April 15th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

Pressure washers are excellent pieces of kit for thoroughly cleaning a range of surfaces, from patios and decking to cars and bikes. While there is a dearth of advice available to tell you how to get the most from your pressure washer, there are some things you really shouldn’t do which are just as important to know about.

Here is our guide to the things that you should be aware of when using your pressure washer.

1. Don’t get too close

Your pressure washer is already using a high-pressure stream of water (hence the name!) so the shorter the distance you are from the surface you are spraying, the higher the pressure will be. This probably won’t be an issue on a robust paving slab, but it could cause real damage to delicate surfaces such as cars or windows. Start at a good distance away and slowly move closer if required.

2. Don’t dress inappropriately

On a warm day, it might feel more comfortable to wear shorts and flip flops or sandals but it’s not particularly practical and if you run a high-pressure jet of water over open-toed shoes, you’re going to know about it! You’re also going to get wet and dirty so don’t wear your best clothes either. Ideally, a pair of wellies and waterproof trousers are most suitable. Spraying vertical surfaces such as walls and fences will also cause water to splash back so face protection such as goggles and/or a mask are sensible precautions – especially on pebbledash walls such as garages where stones can become dislodged and fly back towards you.

3. Don’t wash your car on a gravel drive

Just as stones can fly around from a pebble-dash wall, so can they from a gravel drive which could easily scratch car paintwork. Try and move your car away from gravel before jet washing. It might be a pain, but it won’t be as big a pain as trying to tidy up chipped paintwork.

4. Don’t use a ‘one setting for all’ approach

You will usually find that the more you spend on a pressure washer, the more settings it will come with and, potentially, the more attachments you can get. While the options may seem overwhelming at first, it really is worth getting to know them and using the most appropriate ones for the job at hand. Just blasting everything with the most powerful water jet you can muster might seem quick and easy, but it’s not always the best approach.

A car needs a gentler setting such as a variable fan jet, but a very dirty patio or paving slab requires a rotary jet that is much stronger. Using the right one for the job you’re working on will allow you to get the best clean while also protecting the surface.

Attachments such as patio cleaners will give you the best results for the specific surfaces they’re intended for. Take some time to understand all the options at the start and it will save you a lot of cleaning time in the long term.

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5. Don’t spray erratically

While the temptation may be to spray frantically in a scattergun style, this will make more mess, clean unevenly, and use way more of your own energy than you really need to. Be methodical and have a system. For example, clean each paving slab individually and then move to the next one or focus on one decking plank at a time. If cleaning a car, wall, or fence panel, start at the top and work your way down and let gravity help you. Work in measured, horizontal sweeps and overlap slightly each time to avoid creating stripes. Also, be careful not to apply pressure in between paving slabs or stones as this can wash pointing and sand away which could allow weeds to come through or even cause stones to move and become uneven.

Remembering each of these “don’t dos” is just as important for getting a good result as adhering to all the top tips!