Ever try pressure washing? It is a literal and figurative "blast".
At the same time, it is hard work and can be very messy. And, if you’re not careful, you can damage your wood deck, painted surfaces or even yourself.
Personal Mindfulness: Always wear clothing that fully covers all limbs and extremities. Shorts and sandals are a big no-no! It is very advisable to wear gloves, protective goggles, hat (or head gear), ear protection and a ventilator mask with a gas pressure washer.
It is a good idea to be mindful of your posture. Counteract the weight of the wand by leaning back and taking breaks to let your back recoup. Hours of power washing will take its toll.
Due diligence goes a long way when planning where to start. If you are doing a patio, driveway, walkway or any ground surface, it’s better to identify the higher point of the ground to let let dirty water run off and soak the dirty areas for quicker cleaning. It is also reduces having to go back over the area for a cleanup spray down of any splatter or mud puddles that arise from power washing.
The longer the hose, the less time having to move and reposition the pressure washer. This will save you a lot of time, make the process more efficient and less physically taxing, as you don’t have to roll the pressure washer and drag multiple long heavy hoses at the same time.
For a 3200 psi gas pressure washer, you can use = or - 75 feet of hose with only a negligible amount of PSI loss. If you’re like me and started with a 25 foot hose, you will thank yourself profusely!
After selecting an appropriate nozzle, point the nozzle up and away from the surface. Gradually bring in the nozzle closer to the surface when the stain starts to disburse. (You never want to start right near the surface. You risk gouging or lacerating the surface).
If you hit the wand trigger, water will blast at a concentrated speed that can gouge out the surface, especially wood and painted surfaces. Point the nozzle up and away, and bring back slowly, so there are no long lines between each stroke, especially on fence or deck wood. If you have to stop before completing the length of wood board, hit the trigger while holding it away and bring it back to the area gradually to blend in the cleaned areas with no seam.
if you are cleaning an edge next to a flower bed or soil, you risk kicking up a large amount of dirt and spraying it all over the side of the building or fence, adding more work to your project. A quick solution is to place a long piece of wood (i.e. at 2x4) on top of the soil edge, causing minimal splatter and quicker cleaning. The wood strip will protect the soil, and you can go hard and heavy with low risk.
I wish you success on your project!