Correct Way to Pressure Wash Your House
- 1). Prepare the surrounding area. Place protective plastic coating over light fixtures, plants or any objects that will break easily. Apply duct tape to coatings surrounding fragile items such as light fixtures, allowing adequate protection. Move all patio furniture or potted plants away from areas you intend to pressure wash. If any areas of the house are showing signs of mildew, scrub the mildew with a stiff bristled brush before power washing.
- 2). Mix the detergent. Use 1 lb. of non-phosphate detergent such as laundry soap for every 4 gallons of water. Pour the solution into the detergent dispenser.
- 3). Connect the pressure washer to the garden hose as directed by manufacturer instructions for the pressure washer. Turn the hose on.
- 4). Spray the house from the top down at a 45-degree angle standing at least 3 feet away from the wall. Never get closer to a surface area than 1 foot, otherwise the high pressure spay could damage the building. Spray side-to-side, using broad strokes starting at the top of the wall and moving downward. If you have a two-story home, attach the extension shaft to the sprayer to clean the second story, negating the need for a ladder. When spraying around windows, never apply pressure in the direction of the window, but hold the wand at an angle, spraying around the surface area of the window. This prevents water penetrating the window or frame. Repeat the process until you wash each side of the house to your standards.
- 5). Rinse off siding or masonry with clean water from the garden hose, not the pressure washer to complete the task. Similar to the technique for pressure washing, spray from the top down to remove any residue from the detergent. Allow it to dry.