Thursday 10th May 2018
A pressure washer is the perfect tool to power through your outdoor cleaning tasks. It can also be a lot of fun.
A pressure washer has a multitude of uses; you can clean your car, remove dirt from wheelie bins, clean out gutters, prepare a surface for painting, blast off stubborn dirt on your garden furniture and prepare your patio for a summer BBQ.
To get the most out of your pressure washer consider these helpful tips below:
1. Consider the size of the job
How do you chose the right pressure washer? The type of job will determine the pressure washer you need. Electric pressure washers are generally more suited to domesticated use. Petrol pressure washers are recommended for more regular and professional use. In terms of water pressure requirements: Light duty jobs require a 100 bar, medium duty require a 100 to 200 bar and heavy duty jobs require a 200+ bar. Examples of light duty jobs includes washing cars, garden furniture, garden tools, wheelie bins and BBQ’s Examples of medium duty include washing your driveway, patio, walls, lawnmowers or decking. Heavy duty jobs include washing larger and dirtier walls, driveways and patios.
2. Familiarise yourself with the pressure washer
A pressure washer is not like a hose, it is a bit more complicated. A pressure washer comes with a lot of accessories, which are as crucial to your pressure washer as tyres are to a car. You should make sure to read the instruction manual beforehand and to get the most out of your machine. Use the accessories and detergent to increase cleaning effectiveness and reduce cleaning time.
3. Think safety first – The Average Pressure Washer Shoots Water at 30 to 80 times More Pressure than a Hose
Caution is advised when using a pressure washer. Animals and people should be kept out of harms reach from the machine. Safety glasses are also extremely important to protect your eyes.
Ladders are a no-no
Don’t get thrown off balance – once you squeeze the trigger on the Pressure Sprayer on a ladder, the powerful recoil on the spray wand could throw you off the ladder.
4. The job itself
Test the nozzle and water pressure by spraying in a random area first (where you won’t do any damage!). You may need to change the nozzle to refine your technique. When cleaning vertical surfaces, you should rinse from the bottom up and from the top down. Avoid unnecessary damage: a general rule of thumb is to start with a nozzle that is broad - too narrow a nozzle can cut into the surface you are trying to clean. And last but not least, begin by working with the nozzle 2 feet away from the surface.