Addicted to Pressure Washing?
Well the one good thing about the rain, its a good day to pressure wash (you are already wet!) The one thing I have learned about pressure washing…be careful its very addictive. How can pressure washing be addictive you ask? Try and stop at just the patio….the patio looks so good, now you move onto the walkway, can’t have a clean walkway next to that deck, well might as well do the driveway….next thing you know you are pressure washing the street and the neighbors sidewalk!! See what I mean.
When it comes to pressure washers, there are a few different ones to choose from. You first have to determine what you want to clean and how fast you want to get the job done. Think of it this way…the higher the pressure, the larger area you can clean in one pass. With a 1500 psi (pounds per square inch) pressure washer you might be happy with the result you get cleaning 3″ at a pass. You can get the same “clean” with a 3500 psi washer but clean 6″ to 8″ at a pass. Get the picture? It also depends on what type of surface you will be cleaning. For wood fences or decks you can get away with a smaller washer than would be required for a sidewalk or driveway. Pressure washers can be found from 1000 psi all the way up to 5000 psi. My favorite washer is a 2500 psi. It is fairly small in physical size (about the size and weight of a gas lawnmower), it has the pressure to do driveways and not so much pressure that it damages wood. As a caution: Any pressure washer can damage a surface if the nozzle is placed to close (yes even concrete!), the secret is find that sweet spot that gives the clean you are looking for without leaving marks or damage. All pressure washers come with a variety of tips as well, these tips vary the fan width from 0 degree (basically a pin point) to 40 degree. Besides pressure or psi there are other options for pressure washers as well. They are available in gas powered (These are the mos popular due to the psi they can produce) or electric powered (These are usually the smaller units that are not nearly as effective as the gas models but are very compact). They are also available in hot water, these are usually used to clean oil or grease such as engine compartments or even commercial restaurant equipment.
There are also a few attachment available that can help you out with specific jobs. Rotary surface cleaners are very popular for large flat areas such as sports courts or large driveways. They basically look like a water powered lawnmower with jets spinning underneath cleaning the surface. (For these we recommend a 3500 psi washer as they require more pressure due to the multiple jets underneath) There are also extension wands available to reach those high places without having to resort to a ladder. Lastly there is the bad boy of the attachments, the rotating nozzle. This nozzle actually has a steady stream of water that rotates quickly over a small area. You have to be careful with this one, but nothing works better for those really hard to clean items like paint or graffiti off of concrete.
Now that you know a little more about pressure washers, get out and CLEAN!! Just remember I warned you about it being addictive.
Aurora Rents
Shoreline – 206.368.7368
Greenlake – 206.729.7368
Lake City – 206.362.7368
AuroraRents.com
Aurora Rents 
They are a great tool for cleaning, however, you need to access whether or not it is the right tool for certain jobs. It can be harmful to certain surfaces. Take this into consideration.
Thanks for talking about the difference in cleaning between different psi. We’re planning on bringing a company in to wash the exterior of our home, but I want to be familiar with what options are out there so I can more responsibly make decisions. I’ll have to read a bit more about the psi needed to clean brick, but what you had here was a good starting point – I understand what higher psi implies.
A good starting point is 2500 psi. That seems to be a good all around pressure washer and will do just about every job. The only difference is that the higher psi washers may do the job faster.
I think when it comes to pressure washing, you need to know when to use them and when to not. There are a couple things that could actually get hurt if you end up washing them too much. Talking with a cleaning service will help you know when to use this kind of washing service.
It’s true. It can be very addicting. I’ve seen a few friends purchase a pressure washer. The first weekend they are cleaning everything they can find. Then they are talking about starting their own business. It is amazing what a pressure washing can do for a deck, patio or house. It can look so much better after the cleaning. It’s hard not to get addicted.
More addicting than cigarettes is you ask me. Cleaning everything so easily and quickly is so satisfying. Its an easy task for almost anyone. Just need the power washer and time and anyone could start this business.
LOL. Pressure washing is addictive there’s something about it that’s just so satisfying to me glad to know i’m not the only weirdo out there lol. You get the best clean with the least amount of elbow grease.
The post really deserves huge appreciation. Nowadays, everyone feels the indispensability of pressure washing. As a result it has been addicted. Such washing method effectively cleans the dirt and clog.
This was really a great post to remember. love the topic
this is really a nice post, I am also addicted with pressure washer I love to clean DIY, whenever I found any post related to pressure washer cleaning I can’t stop my self to read the complete post.
Anyways that’s an amazing post, keep up the great work all the best.
Thank you for the sharing good knowledge and information, it’s very helpful and understanding…