What to Use to Power Wash a House

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Ability washing is a keen way to brighten the exterior of a home in an efficient and price-effective manner. This treatment helps remove mold or mildew, which can damage the exterior or exit stains behind that are hard to cover. A basic pressure washing machine can exist rented or bought, and the job itself tin can exist completed in a few hours!

1. i

   Cover all exterior electrical outlets to forbid h2o damage. Use duct tape to seal the outlets, even if the outlets are already equipped with spring tension covers.^[1] The record will assistance forestall any water and detergent from leaking into the outlets.^[two]

   • Whatsoever nearby shrubbery or plants should also exist covered. Use drop cloths or plastic sheeting to protect the plants and secure the sheets with duct record.

2. ii

   Close all windows and exterior doors. You volition exist using a lot of water to clean the exterior of your house, and if any of information technology gets inside, it can cause serious water damage. Exercise not re-open your doors and windows until the job is completely done.^{[three] [4]}

   • Double-bank check to brand sure your windows are entirely closed. Water tin find its fashion into small cracks and tin can cause impairment if left alone.

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3. iii

   Treat the mold or mildew on the exterior of the house. Assault those areas with a solution of bleach and water, administered using the spray bottle. Gently castor the sprayed areas and spray a second time every bit a way to loosen the mold and mildew. Rinse with make clean water to terminate the job.^[5]

   • Use 2 parts bleach to ane part water.
   • Check to see if areas that need cleaning are covered in mildew and mold or are just extremely muddied. Mildew and mold demand bleach, but areas that are just dirty can be washed clean with h2o.

4. four

   Remove all obstacles that could get in your way. This includes bikes, toys, or anything that might be exterior while you are working on the house. These things could also snag the hoses or go far the manner of the machine you lot're using.^[six]

   • You lot'll get the chore done fifty-fifty faster because yous won't exist looking around for things that might be in your fashion.
   • Cover or put away any actress equipment that you lot don't want getting wet.^[vii]
   • Dorsum out your car if it'southward in the driveway. Unfortunately, ability washing your home can go your car pretty muddied.^[8]
   • Bank check for and remove any precipitous objects that could puncture your hose while you lot wash.^[ix]

5. 5

   Set scaffolding if your house has more than 2 stories. Scaffolding allows you to stand on a flat platform while y'all work, making information technology much safer than a ladder. Position the scaffolding far plenty from the business firm to give yous a 1.5–3 ft (0.46–0.91 thousand) reach. Y'all can purchase a whole scaffolding tower online.^[10]

   • Scaffolding tin cost a few hundred dollars, then go on this in heed as you plan how you're going to power wash your home.
   • Avert using a ladder when you power launder your dwelling, considering the water pressure level could knock you off rest.

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1. 1

   Plug in your power washer. Observe an outlet on the side of your house and plug in an extension cord. Since you volition be working around your house, get a cord that is close to 100 anxiety (30 m) in length.^[11]

   • If you demand more extension cord, purchase two split ones, plug them into each other, and plug one into the power washer.
   • For harder surfaces and college psi, use a 15-degree spray nozzle. For softer surfaces and a lower psi, go with a 25 or 30-degree nozzle.

2. ii

   Get a bottle of detergent and place a plastic siphoning tube in it. The detergent volition get fed into your power washer and mix with water to clean your house. In that location are specific detergents available based on the fabric of the side of your house. You can buy the correct detergent online, or go to a hardware store to get it.^[12]

   • Using detergent allows yous to wash your business firm with less water. The more water y'all apply, the more susceptible your firm is to water damage.
   • Go on the detergent solution away from plants and pets, as information technology tin can be very harmful for both.
   • Never let detergent sit for more than than 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Find the hose mountain and put your garden hose on it. This mount is split up from the soaping nozzle part and it's used to bring h2o to your machine. Attach the other end of the hose to the faucet on the side of your business firm.^[13]

   • You tin control how much water comes into the machine by twisting the knob over the faucet.

4. 4

   Add an extension wand if your house is 2 or more than stories. Using an extension wand lets you do the peak story first, which is recommended. If you are going to power wash the meridian part of your house, you volition need to utilise the scaffolding you've gear up.^[xiv]

   • Do not attempt and power wash the top office of your house if you don't have a safety way of getting up there. Contact a professional if you cannot reach the more than difficult spots of your house.

5. 5

   Practice using the power washer to get a feel for the automobile. Y'all want to make sure yous have a steady manus when doing the job, so practicing for a few minutes is never a bad thought. Get used to the car and how much pressure you feel comfortable applying. ^[xv]

   • Use the power washer on asphalt or a concrete floor.

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1. 1

   Use detergent to the house from the bottom up. This prevents dirt and soap from running downwards your house onto dry out spots. Spray an area of nigh six–10 anxiety (1.8–3.0 m) at a fourth dimension. E'er spray horizontally and avert driving water upwardly the siding, as this could leave unsightly marks on your firm.^[16]

   • If you are pressed for time, utilize detergent to one side of the home at a time before returning to wash everything downward.
   • You desire each function of your business firm to look spotless, so don't spray more than six–ten feet (one.8–3.0 thou) at a fourth dimension. This gives you a proficient, solid blanket of detergent and will lead to a more than complete clean.

2. 2

   Rinse off the soap from the top down. Change the pressure level washer nozzle to a 25- or 40-degree spray tip. This lets you wash away all the detergent as quickly every bit possible because these nozzles spray water in a mode that covers a lot of wall infinite in a short flow of time. Since y'all applied the lather from the bottom upwardly, launder it from the top down. This gives you the best run a risk to clear the house of detergent in i attempt.^[17]

   • Hold the wand equally straight as possible and then that it'south perpendicular to the siding.
   • Don't be agape to go back over areas of your house a few times. While yous never want to spray your house with too much water, you certainly don't want to leave any detergent behind!

3. iii

   Do another rinse to ensure you've removed all the soap and grime. Remove any detergent residue by going over the exterior a couple of times with make clean water. When finished, the exterior should be fresh and clean.^[18]

   • Power washing is considered one of the best paint prep methods, but the finished product won't look as good every bit it can without a proper rinse. Take your time when going over the house to clean every spot y'all can!

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• If you are planning on painting the home, information technology is all-time to await i week to do so. Water will continually seep out of the seams and cracks during that time.

• Since some of the chemicals in the detergent can cause fading when applied to fabrics, wear one-time wearing apparel while ability washing the dwelling.

• Power washing detergents are formulated to work with unlike types of exteriors, such as brick or clapboard. Always cull a detergent that is prepared especially for use with the materials on the outside walls of your habitation.

• Ever vesture goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands.

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Things Y'all'll Need

• Pressure level Washer
• Condom Goggles
• Duct Tape
• Exterior Water Faucet
• H2o Hose
• Spray Canteen
• Bleach and Water Mixture
• Stiff Cleaning Brush
• Power Washing Detergent

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Power-Wash-a-House

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