Jet washing: How to pressure wash a patio or decking
Difficulty: Low
Using a pressure washer to get rid of all the algae, lichen and moss that's covering your patio can help you skip the hard work of using a manual scrubbing brush. Their powerful pump and narrow nozzle make pressure washers blast water in a forceful spray, which will remove dirt and grime quickly while using water more efficiently than a normal garden hose.
Which pressure washer do I need?
Your standard hardware shop jet washer (Karcher, Makita, Black & Decker) will do just fine.
How to pressure wash a patio:
Step 1
Clear your patio completely by removing all furniture, ornaments and pots.
Step 2
Using a broom, brush away any loose debris such as leaves and dirt.
Step 3
Connect your hose and ensure that water is running freely before you begin. Allow water to flow through the machine to remove any air locks. Please note the hose should be a minimum of 7.5m in length and ½ inch thick. If you're using a hose reel, this should be fully unwound and free of kinks to ensure a constant water flow. To connect your hose you will require two universal connectors and a tap adaptor for your garden tap.
Step 4
Connect your pressure washer to the mains electricity supply then turn it on to pressurize the system.
Step 5
Before you start cleaning your patio, you could apply detergent to the surface to help dissolve dirt and make the patio easier to clean. Some detergents also have special properties that will help reduce the build-up of dirt going forwards and will also protect your surfaces from weather damage. Specific detergents are available for stone, wood and vehicles, each with specially designed formulae to suit the task.
Step 6
Some dirt and organisms like lichens can be hard to remove using a standard lance or patio cleaner. Most pressure washers come with a rotary pencil jet nozzle that can provide up to 80% more power. By switching to this lance you can ensure even the most stubborn dirt can be removed. It is important to note that the increased power of these lances means they should only be used on hard surfaces such as stone or brickwork, sensitive surfaces such as wood or vehicle paintwork may be damaged if cleaned with this type of lance.
How to pressure wash decking:
To clean decking, you should follow the same process as cleaning a patio. As mentioned in Step 5, there are specific detergents for woodwork available that will protect your decking from UV damage whilst helping you dissolve the dirt. As mentioned in Step 6, rotary pencil jet nozzles are not suitable for wooden surfaces, most machines will come with a variable pressure lance where pressure can be reduced so that they can be used safely on your decking.
If you are having trouble you can always contact us at Fancy Window Cleaners and we will be glad to help!
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