Guide: Surfaces To Power Wash or Not
People always talk about turning over a new leaf by spring cleaning, and it seems like many homeowners start the process in the garage. It’s as if no one pays attention to dust and grime any other time of the year.
The good news is, if the weather is agreeable, it doesn’t matter when you deep clean the garage or most other outdoor surfaces if you use the right tools—a power washer, for example— and the proper cleaning techniques.
What surfaces can be power washed safely?
The good news is you can power wash just about anything outside your house. Of course, there are exceptions, which we’ll cover today.
Learn more here about power washing your home.
Hint: Fall is an excellent time to look into your power washing options! However, if you have not done so, the early spring is also a great time to prepare for summer outdoor parties.
Driveways and Sidewalks Come Clean Under Pressure
For many homeowners, their first experience with a pressure washer is using one to clean the driveway. For some, it’s almost a rite of passage to buy a pressure washer when they buy their first home—solely to clean the driveway.
If you have a concrete driveway, you already know that cracks attract dirt, debris, and weeds. Then, it’s time for a patch job. But, if you pull the weeds and leave dirt behind, the integrity of the patch will suffer.
Pressure washing concrete flushes out any remaining dirt. It also works great on greasy, oily stains.
Driveways and sidewalks are excellent candidates for pressure washing. That said, these surfaces are porous, and there is a risk of damaging them.
Hiring a professional pressure washing contractor helps ensure your concrete surfaces get clean and stay intact.
Yes, You Can Power Wash Outdoor Furniture
Patio and pool furniture takes a beating all summer. Between the weather and the kids, your lawn chairs and outdoor tables likely look dingy by the end of the summer.
Pressure washing outdoor furniture is the quickest way to get it clean. If you power wash with warm or hot water and a cleaning solution, it’s also possible to sanitize your outdoor tables and chairs.
While you might think this is a good weekend project, you should consider having a professional do the job, especially if you have wood furniture. If not done correctly, pressure or power washing can pull the stain off wood surfaces.
Power Wash the Pool Area?
It’s no surprise that California, Arizona, and Florida are the states with the highest number of inground swimming pools. That doesn’t mean no one has a pool here in New Jersey.
If you’ve built a cement pond in your backyard, you’ve likely also installed pool pavers or a concrete pool deck. Keeping your pool area clean not only protects your investment, but it also protects your health.
Power washing is the most effective method for cleaning pool decks—if done by a professional.
The combination of hot water, a cleaning solution, and the correct nozzles and techniques remove sandy grit and grime. The bonus? Power washing also removes residue leftover from using pool chemicals.
The problem with DIY pool area cleaning is that if you’re not skilled with the power washer, you could cause severe damage to concrete surfaces or your stone pool pavers.
What About Power Washing Vinyl Siding?
There’s always that weekend warrior who gets out on Saturday morning and attempts to finish a week’s worth of home maintenance in a few hours.
They go to town on every surface they can reach with a hose. And if they own a pressure washer, they act like a kid in a candy store. There’s something about power tools that bring out the kid in just about anybody.
One surface that many people treat too roughly when they try to power wash is vinyl siding.
While a power washer is an excellent tool for cleaning siding, there is a risk of causing damage. For example, if the pressure is too high, you can strip the paint right off a piece of vinyl siding. DIY pressure washing can also cause water to get trapped under vinyl siding and aluminum.
Moisture trapped behind the siding panels can result in water damage, insect infestation, and mold development. Professionals know how much pressure to use on the siding to prevent damage.
So, yes, you can pressure wash vinyl siding, but if you’re savvy, you’ll hire a contractor to do the job right.
What Surfaces Can Be Power Washed Safely By You?
While most of the outdoor surfaces we’ve covered in this article do better when a professional does the work, there are a few things most homeowners can take care of without worrying about causing damage.
Using a high-pressure garden hose, you can easily clean the cushions from your outdoor furniture. Outdoor rugs can also handle the same type of cleaning.
If you have a pressure washer sitting around the garage, you can use it on the items above. There’s nothing too dangerous about using a pressure washer on your front porch or the garage floor. If you’re careful and don’t apply too much pressure for too long, and those surfaces don’t have any damage, you shouldn’t have too many issues.
You’ve probably seen a neighbor using a pressure washer on their car. We don’t suggest doing that. Stripped paint or getting something wet that can’t handle too much moisture could result in costly repairs.
What you shouldn’t clean with a pressure washer, and probably not a garden hose, is people, pets, and plants. Not even a professional power washing company would agree to that.
In the end, you have pressure washing options that you can handle, but for the most part, you’re better off calling a professional.
Call A Brilliant Solution for Your Power Washing Projects
While this article doesn’t include every surface you can clean by power washing, we’ve covered the essentials.
Still wondering what surfaces can be power washed safely?
The experts at A Brilliant Solution can help answer any questions. When you’re ready to tackle outdoor cleaning projects, we’re the team to call.
There’s no pressure washing job too big or too small for us. Reach out today and let us provide a free estimate!
