Pressure washers can be a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to cleaning the exterior of a home, it can easily blast away dirt, grime, and mold from the surface.
However, only some surfaces or objects around your home are good for pressure washing. A pressure washer is a powerful tool that can damage many surfaces and objects and can even cause personal injury very easily if you don’t know what you’re doing.
In this article, we are going to cover things and objects that you should avoid cleaning with a pressure washer.
Things You Should Never Pressure Wash
Below are some essential tips on what things you should never pressure wash to avoid costly damage to your Bluffton, South Carolina home.
1. Air Conditioners
Pressure washing your AC unit can bend or damage the delicate fins and push dirt deeper into the unit, it can reduce your air conditioner’s efficiency and can lead to costly repairs. The best way to clean your AC unit is to use a gentle spray from a garden hose and a fin comb for the fins, which is much safer and just as effective.
2. Outdoor Electricals
This is a no-brainer never use a pressure washer on your outdoor light fixtures, outlets, and other electrical systems. It will increase the risk of electrocution and damage to your home’s electrical network. Always use a damp cloth should be used to wipe down outdoor electrical fixtures.
3. Windows
Windows are fragile and are not ideal for pressure or power washing. The high water pressure can easily shatter the window’s glass or can damage its seal.
It can also easily break through the glass, especially if any pre-existing micro-cracks can’t be seen by the naked eye.
The best way to clean or rinse a window stain is by using a hose with some mild detergent, and a soft cloth or squeegee.
4. Vehicles
Cleaning your car with a pressure washer can be a risky task. The high pressure can force water into the seals around windows and doors which can cause internal dampness. It can also peel off paint or damage the finish, especially if the vehicle already has chips or scratches. It’s better to wash your car with car shampoo and a soft mitt.
To use a pressure washer to clean your car go for a fan jet nozzle with a low pressure setting and at a shallow angle to clean on paintwork. Do not directly point the nozzle into it as it can cause damage to your car’s finish.
5. Aged or Loose Masonry
Older brickwork, stone structures, or masonry with loose pieces can be damaged badly by pressure washing. The water pressure can remove the mortar between bricks or stones or make old things fall apart. To preserve these materials either you can wash them by hand or use a soft brush with a mild cleaning solution to clean them gently.
6. Wood Siding
The power of a pressure washer can be too intense for wood siding, causing more harm than good. The high-pressure stream can easily strip away the paint or splinter the wood it can also cause a dent on the surface and can push debris deep into the wood, which can create more trouble for the wood siding. If you want to clean wood siding use a garden hose or a specialized wood cleaner.
7. Painted Surfaces
Unless you are planning to repaint a surface, avoid using a pressure washer on painted items as it can easily chip or peel the paint and can lead to a need for unscheduled repainting jobs. To protect the paint and keep the surface looking great it’s best to use gentle cleaning by hand.
8. Roofs
Cleaning a roof with a pressure washer might remove shingles or harm protective coatings. It’s also dangerous because climbing on a wet roof has a high chance of slipping and falling. It’s better to call professionals to clean your roofs as they have all the tools and techniques to clean any dirt and grime safely and effectively.
9. Garden Furniture
A garden’s furniture made from materials like plastic or softwood can be easily damaged by pressure washing. The pressure can cause etching or strip-away finishes. It’s better to clean outdoor furniture with mild detergent and a soft brush to maintain its condition and appearance.
10. Asphalt Shingles
A pressure washer should not be used on asphalt shingles because it can loosen them and do a lot of damage to them, it can also lead to premature weathering and leaks in them. The best way to clean asphalt shingles is by using low-pressure water and detergents that are specially made to clean them.