Power washing makes quick work of
dirt and grime on exterior surfaces
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Power washing tips
When renting be sure to get complete directions from the rental company on the operation and use of this equipment. Even if you're an old hand at do-it-yourself, ask questions and listen.
Caution! Do not put any type of bleach into your pressure washer; the bleach will damage the parts of the pressure washer.
Get rental insurance for the equipment. This will cover you if a hose breaks or the equipment malfunctions.
Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from splash back or accidental direct spray.
Make sure all windows are closed properly.
Turn off the power to light fixtures and electrical outlets at your home's main service panel. Cover them with plastic and secure with duct tape.
Place drop cloths over plants and shrubs. Move lawn furniture and anything else that you might trip over, well away from the area being sprayed.
Don't power wash on windy days, especially if you are using chemicals.
Keep the nozzle 10" - 12" from the surface, at about a 45-degree angle.
Use extra caution when cleaning aluminum or steel siding. A power washer can bend sections - even blow them right off the house.
Power washers can break windows if sprayed direct at them.
Don't spray under the laps of horizontal siding; it can lift the siding and force water in behind the siding that can cause damage or mold to form. And don't spray directly into crawl spaces or gable-end vents.
NEVER let children operate a power washer.
NEVER put your hand near the tip of the wand or aim it at a person or animal when operating. The high pressure water can penetrate the skin and cause severe injury.
Keep spray at least 10' from any power lines.
Power spray can completely shred valuable landscape plants.
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Power washing can
really brighten up a dirty house
When getting your house ready for sale, you want it to look the best it can be before placing the property on the market. That means getting it clean, both inside and out. For outside, the power washer is one of the best tools you can use (with care-- see left sidebar).
Power or pressure washing
Power washers are typically gasoline powered (some electric models are available) that takes water from your garden hose, increases the pressure of the water and forces it through a specialized nozzle in a powerful concentrated spray. The pressure washer can also mix the water with soap for even more efficient cleaning capabilities. Never use bleach with a power washer.
Power washing can blast away years of dirt and grime from gutters, house walls, and other hard surfaces around the house. When you're done, you'll wonder how you ever put up with such dirt for so long.
Power washing aluminum, steel, vinyl or wood siding removes grit that can actually grind away at the surface like fine sandpaper as the surfaces expand and contract with the daily temperature fluctuations. Power washing is also a good way to prepare a house's surface for repainting (this DOES NOT include removing peeling paint). If you're lucky, once the siding is clean you may find that you don't need to paint after all.
If your house does need repainting, a thorough power washing removes dirt, mildew, moss and chalking paint. You can easily wash even an average sized house, in a single day.
After power washing, allow the siding to completely dry for a few days before starting to paint. Areas with peeling paint should be scraped and primed, then painted according to product directions.
Renting power washing equipment
Power washing equipment are very specialized tools that can be rented from most tool rental companies or even some specialized paint stores. Power washers are rated by the pressure of their spray. This is given in pounds per square inch (PSI). For most house cleaning needs, you'll want a machine generating between 1200 and 2500 PSI. For large house and concrete areas, you might want to consider a higher PSI machine around 3000 PSI. Talk to the rental company about their equipment and what you want to do. They will be able to properly advise you. Get the extra insurance for replacement.
Rates for rental are around $60 - $100 per day.
Precautions with power washing equipment
Power washers can cause serious bodily injury if not handled correctly. Even though they are fairly simple tools to operate and you may be tempted to just drop everything and start spraying, you'll want to take a few precautions. Being safe is definitely better than being sorry.
Safety goggles will help protect your eyes from the over spray and in case of an accident (like tripping over a hose) might just be enough to protect you from losing your eye-sight. Gloves will protect your hands from the spray as will long pants. These precautions are more to help protect your body from accidents should the wand be dropped and it gets pointed in your direction.
Power specs
For most small jobs you'll need a power washer with a PSI of about 1500. Bigger jobs might require a machine with 3000 PSI. Again, consult with the rental company on your needs.
Power washing can help restore that new look to dirty decks, patios, walks and fences. In most cases, high-pressure water is all that's needed.
Cleaning wood
Wood is a relatively soft material compared to aluminum, concrete and stucco and requires a spray tip that spreads out the pressurized water stream. Extreme care should be taken when pointing a power spray nozzle at wood surfaces. Keep the sprayer in constant motion or it can easily eat away at the wood surface, or cause the wood fibers to splinter giving you a fuzzy surface that will require re-sanding to repair. This is especially true when using the higher PSI equipment. There are special spray tips for use on wood surfaces that provide a fan shaped jet spray. Talk to the rental company so you'll have the right spray tip on hand for the job.
When spraying a board, go the full length of the board and not from board to board. This will help even out the results. Going from board to board, or perpendicular to the board, causes a patchwork effect that will be unsightly and difficult to correct.
For example: on a wood deck, spray the entire length of each board or group of boards before going to the next set of boards. Likewise on fences. DO NOT WAVE THE WANT IN AN ARCING MOTION across the boards.
Always start the spraying action with the sprayer pointed away from the surface. This technique allows you to gently ease the sprayer onto the surface without causing a sudden impact spray that could gouge the wood.
Cleaning masonry
For spraying masonry surfaces, use a constant circular motion with the spray wand. Again, start the sprayer away from the concrete surface. Work from top to bottom.
When cleaning concrete driveways, one of the higher pressure washers (3000 PSI) may be needed, especially if there is excess oil drippings.
Because there is more likely to be loose debris on a driveway than say a wall, make sure the driveway is completely clear of any loose debris or other objects that might be flicked out when the spray hits it and cause damage to nearby objects or passing cars.
Excess grease, oil, or tire marks on the concrete should be treated prior to spraying. A little dishwashing detergent mixed with hot water and poured over the stained area before spraying will help loosen up tough oil and grease stains.
For extremely tough oil/grease problems, you may need to apply a specialized cleaning solution before spraying.
Once your driveway has been pressure washed and cleaned, reseal with a quality concrete sealer to help protect it from further damage. NOTE: sealed concrete may be slippery when wet.
Prepping house for paint
A pressure washer is not meant to be used for removing paint from wood siding or brick— holding a strong spray in one place long enough to remove paint can erode soft wood grain or dislodge mortar.
Although a power washer can be used on most siding materials, including wood, vinyl, metal, and some types of masonry, a pressure washer should never be used on hardboard siding because moisture is hardboard's worst enemy. The pressure washer can force moisture into these materials, even if they're sealed with paint. Extreme care should be used on stucco because it can ruin the material.
Do not pressure wash your house if you suspect that it may be been painted with lead paint. If your home is two-stories or very large, it's safer to let a professional handle the job.
Protect plants, light fixtures, and any breakable items around the house. Move obstacles and outdoor furniture away from the house and always work from the top down.
Use both hands when spraying and never use a power sprayer while on a ladder. Start with the nozzle about 3' from the surface and work it in closer until you feel the spray is strong enough. Never get closer than 12" from the siding or you may damage it; do not point it at windows and avoid aiming it upward, where it might drive water under siding.
When done, rinse off the siding with water from a garden hose, again, work from the top down. Allow the siding to dry for at least 2 days before painting.
Remember: power washing uses extremely high pressure. Never point the nozzle at anyone, including yourself and wear safety glasses. Keep the wand, the water, and your self away from electrical wires or devices.