AlgoClear – Why it's the stand out product for hard surface cleaning on the market.

For a number of years AlgoClear Pro hard surface cleaner has been the brand of choice for many professionals in the cleaning industry. At ProGreen we offer a great amateur use product, AlgoClear, which is ideal for those wanting to take matters into their own hands with regards to tasks such as cleaning patio slabs or other hard surfaces around their gardens but still achieve the professional affects you would with the AlgoClear Pro. Throughout this article, we are going to be looking at what makes AlgoClear the best option for you and why it is different to the “off the shelf” products that are available from garden centres or hardware stores.

All About AlgoClear

The main question is what is AlgoClear and what does it do? AlgoClear is a concentrated cleaning solution, often used for a simple process known as softwashing. Softwashing is a cleaning method using a low pressure spray with special cleaning solutions, such as AlgoClear, which cleans algae, moss and other biofilms from patios, roofs, building exteriors and other hard surfaces. This method is highly effective and is a lot safer than the use of pressure washing which can damage more sensitive areas such as roof tiles or block paving where sand could be dislodged from the high pressure spray. It is particularly popular for patio cleaning, roof cleaning and ensuring surfaces such as decking are safe and slip free to walk on.

AlgoClear contains the active ingredient Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) which is used in many biocidal applications. This product is a proven surface biocide which effectively cleans moss, biofilm, grime and discolourations from a variety of hard surfaces. A stand out feature of this product is that unlike many other alternative brands, AlgoClear does not contain any acids or bleach which eliminates the risk of the product staining, discolouring or damaging sensitive areas. This makes it one of the best patio cleaners on the market as a result of its delicate approach to hard surface cleaning.

Why  Ingredients Matter

As you may be aware, there are various products on the market that claim to have similar effects when cleaning hard surfaces such as patios. Today we are going to talk you through what the main differences are and what makes AlgoClear the stand out product in this sector.

To begin with, many cheaper alternatives contain an active ingredient called Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC). Although this ingredient has some similar cleaning properties to DDAC (the active ingredient in AlgoClear), the effects are largely different. Unlike DDAC, BAC deactivates rapidly upon use. This means that these products do not offer residual anti-bacterial activity meaning that growths of algae and other biofilms are likely to return far more quickly than if you were to use products containing DDAC. After correct use, the residual properties within the DDAC in AlgoClear means that it keeps the area clean for months after it has been applied.

Another factor that highlights the differences between AlgoClear and products that contain BAC is that AlgoClear has the ability to remain fully effective when applied with hard water. The active ingredient BAC binds easily with the minerals that are in hard water significantly reducing its efficacy. AlgoClear does not suffer from this and retains its full efficacy.

So, even if the product containing the BAC may be slightly cheaper, you will have to re-treat the area far sooner than you would if you used products such as AlgoClear due to the reduced efficacy and lack of lasting effects, causing the cheaper products to actually cost more in the long run!

What's the difference between patio cleaners?

There are many other variations of patio cleaner/hard surface cleaners on the market however a lot of them contain ingredients that cut costs but do not have great effects. Some examples of chemicals that are often used are citric acid and sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochlorite is essentially a bleach so if applied to areas, such as decorative paving slabs, you would run the risk of discolouring the area.

To conclude, there are many products available for patio cleaning, roof cleaning and general hard surface maintenance on the market however price really does determine the type of product you are going to be receiving. Despite some initially looking like the cheaper option, in time they can work out to be far more expensive as they do not have the level of efficacy required for giving you lasting and noticeable effects.