While we all like things to be nice and clean and pressure washing is definitely oddly satisfying, there are a few things that you should never power wash. Especially if you don’t have the right equipment for the job.
#1 – Windows
It goes without saying that high pressure and glass don’t mix well. But in case you were hoping to pull that pressure washer out of your garage and go to town on your windows to get them nice and clean, our hope is that this blog post will steer you in the right direction.
It’s not really even a good idea to spray your windows with your water hose unless you have the sprayer on the shower setting, then that would be ok.
One of the biggest problems we see when people take a pressure washer to their windows is not just breaking the glass but actually breaking the seal on double-paned windows and letting all the argon gas leak out.
This allows moisture in between causing frosting, mildew, and discoloration inside the panes and the only way to fix that is to replace the whole window itself. Below is a photo of what that looks like.
If you want to repair a blown seal, here’s how.
#2 – Wood
Just like with windows, pressure washing your wood fence or wood features on or around your home is a bad idea.
Two things that typically happen when using high pressure on wood surfaces: You can create deep gouges or even remove chunks of the wood from the surface you’re spraying and it’s nearly impossible to maintain the exact same distance from the wood so you end up with tiger stripes after you’re done and its completely dried.
If you’re needing to re-stain or paint your wood fence you will need to have it cleaned prior to knocking out that project.
At Geek Window Cleaning we have the ability to soft wash your fence and bring it back to looking almost brand new without destroying the wood or leaving tiger stripes.
#3 – Roofs
If your roof has those unsightly black streaks on it or it’s starting to grow mildew and mold, the last thing you want to do is climb up there and start blasting away at it with a pressure washer.
First, climbing up on a roof without proper safety gear is dangerous but add in a ton of water and your roof can become a giant slip n’ slide. You also run a pretty high risk of damaging the roof itself potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage or requiring a new roof. It is however a good idea to have your roof cleaned once every 2-3 years but you want to make sure it’s getting done properly.
When cleaning a roof you have to use a soft washing system with proper safety gear, training, and environmentally safe detergents to remove those unwanted streaks and mildew. We only use ARMA approved cleaning methods when we are soft washing roofs as well as using proper safety gear and protection for your landscaping and surroundings.
#4 – Soft Stone
If your driveway, sidewalk, or walkway is looking like it could use a good pressure cleaning, taking your pressure washer to it probably isn’t going to cause much if any damage to the concrete.
Wanting to clean your pool coping, travertine, limestone or some other kind of stone patio…that’s a different story.
It’s important to know what stone it is you’re wanting to clean and make sure that the pressure you’re going to use isn’t going to put etching into it. Even using a surface cleaner can cause swirl patterns if it’s not one that you can control the pressure on.
We have seen countless homes with this type of damage either from a previous company or from the homeowner wanting to DIY their cleaning. Our advice is to do the research so you know what your stone can withstand or bring in a professional to take care of it for you.
We have the ability to clean all types of stone including sand stone water scapes, give us a call for a free quote today.
#5 – Outdoor Furniture
This one is a bit tricky, there is some outdoor furniture that is completely safe to power wash.
However, be mindful of the material it’s made from especially if it’s wood and be wary of spraying any type of fabrics or covers, this goes for your umbrella covering the outdoor table. Really the only way to clean outdoor furniture properly with a pressure washer is if you have the special tools to control how much pressure you’re putting out.
There are several types of unloader valves that attach to the pressure wand or a pressure controlled wand itself. However, if you have this type of equipment you might just be a professional power washer yourself 😉
At Geek Window Cleaning we have all this type of equipment as well as the experience to get the results you’re looking for. We can do all the hard work for you and you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy your dirt free outdoor living space!
5 Things you should NEVER pressure wash in Houston | Geek Window Cleaning
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