When you have a big job to do, it’s probably best to call a professional pressure washing company. But for smaller jobs, you might want to rent a pressure washer and save some money. If you want to use a pressure washer, you may want to learn more about how these devices work. These tips and tricks will help you as you prepare to use your pressure washer.
Start by Pre-Soaking
Before you start cleaning a surface with a pressure washer, you’re going to want to pre-soak the area. You can use a detergent for your pre-soak, or you can purchase a chemical solution that was specifically designed for pre-soaking.
Why pre-soak? To start, pre-soaking can reduce your total wash times. It can also reduce the total amount of chemicals that you need to use.
Rinse Off the Detergent Before It Has A Chance To Dry
While detergent can help you get a surface clean, you won’t want to give the detergent a chance to dry. If the detergent does dry, it might be difficult to clean away.
Rinse away the detergent you’re using before it has a chance to dry. If you rinse away the detergent at the right time, you’ll be able to maximize its effectiveness and keep it from sticking to the surface you’re cleaning.
Use Hot Water, Not Cold Water
If you’re looking for a reliable solvent, you’re not going to want to use cold water. Hot water will be clean more effectively than cold water. Using hot water can speed up the washing process significantly.
Select the Right Nozzle
It’s important to pick the best nozzle when you are pressure washing. You’ll want to determine how many gallons per minute are necessary for the job you’re taking on.
If you’re not sure what kind of nozzle you should be using, you’ll want to consult some sort of chart. You could also ask for advice when you rent your pressure washer. If you’re taking on a common task, such as cleaning a deck or a driveway, it will be easy for you to get a recommendation.
Pressure Washer Attachments
Pressure washers are highly versatile; they can be used with a number of attachments. If you’re interested in sandblasting, a blasting attachment will allow you to tackle those job with a pressure washer. Blasting attachments can also be used with baking soda.
Getting Rid of Spider Webs
It’s notoriously difficult to dissolve spider webs, even with a pressure washer. The solutions that are able to dissolve spider webs often dissolve other things, like paint and wood, as well.
If you do want to eliminate spider webs, your best option is to use a cleaner that’s based in D-limonene. That said, it’s important to test a cleaner before you use it. Make sure the cleaner you’ve selected won’t cause streaking or other issues.
Low-Pressure Washing Techniques Are the Safest
If you don’t have a lot of experience with pressure washers, you’ll want to stick to using low-pressure settings. A pressure walker on low settings is a lot easier to control.
When you use less pressure, it’ll be easy to avoid causing damage to your home or your plants. Start off by using lower settings when you clean. Remember, you can always turn up the settings later on.
Consider Spray Wax
If you want to extend the life of your wash job, you might want to look into using spray wax. Spray wax will give you a better look overall, and it will make the surface easier to clean in the future.
Consider Placing Wax in The Rinse Water
You may want to use a small amount of wax in your rinse water. This simple trick is frequently used when washing fleets.
Why include wax? A small amount of wax can help to reduce dirt adhesion. It allows you to clean surfaces more quickly. If you’re planning on a wax finish, it makes sense to mix some wax in the rinse water as well.
If you’re going to be renting a pressure washer, you’re going to want to make sure you get a lot out of the device. You should use these tips and tricks so that you can use your pressure washer more effectively. A pressure washer is a powerful tool, but you can get more out of these devices if you know how they should be used.