9 things around the home you can blitz with a power washer

 So, last year you bought a top-of-the-range pwer washer that cost you a small fortune, and you’ve used it maybe two or three times – true or false? Maybe you need a quick reminder to tell you just what an awesome piece of kit a pressure washer is.

Put on your overalls, unlock the garage and brush the cobwebs off the equipment – it’s time for some serious cleaning work around the house and garden. I promise you that once you get started you’ll get a hugekick out of blasting layers of dirt and grime off all that stuff around the house. It’s very rewarding and a great release!

Here are 9 things that a pressure wash will clean like new:

1. Fences and gates
   If you have a painted wooden fence, or one that’s made from vinyl or hardened plastic, it’s a good idea to give it a good clean with a pressure washer every six months or so. You’ll be amazed at how bright and clean it comes up with just a few minutes of power pressure washing. Gates too can be cleaned; all the accumulated dirt, moss, oil and grease stains stand no chance.

2. Brickwalls, patios and decking
   The UK’s miserable cold, wet winters are not good for exterior brickwork. Mould, black moss and ugly stains can build up on exterior walls, especially red brick. It becomes discoloured and a sight for sore eyes, so why not pressure wash the walls? While you’re at it, if you have a paved patio or some decking, these areas could probably also do with a good clean. Here’s a video to show you how it’s done.

3. Garage doors
   Whether your garage doors are painted steel, plastisol, wood or painted wood, a pressure wash will make them look almost like new. Birds often leave a trail of unsightly droppings all over your garage doors and pressure washing is one way to blast those stains right off.While you’re there, you may as well pressure wash the interior garage floor too.

4. Barbecues
   Over time, a barbecue grill and the inside of the cover accumulates a lot of grease and grime. There’s nothing wrong with giving it a good pressure wash in the spring so it’s ready to use in the hot summer months, and then again at the end of the summer before you mothball your barbie for the wintertime. Here‘s a power washer  video demonstration.

5. Driveways
   It’s always surprising and irritating to see how much dirt, muck, oil and ugly stains can build up on your driveway throughout the year. When you’ve given it the once over with your pressure washer, you’ll be amazed at how neat and clean it comes up.

6. Outdoor Furniture
   While you’re happily spray-washing your patio or decking, why not give the patio furniture some attention too – after all, it’s probably been sitting out there, come rain or shine, for months on end and could do with a thorough clean.

7. Cars, motorbikes, caravans and boats
   How long does it take to wash a car by hand? I’d say about 90 minutes, and if you have a 4×4 it could take even longer. But if you use a pressure washer, it’ll take you no time at all and you’ll do a much better job. A pressure washer makes it so much easier to get rid of all that mud and dirt that sticks to the underside of the mudguards.

You can also clean your motorbike, caravan ormotorhome. Just make sure you don’t use too powerful a setting, otherwise you could damage the paint, especially if there are already small paint chips. You can buy special cleaning liquid to use with a pressure washer that’s especially formulated for cars, bikes, caravans and motorhomes.

8. Lawn Mowers
   Like your car, your lawn mower deserves a thorough shower every once in a while. And it’s good to wash underneath the mower where grass can get stuck and build up. A clean mower will perform better.So after you’ve used the mower 4 or 5 times, flip it over and give it a good wash.

9. Refuse Bins
   No need to go into too much detail about the exact nature and source of the dirt… suffice to say that the smell can be very bad, especially in hot weather conditions. The solution is to blast away the stink with your pressure washer.

Article provided by Mike James, an independent content writer working together with Sussex-based specialist Cleaning Industrial Solutions.