Most Essential Tips on Pressure Washing Every Beginner Should Know
Are you ready to get rid of the dirt and grime and reinstate the kerb appeal of your home front? We are here to guide you on how to bring the outside of your home back to life with the right tools and techniques.
The correct tips on pressure washing can save you precious time. So, check out our pressure wash tips below, finish the job faster, and indulge in more entertaining activities than outdoor cleaning for hours and hours.
Tips On Pressure Washing For A Successful Clean
Before you attempt to hose down all of the dusty and dirty surfaces in sight, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.
Tip 1: Use The Right Nozzle
Pressure washers come with various nozzle tips. Each of them is meant to handle a specific type of cleaning task. You can use a rotating nozzle to power wash most of the areas. However, when it comes to tasks like removing tough stains on a concrete surface, you need a concentrated stream of water. You need high-pressure hosing in such instances, and using the direct stream of water is ideal. But, you need to be extra cautious when you use it. Unless you are aware of the do’s and don’ts of pressure washing, it causes serious injury to you or the other areas of the property.
Tip 2: Don’t Start Closer; Always Start Away From the Surface
It is always advisable to start pressure washing, maintaining a comfortable distance from the surface. If you start too close, you can blow a hole through an exterior siding or take the paint off the surface.
Therefore, in the beginning, keep a safe distance. At least keep a few feet apart between the surface and the tip of the nozzle of your pressure washer. You can start moving towards the surface when you are completely certain that the pressure washer is cleaning and agitating the surface without causing damage to the area in focus.
Tip 3: Do Not Pressure Wash On Top of a Wooden Roof
Never pressure wash a wooden roof if the wood beneath your feet is getting wet. The minute the wood gets wet, it turns into a ‘slip n slide.’ If you slide down and fall off the roof, you can sustain severe or life-threatening injuries depending on the height you fall off. So, when it comes to a wooden roof, we do not recommend ever getting the wood on the roof wet while you are standing on it.
Tip 4: Learn the Correct Technique for Using A Pressure Washer
The biggest advantages of a pressure washer are its speed and strength. However, underestimating the power of this tool and using it in an incorrect way can be dangerous. Therefore, adhere to the right techniques recommended by professionals.
The easiest way to start a pressure washer is to grab and pull the trigger, hold the trigger, and then pull the pressure washer. If you do not hold the trigger down, a lot of pressure tends to build up behind the pump. That makes it hard to pull and start your pressure washer. So, squeeze the trigger, and start your pressure washer to get it going. Afterwards, release your pressure washer, and the pressure will build up appropriately without too much force.
Another handy little tip is to always put your nozzle on the tip of the pressure washer before you pull the trigger. Squeezing the trigger without a nozzle could damage the tip, and you will require to fix the damage before attempting to restart the pressure washing job.
Getting a pressure washing job done is a piece of cake if you can accurately comprehend these pressure washing tips. Now let’s take a look at how to pressure wash a surface efficiently.
How Do You Pressure Wash Effectively?
After setting your pressure washer as per the instructions on the manuel, always refer back to the tips we have highlighted above. Go from top to bottom on vertical surfaces, so the dirt collects at the bottom, and you can clean it all off in the end.
If you are unsure of how to pressure wash without causing damage to the surfaces of your household, you can get the help of a professional pressure washing service like Aspen Services.
What Should You Not Do With a Pressure Washer?
There are a few common mistakes you want to avoid while pressure washing.
1. Forgetting to angle the pressure washer
When you approach the surface to be cleaned at an angle, it helps to lift up the dirt off the surface. On the contrary, if you spray directly, you can drive the dirt deeper under the surface.
2. Forgetting to wear safety gear
Putting your safety first is vital when you use a high-power tool like the pressure washer. A narrow stream of water at extremely high pressure can slice through skin and flesh. Therefore, always wear covered shoes and be attentive when using the pressure washer.
3. Using the wrong nozzle
The size of the nozzle plays an accurate role in the strength of the water pressure coming out of the pressure washer. Using the wrong nozzle on the wrong surface can easily cause damage to your property.
How Do You Pressure Wash Fast?
Using a rotating pressure washer nozzle is a surefire way to enhance the efficiency of pressure washing cleaning. However, this might not be suitable for every type of pressure washing job. So, hiring a professional is the fastest way to get a pressure washing project over with. Best high pressure cleaners have years and years of experience under their belt. Therefore, they are quite capable of getting a pressure cleaning job done faster than an inexperienced ‘DIYer.’
We hope our tips for pressure washing come in handy. Stay tuned to this space to learn tips for pressure washing a house. We will also discuss how to pressure wash roof tiles and other different types of surfaces.
If you are looking for tips for pressure washing driveway, check out our blog, How to Clean A Concrete Driveway.