Stop Using The Pressure Washer At Its Maximum Pressure
The more water pressure, the better when power washing your home at the end of the summer, right? Nope. Excessive pressure can damage wood, remove paint, and drive water beneath siding.
Instead, adjust the spray as low as it will go while still doing the task. After that, clean with moderate side-to-side movements while angling the washer downward.
Stop Placing Mulch Against The House
Although a house with a neat mulch surround looks wonderful, it raises the risk of mildew and pest infestation. Place a layer of brick or stone between your home and the mulch to maintain your curb appeal while preventing termite and water damage.
Do Not Keep Produce on the Counter
Nothing on the counter looks more enticing than bowls filled with garden-fresh foods. Bugs, though, are the trade-off.
Fruit flies are irritating, but once inside your home, ants and roaches are downright scary. And getting rid of them is HARD. Keep as much produce as you can refrigerated; if you must leave some produce out to ripen, put it in the fridge as soon as it reaches its peak.
Be Careful
When used incorrectly, pressure washers, which are incredibly powerful tools, may be dangerous. Always put on safety gear before operating one, including gloves, boots, long sleeves, and goggles.
Make sure nobody could be in the way of the spray before you turn the machine on. A pressure washer can harm windows, doors, overhangs, and screens; thus, you should hold the equipment firmly with both hands and use care before making any sudden movements. Consider waiting for calmer weather if it’s windy outside since the spray may come right back at you.
Prepare Properly
If you don’t have enough water available, your pressure washer won’t perform to its full ability. Time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket with water at your house; if it takes more than two minutes, your water supply may not be adequate for the washer.
Additionally, you should clean the inlet filter on your washer and make sure all hoses and attachments are connected safely. Toys may easily be broken if accidently hit, so remove any objects and trash that can come in the way of your cleaning spree.
Keep Your Plants Safe
Watch where you spray since your rose garden might not appear quite as pretty after being treated with pressured chlorine. Additionally, think about watering your plants before, during, and after pressure washing to dilute any cleaning agent that comes in contact with them (dry leaves absorb cleaning solutions much easier than wet ones).
Know Your Nozzles
Your pressure washer has several nozzle tips so they may be used for different tasks. For general cleaning, a broad nozzle with a 40-degree angle is ideal. You may use it on the exterior of your house or on wood decks. While a nozzle with a 15-degree nozzle or less can spray very high pressure and should only be used to remove stains on metal, one with a more narrow, 25-degree nozzle, will handle the filth on brick and concrete. Nozzle tips are all color-coded to make it easier for you to choose the correct one.
- Red: Never use this nozzle up close to any surface at zero degrees
- Yellow: 15-degree angle; used to clean dirt off tires or prepare surfaces for painting, staining, or resealing
- Green: 25°; suitable for masonry
- White: 40 degrees; ideal for giving your home’s exterior a general wash
- Black: 65 degrees; mild and usually just used to moisten, not clean, a surface
Use the lowest possible degree that is safe for the material and stain you are cleaning. In order to avoid the cleaning solution drying out, apply it from the bottom up and rinse it off from the top down.
