What is pressure washing? Pressure washing also referred to as power washing, is the act of using water under high pressure from a hose or power washer with an attachment for cleaning surfaces. You’ll need to know what type of surface you want to be cleaned before getting started so that you can get the right tool and chemicals! If your home’s siding needs some TLC but doesn’t require heavy scrubbing then a light-duty machine may be sufficient. If it has caked-on dirt and grime then maybe back off slightly and use more forceful tools instead. There are lots of different types of attachments out there – check which one will work best for your situation!
Pressure washing is used for cleaning surfaces, not cleaning *within* a surface. So if you’re curious about how to pressure wash your car or garage door, then the answer is no–you can’t!
Pressure washing removes dirt and mildew from exterior surfaces of buildings by use of high-pressure water sprayed with a nozzle attached to a hose which creates strong jets. The jet action helps loosen adhesion between particles on the building’s surface so they will release more easily. This prevents any reattachment after new coats are applied. It also loosens oils that have soaked in for many years, getting them up off the surface where other cleaners may be less effective at removing it before applying paint or sealant coatings.
The basic concept behind pressure washing is that the power from the pressure washer’s pump forces water through a hose and nozzle to create high-pressure streams of water that dislodge dirt particles from the surface.
Pressure washing is often used as part of preparing for repainting or other exterior home maintenance projects, such as:
• Pressure Washing – Cleaning away loose organic soils (dirt), light graffiti, mildew stains or rust spatter on building surfaces before applying paint coatings.
• Fence Maintenance & Repairs – Removing green algae buildup on vinyl fences with pressure wash solution.
• Driveway Sealing – Cleaning asphalt driveways to remove oil stains using power washers.
The pressure washing process is typically broken down into three steps:
• Pre-soak – spraying the surface with a powerful jet of water to loosen any dirt or grime.
• Dirt removal – scrubbing away loose, organic material and light graffiti using a rotating brush.
• Rinse – using high-pressure streams of clean water for final cleaning up before applying paint coatings, in order to remove all traces of soap residue which may affect adhesion. Pressure washing should not be confused with power washing (which uses detergents). The latter is often used as an alternative approach when there’s little time left on the clock, due to its rapid results at quickly removing soil from surfaces by handwashing them under running water.