Did you know that the pressure washer you have stored in your garage is one of the most powerful and versatile cleaning tools you can own?
That tool is capable of transforming grimy surfaces into new looking with minimal effort. But beyond just driveways and decks, did you know there are countless other surfaces and items around your home that can benefit from a good pressure wash?
From outdoor furniture to fencing, even your car’s undercarriage, this tool can tackle much more than you might expect.
In this article, we’ll walk you through all the items you can and should clean with a pressure washer to keep your home and yard looking their best.
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Home exterior
You might have noticed that the exterior of your home looks a bit under the weather. That’s probably due to all the dust, mildew, cobwebs, and algae that accumulate on the exterior of our homes over time.
Thankfully, you can easily polish the siding and enhance the curb apparel with just a bit of pressure washing. The pressure washer that features a high-quality pressure hose will effectively remove any dirt, mold, grime, and cobwebs from your house.
Different types of exterior home styles such as brick, vinyl, aluminum, and wood siding can be nicely cleaned with a pressure washer. If you’re planning to repaint your house, you can even use this tool to strip the paint off the exterior and save yourself hours of scraping.
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Windows and doors
While you’re washing the exterior of your house, don’t forget to dedicate some time to all your windows and doors. However, when pressure washing windows, be super careful.
Some glass can be quite delicate, so it’s best to begin with a lower pressure and assess the results. Consider using a fan nozzle, which can be adjusted to find the ideal balance between being gentle enough to avoid breaking the glass while still powerful enough to effectively remove grime.
While you’re at it, also spray wash the exterior of your garage door and maybe even your front door.
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Concrete surfaces
Driveways, sidewalks, and patios can also be cleaned with a pressure washer, this is no news to anyone. It’s the most common way people use their pressure washers.
If you still haven’t tried washing concrete surfaces around your home, now’s the right time.
If you’re new at this, start by using the rotary/turbo nozzle, which is ideal for cleaning footpaths and driveways. It creates a circular pattern of pressurized water, which can sometimes leave behind circular watermarks. You may need to make a few passes to eliminate these marks, but the effort is worthwhile as it will leave your concrete looking sparkling clean.
While you’re at it, consider using your pressure washer on outdoor concrete or paved steps to give your entire outdoor area a fresh new look.
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Fences
Improve the curb appeal of your home by washing your front fence. A clean fence can completely transform the look of your house.
Pressure cleaning is particularly effective for metal, vinyl, and timber fences. Always begin your washing with a lower pressure and gradually increase it to see how well the fence holds up.
If you’re preparing to repaint your picket fence, you can use a higher pressure setting to remove the old surface paint, which will minimize the sanding required. Just be cautious to ensure that the paint isn’t lead-based, as previously mentioned.
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Roofs and gutters
If your roof needs a bit of TLC, you can clean it with a pressure washer. A pressure washer will effectively clean algae, moss, and debris but when doing this requires careful technique to avoid damaging shingles.
Similarly, you can clean and unclog gutters around your house. Special attachments can be used to clear blockages in gutters, drains, and pipes using high-pressure water jets.
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Outdoor furniture
While designed to withstand harsh weather changes and the elements, your outdoor furniture also needs some care from time to time. Whether you have plastic, wood, or metal furniture, you can use your pressure washer to quickly remove dirt and debris. However, be cautious with softer woods to avoid damage.
The same applies to outdoor umbrellas and shade sails: you can enhance the appearance of your outdoor space by giving them a thorough clean with a pressure washer.
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Play equipment and garden tools
Don’t let your kids lose their interest in outdoor play equipment. With a pressure washer, you can keep all play equipment clean and fresh. Trampolines, swings, and different outdoor toys can be nicely cleaned with a pressure washer.
Similarly, you can use your washer to clean garden tools such as lawnmowers, shovels, and rakes. Doing this regularly will quickly remove dirt buildup and maintain tool functionality for a long time.
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Garbage bins
Don’t let your garbage bin get so dirty and smelly that you don’t know what to do with it. Instead, make the most of the pressure cleaner and wash your garbage bin thoroughly after every use.
This will save you the trouble of having to clean by hand and it will eliminate the most putrid of garbage bin smells.
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Your vehicles
You can use the pressure tool to effectively clean your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles. This versatile tool will clean mud and dirt from the most stubborn of places, even your vehicle undercarriage. However, make sure to use appropriate pressure settings to avoid damaging paint.
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BBQ and grill
Remove all the gunk from your barbeque and grill with just a bit of pressured water.
With this tool maintaining your backyard BBQ has never been easier. Just remove the burners, disconnect the gas, and keep an eye on the inlets while you clean. Allow everything to dry completely before re-seasoning the hotplates before your next use.
Conclusion
Pressure washers offer an efficient way to clean a wide range of surfaces. However, it is crucial to adjust the pressure settings appropriately for different materials to avoid causing damage during the cleaning process.
