I have smooth wall panels made by Delpro. I talked to them and they recommended not using harsh acid to clean them. I bought some stuff from Kleen Rite that is recommended for smooth vinyl panels and it sux. I used it full strength and still had to scrub with a brush and reapply and scrub more. Delpro said the harsh acid would etch the surface. Has anyone used anything that has the cleaning power without etching effect.
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Smooth wall panel cleaning
- Thread starter Jim64
- Start date
Eric H
Well-known member
I’ve used Stone Soap’s Restore for 20 years. It does contain ABF so you still need to be careful.
I mix at 5:1 in a sprayer, spraying the walls, hit it with a blue nylon truck brush on an extendable brush handle, then wash off with my SS bay gun. Any real stubborn areas I use a Magic Eraser.
I have a 21 year old RBS building with the plastic walls filled with concrete. Building still looks great! I’ve also used Restore on Extrutech, Nu-Wall and the covers on my Razors with great results.
Using a strong acid will burn the shiny coating off of the panels. As soon as you do that the panels require more cleaning. If you’re looking for a spray on/hose off product you’re not going to find anything. The “scrubbing “ I do with the brush is just to evenly distribute the chemical and knock off anything heavy.
I mix at 5:1 in a sprayer, spraying the walls, hit it with a blue nylon truck brush on an extendable brush handle, then wash off with my SS bay gun. Any real stubborn areas I use a Magic Eraser.
I have a 21 year old RBS building with the plastic walls filled with concrete. Building still looks great! I’ve also used Restore on Extrutech, Nu-Wall and the covers on my Razors with great results.
Using a strong acid will burn the shiny coating off of the panels. As soon as you do that the panels require more cleaning. If you’re looking for a spray on/hose off product you’re not going to find anything. The “scrubbing “ I do with the brush is just to evenly distribute the chemical and knock off anything heavy.
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lighthousecarwash
Active member
And today I learned that you can buy car wash chemicals on Amazon!
Are your plastics still shiny with your cleaning method?
Eric H
Well-known member
Not “Brand New” shiny but still has a sheen after 21 years. The outside of the building will get chalkie but looks great when I wash the outside once every year or two.
I’ve seen other washes that hire a power wash company to come in. They spray a strong acid and pressure wash it off. Burns off the coating (etched) and then the dirt clings to the panels.
My washes always look good! I’m going to break my arm patting myself on the back
OurTown
Well-known member
I went to Stone Soap website, I see a product called Grime Stopper Wall & Equipment cleaner
Eric H
Well-known member
You have to call. The product doesn’t appear on their website. It’s an older product and has been replaced by Grime Stopper. I could t get that product to clean as well as Restore.
I also have Quest’s wall cleaner, SAW. I couldn’t get the performance I wanted out of that either.
Question for all- Can you etch PVC panels with an HF-based product? I don't think I ever have and I know sometimes my employees have mixed it too strong-like 50/50.
You can get HF based Wall cleaner at many places labeled as aluminum brightener. Detailing suppliers and industrial chemical companies that provide chemicals to truck washers carry it. Even NAPA stores carry it. The carwash industry chemical providers do have some safer products to use (Quest SAW and Arcadian C3) but they don't work as well as HF on most things. HF should be used with caution. My former pressure washer contractor almost lost a couple of fingers using it.
Take a piece of scrap wall product and try different products. I took a piece of extrutech and tried a lot of common chemicals on it to see which were safe to use. For stubborn things I use either a white scotchbrite pad or a magic sponge.
You can get HF based Wall cleaner at many places labeled as aluminum brightener. Detailing suppliers and industrial chemical companies that provide chemicals to truck washers carry it. Even NAPA stores carry it. The carwash industry chemical providers do have some safer products to use (Quest SAW and Arcadian C3) but they don't work as well as HF on most things. HF should be used with caution. My former pressure washer contractor almost lost a couple of fingers using it.
Take a piece of scrap wall product and try different products. I took a piece of extrutech and tried a lot of common chemicals on it to see which were safe to use. For stubborn things I use either a white scotchbrite pad or a magic sponge.
