Under pressure – harnessing the power of your pressure washer
A pressure washer is one of those gadgets that you may not think you need – but one blast over your moss-covered driveway or outdoor belongings and you’ll be glad you bought one. It’s more fun than the average cleaning tool too! They’re an awesome piece of equipment to have because they can be used in a multitude of ways, making cleaning certain things around your home easier to do. There’s no denying that a power washer can be an extremely useful tool for all home owners.
A pressure washer could even add value to your home when selling. Curb appeal is just as important as cleaning the inside of the home – you only have one chance to make a first impression. Whatever you do, do not overlook your home’s exterior when selling.
However, if you think a pressure washer is just for cleaning patios then think again! The velocity and high pressure it creates when releasing water is perfect for dozens of grimy household cleaning jobs.
Our top 10 grime busting jobs include:
- Fencing
- Exterior brickwork
- Garage doors
- Outdoor grills and BBQ's
- Cleaing greenhouse, conservatories and guttering
- Driverways and pathways
- Outdoor furniture
- Cars, motorcycles and boats
- Lawn mower and lawn equipment
- The rubbish bin
When working with pressure washers it's really important to have the right model and accessories for the job. Too little pressure, and the job will take forever, but too much pressure can cause damage to the things you're trying to clean.
Generally, a lower pressure is suitable for things like cars, patio furniture and bikes while higher pressures are needed for things like concrete paving and other heavy duty cleaning. It's a very good idea to think about the most cleaning power you will need and find a pressure washer capable of this
Pressure washers normally measure their cleaning power using two numbers - the pressure and the flow rate.
The pressure is a measure of the force of the water coming out, which makes up for the 'cutting power' of the stream to get through tough dirt.
The flow rate is the amount of water that comes from the pressure washer, and gives the 'rinsing' and washing action.
Putting both together will give you the 'cleaning rate', or how much you can clean in a given time. A high pressure and a high flow rate mean you can clean large areas quickly. Selecting the right pressure washer for the right job means that you can really cut down the amount of time it takes to do those grubby household jobs.
Selfishly owning a pressure washer can have social benefits too with friends, family and neighbours often demonstrating ‘pressure washer envy’. Keen to borrow it for their own benefit they’ve been known to return it with thank you gestures including a bottle of wine, an invite for dinner or other goodies meaning the pressure washer tends to pay for itself in the end, and everyone’s a winner!