Product Guide
What Model is Best for You? | Glossary of Terms | Project TipsCement Driveways and Garages
Cement driveways and garages take a lot of abuse with daily doses of road dirt, grease, oil, and salt. To start this cleaning project, you'll want to remove all items from the area you'll be cleaning.
You may want to pre-treat oil spills and stains. Consider soaking up excess oil spills with cat litter or sawdust.
For maximum cleaning power, use your low pressure setting to apply a degreaser to heavily soiled areas. Allow the detergent to remain on the surface for 1-3 minutes to break up grease.
Finish with the high pressure water spray, working in smooth, overlapping strokes.
For especially tough or stubborn stains, consider using a Turbo Nozzle. A Turbo Nozzle rotates a narrow stream of water in a circular pattern, increasing cleaning effectiveness by up to 50 percent.
When your cement is clean, you may want to reseal it. Make sure the surface is completely dry before applying any protective coatings.
Wood Decks and Siding
Pressure washers do an excellent job of cleaning wood - they get down to the wood grain to remove ground-in, saturated dirt and grime.
Start by removing any items that obstruct the area you are cleaning - such as furniture on your deck or a hose reel next to the house.
Consider covering any nearby plants or bushes. Pressure washers have enough power to shred any exposed greenery.
Since wood is a relatively soft material, you'll want to take extra care not to damage it. Start washing in an inconspicuous area, at least 4-5 feet
from the surface, and move closer as you get a sense of the water power. Move the water spray in the direction of the wood grain, in a smooth and steady motion.
A good rule of thumb is to use a spray pattern that hits the surface approximately as wide as the boards you are cleaning.
This will help keep the water stream at a fan width that will effectively clean, yet not damage, your wood surface.
Spray all windows and vents from a distance, and at an angle.
Be especially cautious not to spray electrical components, such as your central air conditioner or conduit feeding the meter.
Paint Prep for House Siding
Reduce the long and tedious scrubbing to prepare a surface for repainting. You'll be amazed at how quickly and easily a pressure washer removes peeling paint and prepares your siding for paint prep!
Grip your pressure washer gun and wand securely, and start at least 4-5 feet away from the surface. Spray the surface, using your high pressure setting, in smooth and parallel strokes.
The pressure washer will remove dirt and loose paint to prepare the surface for repainting. Resist the urge to use the pressure washer to remove all paint.
Overuse of the pressure washer could damage the surface. If you wish to remove all paint from the surface prior to painting, you may need to scrape some of the paint that the pressure washer did not remove.
Wash a Car or Truck
Pressure washers can effectively clean cars or trucks, and do a great job of removing stubborn dirt and dried-on bugs.
Start about 8-10 feet from your car - move closer as you get a good sense of the water power.
It is recommended, however, that you stay at least 5 feet away from your car at all times to maintain a diffused spray.
Pressure washers are also great for cleaning greasy automobile engines. Consider having someone hold the hood open while you work - the powerful spray of a pressure washer could cause it to slam shut.