Learn to blast the grime away without doing damage
Pressure washing is a quick, cost-effective, and savvy strategy for deep cleaning your home and yard. However, that doesn’t mean you can blast everything in sight on the highest power setting. Understanding the different uses for pressure washers and the right handling techniques helps prevent injury and damage.
Read on to learn how to use a pressure washer safely and skillfully.
A pressure washer is a gas- or electric-powered tool that turns the slow-flowing water from a faucet or garden hose into a high-powered, targeted jet wand. It does this by increasing the water pressure to over 1,000 psi (pound-force per square inch) via a mechanical pump. The higher the psi, the stronger the force of the blast. Pressure washers typically use cold water, and power washers (or hot water pressure washers) feature elements that heat the water before it sprays.
You’ll need to choose a pressure washer that’s right for the tasks you have in mind if you are planning to buy or hire one. If the pressure is too low, it won’t lift ingrained dirt effectively, and if it’s too high, it can end up damaging your costly and carefully installed wood siding or asphalt driveway surface.
Gas-powered pressure washers are more powerful. A mid-range gas-powered pressure washer offering between 2,000 and 3,200 psi works quickly and effectively for most heavy-duty cleaning. Electric models are usually more economical, less noisy, and you’re less likely to cause damage by blasting too hard. However, they generate an average of 1,300 to 1,700 psi, so are best suited to light cleaning duties, like washing your patio furniture, your car, or any delicate painted surfaces.
Before getting stuck in with the spray, prep the area and take appropriate safety precautions.
Clear away loose items—you don’t want to damage your kid’s favorite toy.
If you’re pressure washing a driveway, deck, or patio, thoroughly sweep up to remove any debris that could become a projectile if you blast it with the spray.
Remove delicate fixtures or fittings if you plan to pressure wash vinyl siding.
If you’re spraying near prized plants, protect them with a secure tarp covering or drop cloth.
Wear safety goggles, ear protection, gloves, boots, and long sleeves.
Keep pets and kids inside. You don’t want them accidentally running in front of an injury-inducing high-powered spray.
Check that all windows and doors are properly closed if you are pressure washing siding or a car.
Also, if the surface you plan to pressure wash has any signs of damage, it pays to do repairs first. Cracks in a concrete driveway or wonky deck boards can worsen after being subjected to the force of a pressure washer.
Rinsing off the area you plan to pressure wash with your garden hose helps loosen ingrained dirt and debris. If the surface is particularly grimy and you aren’t averse to a little extra elbow grease, going over it with a scrubbing brush can be beneficial too.
When learning how to use a pressure washer, a big part is selecting the best pressure washer nozzle type for the job. Wide nozzles are gentle for softer surfaces or light cleaning, and narrow nozzles provide a more targeted high-pressure spray for tackling ingrained grime on sturdy surfaces. Thankfully, the color-coding scheme for nozzle types is universal, although some very low-pressure electric models only have one nozzle type.
Red: Zero-degree angle. Super powerful, only for the toughest surfaces and never up close.
Yellow: 15-degree angle. Strips paint from siding or deck or blasts mud from tough tires.
Green: 25-degree angle. Works on masonry, like concrete driveways, patios, or siding.
White: 40-degree angle. Ideal for softer surfaces like delicate wood or light cleaning.
Black: 65-degree angle. A gentle spray that rinses or soaps up rather than cleans.
You won’t always need to add detergent, but if your pressure washer allows it, it can speed up the task, especially if you're dealing with a grease-splattered deck or oily driveway.
Select detergents designed for pressure washers—bleach is an absolute no-no—and always follow the manufacturer's instructions. You will either pour the detergent into a reservoir or mix it with water in a bucket beforehand to siphon into the machine.
Follow the specific manufacturer’s instructions for how to set up your pressure washer inlet with your garden hose or faucet, and grip the wand with two hands before turning it on. Ensure the machine is on a flat surface, all the connections are tight, and the nozzle is pointed away from you before flipping the switch. Don’t try pressure washing while you are on a ladder—the power of the jet can knock you off balance.
Starting gently and getting a feel for the intensity of the pressure washer helps avoid injury or surface damage.
Begin at a distance of around 10 feet away from the surface, spraying an inconspicuous corner at a 40-degree angle and gradually moving closer until there is sufficient pressure to clean effectively. You can always move to a more powerful nozzle angle and step a little closer, but you can’t reverse the damage done if you start too close and with too harsh an angle.
It pays to adopt a systematic grid-like approach on large driveways or swathes of siding so you don’t miss any sections. When pressure washing your house, washing from bottom to top is often recommended. That way, you won’t have water and suds running down into the section you still need to do, making it easier to get confused and miss it. But working top down can chase down dirt and better rinse away detergent, so do whatever works best for you.
Let the surface dry and check you don’t need to go over a spot you missed or that has stubborn dirt stuck to it.
Once your driveway, siding, or patio looks pristine, follow a few simple steps to end your pressure washing session:
Turn the pressure washer’s safety lock on to save any surprise spraying at inopportune moments.
Turn the water off at the source before detaching the machine's hose.
Turn off the pressure washer’s safety lock and pull the trigger to release any remaining water.
Put the lock on again so it’s all secure for the next time you start it up.
A common pressure washer mistake is to shove the pressure washer away without doing some savvy storage steps. Taking an extra few minutes can add years to your pressure washer's longevity.
Rinse the water lines if you were using detergent. A build-up of soap scum can cause clogs. Rinse the lines for a few minutes with non-soapy water to clear them.
Empty the tank and lines of water.
Wipe down the pressure washer exterior.
Winterize your pressure washer if you don’t plan to use it again until next year. This usually involves filling the pump with undiluted RV-grade antifreeze, but always check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Store in a dry, indoor spot.
The average cost to pressure wash a home or its surrounds is $300, but this varies depending on the area size, condition, and material. While DIY pressure washing is doable and you can save big if you already own or rent the machine, it isn’t for everyone.
If you aren’t careful or pressure wash inappropriately, you risk causing injury or incurring big bills for surface repairs. If you’re not confident in your pressure washing capabilities or you just want a pristine polish without the effort, call in a professional pressure washing service near you.
You should always hook up your pressure washer to the water supply before turning it on and ensure there’s a good water flow. If you try to turn the machine on without water in the system, it overworks and overheats the unlubricated pump. This can quickly lead to irreversible damage.
Does the water in your taps sometimes come out very slowly? If so, you might have problems with low water pressure in your house, and your pressure washer won’t effectively clean. To test if your water pressure is sufficient, time how long it takes for the water from your hose to fill a 5-gallon bucket. Usually, if it takes less than two minutes, you’re good to go.
It’s always best to check the manufacturer’s instructions for your pressure washer to see what detergents they recommend. If you’re caught short and looking for an at-home solution, you could try using trusty dish soap to help keep your siding sparkling. However, always use a dilute solution, as concentrated dish soap can clog the machine. One tablespoon of dish soap per 1.5 quarts of water is a good place to start.
Once you see how well your pressure washer cleans, it’s easy to get carried away and want to blast everything. But some surfaces handle pressure washing better than others. Avoid pressure washing anything electrical, painted (unless you want to strip the paint), or delicate, like glass. And even though you can pressure wash wood or other porous surfaces, select a lower-powered pressure washer and wide-angled nozzle to prevent damage.
