Power washing has been increasingly popular in the past several decades and will become even more popular in years to come with the wider availability of affordable equipment. Its no secret that a lot of people put too much time and effort into cleaning their cars, boats, patios, grills and the exteriors of their houses.With Some basic pressure washing tips you will save water and energy and you will finish any of these jobs much faster than when doing them by hand. By just following some simple pressure washing basics, your home exterior cleaning will be a short and painless process by using the proper tools. I’ve cleaned just about everything imaginable on the exterior of a house with a power washer and these basic tips should keep the novice out of trouble. The first step is to be sure to wear safety glasses of some sort regardless of what you are cleaning.

1. Use the correct chemical cleaners for the specific job. Use only chemicals and power washing detergent solutions that are approved for pressure washer use. Many new operators don’t realize the effect that the proper chemicals can have on any cleaning job. Its the job of the cleaning chemicals to loosen the grease, soil or mildew so the water can wash it away. The proper chemicals also enable you to use the pressure washer at lower PSI settings which is important when cleaning softer materials like wood decks or vinyl siding. There are many degreasers which are good for cleaning engines or garage floors. Of course you can use a much milder cleaner for cleaning house siding and possibly a wax product when washing a car or truck. You get the idea, use an appropriate type of cleaner for the specific job. I do not recommend using bleach as many professionals use when washing houses. Regular bleach might be cheap but it can kill plants and do damage by staining certain materials. Typical household bleach can damage the seals and o-rings in the gun, wand, hoses and pumps. I’ve used only environmentally friendly cleaning products for years with fine results.

2. Choosing the correct nozzles or tips for the job at hand. For using a pressure washer efficiently you need to choose the correct nozzle or tip. The majority of better machines on the market come with interchangeable spray tips that serve two purposes. One is to lower the pressure and draw the detergent; and the other is for high pressure rinse at the different spray angles. Better consumer grade machines and just about all commercial pressure washers come with several color-coded nozzles that will vary from 0 degrees to 40 degrees. As a general rule the smallest angle delivers the most powerful force of water. For example, if you want to remove a stubborn stain on your driveway or patio, you will use a 0 degree angle. However, if you want to move loose debris such as leaves or sand after a rough winter, away from your house you will use a wider angle such as 25 or 45 degree nozzle. One word of caution is needed here to be absolutely sure the nozzle is properly attached before using the trigger of the gun. In a rush you can easily miss locking the tip into place and this may result in the tip becoming a projectile and may be lost or it may damage property quite easily. I know of a couple guys who have replaced windows due to this error and it can happen even to experienced users when they are rushed.

3. Apply the cleaning chemical and let it do the work. A newbie might want to start blasting away at their targeted cleaning area. But the correct way to proceed is to use the appropriate nozzle and apply the cleaning chemical to a managable area and let it sit or dwell on the surface for a few minutes. You don’t want it to dry, but it needs a couple minutes to loosen and dissolve the soil or film you want to wash away.

4. Always adjust the power or pressure before starting the rinse job. Take a second to test your pressure washer for its power. You can do this by spraying a few feet away from your targeted cleaning surface. Gradually you can direct your power wand to 3-4 feet from the surface you want to clean. The reason for taking this safety step is because pressure washers are quite powerful and if you start too close you could damage the object instead of cleaning it. Through the years I’ve seen more then one wood deck where an inexperienced cleaner accidently carved a design into the surface. Also be careful if spraying stucco, brick or masonry walls.

5. Determine exactly what you want to clean. Always be careful when spraying around windows, mail boxes, flowers, exhaust vents, house overhangs, or light fixtures. Some items mentioned can break or become damaged if hit with high pressure and in other cases you could actually be spraying water into the home which is likely to cause serious damage. Always try to keep the cleaning wand pointed downwards so that you don’t spray up under the siding. Again, water under pressure can be driven up under wood siding and in the case of vinyl, it can easily tear off sections and send them flying into the neighbor’s yard. Remember to be very cautious when cleaning the edges around the windows.

6. Pressure washing is not rocket science but care is needed. When rinsing a wall or upright structure of any type, always start at the top of the area to be cleaned and gradually work your way down. Try to spray horizontally with smooth left to right movements. In one motion you can cover a 4-6 feet wide area. To prevent streaking the surface, remember to start from the top and work your way down to the bottom. Be sure not to miss any areas with your pressure rinse or you’ll see poor results when the job dries.

• The question asked by most beginners is “What is the Best Pressure Washer” for me?”  Today there is a huge variety of great quality pressure washers on the market.  For home owner use and light use in the commercial world such as a house painter might require, I’d strongly suggest the new commercial grade electric pressure washers.  See my favorites below.

I’ve used all sorts of power washers through the years and always liked the machines that provided certain basics which I’ve learned are important in everyday use.

In my opinion when looking for a power washer for commercial use you have to keep your general usage in mind.  In other words if you generally power wash houses in preparation for painting you don’t need the same machine that you would use for cleaning engines or to degrease garages.   While it might be impressive to customers to roll up pulling a 20 foot trailer package, it might just be a bit of over kill for 90% of your work.

So with that in mind, if your average job is washing wood sided homes in preparation for painting, washing vinyl siding homes using various chemicals along with a wet wax, washing cars, driveways, concrete as well as wooden decks and patios, I’ve got a great machine for you.

While I’ve sold off most of my own commercial equipment in the past few months, I’ve been looking for a good dependable machine for general use.  My main work will be cleaning vinyl sided houses and wood and concrete surfaces around the house.

• I was looking for a well built machine that would provide up to 3000 PSI when needed but it had to have adjustable pressure for cleaning siding.  Cleaning wood or vinyl in most of my work requires low pressure control, so this was important.
• I also wanted a machine with a down-stream chemical injector system.  This allows much better control of whatever chemical mix I use and also fast switching from one cleaner to another for different surfaces.
• I also wanted a wand with quick connects for changing nozzle tips and quick connect for fast and easy set-up.  I like the package of 5 nozzles.
• Another thing I was looking for was a Honda engine for a long and uneventful life.  This has the Honda GX engine with a long-life direct drive axial pump
• Finally, I wanted a machine that was easily handled and heavy enough to remain stable when being used but light enough so I could lift it in and out of my truck with little effort.

Having said all that, it took me a couple months to decide but after using this for a couple weeks now, I know I’ve found the perfect machine to start up a small business with.  If I were just starting out, I’d recommend this as your basic machine.  As your business takes direction and different types of work starts coming in, then you may buy a HD commercial machine.  But for most jobs, this could fill the bill for years of daily use.

NorthStar High-Performance Pressure Washer – 3000 PSI, 2.5 GPM

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$599.99

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I’ve received several questions concerning the use of a waiver specifically for when power washing homes.  First lets discuss the use of waivers in the cleaning business.

Sometimes when new to this or any other service business we can be over whelmed with the liability when working on someone’s home or property.  It is always good to remember that the “last contractor” to work on any specific area of a home generally “owns” any problems that may exist in the future.  At least this is true in the view of the home owner.  For example, if doing carpet cleaning, you inherit any returning odors or stains on the carpet, if painting, you will be blamed for that rotted old window sill falling off the house and if you are power washing, you could be blamed for the shrubs that die by next season.

Now if that thought scares you, maybe you shouldn’t be getting into business for yourself?  This is a fact of life that all cleaning contractors face.  But there are ways to protect yourself to some degree if not completely.

First, always take the step of getting simple liability insurance for your business.  It is relatively inexpensive for the cleaning fields (never list your business as ‘handyman’) and is worth the peace of mind.

The next step is to consider using simple waivers.  Now for the record, it is very doubtful that any waiver, even if signed before the work is started will prevent you from being liable for any errors you might make.  If a customer is inclined to sue you for damages, he’ll probably have no difficulty doing so.

What the waiver does is politely warns the homeowner of some existing problem that might exist and enables you to discuss it with the home owner so he can make an educated decision if he wants you to perform the work.  If nothing else, his signing a waiver prevents him from ever saying the problem didn’t exist before your service or that he or she had no idea of any possible damage that could occur.

Personally speaking, although I’ve been doing all types of cleaning and residential painting for decades, I sometimes forget to discuss certain things with the home owner when creating an estimate.  Many things we take for granite due to experience is not at all evident to the home owner.   Using a simple check list or waiver when starting work ensures that you will discuss all important points before you start work.

I’ve discussed this at length in my business plans but simply said, from my experience, customers simply love added attention to detail.  It adds to your professional image you are trying to project.  I’ve uploaded a copy of a simple waiver I use when power washing vinyl sided homes.  Anyone is welcome to copy and adapt it to their own company use.  I suggest not developing anything with “too much” detail or you might scare off customers.  By the same token, the customer will remember you had discussed these details with him since he signed the sheet.

How to use a simple release:

From past experience, I never make a big deal about it.  I simply show it to the customer, go over the steps I’m going to take in cleaning his home.  I briefly mention why I use “safe” cleaners and ‘low pressure’ and then ask them to sign it.  I always tell them I keep this in files to keep my insurance company happy.  The real purpose is it is proving you have been authorized to do the work.  In the past 20 years or so I’ve been using this system, I can’t remember ever having a customer balk at signing.

Of course if they do hesitate signing, it might just indicate they already have something in mind relating to insurance or repairs.   I discuss this in the business plans to some degree.  Lets just say, I wouldn’t want to work for anyone that was of that mind set.

After being involved in the pressure washing business for decades, I can honestly say most people do not give enough thought to the subject of finding the “right pressure washer” for their purpose.

Going back a few years, there really wan’t too much of a variety of pressure washers to consider when shopping.  But today, no matter if you are searching for a power washer machine for just occasional home use or a full blown commercial model for professional use, your choices are almost unlimited.

The key is to determine exactly how your machine is going to be used.

For example, if you are a typical homeowner who will only use their machine around the house doing light duty jobs such as washing siding or decking, then you should consider the electric machines.  These machines are light weight, very portable and cold water under sufficient pressure should clean any common area of the home.  But always remember that the machine has to be connected to an electrical outlet.  So you are limited in so far as the distance from your electrical outlet as to where you will use your machine.  Another point many homeowners worry about is using electrical power in what will normally become a very damp environment.

If you have a larger property and want greater portability I always recommend stepping up to the entry level gasoline engine powered models sold in most any Home Depot or Lowes home store.  The entry level machines will range anywhere from $275 to $350 but will offer more power and mobility.  Although you’ll always be concerned the location of a water source, you don’t have to worry about finding an electrical outlet.  Plus, I’ve found even the basic machines are capable of using a larger variety of accessories and will last for years.  A basic machine of this type will also serve as a great backup machine for any professional use.

If you are starting a pressure washing business, then you should shop with a commercial pressure washer machine in mind.  But the first question to ask yourself is if you will be “regularly” washing heavy equipment or engines?  In most cases this type of work accounts for less then 1% of any pressure washing business.  Personally speaking, I think I’ve had one such job in the last five years as an example.  This is important because equipment companies will want you to buy their expensive hot water machines and lead you to believe this will be an important part of your business.  In the real world, hot water machines are significantly more expensive then cold water machines and are much more expensive to repair.  In fact, over the years I’ve heard of many professionals who have these machines sitting in their garages since they don’t want to waste money on repairing equipment they never use.

For the other 99% of your business, a good quality cold water machine will perform flawlessly for years with proper care.   You’ll find some great machines in gasoline and diesel power for just over $1000.   Remember this will be the work horse of your business and be running several hours each day so this is one area a professional should invest their capital.

The first step in pressure washing a deck has to include a warning to the power washer operator. The truth of the matter is that pressure washers were never really intended for use on wood surfaces. These high pressure machines are really designed for hard surfaces so the operator has to take great care when using on a deck. I know the guy at the rental company or the sales man at the local home store said cleaning a deck is a cinch, but actually it is much easier to become a “wood engraver” then you might think. I know what I’m talking about after having to attempt to correct the workmanship of many DIY’ers over the years. So please accept this warning so you don’t have to rent a floor sander next weekend to remove the traces of your cleaning effort. You will never need a machine capable of producing more than 1500 pounds per inch water pressure. Even at this power, it is very easy to damage your deck

Be sure to wear old clothes and safety glasses. You are going to get wet and you will get sprayed with the cleaning solution regardless of how careful you are. In many positions on your deck surface, such as in corners, the spray has no where to go except right in your face.

Having said that, pressure washing a deck can produce excellent results if you take your time and use the machine in the proper way. The first step is setting up your machine. You attach a 3/4 inch water hose to your machine. Now attach the high pressure hose with the spray wand. At this point, turn you water on. Do not attempt to start your machine until the water is connected since this can do damage to the pump section of your machine. When starting many gas powered machines you might find it easier to start if you squeeze the trigger until the water flows through your machine. Take a few minutes and be sure your overspray will not damage any plants or outdoor furniture, etc. To prevent any damage from your cleaning solution, just cover with waterproof tarps at this point. Just remember, all that water and cleaning solution has to go somewhere. You don’t want to go out the next morning to find spotted plants or house siding.

The secret to cleaning decks is to let your cleaning solution do most of the work. Away from the deck, preferable on a driveway or hard surface walk, use your machine to get used to the power. Open the spray head to a wide spray or “fan” pattern since this is what you will use 99% of your time. You are going to use that “fan” spray to rinse off your cleaning solution. Even in this position, the spray will remove embedded dirt and cleaner with little effort.

There are literally dozens of deck cleaners on the market today. Some are simple detergents, while others contain bleaches and specific chemicals which react with certain wood types. I would strongly suggest against using household bleach. Stick with the commercial deck cleaning products to minimize the danger to your surrounding areas and plantings. Many of the larger deck stain manufacturers have their own deck cleaning products. Which ever product you chose, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. You will find that most instructions will not include any directions or suggestions of using a pressure washer. They are well aware of the dangers I mention above.

I’ve used pressure washers to power wash decks for decades now. They are most effective when used properly. If you are going to use a pressure washer, just remember the job of the machine is to remove the cleaning chemicals and the dirt. The additional benefit is that the pressure washer will use less water then a simple hose and nozzle The first step is to simply rinse off the entire deck with water at low pressure. After doing this, I mix the cleaner in a 5 gallon bucket and use the pressure washer to spray the decking with the chemical. I use an old broom or a commercial deck brush to further spread the cleaner around the surfaces to be clean. You don’t really have to scrub, just spread the cleaner at this point. Follow the instructions and allow the cleaner to set or dwell on the surface for the specified time. Do not allow the solution to dry on one section of the deck while scrubbing another. This will lessen the effect of the cleaner. On very dirty decks, you might even spray a second application of the cleaning solution and scrub the surface a second time. Remember; do not allow the solution to dry on the deck.

When you have scrubbed down the entire deck, steps, and railings, it is time to rinse off the cleaner and dirt. I must mention again, that a conventional hose and nozzle could be used. But if you are going to use your pressure washer, this is where many DIY’ers get into trouble. Remember how you experimented with the “fan” position of the spray wand? Be sure to retest and set you sprayer to this position. Use your sprayer from the house side, spraying away from the structure. Carefully go with the grain or direction of the flooring boards using the “fan” spray to actually sweep the deck. Also be careful because the pressure can actually raise the fibers on some older wood surfaces.

As you “sweep” the deck with the spray, try and be very consistent in the distance of your sprayer from the surface and the area you cover with each sweeping motion. Remember the distance to the surface translates into the pressure of the spray and the intensity with which it will wash the surface. This will help prevents lap marks on the surface. Don’t go too fast or get too close to the surface. You’ll develop your own technique as you gain experience. The ultimate goal here is to sweep off the cleaning solution and all the embedded dirt without leaving any lasting marks on the surface. I’ve read all sorts of articles giving detailed instructions and the simple truth is you have to gain experience as you go.

You will learn that you really cannot appreciate the results of your work until the deck has dried. When the surface is wet, it is not unusual to appear uniform and clean. Upon drying, you might be surprised at areas that are darker then others. My advice is leave the deck and have a cold drink or cup of coffee before cleaning up your equipment. If upon drying, you find dark areas, simply perform the above steps again, paying attention to the darker areas. But be sure to spray the entire deck to prevent spotting.

When you are satisfied with the results, turn off your water source. Before disconnecting the hoses from the machine, be sure to release the pressure through your wand. This makes the process much easier and will keep you dry. Pressure washing your deck should be viewed as regular preventative maintenance. If you are careful and routinely wash your deck each year, followed by application of an appropriate sealer, your wood deck will last for decades.

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After receiving many basic questions on the subject of following a specific pressure washing business plan, it seems that I should take just a few sentences to explain what a business plan really is and isn’t.

First off, a business plan could also be referred to as a business guide.  When a person decides to start his own business, it is always good to take the time to write down certain details pertaining to the goals and planned activity of the business.  On the subject of pressure washing, an individual might already have chosen a specific type of cleaning he will perform, who his perspective customer is and what his primary equipment needs are.  Obviously the information in this type of business plan is going to be limited to the experience and general knowledge of the new business owner.  Now in most cases, his knowledge will be limited to whatever type of cleaning offered and tools used by his former employer.

The point to emphasize is the fact that this new business owner is going to be limited to his or her basic knowledge as one who is very limited in experience and influenced heavily by whoever taught him the trade of pressure washing.  In addition, his knowledge of the actual running of a business will be very limited because it is truly a rare thing if a small business owner shares his secrets with someone who might become his competition some day.  It just doesn’t happen that way in the real world.

Wouldn’t it be better if this new owner had the benefit of someone who was thoroughly familiar with the trade, the latest technology and trends of the industry, customer relationships, business building, dealing with competition and so on?  Better yet if this source’s knowledge were based on experience and not just on theory or other published information.

So while it is always a good practice to take note of one’s own thoughts of building his business, it is even a better practice to seek out advice of someone you can trust for additional help in areas where you would naturally lack experience.

We should also mention what a business plan “is not.”  A good business plan should present the author’s way of doing things, his sources of products and supplies, his advertising secrets and should explain why the author makes certain suggestions and so on.  But a good plan is not going to simply tell the reader to ‘do this.’  In other words it will provide direction and reasoning behind the decisions that were made by the author but provide various options to the reader.  There are hundreds of questions that arise when someone starts a business, this experienced source is going to help the reader make those decisions based upon his years of experience in the real world.  In essence a good business plan will serve as a step by step guide.

So the new business owner should seek a source that has decades of experience in the field of pressure washing.  It would be good to avoid anyone with just a couple years experience since it would be obvious that this source would not have much more experience then the new person starting out.  It naturally takes time to learn to deal with customers, trends in the economy, changes in advertising, changes in cleaning technology and so on.  It would also be good to find someone who is still active in the industry and is publishing information to deal with problems in 2010 and not those of a decade ago.  Look for specific information concerning various problems faced when trying to satisfy customers and make profits during a bad economy.

The idea is that learning from someone else’s experience can save one from making the same mistakes everyone makes.  A smart person can benefit from the errors made by others.  A good pressure washing business plan will save the new person from wasting thousands of dollars on equipment he’ll never use as well as wasting hundreds of hours doing office work if he can use someone else’s business forms, etc.

Lesson 1…Find a Good pressure washing Business Plan and you’ll save time and money!

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In today’s economy there are many people considering starting their own business.  It makes good sense since there is no longer any such thing as job security.  So after operating several small businesses through the years, I can say that pressure or power washing is probably one of the best home based businesses you could select.  One of the major benefits is the fact that anyone can start this business with a relatively small amount of capitol.  The best way to keep those expenses low is by controlling equipment and advertising costs from day one.

It is unfortunate that many who start a new business become wrapped up in creating cash flow and keeping busy when it is more important to control costs and create profit.  Now before you react negatively to that remark, this is achieved by limiting your startup costs and advertising expenses while you focus on more important aspects of setting up a small business.  But without guidance, the new business owner can easily go astray.

The most difficult part about this is when seeking advice on equipment and supply purchases, it is common for many to go to the manufacturer’s sales representatives for advice.  In a similar fashion, when considering advertising, most people normally seek out advertising reps.  This is not the best tactic when you consider these people earn a living from commissions on sales of these products.  Do you really thing they are out for your interests?

Under most circumstances, these characters will sell you the biggest and most expensive tools, supplies and advertising that they have to offer.  So within a brief period of time, the new business owner will have his garage full of equipment and supplies that will never be used.  In addition, he’ll be working to pay off monthly advertising costs instead of focusing on profit.  I’ve seen this happen many times over the years I’ve been in business.

From personal experience in the pressure washing business for decades, it would be a better tact to seek a good pressure washing business plan from someone trusted and active in the business.  While there is a wealth of info published on the web, it is a good idea to pay particular attention to background of the author of the information.  The bulk of the information pertaining to small business operation that is published online is the product of professional writers and not actual business owners.  Consequently, the bulk of free information will be out dated reprints of ideas that simply do not work.