If you’re looking for a way to quickly remove mud and stains from your driveway and siding, look no further than a pressure washer. A pressure washer can make your home’s exterior look new thanks to its ability to spray high-pressure water onto the dirt or stain.
Before washing, operate your pressure washer safely and complete all exterior cleaning tasks before lunchtime.
Choose the Right Tool
Gas pressure washers are generally more powerful and can clean 10 times faster than electric models. Because of this, they are louder and require more caution and care to avoid damaging wood or other surfaces.
Prepare Properly
Ensure you have an adequate water supply; otherwise, your pressure washer won’t live up to its potential. To check your home’s water supply, measure how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket with water. If it takes longer than 2 minutes, you don’t have a strong enough water supply for the power washer.
Protect Your Plants
Your rose garden may not look as pink after you’ve sprayed it with bleach under pressure, so be careful where you spray. Also, consider watering your plants before, during, and after you pressure wash them so that any cleaning solution that comes into contact with them is diluted.
Don’t try to save time by using the power washer in your garden while you have it outside. A power washer is not a hose and should never be pointed at any living thing. Keep those powerful tools away from plants, children, and pets.
Understand Cleaning Solutions
Many different types of cleaning solutions can be used with a power washer. To achieve great results with your power washer, it’s critical to understand the different cleaners and their uses.
• Vinegar – Safe and effective for most surfaces as a general cleaner.
• Citric Acid: Great for concrete and wood.
• Oxalic Acid: Great for removing rust.
• Sodium Hydroxide: Can break down grease, oil, and other lipids.
• Potassium Hydroxide: Used to mix mild soaps.
• Ammonia: Commonly used for exterior glass.
• Bleach: Bleach should only be used to clean mold and mildew; it can corrode metal, kill plants, and strip color from clothing.
Repair Any Broken Surfaces
Inspect the area and look for cracks or holes regardless of the surface you plan to wash. Repair those spots before you begin the washing process and allow adequate time for them to cure or dry, depending on the repairs performed.
Maintain Your Machine
Store your washing machine indoors during the off-season to prevent weather-related damage. You can also prepare the machine for winter by filling the pump with undiluted RV antifreeze. After using the machine with any cleaning solution, be sure to run it several times with just water to remove the cleaning solution – any chemicals left in the machine can damage internal parts and shorten the life of your washer.
