Staying too long without washing your sidings and exterior surfaces can encourage grime and mold buildup.
When that happens, you can rest assured that the standard scrubbing and rising will never get the job done.
A little effort and power, provided by a power washer, is necessary to rid your exteriors of grime and rigid mold.
Instead of constantly running for the cleaning services for things you can comfortably execute yourself, roll up your sleeves, and you will be amazed at how much sense of accomplishment that will give you.
This article gives a power washing guide to achieve pristine exteriors quickly.
Outdoor Floor Powerwashing
Secure the Exterior Essentials
The first thing you want to do before doing any power wash detail is to secure the outdoor valuables. Outdoor furniture, windows, potted plants, power outlets, and doors can be damaged by water and cleaning solutions. The spaces on window sills and doors can allow water penetration, which can create another problem to address. To secure these, use plastic sheeting. Before covering electrical outlets, be sure to turn off the power supply to avoid electrocution in any unforeseen circumstance of water contact.
Get the Materials
For exterior power washing, the main item to acquire is a power washer and ladder if your house is double or triple-story. You can buy or rent these at a small fee from the nearby rental outlets. You will also need to buy a pair of gloves, a siding brush, and a pair of eyeglasses. When buying the cleaning solution, remember to insist on one appropriate for your siding type.
Prepare the Cleaning Solution
With everything you need at hand, you proceed to prepare the cleaning solution. Following the manufacturer’s directions, mix the cleaning solution. Overall, a few tablespoons of baking soda and dish soap should comfortably remove grime and challenging stains. For mold or mildew that is primarily prevalent after a prolonged rainy season, add some parts of bleach to the solution. Then, feed the solution to the power washer and mix it thoroughly.
Prep the Surfaces
Before applying the cleaning solution, you should first give the surfaces a soft scrub to remove excess debris and dust. Then, spray a thin water coat using the washer’s low-power mode. The water coat is designed to help the solution adhere easily to the surface, resulting in better results.
Apply the Solution
Using a 25-degree wand nozzle, spray the cleaning solution across the dirty surfaces. Follow the bottom-top direction when applying the solution to prevent it from coming down too soon before it digests the grime. For effective seamless cleaning and effective results, let the solution sit for 5 to 10 minutes to allow it to digest the grime.
Scrub the Surfaces
Using the provided siding brush, carefully agitate the grime on the surfaces. When scrubbing the surfaces, follow circular motions for faster and more effective results. For higher surfaces, use the extendable siding brush. This process step is necessary for adamant stains or mold buildup. For everyday grime, you may not need to scrub the surfaces, as the power wash is enough to get the job done.
Rinse Thoroughly
Following the top-bottom direction, power wash the solution off your exteriors. The opposite of this movement can leave streaks and give poor results. It is also meant to protect your sidings from damage by the increased pressure from the wand. It is advisable to try using the general-purpose 0-degree nozzle and adjust it according to the needs and the effect of the wand on the sidings. This is because some nozzles may ablate the sidings, which should be avoided by all means necessary.
Conduct a Walkthrough
After you have finished cleaning, turn off the washer and walk around the house, inspecting for any unaddressed sections that need a repeat wash. Then, remove the plastic sheeting from the outdoor essentials and rinse them.
Post-Cleaning Maintenance
Please take advantage of this process step to check for any damages and address them accordingly. Note the date so that you can schedule the next cleaning. Consider applying sealant to your sidings to prevent water damage during the upcoming rains and cleaning session.
Even as you aspire to protect the sidings from damage by the washer’s high pressure, your safety is crucial. Washing high surfaces on upper floors of multi-story houses can mean assembling scaffolding and working at heights. Since this is only feasible for the very strong-hearted and experienced, consider hiring cleaning services.
