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This Is How to Pressure Wash Your Home
Your home could use a new coat of paint. The old one is starting to peel and when you run your hand over the siding, it gets covered in a chalky residue. Before you can paint, you’ve got to do something about that.
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The best tool for the job is a pressure washer. These high-velocity sprayers are perfect for removing grime, dirt, and chalking from the side of your house if you do it right.
For safety reasons, it’s a good idea to find out how to pressure wash before you begin your project. Check out this guide for step by step instructions.
Gather Your Equipment
To begin, you're going to need to look up electric power washer reviews to find a machine that's right for your house washing project. The one you use depends on the type of material the exterior of your home is made out of. Different materials can handle different levels of pressure.
For example, wood and aluminum need a softer approach. You can use a 1,200 to 1,500 psi model without having to worry about your home suffering any kind of damages. The same level of pressure will work for stucco but you'll need to use a wide hose in order to distribute the pressure some.
Surfaces like vinyl can take a little more punishment. You can go up to the 2,500 to 3,000 psi mark without doing any damage to your house.
Once you've chosen your pressure washer, it's time to test the nozzles. Most machines come with three to four nozzles that you can use to clean your house. A 15 to 25-degree nozzle should work for getting rid of chalking.
If they don't, you can use a narrower hose as long as you don't go up to the 0-degree one. It provides too much pressure to be safe for use.
Take Precautions
Pressure washers are not toys! Never point them at yourself or another person because they have enough power to peel skin. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, there are a few safety precautions that you should consider before you begin your project.
When you're power washing, projectiles such as dirt and wood may come flying at your face. If that happens, you'll be glad you were wearing a pair of safety goggles.
Don't stand on a ladder while pressure washing. The recoil may knock you backward and send you tumbling to the ground.
When you begin spraying, keep a safe distance away from any electrical wires. If you get shocked you may end up in the hospital or worse.
Protect Your Shrubbery and Outlets
If the pressure washer is powerful enough to peel skin, you can only imagine what it can do to your shrubbery. Cover all of your plants with a drop cloth before you begin spraying.
Water and electricity are not a fun combo. This being said, it's a good idea to cover your outdoor electrical outlets with tape or close them if possible.
Mix Your Solution
Now that you've gotten all the precautions in place, it's time to mix up your cleaning solution. Most of the time, there are instructions in the machine user manual that will tell you how to go about this.
Grab a 5-gallon bucket and pour water, bleach, and detergent inside. Most booklets will tell you to add a bit of bleach for every 9 parts of detergent that you use. Once you've got your solution together, pour it into the garden sprayer attachment.
Set Up Your Pressure Washer
After your cleaning solution is ready to go, it's time to put your power washer together. Attach one end of the garden hose to the mount on the back of the machine and the other end to the water faucet on your house.
Attach your nozzle of choice. Remember that the size of your nozzle should reflect the material that you're power washing. Lock the wheels of the machine in place before you turn it on.
Apply the Detergent
Spray down a small section of your home with the detergent solution that you made. Start from the bottom of the siding and work your way up.
If you do it the other way, the liquid and soap mixture will cause dirt to run down the house. This will make it pretty hard for you to see what you're doing.
Time to Rinse
Put on your safety goggles and turn on your pressure washer to get ready to rinse the soap away. Keep the nozzle at least three feet away from the siding as you spray.
If you notice that your siding is being damaged, move back by 6-inches. Keep an eye on things and continue moving back as needed.
Repeat and Enjoy
Repeat all the steps above until your home looks brand-new again or at least until there is no more peeling paint and chalking. Remove the drop cloth from the plants and open your outlets back up.
Wait for your home to completely dry before you slap on a new coat of paint if that's the plan and that's it. That's how to power wash a house.
How to Pressure Wash Your House and Make it Look Like New
Learning how to pressure wash will help you prepare your home to receive a new paint job and keep it looking pristine. There are some safety precautions that you have to practice before you begin your project but once you get that done, you'll be well on your way to boosting your curb appeal.
There's nothing that can spruce up the outside of your house quite like clean siding and a well-kept lawn. Check out our blog daily for all the latest lawn care tips.
About the Author Laura Bennett
Hello, I’m Laura Bennett. I love nature especially when it comes to flowers and different kinds of plants. I started a very small garden behind my house and I named it Humid Garden. So, I created this blog to provide aspiring and inspiring thoughts about gardening for gardeners and anyone who has the intention of keeping a garden.
