House cleaning (at least on the outside) is one of the many tasks where power washers can save you a lot of time and effort. You don’t want to use power washers on brick or stucco, but when used properly they’re a water-efficient and effective way to clean vinyl, wood or hybrid siding.
The Right Tool
First, start with a good washer. Unless your house is very small or needs minimal cleaning, an electric washer won’t be powerful enough – you’ll need a gasoline powered washer like the ones from Vortexx. The homeowner models are powerful enough for most situations, but if you’re washing a large house, a house that’s particularly dirty, or using the washer for business you might want to consider a more powerful Prosumer or Professional Vortexx washer.
Nozzle Tips
Pressure washers either come with an adjustable nozzle or separate nozzle tips that you can change for different tasks. The narrowest nozzle setting is for blasting deep stains. Medium nozzle tips/settings are the choice for general cleaning. If you’re using detergents, choose the widest nozzle setting.
To Cleanse, or Not To Cleanse
You won’t need to use cleansing agents on your home unless there’s a mold or mildew problem. If you’re fighting mold or mildew, choose a pressure washer with a compartment for detergent. For Vortexx washers, you’ll need a detergent hose kit.
Fill the compartment with a mixture of liquid bleach, mildewcide and water, following the directions on the mildewcide container, and then wash the house. Make sure you wear gloves when working with chemicals and gently rinse any nearby plants with clean water after you’re finished with the house.
Before You Spray
It almost goes without saying, but make sure you close all the windows before cleaning the side of the house. The last thing you want is to pressure-wash your television or bed through the open windows. You might also want to lay tarps down around the house to protect nearby plants and catch any paint chips that come off while washing.
Washing Techniques
Always clean the entire house to keep it from looking spotty when you’re done. Working in segments, start at the top of the house and work down toward the foundation. If you’re using detergent, work from the bottom to the top, then rinse with clean water from the top down.
Hold the nozzle at a 45-degree angle to the siding, rather than spraying head-on. Spraying head-on can damage siding. Also, never spray windows directly since the high water-pressure can break glass and damage the seals.
Safety Concerns
Water and electricity are not a good combination. Always keep at least 6 feet away from power lines, electrical masts, or outlets. Another thing to avoid is pointing the nozzle toward people or pets – the water pressure coming out of a power washer could hurt someone.
You shouldn’t need a ladder to wash single-story homes. If you do use a ladder, make sure it is on sturdy footing and that the ladder rests against the house at a 75- to 85-degree angle (when standing at the base of the ladder you should be able to reach your hands straight out and rest them on the rung in front of you). Remember the pressure washer can recoil when you turn it on, so be very careful when standing on a ladder.
