Pressure Washing – How to Get a Clean, Lasting Finish

Are you sick of seeing filthy siding, dingy decks, and dusty driveways? 

Pressure washing is a powerful and efficient way to clean external surfaces, but it takes the right technique and tools to provide a clean and long-lasting finish. 

In this article, you’ll learn how to maximize the effectiveness of your pressure-washing attempts and get a clean, long-lasting finish on your surfaces. 

Enjoy a like-new finish as you wave goodbye to dirt and dust.

Pressure Washing Tips For Clean And Lasting Finish

Here are a few pressure-washing tips for a clean and lasting finish on various surfaces;

  • Always Prep Before Starting

Your pressure washer won’t perform as efficiently as you’d want if there isn’t enough water. Measure how long it does take to fill a five-gallon pail to gauge the water flow from your hose. 

You should be fine to go if it takes 2 minutes or less; if it takes longer, there is likely insufficient water supply to run the washer. 

After confirming that your pressure washer has enough water flow, clean its intake filter and inspect the connections to a hose or attachment, making cleaning easier.

  • Master the Correct Washing Technique

If you initially wet the surface with or without detergent and let it rest for a few minutes, it is easier to remove caked-on dirt. 

To avoid streaks caused by runoff while using detergent, moisten the surface from the bottom up and scrub it with broad, horizontal strokes. 

To avoid missing any cleanser, rinse the other way, starting at the top and moving downward.

  • Use Attachments to Your Advantage

It’s time to take advantage of attachments to facilitate some cleaning duties.

For example, using a cleaner for fence and deck washing may do the task considerably more quickly than using a wand and nozzle to clean them by hand. 

That would be like mowing the yard using a lawnmower instead of manually cutting the grass with scissors. It is necessary if you’re pressure washing concrete warehouse floors or fences.

You may also get wands with various pressure settings that let you easily adjust the pressure.

  • Add a Concentrated Pressure Washing Detergent

It is one of the greatest methods for pressure washing more quickly. You may save time spraying or physically agitating the surface by using the optimum pressure washer soap in combination with your strong pressure washing equipment.

After giving the area a brief soak in the suds, return and rinse it off to reveal a shiny surface.

  • Replace Cold Water With Hot Water

There are two basic categories of pressure washers: cold water and hot water machines. Both have their uses, but a heated pressure washer significantly exceeds a cold water one. It is so that it will be simpler to wash away dirt and grime, as hot water may help dissolve dirt and grime more readily.

  • Work Top To Bottom In Overlapping Patterns

To optimize efficiency, you must apply advanced pressure washing methods in addition to basic pressure washer performance. Despite its seeming simplicity, there is a particular method for cleaning your surfaces.

Work from top to bottom to avoid reintroducing dirt or grime into cleaning chemicals and spending time going over them again. Moreover, it avoids drips and stains. You should similarly work in an overlapping pattern to avoid missing any spots and having to spot clean afterward. 

Also, you won’t waste time cleaning the same area repeatedly by using this method.

  • Use The Right Pressure

Using the proper pressure is one of the most crucial elements in obtaining a clean and durable surface after pressure washing. The pressure washer’s nozzle controls how much pressure is applied to the surface. 

Although using too little pressure won’t properly clean the surface, applying too much pressure might harm the surface.

A stronger pressure can be required for concrete surfaces like driveways, while softer materials like wood could need a lesser pressure.

  • Apply A Treatment Or Sealer

Depending on the surface, a treatment or sealer might prevent further damage and simplify maintenance. 

For instance, to help shield a recently pressure-washed surface from oil stains and other damage, you may wish to put a concrete sealer on it. 

Apply the treatment or sealer and ensure it has fully dried before utilizing the surface.

Conclusion

You may clean your external surfaces and return them to like-new condition with pressure washing. Even so, correct technique and tools are necessary for a clean and durable finish. 

Before applying any treatment or sealer, make sure you use the proper amount of pressure, detergent, and method, and then rinse and dry the surfaces properly. 

With these guidelines in mind, you can achieve a clean, long-lasting finish that will revitalize the outside of your home.