Most people make a concerted effort to clean their homes at least once a week, but few give much thought to the exterior surfaces until their homes begin to look dull and lifeless.
Once you take a good hard look at your driveway, siding, decks, and other surfaces, you may be surprised at how much dirt and grime have accumulated over the years. It’s time to get your home pressure-washed.
Pressure washing can be a quick and easy answer to removing mold, grime, dirt, mud, and any other thing that may have attached itself to the surfaces of your home. However, using a pressure washer is not like renting a carpet cleaner. You need to know the basics before you can get started.
To Pre-Treat or Not to Pre-Treat
Pressure washing is a process that adds chemicals, soaps, and detergents to water and then sprays it on the surfaces at very high pressure. For some, that may seem like enough to get the job done, and it’s not necessary to pre-treat a surface.
However, that depends on several different factors.
- The surface: Some surfaces can be damaged when using certain chemicals, so pre-treating or pressure-washing may not be your best option.
- How much dirt has accumulated: If there is not much cleaning to be done, then a light pressure wash may be all that’s needed.
- Stains: Driveways can easily absorb stains from oil spills and sap from trees that may only come out after a good pre- or post-treatment.
- Time: Pre-treating a surface can make the washing go much faster. Spraying the surface with the right solution and letting it do its job can reduce an hour job down to just 15 minutes.
While you can clean any surface without this extra step, it might be a good idea to do a pre-treatment before power washing. It can make a significant difference in the quality of your cleanup and save you time and money in the process.
All of Your Pressure Washing Needs
Pressure-washing your home can bring you many benefits. It will not only enhance your curb appeal but it can also raise your property values too. Pressure washers can easily be rented for those who are DIYers, but if you’re not handy in this area, consider hiring a service who can do the job efficiently and quickly in a short period of time.
