Should I Power Wash?
The service of power washing essentially uses high-pressure water to clean a surface. However, there are many various such as soft wash, pressure washing and hot-water washing. Power washing is an excellent way to remove tricky materials such as mold or mildew from outdoor surfaces like patios, decks, or house sidings. Power washing has other great uses in addition to removing stains. This washing can also destroy moss and weeds that can grow through a driveway or sidewalk. In addition to removing these pesky growths, power washing can prevent them from growing back in the future.
Pressure washing
Pressure washing is precisely what is sounds, water at very high pressure. Using this method will remove very hard to clean stains due to the extreme water pressure. However, this method can cause serious damage to the surface being cleaned. I strongly recommend starting with other methods first. Furthermore, I suggest starting in a spot that is not easily visible. This allows for testing the durability of the surface when faced with high water pressure.
Soft Washing
To more effectively power wash, it may benefit you to add a detergent or cleaner to the machine before getting started. Using these substances will help eliminate and cut through materials that are more difficult to get rid of. Arguably the most common form of power washing is soft washing. This utilizes a cleaning detergent combined with a lower water pressure. Soft washing allows for a deep cleaning of a surface without risk of causing damage. The cleaning detergent is often a mixture of bleach and water. Soft washing allows cleaning of delicate surfaces such as vinyl siding and asphalt shingled roofs.
Hot-Water Power Washing
A more specific form of power washing involves using hot water. The combination of hot water along with the high water pressure allows for the stronger elimination of dirt and other hard to remove substances from a given surface. Using water at higher temperatures allows for power washing to remove materials that cold water could not. An example would be removing grease stains left on a deck from frequent grilling. Although hot water pressure washing machines are more expensive, they are worth the investment.
Power Washing Nozzles
Another thing to consider when power washing is the type of nozzle you are using. Different nozzles can change the direction and velocity of the water. A variety of nozzles can allow one to clean at greater distances. However, it is important to consider that higher pressure and distance can create a hazard for the operator as well as other people near the cleaning. For example, using a nozzle with a lower degree of output will have a much higher pressure and great care should be taken when power washing in these circumstances.
Power Washing Water Pressure
A common misconception with power washing is that the higher pressure that is used, the more effectively it will clean. It is critical to note that this is not entirely true. Every blend of surfaces and pollutants has its own unique pressure that will help break away the two. For example, grease on wood will have a different pressure required to remove it than grease will on a stainless-steel surface. Likewise, home siding will require different pressures when removing differencing substances such as chewing gum or tar. Once you have reached the desired pressure for your mixture of surface and contaminant, more pressure will not decrease the time it takes to complete the task. In addition, oftentimes a low pressure combined with a cleaning detergent will achieve results which are cleaner than using high pressure.
Pressure Washing Safety
As previously mentioned, power washing has a variety of safety measure that must be taken into consideration. Always remember that high pressure can cause severe injury to a person’s skin if struck. Many times, these injuries will initially appear to be insignificant, which can cause the person to seek treatment later than necessary. Waiting for medical treatment is never a good idea. This delay can cause underlying issues to get worse. The high pressure can also cause objects to be displaced while cleaning. Flying object are never good. I also recommend wearing comfortable shoes that have a strong grip. Comfortable shoes are always a good idea. Don’t forget, if injured while power washing, you should always seek medical treatment immediately.
Electric or Gas Power Washer
If you are using an electric power washer, you should always be aware of the risk of electrical shock. Always connect your electrical power washer to a proper outlet. When using an extension cord with your power washer’s own cord, ensure that the connection between the two does not lie in any standing water. In addition, check the cords for any damage.
When using a gas-powered washer, you should not clean the inside of a building or room. Gas-powered washers, when used in enclosed areas, can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Safety instructions should always be read and followed before beginning any project. To prevent these incidents from occurring, you should never point the spray from a power washer at yourself or others. Gas powered machines should never be used inside of buildings.
