Pressure washing your house can be an excellent way to improve the look of the exterior of your home while also cleaning it. By using pressure washers, you can remove mold, dirt, and grime from your walls, even if they are made out of brick or cement. Here’s how to get started with pressure washing your house!
Pressure washing 101
There are 2 types of pressure washers: gas-powered and electric. The differences aren’t just in power—each type requires a different set of skills. But all pressure washers have one thing in common: They all use water under high pressure to cut through dirt and grime. You can find them at hardware stores, home improvement centers, or online.
Materials for pressure washing
It is recommended that you use a pressure washer with a rating of at least 3,000 PSI when washing your house. A lower-rated unit will likely not remove grime effectively, and it can even harm or damage your home if it’s too low. An electric model should be fine for most residential jobs. Be sure to have multiple nozzles on hand: straight stream, spray, soap (if necessary), and fan nozzles are good additions. If you plan to wash your roof, invest in a long wand so you don’t need to stand on an unstable ladder. You may also want brushes and other attachments depending on what kind of surface you’re working with; wood siding, for example, needs a brush attachment to help scrub away mold and mildew. Finally, wear protective gear—goggles, gloves, ear protection—and consider investing in a respirator mask. The chemicals used in pressure washing can irritate eyes and lungs, so it’s important to protect yourself as much as possible.
Cleaning large areas
If you have a large area to clean, consider hiring a professional cleaning service. A group of individuals will be able to pressure wash your exterior walls faster than one person and for a lower cost. You could also rent an industrial-sized power washer that can clean most large surfaces quickly. However, if you are doing it yourself. Make sure you wear protective clothing and goggles so you don’t get hurt while using high-pressure water. Make sure to test out different settings on a small patch of wall before going full blast on your entire house. Also make sure to use chemicals that are safe for outside use, as some chemicals may cause damage or discoloration over time when exposed to sunlight. It’s generally not a good idea to pressure wash the inside of your home. If you don’t have proper drainage it can cause water damage in which case you could also find yourself needing water damage restoration.
Cleaning small areas
The key to pressure washing a house is getting all of those tight corners, window frames, and crevices. The best way to do that is by starting small and gradually working your way up. Don’t skip over any area of your house because it’s too hard or time-consuming—you’ll regret it in the end! Start by tackling one section at a time, using either a combination of circular and straight lines or straight lines only. Work from top to bottom and start with simple shapes like squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles. Once you’ve got these down pat, move on to more complex shapes like diamonds and triangles. Finally, when you feel confident about your ability to clean simple shapes, try cleaning intricate areas like windowsills or door frames. These will be some of the most difficult areas to reach with a power washer so practice makes perfect!
Maintaining a clean home
When you want to give your home a much-needed refresh, nothing works faster or better than pressure washing. It’s so effective, in fact, that it can also be used for both interior and exterior cleaning. And if you’re looking for easy home improvement ideas, pressure washing is one of them. With some simple tools, you can have any surface cleaned in no time!
