a-kem automotive

[Martyn]

@Big Pimp thanks for the super quick delivery. Less than 24hrs from ordering to parcel being delivered!

 

[davyk31]

@Big Pimp whats happened to the dilution instructions on the bottles or is everything now not to be diluted any further? Nothing I bought recently mentions dilution.

 

[Big Pimp]

@Big Pimp whats happened to the dilution instructions on the bottles or is everything now not to be diluted any further? Nothing I bought recently mentions dilution.

The only product I forgot dilution instructions on (but I have new labels coming next week ) was PreClean

what else doesn’t have the dilutions added that you’ve found mate?

 

[davyk31]

I have Lazer came this week and also the wheel cleaner, can’t remember the new name. Got articulate a while back and again no dilution details.

 

[davyk31]

Can you post up something to give the dilutions please @Big Pimp so I’m not using the stuff too strong and risking damage.

 

[svensktoppen]

Lazer: about 1:50 for pretty much anything, from oil spills or bike chains to round the kitchen or bath room
Articulate/"pre-wash": about 1:20
Cleanse/wheel cleaner: neat is how I use it

You can play around with those. I know some have used Cleanse at 1:2 or 1:3 just to eek out a bit more. You can dilute Articulate to 1:50 of it's just light dirt. Or mix it with Lazer if the car is really messy/grimy/greasy.

 

[GavRS182]

When will 2l bottles of Gleam be in stock again? Seems like it's only been 1l available for quite some time

 

[Big Pimp]

When will 2l bottles of Gleam be in stock again? Seems like it's only been 1l available for quite some time

They’ll be in on my next brew mate

 

[Alastair_S]

what else doesn’t have the dilutions added

Got Cleanse recently with no dilutions, instructions, or COSHH, just a plain label. I'm familiar with the product but thinking more if any go out to a new customer who wont be aware of it's use and potential hazards.

 

[Big Pimp]

Got Cleanse recently with no dilutions, instructions, or COSHH, just a plain label. I'm familiar with the product but thinking more if any go out to a new customer who wont be aware of it's use and potential hazards.

The only reason that happened is I ran out of the proper labels and my printers haven’t sent me the new batch down yet. I knew it was a repeat order and you were familiar with the product.

I dumped (foolishly) all my old labels with the old branding although I didn’t foresee a time when I ran Out of my new labels

 

[Jazzer]

What have you got on the Ava pressure washers Ross?? Need a replacement thanks

 

[swansty]

@Big Pimp whats the difference between the anti moss and the soft wash stuff? Would be for application onto tar and kerbs to remove light moss.

 

[svensktoppen]

Anti-moss works specifically on moss and algaes and is far less toxic to other plants, animals, and yourself. I just used some the other week while it was still warm, it works great.

The Softwash will kill anything. It's great if you also have weeds and whatnot, for example. You just need to be careful not to get it where you don't want it, including on yourself. Where covering clothes, face mask, etc. And be extra careful if you have pets. It's fine once it's dry.

It's really too late for either now though. They both work best of you have a couple of warm dry days for them to do their thing. They're not acids that just burn away the green stuff on top but leave everything intact underneath. They work by getting absorbed and killing from the inside out. Depending on what you spray it on it might take a couple of days to a couple of weeks. But it will die.

For the same reason, follow dilutions. There is no point at all "going stronger" with these. They just don't work that way. And Softwash especially can be quite toxic to both humans and animals if not diluted properly.

 

[Big Pimp]

Anti-moss works specifically on moss and algaes and is far less toxic to other plants, animals, and yourself. I just used some the other week while it was still warm, it works great.

The Softwash will kill anything. It's great if you also have weeds and whatnot, for example. You just need to be careful not to get it where you don't want it, including on yourself. Where covering clothes, face mask, etc. And be extra careful if you have pets. It's fine once it's dry.

It's really too late for either now though. They both work best of you have a couple of warm dry days for them to do their thing. They're not acids that just burn away the green stuff on top but leave everything intact underneath. They work by getting absorbed and killing from the inside out. Depending on what you spray it on it might take a couple of days to a couple of weeks. But it will die.

For the same reason, follow dilutions. There is no point at all "going stronger" with these. They just don't work that way. And Softwash especially can be quite toxic to both humans and animals if not diluted properly.

Perfectly described by @svensktoppen there. Softwash is approx 15x strength of AntiMoss too

Actually was talking to the chemist of softwash on Thursday and asked him the specific question about temperature humidity etc. and he believes softwash will still work at this time of the year whereas anti moss won’t.

As with anything though, large deposits of moss etc. should be scraped / brushed first and then apply the biocide

I applied softwash approx 5 weeks ago and it done what it was supposed to by killing all green etc.

Last weekend I also took to washing and cleaning all the soffit and quite a bit of moss as well as dirt fell onto the patio etc. so I washed it all down.

What I noticed was the whole place was easier to clean and wash and the chemist said that would be correct as even though all the stuff had been killed it was still partly present but washing would get rid of whatever residues were left behind as the spores etc. which bind them to the surface would be killed too

Anyway, off on a tangent there. Sven answered your question perfectly

 

[swansty]

Cheers lads, will give softwash a rattle on the driveway and see what happens.

 

[Dan]

What are people using to physically scrape the moss from the likes of a driveway where the tar is very dimpled?

 

[crx]

I'd say without damaging the tar, kill it off and a good stiff brush with plenty of elbow grease!

 

[svensktoppen]

Just a brush and a lot of elbow grease. A power washer strong enough to shift it would probably mess up the tarmac? Or at least leave a mess that would have to be swept anyway?

 

[Paddy_R]

Cleaning tarmac is a nightmare. If using a power washer it's incredibly easy to leave stripes etc which are then a nightmare to shift themselves.

As stated above a good stuff brush and plenty of effort will see it looking a lot better. Probably not the best time of year to be doing this as its much much easier to shift when it's dry (it also allows the various products to work a lot better).

A power sweeper/brush on a strimmer (nylon rather than wire) will make the job a lot easier if you have a good strimmer at home. They can be got for around £20 or so.

 

[Rigger]

Cleaning tarmac is a nightmare. If using a power washer it's incredibly easy to leave stripes etc which are then a nightmare to shift themselves.

As stated above a good stuff brush and plenty of effort will see it looking a lot better. Probably not the best time of year to be doing this as its much much easier to shift when it's dry (it also allows the various products to work a lot better).

A power sweeper/brush on a strimmer (nylon rather than wire) will make the job a lot easier if you have a good strimmer at home. They can be got for around £20 or so.

I bought this a few years ago. Really good with my old Karcher. Use it on the bloc-pave and tar-mac. The extra length of the lance also means that you're not bent at an awkward angle for a few hours. Ask me how I know! Used the original Karcher lance (with extension) and ended up on morphine in the Ulster after the muscles in my back locked up. Couldn't walk!

Genuine Karcher 560mm 250 Bar Angled Lance Extension Commercial HD and HDS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Genuine Karcher 560mm 250 Bar Angled Lance Extension Commercial HD and HDS at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

There are some vendors who do extra long extensions, nearly a metre long.

 

[Dan]

Cleaning tarmac is a nightmare. If using a power washer it's incredibly easy to leave stripes etc which are then a nightmare to shift themselves.

As stated above a good stuff brush and plenty of effort will see it looking a lot better. Probably not the best time of year to be doing this as its much much easier to shift when it's dry (it also allows the various products to work a lot better).

A power sweeper/brush on a strimmer (nylon rather than wire) will make the job a lot easier if you have a good strimmer at home. They can be got for around £20 or so.

I’ve run out of elbow grease so I like the sound of a strimmer

 

[DaddyCC]

I used my power washer with dirt blaster attachment at a low angle (I stuck to less than 45 degrees) and was amazed at the general crap I blew out. Don't put your lance face on to the tarmac and up close and it should limit any damage.

Wouldnt want to do it often, but the odd year ain't done much harm yet.

 

[Big Pimp]

If anyone had an Ego unit like I got from @lightning the power broom is amazing

 

[Coog]

Lidl have electric brushes in the odd time with a few different attachments. Got one a couple of years ago for the artificial grass but also good at scrubbing the pavers cleaning edges.

Don’t think it was anywhere near this sort of money though, more like £50!

PARKSIDE 2-in-1 Electric 500W Patio Driveway Cleaning Brush Weed Sweeper Moss | eBay

Technical details: connection power: max. 500W; Idle Speed: 600?. Removes moss, dirt and debris from patios, paths or drives. Suitable for natural stone, concrete paving, tiles, wood or wood composite materials (WPC).

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[svensktoppen]

Just get a good brush and put your back into it, decent exercise too It's only once in a blue moon after all. And then it's stuck rusting away in the back of the garage among all the other detritus of rarely/ever used stuff, lol. I'm not even sure it's actually less work either.