How Do I Prepare My House For Pressure Washing?

Pressure cleaning your house is a very effective way to do a deep clean and get amazing results at a fraction of the cost compared to other house projects such as painting.

One of the most common questions we get from our Perth pressure cleaning clients is what needs to be done before we come to do the job.

Let’s take a look at how you can prepare your home for pressure washing.

What Are the First Things I Should Do Before Pressure Washing?

You can make the job easier for professional pressure washing services by doing a few things before they arrive:

• Be certain that all windows and doors are tightly closed. If you have doubts or have doors or windows that do not close tightly, you should tape a tarp, canvas throw, or plastic over the door or window in question. Otherwise, you might end up with a flooded carpet, which will require the services of a professional carpet cleaner to remove the excessive amounts of water.
• Tape off or cover exterior light switches and electrical outlets. Turn off the breaker switch for outside power sources.
• Cover or remove any exterior lights, such as porch lights or spotlights.
• Cover any plants, flowers, or shrubs planted next to the house.
• Large cracks or holes in brick or mortar should be sealed and repaired first.
• Move outdoor furniture, potted plants, and decorations away from the house.
• Double-check that you have sufficient water pressure. Most pressure washers require water pressure of at least 20 PSI at the outdoor spigot.
• Buy (or rent) the correct pressure washer. You need at least 350 PSI for optimal results.

Generally speaking, pressure washing is an easy task, but the pressure washers themselves can be dangerous if improperly used.

Follow the steps above to ensure that the high-pressure water doesn’t force its way into places you don’t want it and that it removes dirt from your home, rather than damage it.

Do I Need to Sweep Before I Power Wash?

This is always a good idea but not necessary. Wearing the appropriate protective gear, especially goggles, you can use a regular garden hose and a sturdy old-fashioned brush to remove as much surface dirt as you can.

Many people like to clean out their gutters at this time or use a mild cleaning solution to wash their front door, garage doors, etc. Don’t forget to set your pressure washer to the lowest setting when using it to clean other services.

Of course, when cleaning rain gutters, be sure to use the proper equipment and techniques for your safety.

Wash the entire surface of the home and take note of any areas that need special attention or have tough stains. You must address these problem areas before you power wash or speak to the professional pressure washing service operator before they begin.

Should I Remove Window and Door Screens Before Pressure Washing?

Yes! Not all surfaces are meant to be power washed!

Even DIY pressure washing with lower-pressure machines has too much pressure for screens to handle. Pressure-washing screens will damage them in an instant.

Even if your pressure washer says that it can clean all surfaces, including screens, the water stream is simply too hard for screens! You can potentially damage an expensive screen with even the lowest flow rate.

This is the best time to remove all window screens and screen doors. You can remove dirt using a mild cleaning solution, then rinse them with an ordinary garden hose.

Set them aside and allow them to air dry. After the house is dry, you can replace the screens.

What Should I Cover Before Pressure Washing My House?

Cover all outdoor lighting or remove it and cover the hole with duct tape.

Cover all plants, flowers, and bushes that are next to the house. If you have very large plants that are difficult to cover (large rose bushes for example), consider cutting them back.

Any doors or windows that do not seal tightly should be covered with plastic or canvas tarps. You can check by adding a nozzle to your hose and spraying at the window or door with all the pressure you have.

If the door or window leaks from this, you absolutely are going to need to cover them.

if you still aren’t sure, call and ask to speak to the experts at House Washing Perth!

How Often Should My House be Pressure Washed?

Due to the climate, most people in Perth will pressure wash their homes every other year.

Professional pressure washing companies recommend you pressure wash your home every year if you have composite or vinyl siding.

If you have wood siding, only do pressure washing when mildew or mould becomes problematic. For many people, this is only every 3-5 years.

Can I Do It Myself?

This is one of those “Yes, you can, but why?” type of questions.

Many people find that either buying or renting a 3,500 PSI pressure washer to be an expensive venture.

You need to know how to use it properly and even then, there is a learning curve!

You need to wear protective gear and take all safety precautions when it comes to pressure washing.

This is also a time-consuming job, taking most people several days to pressure-wash the entire house, something that will take a professional pressure washing company only 1-2 days.

Pressure washing your home is something that you could do but, in all honesty, is better left to a professional pressure washing service, such as House Washing Perth.

Call the experts at House Washing Perth regarding pricing for pressure washing services today before you buy that expensive pressure washer.

Pressure Washing Tips

If you should decide to do pressure washing yourself, we hope the following tips can help:

• Choose the right pressure washing machine, cleaning solutions (if you decide to use them), and one that matches the water pressure at your home.
• Always read the manufacturer’s instructions first. It might feel tedious, but there are safety protocols for every machine that must be followed.
• Cover or remove items as required (see notes above).
• Always wear protective gear, especially goggles! Pressure washers are very powerful and can send dirt and flying debris back at you! Don’t forget closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles.
• Pre-treat stains or do other cleaning tasks before you pressure-wash your home.
• The choice to use plain water or a cleaning solution is a personal one, but be sparing with any cleaner and avoid harsh chemicals. Harsh does not mean more effective.
• Pressure washing nozzles are colour-coded for proper technique and for removing tougher stains.
• Start pressure passing at a low setting until you get the feel of the machine. As you begin pressure washing, you can gradually increase the pressure settings as you become comfortable with the task.
• Avoid delicate surfaces or test a very small area to see how this powerful cleaning method affects the area.
• Use a sweeping motion and start pressure washing from top to bottom.
• If you plan on painting afterwards, wait at least 48 hours to allow everything to dry.

You can save yourself quite a bit of time if you take a few hours and buy the right pressure washer, read the instructions, familiarise yourself with the machine, wear protective clothing, especially eye protection, and cover all plants, electrical outlets, and various surfaces before you begin the actual job of pressure washing your home.

Not rushing the job can help you avoid causing damage and ruining painted surfaces.

In the end, if you decide that effectively cleaning your home should be a task given to professional pressure washing services, then choose House Washing Perth. They will be happy to assist you with whatever it is you need, whether it’s washing your home exterior or cleaning concrete, stone, or different surfaces.