Using a high-pressure washer to clean up your home regularly may sound like an unnecessary thing to do. However, it should be part of the maintenance routine of every homeowner. Due to constant exposure to harsh weather and elements, you need a more comprehensive way to clean the outer part of your home. There are many benefits of using a high-pressure washer. We’re going to explain how you can use a high-pressure washer for cleaning different parts of your home.
Cleaning a porch with a power washer is a great way to remove dirt, grime, and mildew from the surface. Start by spraying in a back-and-forth motion, overlapping each spray pattern to ensure complete coverage. Make sure to wear safety goggles and work gloves to protect your eyes and hands from the powerful spray. After the surface has been prepped, apply a cleaning solution to the porch and let it sit for a few minutes. This will help loosen and remove dirt and grime. Then, rinse the porch with the power washer, using a fan spray pattern. Make sure to keep the pressure washer at least 6-10 inches away from the surface to prevent damage. Finish by allowing the porch to dry completely before applying any sealant.
Use a High-pressure washer for cleaning – How to?
- Prevent permanent damage: Stain can be hard to remove if it sits for years on your walls, driveways, or floors. Mold may weaken surfaces, although they are made of inorganic materials. Because mold feeds on finishes and paint, you need a power washer to remove them.
- Save money: Your home is an investment that you need to protect with regular maintenance to save money. A single preventative measure may go a long way towards preventing costly repairs and keeping the value of your property.
- Easy way to prime surfaces: If you want to repaint, resurface or refinish any exterior part of your home, it is recommended to use a high-pressure washer to prime the surface.
- Protect your family: Mildew and dust may cause severe allergic reactions in some people. Annual clean-up with a power washer can keep your family members healthy. During springtime, allergens are present in higher concentrations. Combined with a mild soap solution, high-pressure washing can effectively kill mold and mildew.
- Save the environment: You don’t need industrial-grade cleaning chemicals to remove stubborn stains from any outdoor surface. These chemicals may easily pollute waterways, groundwater, and soil around your home. In many cases, only hot water is needed to dislodge grime and remove stains. For oil stains and mold, you may use biodegradable soap that won’t pollute the environment.
- Save time: It takes a lot of time to clean up outdoor surfaces with brushes and cleaning products. Efficiency is key because time is an irrecoverable asset. There’s no need to mix chemicals and scrub strenuously, which will take hours if you do it by hand.
You can use a high-pressure washer to clean up different parts of your home. Here are ways to do it safely and efficiently:
How to use a High-pressure washer to clean a front porch
Cleaning the front porch is an essential task that every homeowner should do. If you want to do this safely and easily, a high-pressure washer is the right tool for the job.
Cleaning your front porch with a high-pressure washer is safe and easy
Use soap to help clean the porch. You can use dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent in warm water, but avoid using bleach or other harsh chemicals.
Use a squeegee to dry the porch. A good squeegee is essential for this task because it will be used over and over again on different parts of your house as you work through each room in turn. It’s also helpful to have an additional helper holding onto the hose so that you don’t accidentally pull it out from its place under your sprayer nozzle when you’re cleaning up around corners or between steps (and trust us: you’ll want every inch of that high-pressure hose).
Use a brush with stiff bristles on stubborn dirt or stains like mud or bird droppings before rinsing everything down again with fresh water; if necessary repeat until satisfied with the results! Don’t forget: even though we’re talking about using soap here – don’t forget about using bleach too! It’s always best practice when dealing with any kind of stain situation.”
- Choose a power washer that is appropriate for the job. Consider the size of the area to be cleaned, the pressure level needed to remove dirt, and the type of surfaces to be cleaned.
- Mark off any areas that need to be avoided. This includes areas with sensitive plants, outdoor fixtures, and windows.
- Set up the power washer. Connect the hose to the machine, and make sure it is firmly attached.
- Fill the washer with the appropriate cleaning solution. Read the directions on the bottle to determine the correct ratio of water to the cleaning solution.
- Put on protective clothing and safety gear, including goggles and gloves.
- Begin at the top of the house and work your way down. Move the power washer in a sweeping motion. Start with a low-pressure setting to avoid damaging the siding.
- Rinse the area with a garden hose when you are done. This will help remove any remaining dirt or cleaning solution.
- Allow the house to completely dry before applying any sealants or other treatments.
Many front porches are made of wood, which makes them susceptible to extreme temperature, sunlight, and moisture. Consider power washing your porch every 1 or 2 years to remove grime and mildew.
Be prepared
If you have wooden decks as a front porch, make sure to use a nozzle with a rotating tip. A power washer is strong enough to etch bricks, so avoid using very high pressure when cleaning up the wooden surface. If you don’t want to use any chemicals, be sure to prepare hot water to easily remove grime and mold.
Move furniture
If you have chairs, swing chairs, tables, and benches on your porch, you should move everything out of the way. Be sure that you can reach all corners and parts of the porch to power wash them properly. Some furniture can be damaged by pressure washers although you use the lowest setting.
Sweep dust and debris
After being exposed through the years to wind, sunlight, sleet, rain, and snow, your porch will be covered by twigs, dry leaves, dust, and other debris. You will get the most optimum result if your porch is clean.
Start washing
After making all the necessary preparations, it is time to start pressure washing your front porch. In many cases, you only need water to remove stubborn stains from the surface of the porch. However, a cleaning solution can be necessary if you encounter tough stains. To prevent splintering, you should spray along the wood grain, instead of across it.
Rinse
If you use detergent or residue, you should rinse the porch thoroughly. If you leave the soap residue on the porch, it will become sticky and attract more grime. You don’t have to use the pressure washer to rinse the porch. Make sure to direct the water out of the porch. Use a clean mop to clear puddles or excess water off the porch. It is recommended to start power washing the porch in the morning, so there’s enough time for the porch to get completely dry before nighttime.
Driveway cleaning with a High-pressure washer
Remove all the dirt from your driveway
Make sure you’re using a high-pressure washer that is powerful enough to remove dirt, algae, and grime. That way you’ll have a driveway clean as it should be.
Your driveway can get very dirty if you neglect it for too long. Oil stains, debris, and soil may contaminate the surface and cause stubborn stains. Here are things to do:
Prepare enough water
Make sure you have enough water to do the job. Power washing your driveway requires plenty of water, especially if it’s big. Don’t pressure wash your driveway if you have many guests staying at home or when it’s laundry day.
Cover your plants
Pressurized water and detergent may harm your plants. Cover nearby grass and plants with a tarp, especially if the edges of the driveway are especially dirty.
Blow away debris
Use a leaf blower to blow away dirt, debris, and dust off your driveway. Rocks and other hard debris may cause injury when they are thrown around.
Wear safety gear
Although you have removed all the debris, loose chunks of concrete may injure your face or eyes. Because the pressure washer is loud, you should also wear hearing protection, especially if you use it for more than ten minutes.
Choose a proper nozzle
Use a lower nozzle to douse the driveway with detergent and rinse it. Choose high pressure for the actual cleaning. Unless your driveway is crumbling at some parts, it’s safe to use the highest pressure setting.
Choose a detergent
The only way to remove stubborn oil and paint stains is to use concrete detergents. Some pressure washer models have a special tank for storing detergent. Avoid using bleach, because it may damage your pressure washer.
Test on a spot
Some power washers are strong enough to etch the concrete. Choose a less visible spot on your driveway to test your settings.
Coat with sealant
After rinsing your driveway and leaving it to dry completely, you should coat the driveway with a good sealer. It will protect your driveway against rain, sunlight, and stains.
Swimming pool cleaning with a High-pressure washer
Mold may grow underwater and you need a pressure washer to properly clean the pool surface. If you neglect to clean your pools regularly, the water can be easily contaminated, which may cause health issues for your family.
Cleaning a pool with a power washer is a great way to remove stubborn dirt and grime. Before using a power washer, it is important to read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Start by clearing the area around the pool of any debris, then use the power washer to spray down the sides of the pool. Make sure to keep the nozzle at least two to three feet away from the pool wall to prevent damage. Start at the bottom of the pool and work your way up towards the top. Once you have finished cleaning the walls, use the power washer to clean the pool deck, making sure to stay at least two to three feet away from any furniture or decorations. After cleaning, make sure to rinse off any remaining chemicals and dirt with a garden hose.
Drain the pool
Completely drain your pool and use a floor squeegee to remove excess water from the bottom of the pool. Your pressure washer works best on a dry surface, so you should let the pool be completely dry. Mold may cause the pool floor to become exceptionally slippery and be sure to wear anti-slip work boots.
Clean the pool
After your pool is completely dry, use a broom to remove dust, debris, and leaves. Scoop the debris out of the pool and dispose of it. You may use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust from your pool.
Use detergent
You need detergent to efficiently kill and remove mold from the pool surface. Use the pressure washer at the lowest setting to douse the pool with the detergent solution. Let the soap sit for about five minutes, so it will be absorbed by mold deposits.
Choose nozzle
Depending on the material used for your pool, you should choose the right nozzle to adjust the proper pressure. Very high pressure may crack tiles, so you should choose a lower-pressure setting first. Test the nozzle and pressure on an inconspicuous part of your pool.
Start rinsing
Rinse to remove soap and mold from the surface of the pool. It is a good sign if the grout looks cleaner after you power wash it. Continue rinsing until you no longer see a trace of soap. If the wet surface of your pool is no longer as slippery, it means that you have removed much of the mold. You may need to rinse twice if stains and mold are still visible.
Few words to end
Once you’re done using your high-pressure washer, it’s important to drain any water that is left in the hose and make sure that the nozzle is pointing away from anything fragile. You can also store your washer on its side to make sure there isn’t any leaking around the handle. And when you’re ready for another use, just follow these steps again!