The Complete Guide on How to Power Wash

Although power washing is not rocket science, it also is not as easy as the professionals make it look. Many people think they can borrow their neighbor’s power washer, turn it on and start cleaning. This is the best way to power wash if your goal is to live on the edge. There are many dangers and techniques that are used when power washing different surfaces. No surface is the same, therefore no power washing job is the same either. It is extremely easy to damage your property if the wrong techniques are used. When we power wash in Monmouth County, NJ we almost always will use a soft wash technique. This uses a cleaning detergent with lower water pressure to prevent damage  to the surface.

Just about everyone maintains a clean interior of their home. You sweep your floors, mop and vacuum on a regular basis. But when is the last time you cleaned your siding or your roof? Both of these surfaces will collect dirt, mildew and even mold. Ever wonder why your vinyl siding is green? That’s mold and mildew, and it’s harmful to your health. It’s time you start thinking about the exterior.

The most effective method of cleaning the outside of your home is power washing. This will always save you time and money when compared to manual cleaning. I must warn you, DIY power washing is often not the solution. We compared DIY power washing with professional power washing. More often than not, hiring a professional is well worth the money, no matter what the job is.

Step by Step Guide

So now you know power washing is important and that you should do it, but how? Here are the most important steps for the basic soft wash power washing job;

• Step 1 – Cover and/or rinse any sensitive materials and plants
• Step 2 – Pre-treat the dirtiest spots with a bleach mixture
• Step 3 – Treat the surface to be cleaned with your cleaning detergent
• Step 4 – Wait so the detergent can soak on the surface
• Step 5 – Soft wash the surface with your power washer
• Step 6 – Rinse the sensitive materials again
• Step 7 – Admire your clean surface!

The time it takes to soft wash the exterior of your home will depend on the size. The complete process can take as little as 2 hours when properly using a power washer. Let’s start by creating your cleaning detergent. You can buy detergents that are designed for power washing or simply combine bleach with water. Usually around 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. BEWARE, some power washers are not designed to use bleach and may void warranties.

So now you know the steps, let’s get into a little more detail.

How to Power Wash

Step 1

The prep work is the most important step in every single process. Take your time and understand that this step will prevent mistakes and regret. First thing first, cover and deactivate any electrical items that are in the area. Cover any sensitive materials surrounding the area you are going to clean. This can be metals that rust easily and especially plants. They can be covered in anything that will prevent water from reaching them. If you can not cover your plants, be sure to rinse them down generously to prevent your cleaning detergent from killing them.

Step 2

Pre-treating the dirtiest areas is not always necessary. If you have severe stains or a surface that has not been cleaned in awhile, this step can help. Using your cleaning detergent (a bleach and water mixture), spray down the worst areas. This can be accomplished using the power washer on a very low water pressure setting or with a separate pump sprayer. Once done, allow the detergent to soak into the surface and adhere to any dirt or mold. 

Step 3

This is probably the most important step in the process. Cover your entire surface with the cleaning detergent. Think of this part as putting shampoo in your hair before rinsing it out. Since we are going to clean with the soft wash technique, this detergent is what will clean the surface, not the water pressure. So ensure that the entire surface is saturated with the cleaning detergent.

Step 4

The cleaning detergent requires time to soak into the surface. This requires around 30 minutes. Now is a good time to rinse down any plants surrounding the area. This will prevent the cleaning detergent from adhering to the plants and killing them, so try to keep them wet. 

While you wait, take a look at our gallery for some before and after photos.

Step 5

Soft washing time! Grab the power washer and begin spraying down the surface with a soft water pressure. This should be around 1,200 to 1,500 PSI (pounds per square inch). Double check the water pressure is properly set or you can cause serious damage to your surface. You are going to wash the entire surface from start to finish without missing a single spot. If you are working on a vertical surface, like the side of your house, clean from top to bottom. 

Step 6

Once you finish applying the soft wash technique, it’s time to start cleaning up. This is when you want to rinse all those surrounding plants again. You just washed all that cleaning detergent off the surface, and water needs to go somewhere. It usually ends up near the plants, so be sure to rinse them down.

Step 7

Guess what? You are all done. Congratulations on completing the soft washing process. Now it is time to sit back and admire a job well done. Make sure to complete the job by removing any coverings you used and restore power to anything your turned off.

Power Washing in Monmouth County

There is a reason that so many people are power washing their properties. As you have just learned first hand, the main reason is because it works. Power washing is the most time efficient way to complete an exterior cleaning job. The true benefit of power washing is the versatility. Just about every surface can be cleaned with a power washer. 

The most important things to remember are the dangers. Always remember that you are combine water and electricity and that can be a deadly combination. Leave it to the professionals to clean your house while you spend more time with your family. Just about anybody is capable of power washing. However, given the amount of time it takes to learn and execute, hiring a professional is often a better option. But before you choose which one to hire, take a look at the Top 6 Questions to ask before hiring a Power Washing Service. 

Mold and mildew is not a joke. These are the most common stains on a house and they can be extremely harmful. All Clean Exteriors is the industry leading Power Washing and roof cleaning service in Monmouth County, NJ. Don’t procrastinate any longer and get a free estimate now.