Exterior Surface Kleen

Power washing, as a cleaning method, has been increasingly popular in the past several decades and will become even more popular in years to come. A lot of times people put too much effort into cleaning their cars, boats, patios, grills, and the exteriors of their houses. By practicing these pressure washing tips you will overcome the burden and you will finish any of these jobs much faster than any of your neighbors. If you just follow these simple pressure washing basics, your home exterior cleaning will be a short and painless process by using the right tools. Here are some valuable power washing tips: 1. Choosing nozzles and/or tips. For using pressure washers efficiently you need to choose the correct nozzle and/or tip. The majority of our machines come with interchangeable spray tips that serve two purposes. One is to lower the pressure and draw the detergent, and the other is for high-pressure rinse at different spray angles. Our pressure washers come with several color-coded tips/nozzles (red, yellow, green, and white) that vary from 0 degrees to 40 degrees. As a general rule, the smallest angle delivers the most powerful “punch.” For example, if you want to remove a stubborn smudge from your driveway you will use a 0-degree angle. However, if you want to move debris (such as leaves, sand, etc.) away from your house you will use a wider angle such as a 25 or 45-degree nozzle. Caution: be sure the nozzle/tip is completely attached before using the trigger gun. Failure to do so may result in the tip becoming the projectile and may be lost or it may damage the property and/or harm persons. 2. Using chemicals. Use only chemicals and pressure washer cleaning solutions that are approved for pressure washer use. We offer a Super Film Remover and Citrus Degreaser. Super Film Remover is mainly used for car washing and light dirt or road film. Citrus Degreaser is used for removing heavy greasers and industrial cleaning. All of our pressure washers come with a detergent injector, which allows for continuous, uninterrupted flow of the cleaning solution into the water stream. If you buy unapproved detergents they may not be environmentally friendly and they may be dangerous for pressure washer components. One solution might work well for the concrete, but it could harm the wood. 3. Testing the power. Test your pressure washer for its power. The best is to start spraying a few feet away from any object. Slowly bring your wand to 3-4 feet distance from the surface you want to clean. Move your wand side-to-side a couple of times and check if the surface is clean. If additional cleaning is needed, move your wand gradually closer to the surface (approx. 1-2 feet). The reason for the gradual cleaning is that pressure washers are extremely powerful and if you start too close you could damage the object instead of cleaning it.

Tips

4. Planning what to clean. Be careful when spraying around windows, postage boxes, flowers, vents, eaves, or light fixtures. They can break or become damaged if aimed directly at them. In addition, keep the trigger gun pointed downwards so that you don’t spray under the siding. This will prevent the siding from collapsing. Also, be cautious when cleaning the edges around the windows. Small, unnoticeable holes can leak water inside your home. In order to prevent this check for any holes, dents, and scratches on the frame of the window.                                                                                                                 Return to Top

5. Pressure washing. Pressure washing is similar to painting. If you get into “happy mode” you may start spraying everything and everywhere. These random powerwash sprayings are not thorough and detailed, they will make you miss spots and you will waste your time by cleaning places twice. To overcome this, spray horizontally with smooth left-to-right movements. In one strike cover a 3-4 feet wide area. To prevent streaking, start from the bottom and work your way up to the top.

6. Pausing before rinsing. Since you used the cleaning solution, you have to give time for it to do its job. You should allow 5 to 10 minutes for the detergent to start dissolving the dirt, but do not let it sit too long so that it dries out. When ready to rinse start at the top and work toward the bottom until the entire area is detergent free.

Power Washing Safety Tips

Our residential and certain commercial power washer units are designed for power washing equipment, vehicles, boats, driveways, snowmobiles, jet skis, trailers, pools, patios, and more. Higher-end commercial and industrial power washers are built for heavy-duty pressure washing applications including buildings, bricks, garage doors & floors, storefronts, parking lots, dumpsters, bus fleets, machinery, farm equipment, and engines. In performing any of these jobs, you must be very well aware of the right steps that go along with completing them in a safe and secure manner. The right steps are safe and sound procedures that are harmless for both humans and the environment. The following content will provide you with the safety tips that you must be aware of when applying professional pressure washing techniques.                                                                      

Foremost, besides having pressure washing equipment, you should wear safety-toe, non-slip sole rubber boots. If you are applying solvents use appropriate hand protection. Make sure you remove immediately any clothing saturated in solvents and wash your skin with soap and water thoroughly. Watch out for burns from hot water and back blast from water or dirt particles. Do not direct a high-velocity stream of water on yourself or others. Do not use solvents to remove oil and grease from hands, but rather soap and water or a waterless cleanser.

Protect yourself from sharp edges and protruding parts. Wear gloves and cover sharp objects with tape, rags, or wooden guards. Steer clear of electrical devices like lights and outlets. You can easily cause a short circuit or break them. Never use an electric-powered washer in the rain as an electrical short circuit could happen. If you are using a gas power washer inside the building or house, make sure it is vented properly since the exhaust gases can be harmful to humans when exposed to such gases for longer periods.

On electric models, a power washer should never be plugged into a power source unless the trigger is in the “OFF” position.

Here are some advice when handling fuel:

• Avoid prolonged or repeated skin contact with fuel. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water in case of contact
• Avoid breathing vapors or mists.
• Remove any clothing that is wet with fuel. Allow fuel to evaporate completely outdoors before washing. Thoroughly clean clothing before reuse.

What should I do when fueling pressure washers?

• Identify and know how to operate emergency fuel cut-offs.
• Know the location and operation of fire extinguishers.
• Shut off the engine while fueling.
• Fill the gas tank slowly to prevent fuel from spilling and making contact with the hot engine.
• Reinstall the cap on the reservoir after filling it up. Hang the hose in place on the pump                               

Do’s and Don’ts When Power Washing

DO wear proper eye, face, and hand protection when operating the equipment and power washing. DO attach nozzles and/or accessories completely before starting the machine. DO keep hands and feet clear of the cleaning nozzle at all times. DO consider using a special cleaning agent if the surface shows heavy dirt and grime. DO follow the equipment manufacturer’s directions with respect to the distance between the spray head and the surface — typically 6″ to 10″ while power washing, although this varies with the PSI and spray width settings. (Moving too close may harm the surface; staying too far away may be ineffective.) DO work from the top of the wall to the bottom, rather than vice versa. Otherwise, dirt and mildew will run down over the already-cleaned section. DO direct the water at a downward arc when cleaning wood substrates. Spraying wood head-on can damage the siding.

• DO power-wash the surface thoroughly.

• Don’t fill the fuel tank while the engine is running.
• Don’t leave the nozzle in a closed position for more than a minute or two while the equipment is running. The pump may overheat.
• Don’t try to repair a leak in the hose or connection while the system is under pressure.
• Don’t aim the power washer at an upward angle when cleaning lap siding. This can drive water behind the siding. Also, the force of the water can lift the siding from the wall.
• Don’t spray stucco, brick, or masonry walls straight on. The force of the spray can cause water to penetrate cracks in the walls and cause damage within.
• Don’t aim the spray at windows or glass doors. The force is strong enough to shatter them.
• Don’t let the machine run for several minutes without pulling the trigger gun.
• Don’t point the wand at an animal or a person during the power-washing process