The soap/ surfactants we use are no different / worse that what you clean your dishes with or use in your laundry. We don't use caustic soaps/ detergents or degreasers when cleaning a roof.
I say proprietary formula lol... i think if you explain whats going on with the roof, a customer will come to understand that a "green" cleaner isnt going to clean the roof and kill everything on it.... try educating them some more when they asked that question next time.
I always say "If there was a way to kill algae with an environmentally friendly product I'd be first in line to use it." I always disclose what I use, legally if you're using S H on a homeowner's property you have to disclose that to the client.
I'm honest with my customers, I don't beat around the bush I tell them we use chlorine based cleaners. I explain to them that there are only two ways to clean a roof which is chlorine based cleaners or the use of a power washer. I explain to them the damage a pressure washer can do.
I explain to them how we use a dedicated ground man to keep the vegetation wet and rinsed at all times.
unless you mask the smell it's quite obvious what your using.
I have never had a customer tell me no after explaining in detail.
Thanks Mike. This thread helped alot. When asked I tell them i apply a killer to the roof that is chorine based, and sometimes i tell them roof soap, never been asked the "green" question. I choked, was a 750 roof too!
i hate these people who think these green products are better than the original stuff that works. they here green an get all gitty inside . I tell people our products are as green as green can get and do the job that they want done with the results they want.
Ok I got how I'm going to answer this, the way we clean a roof is close to a pesticide company. Are what those companys use green? What we use is clorine based and is used in pools and your drinking water. Or something like that.
My would reply would have been yes, it is a 100% biodegradable solution. Green is the biggest crock of crap. What does green mean? Does the HO know what green means? We aren't cleaning roofs in California, and it doesn't give off gases that damage the ozone layer. Our solution is about 100 times greener than the car parked in their driveway. *Unless its electric than you look like an azz.
Ok I got how I'm going to answer this, the way we clean a roof is close to a pesticide company. Are what those companys use green? What we use is clorine based and is used in pools and your drinking water. Or something like that.
Original post said soap...I didn't realize your were talking about the actual mix. Thought you meant just the soaps we use.
A "Green" product is made with all natural ingredients and uses good bacteria, microbes and enzymes, "little tiny bugs" and all natural surfactants, to overtake and eliminate organic stains,odors,hydrocarbons, etc. A "green" product will have a reputable 3rd party verification that it is "GREEN" and in most cases will cost upwards of 50K to get this endoresement. If you used a "green" product with SH, Bleach, or any other type chemical, even a surfactant, you would immediately kill the "little tiny bugs" and thus make the '"Green" product useless. These "green" products are not "crap" and in fact are the very products used when ever there are oil spills to clean up wildlife, marshes, etc, and also to clean and remediate home or buildings that have suffered smoke damage.
Here is how I answer your customers question: We use a Bleach based solution that is completely safe to use because the largest portion of the cleaning mix is water. Bleach when handled properly is completely safe, just like when washing your clothes mam, when dispensed properly, it will brighten and clean your clothes without damage. When used wrong, it can be harmful. That's why it is safe to swim in, clean our clothes, sanitize our food prep area's, etc. because it is used properly. It's like gasoline, mam, when used and dispensed properly into your cars, it enables YOU to go the grocery store and pick up a jug of bleach to use for YOUR house hold cleaning and laundry, when used or improperly dispensed, it can cause damage.
Now if the person never uses bleach and is against the use of bleach in any form or fashion, you will never win. Move onto the next customer.
Be careful how you answer that question about green. Do not say that your cleaning product is GREEN if it is not. Just so you know also, there are many GREEN products that will clean roofs, unfortunately they require HEAVY rinsing and some times low pressure from a pressure washer, this is why in my opinion, they should not be used.