Pressure washers can be used for multiple things around your home or business. I’ve seen people use them to clean car seats, window blinds, air conditioner filters and everything else you may find around the house. We compiled a list of the most common uses for pressure washing and the best ways to use it properly.
Common uses for power washers and how to use one properly
Window washing - To wash your windows first remove any screens. Put window cleaner in the pressure washers tank, make sure you use a specific cleaner for your power washer. Put the widest nozzle on the washer, 40 degree nozzle is best. Set on the lowest setting. Stand to the side not directly in front of the window, this will help keep the window safe from cracks or damage. Starting from the top, sweep back and forth until you cover the entire window. After you have covered the window you will need to rinse with a regular garden hose to remove streaks and get any soap residue off.
Drain, duct and gutter cleaning - Try to remove any large debris such as branches from the gutter prior to beginning. Start near a downspout and spray away from it. Angle your wand so the stream of water points away from the downspout, and progress down the length of the gutter. With enough pressure, the force of the water should propel debris out of the gutter. Try not to force too much debris into your downspouts.
Pool cleaning - Use a bleach and soap solution and an exterior brush for regular pool deck cleaning. Point the spray wand at the concrete surface and press the trigger. Sweep the nozzle steadily back and forth across the concrete, overlapping each stroke by several inches. Power washing removes grit, grime, sand, silt, chlorine and other pool chemicals and prepares concrete and timber for a fresh coat of sealant.
Parking lot and driveway washing - Start at the higher end of the drive and work your way down it in the direction of water flow. Point the spray wand at the driveway surface and press the trigger. Sweep the nozzle steadily back and forth across the concrete, overlapping each stroke by several inches.
Outdoor furniture - Find the right cleaning solution for your job. Many people choose to use a 50:50 ratio of bleach and water. Or depending on the grime and material others use vinegar and water. Anytime you are preparing to use a pressure washer, you will need to use caution. These machines are powerful and could cause damage to the user and the surroundings. Start slow, keep your wand moving and do not stay in the same place for too long. Using a light and gentle pressure is the best way to give your furniture a great wash. Apply the solution and let it soak, rinse it after about 15 minutes.
Boats, kayaks, canoes and jet skis - To start the cleaning, get a good detergent, preferably one designed for use on vehicles and boats. Apply the detergent to your boat, spraying from the bottom up to prevent streaks. Let the detergent work for 5-10 minutes, but don't let it dry. Rinse the detergent from your boat. Use a delicate, low-pressure spray pattern while rinsing.
Cars - The best nozzle sizes to go with when doing a pressure car wash would either be 25-degree or 40-degree nozzles. To start the cleaning, get a good detergent, preferably one designed for use on vehicles. Apply the detergent to your car, spraying from the bottom up to prevent streaks. Let the detergent work for 5-10 minutes, but don't let it dry. Rinse the detergent from your car. Use a delicate, low-pressure spray pattern while rinsing.
Fencing - To start the cleaning, get a good detergent, preferably one designed for use on fencing. Apply to the fence. Use a low-to-medium pressure spray pattern when rinsing the detergent. Wood is soft, and you don't want to cause any damage or streaking on the surface of your fence. A fan pattern with moderate pressure is a good bet to cover medium-large areas.
Exterior of your home - Pressure washers usually have three or four nozzles with spray patterns of varying widths. Attach the 15- or 25- degree nozzle to the wand for general paint cleaning, then test the effect on the siding. The spray should clean away all dirt without damaging the siding. Also make sure the nozzle coupling locks into place securely so you don’t blow the nozzle through a neighbor’s window! Put cleaner in the pressure washers tank, make sure you use a specific cleaner for your power washer. Put the widest nozzle on the washer, 40 degree nozzle is best. Set on the lowest setting. Starting from the top, sweep back and forth until you cover the entire area. After you have covered the area wit detergent, you will need to rinse with a regular garden hose to remove streaks and get any soap residue off.
Decks - Use the lowest possible pressure that is still effective. Pressure for soft wood (like cedar or pine) should be at about 500 to 600 pounds per square inch (psi); harder woods may tolerate more pressure, but you should not go higher than 1,200 psi. Use a 40- to 60-degree nozzle. Pull the trigger while holding the wand tip a couple of feet away from the deck surface, then lower the wand closer as needed. Try not to get closer than 6 inches or you could damage the wood. Clean the deck with a sweeping motion. Clean the deck boards from the house outward. Work with the grain by feathering the spray lengthwise, parallel to the deck boards, and overlapping each area slightly.
Hire a handyman to do your pressure washing
As we grow in our home, our home grows with us, too. To keep your home looking as nice as it was the day you purchased it, we recommend home maintenance. Feel confident knowing you’re in good hands with our team because we make sure our contractors have the experience to get the job done. Give us a call to schedule your pressure washing appointment.