Surface Cleaners

MATCHING THE SURFACE CLEANER

To obtain good cleaning results, the correct flat surface cleaner needs to be used with the correct pressure washer. Because the water flow is divided into the number of nozzles used, and the nozzle hole sizes combined create the pressure, pressure washer flow is a major factor. If a pressure washer produces five gallons per minute or less, a two-nozzle set up is correct. If a three or four nozzle concrete surface cleaner is used with a five GPM or less pressure washer it will be impossible to get the pressure high enough to clean properly.  For pressure washers with a flow rate of over five gallons per minute, a three-nozzle surface cleaner usually will work better. If using a pressure washer with a flow rate of seven gallons or more per minute, a four-nozzle surface cleaner can be used.

WHEELS OR FLOATING

Some flat general pump surface cleaners are made to be very lightweight and have no wheels on the deck. These units are called floaters. Others are heavier and are pushed on wheels. There are split opinions as to which one is better. Wheeled flat surface cleaners tend to be built with stronger materials, and sometimes with larger swivels. When washing large areas, it can be less tiresome pattern cleaning with a wheeled unit. Floaters are easier to load and unload from a vehicle. They tend to be used in a more side to side pattern than in a back and forth pattern. A big factor in choosing a floater is versatility to clean less accessible surfaces, like roofs.

 FAN SPRAY PATTERNS

Most agree that the best results are obtained when nozzles with a 25-degree fan are used in a concrete surface cleaner.  The next most popular fan used is a 15-degree. When using the 15-degree nozzle you will need to move slower in order to keep ‘zebra-stripes’ to a minimum.

WALL & TILE SPINNERS

There is a tremendous market out there that contractors never consider.  Every office building you pass, every restaurant you eat at, every post office you go to they are loaded with ceramic tile bathrooms, kitchens, etc. As a contractor and after about 3 years of cleaning restaurant exhaust hoods I finally realized that after every job I left $200.00 of easy money on the table simply because I never thought of cleaning the ladies & men’s room before I packed up. After that 90% of every restaurant we service included the restrooms. 

SIZING NOZZLES FOR SURFACE SPINNERS

Use a nozzle chart to determine the correct nozzle size for the pressure washer when using only one nozzle. Then divide that nozzle size by the number of nozzles on the concrete/flat surface cleaner. A nozzle chart shows that a number six nozzle is correct. The surface cleaner requires two nozzles. Six divided by two equals three. The surface cleaner should be used with two each #3 nozzles.