How to Power Wash Your House –
When you think of the word “Power wash” it sounds like an effective way to clean!
Power + wash = Life made easy! Sounds awesome right?
Well, there’s some truth to that in many different ways, but there’s also some tips to take into account to ensure your preparedness to do so.
Power washing can be simple if you know what you’re doing, but starting out, it can be a bit tricky! A lot of times that DIY mentality will like to take over with the goal to save time and money, but not so fast!
Sometimes the best decisions are the ones you don’t make, and before you jump the gun and waste some of your time and money, consider the following before power washing your home!
Today, we will teach you the steps on how to power wash your house, thus letting you decide whether it’s best to hire a pro or DIY!
First, let’s answer this question:
Common Misconception: Power Washing vs. Pressure Washing
I am fairly certain you heard the word “pressure washer,” because that’s the term that is more commonly thrown around when it comes to deep level cleaning like this, but did you know that Pressure washing and Power washing are different?
While the set-up is the same holistically, one characteristic that makes power washing different is that the water is heated as opposed to pressure washing where it’s not.
While this may seem like not a big deal, IT IS and we’ll talk about that later on!
Today, I will be explaining what you can do to put yourself in the best possible position to excel at power washing with these neat steps! If you want you can read more about the difference between pressure washing and power washing here.
Steps on How to Power Wash Your House!
Follow these steps and you’ll be in the clear when it comes to power washing your home. That being said we won’t lie – there is a good amount of setup and breakdown, in addition to doing the actual cleaning.
Always practice proper safety techniques and be sure to have help. We actually recommend you check out our pricing guide and see if it’s actually cheaper to just hire professional power washers!
1. Gather Materials!
- Power Washer (Extension Pole/Telescoping Wand ~Optional)
- Soap/Solution
- 10-20 gallon Bucket
- Spray Nozzle w/Spray tips and Syphon tube (for soap/solution)
- Garden hose and access to a water faucet
- Eye Goggles
- Plastic covering
2. Set the stage!
- Use plastic covering on any light fixtures, outdoor furniture, shrubbery/flowers, or any outdoor items in the surrounding area to avoid impact damage
- Close all windows and doors tightly
- Pour soap/solution in the 10-20 gallon bucket, placing the syphon tube in it afterward
- Hook up power washer w/garden hose connected to a water faucet
- Prepare Nozzle w/necessary spray tip, categorized by angle and/or width.
- Wear your Goggles!
3. Power-Wash!
- Turn on the faucet!
- Spray vertically/horizontally in a steady motion top to bottom on only the surface intended to be washed typically 1-2 feet away. Never attempt to spray anyone! Cleaning higher stories may require additional investment of an extension pole/telescoping wand.
(NOTE) Power washing heats the water up!
- Let the solution sit for 5-10 min, avoid direct sunlight!
- Remove syphon tube, press button on nozzle to remove excess soap/solution, spray cleaned surface down again.
Wondering what to Power Wash?
The purpose of a power wash is to use heated, high pressure water and solution to remove caked on algae, mold, mildew, lose paint, grime, etc., you otherwise couldn’t remove.
That being said, there are obviously different surfaces that can handle so much pressure before resulting in costly damage. Check to see if the surface you want to clean is listed below!
CAN be power washed:
- Garage floors/driveways/sidewalks/stairways
- Fencing
- Wood decks
- Cars/trucks/boats (*Be mindful of windows/loose objects; generally can’t sustain prolonged pressure*)
- Vinyl/brick exteriors
- Painted Surfaces
- Aged Surfaces
- Roofs
- Stained Wood surfaces
Safety First!
Power washing, like pressure washing, is dangerous first and foremost, because the heated, pressurized water and solution can take the skin of your body and do even worse bodily damage if you’re not careful!
Don’t power wash without your safety equipment mentioned above on! If you are confused about any step in the process and don’t know how to proceed, don’t continue. Safety with confidence prevents accidents in more ways than one!
Never Power Wash Your Roof!
This can’t be stated enough! Don’t be that guy. Power washing your roof is not only a serious safety hazard due to its ability to recoil powerfully and cause an accident, but it also can loosen roof shingles that may make the foundation of the roof vulnerable to the elements.
Be Smart. Roof cleaning is not a DIY job. Hire a professional.
Learn more here: What is Roof Soft Washing
How to Find a Local Power Washing Company
A simple “near me” search will allow you to compare prices and services in your area. May vary on where you live.
Finding a local power washing company is a smart choice to ensure proper cleaning and maintenance of your home’s exterior. You get what you pay for, so Cost-effectiveness is key!
Cheapest doesn’t always mean the best.
Save yourself some time, money, and unneeded hassle like I mentioned by doing your research and investing with a long-term mindset! Also, you can always visit Facebook and ask for a recommendation!
Final Word on Power Washing:
Power Washing is probably the last item on the to-do list, but it should be more of a top priority. Built on grime, mildew, mold, etc., can cause exterior damage and be costly to repair if overlooked and/or not treated correctly.
Plus, on a serious note, power washing is a very dangerous form of cleaning as it can inflict serious damage due to heavy recoiling from time to time.
Honestly, for the amount of times you do it, and the risk/reward involved, contact a professional to get the job done. Don’t try to save the day, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Get a professional to take a look at your situation!