We all have places in our house or office that need good pressure washing. Years or even months of buildup can only be scrubbed and washed off using a good pressure washing system. However, we must understand how to do this safely. Why? You ask! Well, handling a pressure washer is no easy feat. It is a powerful and robust tool that needs extra caution. Not only can it harm you, but it can also damage your property. Before we learn how to use a pressure washer safely, we should understand a bit more about how they work and what we need to know about them.
What do we clean with a pressure washer? There are many places, either at home or at work, which need a good pressure cleaning.
- Cleaning the exterior walls of houses and buildings (Vinyl Sidings, Concrete Walls, and Other Surfaces)
- Car parks both indoor and outdoor garages
- Halls and Exhibition Centre floors
- Cement or Paved Pathways and Sidewalks
- Wooden decks and patios
- Garden Furniture
- Cars, Farm Machinery, Grills
Dangers of a pressure washer:
Pressure washers are tricky to use and could harm, damage, and ruin your furniture, windows, and even the paint on your walls. It could even leave holes on the bricks in your wall. Don’t forget the harm it could do to us or someone close by. Spraying water at that speed and pressure by accident onto a bystander can cause bodily damage. So don’t have your family running around or use a pressure washer on a busy street.
Pressure Cleaning Basics
Before you start to use a pressure cleaner, you initially have to know what type of machine you need and what will best suit your budget, lifestyle, and ease of use. Also, it has to be a machine that is user-friendly and safe.
Research
Let’s look at two words that you might often see or hear when researching to buy a machine. Firstly, PSI stands for pounds per square inch which is the amount of cleaning pressure the specific machine produces. Secondly, GPM is gallons per minute, which is the amount of water coming from the machine.
If the PSI of the machine you’re looking at is high, then it can produce a stronger spray. Pressure washers that have a PSI of 3000 are heavy duty and have a very powerful water stream. This level is not recommended for general use, and we suggest using a machine with a PSI between 1,300 – 2,400, which would be ideal for cleaning tasks around the house. A strong force of water could lead to unwanted damage.
When looking at GPM, one must also remember that a higher gallon per minute could mean less water efficiency of the machine as it would use more water to get the job done.
One would find two main types of pressure cleaners. One is an electric pressure washer, and the other is a gas pressure washer.
The electric one has a lower PSI range which can average at about 1,300 PSI. These are best for light to medium cleaning tasks such as cleaning grills, washing vehicles and good enough for household cleanups.
However, if you’re looking for a little more heavy-duty pressure cleaning machine that can tackle the removal of paint, mildew stains, or even clean extensive equipment found on a farm, then a gas pressure washer is what you should buy.
Equip Yourself
Protective gear is your best friend when handling machines such as these. Safety goggles, gloves, ear protection, sensible shoes yes you heard right don’t wear flip flops and proper clothing is essential.
Know which nozzles are meant for the different types of pressures they release. In general, the red nozzle on your machine is the highest pressure and shoots a narrow stream of water. This could be dangerous, so if you really must use it, please be careful. However, the highest-pressure setting is rarely used for a regular pressuring washing job. You could also always leave this kind of work to a professional cleaning service. Star Shining Facility Solutions is Melbourne’s favorite professional pressure cleaning service, which can get rid of those tough stains and mold.
The most important thing you could do is to read the manual. Make sure you know everything there is to know about the machine you own and how to use it safely. Most manuals supply the necessary information on parts, customer service, diagrams, warranties, and tips and tricks.
Schedule your cleanup
Pressure washing is not a daily or weekly task. Depending on the surface and amount of dirt or mold there, it should be scheduled and done thoroughly. If you plan your cleaning tasks, not only is it more efficient but cost-effective too. A vinyl siding needs to be cleaned every two years, while a concrete driveway and wooden decks can be cleaned once a year. If you have brick or stone patios and walkways, those could be hosed down every three years. So have a plan and stick to it.
Steps on how to use your pressure washer
Below are the basic guidelines on using your pressure washer. It is always advisable to read your manual as each pressure washer may have specific procedures and recommendations. However, the basic steps of a pressure washer are as follows:
Clear the area out!
Sweep or dust away loose dirt and debris. If you have any ornaments, chairs, tables, or even your vehicle from the garage, make sure to move them aside. A clear work area is best. Also, you wouldn’t want to damage any of your precious items.
Covering places such as the exterior lights or even vents and closing windows are a part of prepping the area. Make sure you put away any distractions, tripping hazards, and breakables.
Pressure Cleaner
Now that your area is cleared, let’s set it up. You need to fix your garden hose to the water inlet. Tip, always check that your hose is sufficient to supply the adequate GPM that your machine requires. Don’t forget to check if your hose is free of any clogs or blockages.
If you will be using a cleaning solution, keep it ready. Depending on your machine, it could be an onboard storage tank, or you may have to fill a bucket. Your manual will come with further instructions. However, most times, water from a pressure washer is perfect enough for cleaning away the dirt and stains.
Setting your spray wand to the proper function is your next step. Start in a low-pressure setting, as this will be the safest mode. Also, don’t forget to turn on your water tap. You can also squeeze the wand trigger to release any air pressure and check the hose for any leaks.
We are now ready to start the motor. Depending on the type of pressure washer and if it uses gas or electricity, the startup method is different.
Gas- Pulling the starter cord starts the engine.
Electric – Plug the cord onto a grounded GFCI outlet and turn on the switch.
Yes! It’s as simple as that! But do take caution as these aren’t toys, and they are pretty powerful instruments.
Spraying
Your pressure washer may come with a single pressure spray nozzle that you can adjust for different spray patterns, yet the most common are the washers that come with different color-coded nozzles. These nozzles have to be changed manually depending on your requirement.
In general:
Red – Removes tough stains and debris from small areas such as dried gum, rust, or even caked mud. This mode is not recommended for general use as it can be dangerous if not used properly and is quite powerful. (0 degrees)
Yellow – prep the area by removing dirt and mildew. This is usually done before a paint job and can help remove tough stains on hard surfaces from a distance. (15 degrees)
Green – The most commonly used mode. This is recommended for home use, cars, garden furniture, driveways, and even patios and decks. (25 degrees)
White – A gentle spray that is best used for fragile surfaces such as windows and blinds. (40 degrees)
Black – This is the low-pressure soap nozzle to be used when applying detergents or cleaners.
If you aren’t sure of what nozzle to use, then always start with a low-pressure 25 or 40-degree nozzle and clean small areas at a time with a distance of 18-24 inches. If you feel like it isn’t removing the dirt, then you could gradually move closer. But keep in mind this is for the low-pressure nozzles. It would be best if you kept a safe distance when using high-pressure nozzles.
Cleaning a Car with a Pressure Washer
Keep a distance, and don’t get too close as you can ruin the paint.
Start with plain water with a low-pressure nozzle and remove any initial dust and loose dirt.
Switch to the soap nozzle and spray on your detergent of choice. This should be done from bottom-up movement with wide overlapping strokes.
Scrub off any dirt stuck on to the car with a brush. You could use a scrub brush attachment if you have one of those.
Then rinse off your vehicle using a top-down motion with a 25-degree nozzle.
Pressure Washing Wooden Surfaces and Decks
Stay one to two feet away from the surface and do not clean in direct sunlight.
When cleaning using a detergent, be sure to apply it to sections at a time.
A slightly high-pressure nozzle of 15 or 25 is best for rinsing using the overlapping method.
Leave the wood to dry for roughly a day before any further work.
Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding
Clean small sections at a time.
Apply detergent in a bottom-up method and let it sit for a few minutes. However, make sure it doesn’t dry on the surface.
Use a high-pressure nozzle of 25 or 40 and rinse from the top down.
Finally!
Now that you’ve read this, we hope you better understand the complexities of pressure washers and what you should do to use one safely. Be well equipped, read the manual and be aware of your surroundings. Safety is of utmost importance when it comes to handling a pressure washer. Deep cleaning will be a breeze once you have the confidence and know-how to manage a pressure washer.