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How to Power Wash a House: Tips and Tricks from the Experts

By Jamie Richardson | September 20, 2019

Want to give your home's curb appeal a boost? One of the quickest and easiest ways to do it is by power washing the siding on your house.

If you don't want to tackle the job yourself, there are lots of commercial pressure washing companies out there that can handle it for you and provide professional pressure washing services. Within just a few hours, they can bring back your home's glow and make it stand out. You might want to try it out for outstanding pressure washing services.

Power washing a home

But hiring someone else to power wash for you will often cost anywhere from $200 to $400. So you might be better off learning how to power wash a house on your own to save yourself some money.

Here are seven tips and tricks that will help you figure out how to power wash a house and make it look it's absolute best.

Find the Right Pressure Washer for the Job

As recently as just a decade ago or so, most of the pressure washers on the market were of the commercial variety. These pressure washer pumps were heavy-duty enough to knock out the toughest stains.

But you should be careful about which pressure washer you use when cleaning the siding on your house. Generally speaking, you should look for a model that delivers somewhere between 1,200 and 3,000 pounds per square inch of pressure.

If you use a pressure washer that falls short of the 1,200 psi mark, it might not be capable of getting your house clean. But if you choose one that's over the 3,000 psi mark, it could cause damage to your siding.

Try to find a pressure washer service like power washing apex that hits the sweet spot as far as pressure is concerned so that you don't run into any issues power washing your house.

Purchase Soap Specifically Designed to Clean Siding

In addition to looking around for the right pressure washer to clean your home, you should also search for soap designed for cleaning siding. You can find it at almost any home improvement store.

Many pressure washers have detergent dispensers that can be used to house this soap while you're power washing your house. Your machine will automatically mix the soap with water to create a powerful solution that will eliminate dirt and stains from your siding.

Cover Up Anything That Could Be Damaged During Pressure Washing

Once you have your pressure washer and detergent all ready to go, you might be tempted to jump right into power washing your house. But before you do, take a few minutes to cover up anything on or around your home that could be damaged while you're power washing.

Cover up things like:

  • Lighting fixtures
  • Electrical outlets
  • Shrubs, bushes, and other landscaping features

There is a good chance that these things won't sustain damage during power washing, even if you leave them uncovered. But there's no reason for you to risk it and do damage to things when it can be avoided.

Manually Wash Any Mildew Off Your Siding

Is there any visible mildew growing on the side of your home?

You can get rid of it in an instant by using your pressure washer. But you should strongly consider washing it away by hand first as long as it's safe for you to climb up and do it.

Set up a ladder and take a brush up the side of your home to wipe away any mildew. It'll make it easier for your pressure washer to wash it completely, and it'll also prevent it from coming back in most cases.

There are also other steps you can take to keep mildew away from your home over the long run.

Start Pressure Washing at the Top of Your House and Work Your Way Down

After you've made all the proper preparations, it'll finally be time to get down to pressure washing your home. Turn your pressure washer on and start pressure washing your siding, working your way from the top down.

If you start from the bottom and move your way up, you're going to find that dirt will trickle down your home and stick to spots you've already cleaned. By beginning at the top, you'll ensure that each and every part of your siding is clean when you're all finished.

Avoid Holding a Pressure Washer's Wand Too Close to Your Home

In an effort to make your home's siding sparkle, you might hold the wand for your pressure washer right up next to it while power washing your house. This is not the right approach to take.

When you do this, you'll be subjecting your siding to a lot of pressure and putting it into harm's way. You could do damage to your siding if you're not careful.

Instead, step back and keep your pressure washer's wand about three feet from your siding. This will still get your siding clean without damaging it in the process.

Rinse Down Your Home With a Garden Hose When You're Done

At this point, you've successfully learned how to power wash a house, and you've done it. You've made your house look like new again by power washing it from top to bottom.

But there's one last thing that you should do: Pull out your garden hose and rinse your house down with it. This will get rid of any lingering dirt and debris and finish your house off. If your hose isn't long enough for this task, you may connect another one using a Layflat Hose Coupler.

You'll notice a real difference in your home's curb appeal right away. You'll be amazed by how much better it looks once power washing is over.

Know How to Power Wash a House Before You Get Started

Pressure washing your home can transform the appearance of it. But it can also damage it and make it look worse if you don't know what you're doing.

Make sure you know how to power wash a house before you start doing it. By using the tips and tricks listed here, you can make your first power washing experience a good one and start taking pride in your house again.

Searching for even more ways to give your home's curb appeal a boost? Check out our blog to get some other great ideas.

Jamie is a 5-year freelance writer who enjoys real estate. He is currently a Realty Biz News Contributor.
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