Make the outside of your home sparkle and shine
Pressure washing uses a high-pressure stream of water to clean surfaces.
The terms pressure washing and power washing are often used interchangeably.
The benefits of power washing include preventing damage to your home and increasing your curb appeal.
Hiring a pro to power wash your home costs between $200 and $300.
Renting a power washer will cost you between $40 and $100 per day.
Pressure washing is a great way to clean the exterior of your home without having to scrub down every nook and cranny. You might be surprised by what parts of your home you can pressure wash—siding, concrete, and even outdoor furniture and cushions are all good candidates. And though having a squeaky-clean home is certainly a perk, there are a few other big benefits of pressure washing you should consider.
The substances that build up on your home can stain the exterior surfaces and even cause damage. Mold, mildew, and algae can grow and feed on the paint, deteriorating the siding over time. Power washing allows you to remove these harmful substances from your home's exterior and get into the tight spaces that you might miss otherwise.
As the saying with health goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; you can apply the same philosophy to your home. Pressure washing the outside of your home and protecting it from damage that buildup can cause will be less costly in the long run than repairs. Preventative maintenance helps your home retain its value while keeping it looking fresh and clean.
Hiring a professional pressure washer near you can be even more cost effective since you won’t have to shell out extra for a machine rental, cleaning solution, safety gear, and other supplies for the job.
Airborne mold spores, pollen, and dust mites are all allergy triggers that affect millions of adults and children across the U.S., according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Power washing removes all of those nasty substances, preventing them from making their way into your home and negatively impacting your family's health. By adding power washing the exterior of your home to your cleaning list once a year, you can help keep everyone in your home more comfortable.
Can you imagine getting a bucket full of soap and water and hand-washing the entire exterior of your home? It would take a long time and a lot of elbow grease. Pressure washing is efficient and effective, saving you time and effort that you can redirect elsewhere (like spring cleaning indoors!).
Leaving dirt, grime, or dust on your home and painting over it is a surefire way to ruin your paint job. New paint adheres best to a clean, dry surface. If you're planning to paint the outside of your home, power washing beforehand can ensure that your new job looks great and lasts for a long time.
"Make sure you know your home's siding material before power washing. For example, what you think is stucco could really be styrofoam with a thin layer of concrete on top. This can be damaged easily with pressure washing."
— Fred Hodge, President and Co-Founder at Clearview Washing, Little Silver, New Jersey
It can be more difficult to spot imperfections on your home’s exterior than in the interior, which means you may not catch issues until they become a big problem. Pressure washing your home will allow you to see any small or large dings, scrapes, or other forms of damage so that you do repairs promptly.
It may go without saying, but a clean house looks better than a dirty one, both inside and out. Power washing your home can be an instant facelift for your exterior, especially if you've never cleaned the outside of your home or it's been a while. And if you're trying to sell your home, everything must look as good as it can, inside and out.
Because of its high pressure, power washing isn’t ideal for every surface, but numerous exterior surfaces could use its cleaning powers. You can safely pressure wash outdoor furniture, siding (vinyl, cement, and aluminum), unstained wood decks, concrete and pavement, and garbage bins. Just remember, one of the biggest pressure washing mistakes is thinking every surface is made for power washing when it’s not—think stained surfaces, brick siding, windows, and gutters. Do your best to avoid them when washing the outside of your house.
Because of the boost in curb appeal, pressure washing can fetch you a higher price if you’re gearing up to sell your home. Everyone likes a shiny, clean facade.
Beyond growing on your house’s exterior surface, algae can find its way to your walkways and driveways. Some species of algae can cause a slippery, mucus-like substance to grow from the ground, making it very easy to slip and fall. Power washing can get rid of the algae growing between the pavement and can make it harder for it to come back.
The cost of power washing a 2,000-square-foot home averages between $200 and $300, and hiring a professional pressure washer comes with perks. They'll bring their own washer and cleaning solution, and experienced professionals will know how to get the job done without damage. Power washing uses high-powered jets, and if you don't do the job properly, you can damage your gutters, siding, and landscaping.
If you feel confident and want to DIY your pressure washing project, the cost to rent a power washer will run you between $40 and $100 from your local home improvement store. In the market to buy a power or pressure washer? An electric model will set you back anywhere from $100 to $400, and a gas model runs between $300 and $600.
