There are many instructional videos available to help you learn how to power wash. However, there are also those that spread misinformation. Below are three videos that provide information that can lead to disaster.
Now, you are going to notice one thing immediately. This is NOT a pressure washer. A bit of false advertising here, but let us take it at face value. Not everyone can afford to hire a professional or invest in obtaining his or her own fancy pressure washer. A budget-friendly alternative sounds like a great deal. This method will fit almost any budget for sure. However, certain issues put it on this list. First, this individual is using bleach as his primary cleaning agent. Bleach is not unheard of for this. Nevertheless, the issue here is that they are using it in close proximity to their vegetation. The bleach he is spraying can damage or kill that shrub leaning against his handrail. To avoid this, use a non-toxic chemical cleaner, such as Simple Green, or an oxygen bleach. Second, he points out that it is a windy day. It is highly recommended that you do not pressure wash on days with high wind. We all know wind will make your water spray all over. Factor in that bleach he is spraying and now you have a potential health risk. Speaking of health risks, he is spraying bleach on a windy day without protective eyewear. That is a huge no-no. When performing home maintenance tasks, saving money is always ideal. But safety has to come first. Take away: if the cleaning agent you are using can kill or damage your plants, imagine what it will do to your eyes, skin or mouth should it hit you. Wear protective clothing and do not spray it on a windy day.
I really hate to knock a person for trying to earn a living doing something they enjoy. However, again you have an individual using Clorox without proper safety equipment. In addition to that, the pressure setting he is using on his power washer is too high for brick, concrete and vinyl. For example, using such a high pressure setting on brick can break up and blast out the mortar joint filling. It is important to test the pressure of your power washer against each material to ensure you are using enough force to clean, but not enough to damage your property. If you hire someone to power wash for you, make sure they are licensed and insured. If they do damage your home, their insurance should take care of the repair cost for any damages they have caused.
This video shows you exactly how not to clean stucco. See the chunks of white on the floor? Those are pieces of stucco that were blasted off. The use of a pressure washer on stucco is debated by experts. Most agree that a soft wash is ideal. That being said, if you opt for a power washer, please reduce the pressure to the lowest setting. This individual clearly did not use any cleaning solutions before attempting to use sheer force to clean the lower part of this structure. Rinsing your stucco and applying a cleaning solution loosens any dirt and stains. It allows you to use soft wash or low-pressure to clean off whatever remains. While you should clean from the bottom up, you rinse from the top down. You should never do just part of a wall. Once it dries, the wall will look mismatched and horrible.
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