Put the pressure on—and get the grime off
If you’re looking for an easy way to quickly blast away all the mud and stains from your driveway, siding, and truck tires with one device, look no further than a pressure washer. Thanks to its ability to spray highly pressurized water (usually mixed with a cleaning solution) at the offending dirt or stain, a pressure washer can make your home’s exterior look brand new.
But before you start showering everything in sight, make sure you’re operating the pressure washer safely and knock out all those outside cleaning chores before lunchtime.
Pressure washers come in gas or electric models. Gas-powered washers deliver 2,000 to 2,800 PSI (pounds per square inch), compared with electric models, which put out 1,300 to 1,700 on average. Because of this, gas washers are generally considered more powerful and can clean 10 times faster than electric models. That said, gas-powered washers are noisier and require more caution and care to not damage wood or other surfaces.
While you should pay attention to PSI when choosing a pressure washer, you should also check the washer’s water flow in gallons per minute. For instance, a machine with 5 GPM and 1,700 PSI will clean better than a machine with 4 GPM and 2,000 PSI. In addition, select a washer that will dispense cleaning solutions in addition to water. A little bit of chlorine can go a long way to clean concrete and prevent mold and mildew buildup.
While you may have heard these terms used interchangeably, they’re actually different machines. The most important thing to know is that a power washer uses heated water while a pressure washer does not, which makes pressure washing a bit more gentle on some surfaces—but it’s still great at its job.
Power washers should be used on the most durable materials like concrete, stone, and masonry. The hot, pressurized water will do a great job of removing organic material, like mud on your driveway. For everything else, consider sticking to a pressure washer.
Pressure washers are extremely powerful machines and can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. When operating one, always wear goggles, ear protection, boots, long sleeves, and gloves.
Before you turn the machine on, make sure no one is around and potentially in the spray’s way. Additionally, grip the machine with two hands and be careful before you make any sudden movements; a pressure washer can damage windows, doors, overhangs, and screens. If it’s a windy day, consider waiting for calmer weather; wind can direct the spray right back towards you.
Make sure you have an adequate water supply, otherwise, your pressure washer won’t be living up to its potential. To check your home’s water supply, time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket up with water—if it takes over two minutes, you might not have a strong enough water supply for the washer.
You should also clean your washer’s inlet filter and check that any hoses or accessories are securely connected. Clear any items and debris that might get in the way of your cleaning spree—things like toys can easily get damaged if accidentally hit.
Your rose garden might not look so rosy after it’s been hit with pressurized chlorine, so watch where you spray. Additionally, consider watering your plants before, during, and after you pressure wash, so any cleaning solution that hits them is diluted (dry leaves absorb cleaning solutions much easier than wet ones).
Absolutely do not try to save some time by using your pressure washer on your garden while you have it out. A pressure washer is not a hose and should never be directed toward any living thing. Keep these powerful tools away from plants, children, and pets.
There are many different types of cleaning solutions you can use with a pressure washer. Understanding the different cleaners and what they can be used on and for is imperative for achieving great results with your pressure washer.
Vinegar: Safe and effective for most surfaces as a general cleaner
Citric acid: Ideal for concrete and wood
Oxalic acid: Excellent at removing rust
Sodium hydroxide: Can break down grease, oil, and other lipids
Potassium hydroxide: Used for mixing soft 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 remove color from clothing
No matter what surface you’re planning to wash— be it a brick wall, a concrete floor, or vinyl siding—do a survey of the area and note any cracks or holes in the surface. Repair these spots before you begin the washing process and give them the appropriate time to cure or dry, depending on the kind of repairs made.
Hitting any surface with a high-pressure shock of water can be intense, so ease your way into the washing. Start by washing from 10 feet away, and move in a little closer to the surface until the pressure is just enough to loosen and remove any grime.
Taking your time will help ensure you end up with a quality result and that you stay safe while cleaning. If you rush, you could hurt yourself, damage your home, or just end up with a sub-par job that needs to be done again.
There’s a reason your pressure washer comes with various nozzle tips—they handle different jobs. A wide nozzle—around 40 degrees—is excellent for general washing, and can be used on wood decks or your home’s siding. A more narrow, 25-degree nozzle, can tackle the grime on brick and concrete, while the nozzle with a 15-degree nozzle or less will dispense extremely high pressure, and should only be used to get rid of stains on metal. Nozzle tips are universally color-coded to help you select the right one.
Red: Zero degrees; never use this nozzle close up on any surface
Yellow: 15-degree angle; used to prepare surfaces for painting, staining, or resealing, or to remove mud from tires
Green: 25 degrees; good for masonry
White: 40 degrees; good for a general wash for your home’s exterior
Black: 65 degrees; gentle and typically only used to wet a surface, not clean it
You should always use the lowest degree you can get away with for the material and stain you’re cleaning. Apply cleaning solution from the ground up, and then rinse from the top down without letting the cleaning solution dry.
To get the most power out of your washer, keep the nozzle perpendicular to the surface you’re cleaning. If you need to clean a difficult-to-access spot, like high-up siding, consider investing in a nozzle wand that pivots.
Some stains—like those from acorns, fertilizer, oil, and rust—are forever, and there’s not a lot you can do about it with DIY pressure washing. In addition, some big or high-up jobs require more tools than you might have on hand. Rather than overdoing it and risking damage to your home (or yourself!), consider calling in a local power washer to assess the situation; the cost to pressure wash a home ranges from $100 to $650.
Store your washer indoors during the off-season to prevent any weather-related damage. You can also winterize the machine by filling the pump with undiluted RV-grade antifreeze. After using the machine with any cleaning solution, be sure to run it a few times with just water to remove the cleaning solution—any chemicals left behind in the machine can damage the inner parts and shorten the lifespan of your pressure washer.
The amount of pressure, measured in psi, that you should use depends on what you’re washing. Very tough materials like concrete, stone, and masonry can handle a high psi of 2,500 to 3,000, but materials like wood require a bit of a lighter touch. To clean your wooden deck, you’ll want to use your pressure washer on the lowest setting, around 600 psi, especially if it’s made of soft wood like pine or cedar.
Yes, you can pressure wash vinyl siding. Because vinyl is a pretty durable material, it can withstand up to 3,000 psi. However, you’ll still need to be cautious and operate the pressure washer correctly to avoid costly damage to your home’s exterior. Remember to repair cracks or damage to your siding before you clean it with a pressure washer.
This answer is a bit tricky because experts say both. You should apply your cleaning solution from bottom to top, but rinse from top to bottom to avoid streaking. When it comes to multi-story houses, you’ll want to start at the top floor and work your way down, but follow the above instructions for each level as if it were an independent structure, rather than washing the whole house as one unit.
We don’t advise using dishwashing liquid in your pressure washer, as it is meant to be mixed with water that is cooler than what gets pushed through a pressure washer. The warmer water makes the dish soap very sudsy, which can damage your pressure washer’s tubing and other components.
