13, Chris?

I use whats in the bucket till it is gone. It gets all nasty and black but it still works.

I talked with Bob at Pressure Tech on the phone about the F-13, and he said it will keep forever

when mixed with water, just do not mix with SH, as it will weaken the mix. I will use the same

bucket of F-13 mix till it is almost gone. Sometimes it is weeks and it still works just as good as

the day I mixed it. It may be black and look nasty, but it still cleans the gutters.

Here is my process:

- Spray siding on one side of home with house wash.

- Dip brush in bucket of F-13 and run down the length of gutter.

- Work my way back to were I started, working the brush back and forth

- Rinse gutters, and then the siding all the way to the ground.

No extra equipment or steps. I do it right along while I'm washing the

siding.

Chris

Mike Paris · Freshmen Member

Thanks to all of you for the info. Will get some of these items today.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

GM Services wrote:
We use battery powered backpack sprayers to pre spray the gutters etc with chemical and then use telescopic poles connected to the mains water to scrub and rinse at the same time. Works very well and the chemical we now use leaves a lovely shine. We use " Gardiner Pole Systems " light weight poles and brushes. Not a plug but very light and durable

DO NOT USE BACK PACK SPRAYERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF THEY LEAK ACID OR ONE OF THESE CHEMS YOU WILL GET SERIOUSLY BURNED. SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS WHEN ABSORBED IN YOUR SKIN CAN KILL YOU OVERNIGHT.

AC

Dan Signor · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Folks if your cleaning gutters as part of your exterior cleaning services then LISTEN TO CHRIS! I purchased the F-13 last week and tested it yesterday while doing roof & exterior cleaning. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This stuff is fantastic! Gutters looked new, home owners absolutely loved the entire package.

This home we cleaned the roof, exterior & concrete. We cleaned the roof and then diluted remaining solution down and cleaned exterior leaving gutters to last. So from photo you can see what was left from house wash and then the difference of using F-13 made. It's so easy too, dip and lightly brush. We then sprayed exterior and gutters with Bleach Wash and rinsed. Chris, thank you buddy!

Everything we cleaned yesterday we used the F-13 on the gutters and had the same results....

HP Pro Clean - Gutter Cleaning High Point, NC.jpg

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

Here are some gutter Pics from a job I worked on today.

Chris

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

HP Pro Clean wrote:
Folks if your cleaning gutters as part of your exterior cleaning services then LISTEN TO CHRIS! I purchased the F-13 last week and tested it yesterday while doing roof & exterior cleaning. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! This stuff is fantastic! Gutters looked new, home owners absolutely loved the entire package.
This home we cleaned the roof, exterior & concrete. We cleaned the roof and then diluted remaining solution down and cleaned exterior leaving gutters to last. So from photo you can see what was left from house wash and then the difference of using F-13 made. It's so easy too, dip and lightly brush. We then sprayed exterior and gutters with Bleach Wash and rinsed. Chris, thank you buddy!
Everything we cleaned yesterday we used the F-13 on the gutters and had the same results....

Very Nice Dan!!!

You guys will get use to using the pole with some experience.

It is a cake walk for me now.

Chris

Dan Signor · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

We have completed 11 homes since our F-13 arrived on the 5th and each and every home owner has commented on how great the gutters looked after we were done. Thanks again Chris!

AC Lockyer · Administrator

HP Pro Clean wrote:
We have completed 11 homes since our F-13 arrived on the 5th and each and every home owner has commented on how great the gutters looked after we were done. Thanks again Chris!

Great add on!

AC

Michael Hickey · Junior Member

Michael,

We use Citrus Fresh from a company called Mistral. www.mistral.ie should get the home page for you to look at. Its a germicidal hard surface cleaner, degreaser. You could look at the site and get something similar over in the States. There is another chemical on the site called Task Force but it seems to react with the dirt on pvc guttering when left on for a few minutes and leaves an orange stain. Pity because it is really good at dissolving baked on dirt, fungus etc.

AC how can using the backpack cause these burns or worse death? I have been using them for the last 4 years or so. I don't wear them, just sit them on a trolley or haul it around by the straps. Lately we just use the manual pump up ones. One guy pumps the other sprays the guttering using the extended pole, a little slower but no messing with batteries etc.

Michael

AC Lockyer · Administrator

Michael,

Yes dont wear them that solces them all.

AC

Peter Blau · Sophmore Member

Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).

Chris Madden · Lead Tech Certified

CEC wrote:
Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).

Do you use the Purple Power straight, or do you cut it with water?

If you do cut it, what is your dilution?

Thanks

Chris

Brian Friel · Sophmore Member

Just remember whenever you are cleaning gutters that sometimes the darkness on the gutters is not caused by dirt but lack of paint underneath. You can get really burned if you are not careful. I have found many gutters that have had the darkness of aluminum showing through the paint that gets worse when you try to clean it. Just like anything you are cleaning, make sure that you test a small area before you do the whole front of the house. Gutter Grenade is the best stuff I have ever used, but it will remove paint on bad gutters.

Brian

-- Edited by PA Roof Cleaning Company on Thursday 8th of November 2012 12:49:05 AM

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

My guys did some gutters today. The gutter zap works best in these colder days 40 - 60 degree days. gutter grenade doesnt do much in the cold weather. We will go back to gutter grenade if it warms up.

Lee Kendall · Junior Member

Michael Derose wrote:
you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.

Purple power here as well! Same as f-13 and you can get it at walmart or autozone for like 13 bucks

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Glad this came up, I am going to mix the gutter grenade heavy for these colder days.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Matt Lancaster had said he spoke with Gutter Grenade guys and was told it won't work under 60 degrees, so its not a matter of making it stronger. We tried a gutters saturday with gutter grenade and it didnt do anything, today and a little colder, Zap worked great. Upper 40s and blowing wind.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Lee Kendall wrote:
Michael Derose wrote:
you can also try purple power. We use it all the time and have great results.
Purple power here as well! Same as f-13 and you can get it at walmart or autozone for like 13 bucks

Lee,

Do you dilute the Purple Power or use it full strength? Do you simply spray it on and rinse off, or do you have to brush it on and then rinse??

Jeff Thompson · Junior Member

Gutter Grenade. It was the first product I ever used for gutters and have never had a reason to look for anything else.

Peter Blau · Sophmore Member

Chris Madden wrote:
CEC wrote:
Yeah F13 is great. When I added this service I started out using Gutter Zap. It's an OK product, needed to much to clean. F13 like Chris said can be used over and over and over again. Another product I now use is Purple Power. For me, it gets the same results as F13, can be used again and again as well. And it's about 1/3 of the cost as F13. I get the Purple Power from an Auto Zone near me that always carries it (around $25 per 5 gallon). So I not only save on cost per 5 gallon, I save on shipping costs as well and don't have to wait for it to be shipped. In a pinch I can also get it at Walmart (cheap).
Do you use the Purple Power straight, or do you cut it with water?
If you do cut it, what is your dilution?
Thanks
Chris

Hey Chris how have you been? I tried getting in touch with you in Feb and March. I see your pic is off the top of the page. Eveything alright?

Sorry for the late reply. I usually use it straight because it can be reused over and over and it's cheap.

Matthew Spyker · Sophmore Member

Just tried some gutter grenade in a small patch on my gutter and it seems to be turning a bit green? This normal or paint-interaction problem? I diluted well with water.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Are your gutters painted brown, Matt?

Matthew Spyker · Sophmore Member

Nope, white. Had some crusty black streaks and thought I'd give it a shot. Maybe I didn't dilute enough? Just put it in a little spray bottle to test.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Hmm, not sure then. I've heard of interactions with brown and red pigments in paint, but that was in conjunction with the use of SH. Did it remove the streaks? Perhaps you're right, it wasn't diluted enough. Did you agitate it with a brush and rinse well?

Matthew Spyker · Sophmore Member

Probably didn't brush as well as I should but I washed it well with a garden hose. I cleaned the house yesterday and tried this out today. I wouldn't think there would still be an interaction with the SH but who knows. Guess I'll see in the AM if it still looks greenish.

Mark Fermoyle · Lead Tech Certified

Yea, I've never heard of the gutter cleaners interacting with the gutter paint before. The product concentrate is green though, right? Perhaps it needs more dilution. Hopefully someone else on the BB who has experience with GG can shed some light on it for you?

Barry Landis · Sophmore Member

Is it sort of a lime green color? If so, I've had this happen on gutters that have been repainted. I stopped as soon as I seen what was going on, now I'm very cautious with repainted surfaces and always do test spots.

Steve Salley · Junior Member

F13 We have tried to other products mentioned, but the consistent results we get with F13 is what we are looking for. I very much dislike the process anyway, but the end results are customers raving about their gutters. I have only had to climb up and hand clean two sections of gutters this season, so that pays for the product cost in safety alone.

It is amazing how enhanced roof cleaning looks when the gutters are brightened.

I also want to keep bumping up the price of this service, so we are going to use a "professional" gutter brightening products designed specifically for gutters...

You get the idea. Pays better.

Barry and others, thanks for the reminders to be aware of repainted gutter surfaces.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

we dilute gutter grenade 1 cup to 1 gallon water. We're still using the gutter zap from the cold weather and it works well

Danny Cronauer · SoftWash Systems Certified

Unless the gutters are 1 story, I don't do them anymore. Its always good to have some F-13 on hand.

Matthew Spyker · Sophmore Member

Barry, yes its a lime green color. I don't know though if they were painted. Bought in 06. The paint around the gutters and everywhere else is untouched. Just gutters....

Zach Maynard · SoftWash Systems Certified Applicator

Post a picture it should be very easy to tell if they were painted or not.

Matthew Spyker · Sophmore Member

Zach - They were painted. Lucky I tested this on my own home first....Now I know what to look out for.

Barry Landis · Sophmore Member

It seems certain paints and or freshly painted surfaces which haven't quite cured completely will react with the high PH levels in our cleaning compounds. I won't do a job if there was recent painting done for this reason, at least not for a few months after the painting.

Gutter grenade will also turn some white vinyl (like window and door vinyl) a yellowish color but it eventually turns back white.

AC Lockyer · Administrator

I miss Chris!

AC

Matt Jennemann · Junior Member

Just bought 5 gallons of Gutter Grenade from Bob and was wondering what the best mix ratio you guys have found to use for it?

John Aloisio · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

Matt,

we use a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with 4 gallons of water. I have my guys pour out the F13 into 32 oz Gatorade bottles an we keep two on the trucksanti makes it easier and my guys don't waste time or chemical as much. The 8 oz per gallon works fine, as long as the temps are above that 60-65 degree mark.

Tim Teed · SoftWash Systems 5-Star Professional

1 cup per gallon water. Put into a pail with a cover and keep using until empty. It should last for several jobs. We spray gutters first with SH, let it dwell a little bit and hose off. That works on jobs with dirty gutters. If they have the tiger stripes we get out the gutter zap or grenade. Don't oversell the results. Sometimes the gutters are too far gone to get all of the streaks off, and we don't know until we are on job.

Matt Jennemann · Junior Member

Thanks for the info guy's!