How to Wash Your Home Like the Pros: A Step-by-Step Guide
A low pressure “soft wash” will reduce the risk of damage to your home, while using detergents to get the cleaning done well. Pro Services provides low pressure house washing and window cleaning in the greater Boise, Idaho area, including Eagle, Meridian, Star, Middleton, Nampa, Caldwell, and Kuna.
When it comes to maintaining the exterior of your home, pressure washing can make a world of difference. It’s a great way to remove dirt, grime, and mold, making your home look fresh and clean. However, if you're not careful, pressure washing can also cause significant damage. So, how do you pressure wash safely without risking harm to your siding, windows, or paint? Let’s break it down.
1. Choose the Right Pressure Settings
One of the most common mistakes people make when pressure washing is using too much pressure. High pressure can easily cause water to drive under your siding, erode mortar on brick homes, damage seals around windows or even create water intrusion issues inside your walls. To avoid this, always choose a low-pressure setting—around 1,000 to 1,500 PSI (pounds per square inch) for general cleaning tasks. Anything above this is going to cause significant damage…for comparison, most commercial pressure washers can go up to 3,000 to 4,000 PSI, which is way too high for home surfaces outside of concrete driveways and patios (even on concrete surfaces, 3,000 PSI can cause damage with the wrong nozzle).
A good rule of thumb is to start at the lowest setting (if your pressure washer has adjustable pressure) and gradually increase it if necessary. You should never use high pressure on softer materials like wood or vinyl siding. If your pressure washer doesn’t have a way to adjust the pressure setting, a larger nozzle orifice (the opening on it) will reduce the pressure. We’ll dive into that next.
2. Use the Right Nozzle for the Job
Before we talk about the different nozzle options, it’s important to understand the two ways in which pressure washer nozzles are measured.
Nozzle Orifice Size:
First, you have a measurement for the size of the opening (or orifice), which is often referred to as the GPM, or gallons per minute, that they were designed for.
If your pressure washer pumps two gallons per minute (GPM), it will naturally need a smaller opening tip compared to a 4 GPM pressure washer to achieve the same pressure. So, reversing that concept, if you use a tip designed for a 4 GPM pressure washer on your 2 GPM unit, you will effectively reduce the pressure by around 50%.
This is the most common way professionals alter the pressure coming out of a pressure washer. As a general rule of thumb, if you’d like to cut your pressure from 3,000 PSI down to 1,000 PSI, look at the GPM of your pressure washer (we’ll use a 2GPM pressure washer as an example), and get a nozzle designed for a unit with triple the GPM output (in this case, 6GPM). This nozzle will have a larger opening, effectively reducing the pressure.
Nozzle Fan Shape:
Pressure washers come with different color nozzles, each designed for different types of cleaning. The nozzles that come with most pressure washers come in various colors that alter the fan of water coming out of your wand.
Here’s a breakdown:
Red Nozzle (0°): This is the most powerful nozzle, delivering a concentrated stream of water at a very high pressure. These nozzles can be extremely dangerous when used on your home (and can be physically harming, as well). For this reason, we do not use the red nozzles at all, and recommend homeowners avoid this as well.
Yellow Nozzle (15°): This nozzle is good for tough grime but should still be used with caution. It’s effective for cleaning concrete or driveways, but it’s not ideal for soft materials like wood or siding. When using a yellow nozzle, it’s important to keep the end of your want at least 12-18 inches away from the surface you’re trying to wash.
Green Nozzle (25°): This is the all-purpose nozzle, perfect for general exterior washing. It provides a good balance of power and coverage without being too aggressive, and is what we’d recommend for homeowners as a starting point.
White Nozzle (40°): The safest nozzle for delicate surfaces like windows, trim, and siding. This nozzle disperses water over a wider area, which reduces the intensity of the pressure. However, we find the green nozzle to be much more effective, typically.
If you’re not sure which nozzle to use, always start with the white nozzle, and work your way to the green nozzle. It’s better to err on the side of caution, especially with windows and siding.
3. Keep a Safe Distance from Your Home
Another important tip is to maintain a safe distance between the nozzle and the surface you're cleaning. Typically, you should keep the nozzle about 12 to 24 inches away from the surface to avoid driving water underneath the siding. The closer you are, the more likely you are to cause damage to the materials or break seals on your windows.
Also, always hold the pressure washer at a slight angle, not directly perpendicular to the surface. This will help prevent water from getting under your siding or damaging seals.
4. Work in Sections and Test the Pressure
It’s tempting to get the job done quickly, but rushing can lead to mistakes. Work in smaller sections, testing the pressure on an inconspicuous area of your home first. Make sure the surface can withstand the pressure before you move on to larger areas. Testing also helps you figure out if any nozzles or settings are too strong for your siding.
If your pressure washer has a soap injection system, now is a great time to test it out. We recommend soaping down one side or section of your home at a time, then rinsing before moving on to the next section.
A soap like Simple Green House Cleaner is a great option for homeowners to start with. Remember, the goal is to let the soap do the cleaning, NOT the pressure!
5. Watch for Water Intrusion
If you’re not careful, water can get underneath your siding or around windows, causing issues like mold or mildew growth, and even structural damage over time. Always inspect your home after pressure washing to make sure water hasn’t seeped where it shouldn’t. If you do notice any issues, you may need to reapply sealant around windows or doors, or replace weather stripping.
6. Dry Windows to Prevent Hard Water Stains
Depending on where you live, hard water (high mineral content in the water) can create hard water spots on glass, which can be VERY difficult to remove down the road. We recommend quickly drying all of your windows before they’ve had a chance to air dry, ideally with a squeegee.
Key Equipment You’ll Need
To get started, here’s a list of equipment you’ll need for a safe and effective pressure wash:
Pressure Washer: A reliable, easy-to-use machine is essential. We recommend the Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric Pressure Washer as an affordable option for residential use.
Cleaning Solution: For tougher stains, you might need a cleaning solution that’s safe for use with your pressure washer. Look for one like Simple Green House Cleaner, which is specifically designed for home use and tough stains.
Scrub Brush: If you’ve got stubborn stains that don’t seem to be coming loose with soap and water alone, you might need to agitate those areas with a brush. We recommend this one from Amazon.
The Risks of Pressure Washing: Did You Know?
To emphasize just how important it is to be cautious when pressure washing, here are some key statistics:
Pressure washers can cause serious damage to siding: A report from the National Home Improvement Council states that improperly using a pressure washer can lead to water damage, including rotting wood and mold growth. (Source: National Home Improvement Council)
Pressure washing is a leading cause of window seal failure: According to the American Window & Door Institute, improperly directed pressure from a washer is a leading cause of seal failure in double-glazed windows, leading to condensation and eventual breakdown. (Source: American Window & Door Institute)
Pressure washing injuries are on the rise: The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that thousands of people are injured each year due to mishandling pressure washers, with injuries ranging from minor cuts to more serious lacerations or even eye injuries. (Source: CPSC)
Advice from the Pros:
Having served hundreds (maybe thousands) of customers, we’ve seen the damaging effects of homeowners using pressure washers on their home, from hard water staining on glass to broken window seals and damaged paint and siding.
Follow the tips above to minimize the chance of damaging your home, or reach out if you’d like to guarantee your home turns out looking pristine and damage-free. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have, and get you a custom quote for all of your exterior cleaning needs!
