It’s spring clean-up time. Let’s break out the pressure washer and give the house and yard a good scrubbing. But please, whatever you do, don’t power wash these 10 things.
- Stained or Painted Wood
- Windows
- Air Conditioners
- Asphalt Shingles
- Electric Panels and Meters
- Vehicles
- Wood Siding
- Old Brick and Mortar
- Outdoor Lighting
- Living Things
As many homeowners learn the hard way, a pressure washer is a handy helpful tool that can cause a lot of damage if not used correctly. A pressure washer is great for cleaning away dirt and grime but sometimes it can damage the surface instead of making it shiny and new again. Let’s look at what you shouldn’t wash and why.
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Stained or Painted Wood
A pressure washer actually works great on stained and painted wood. That is if your goal is to remove the paint or stain. If you are just looking to clean the surface then a pressure washer is the wrong choice. The garden hose and a soft scrub brush with a telescoping pole for high places will do a much better job.
Windows
The high pressure the washer exerts can easily break glass window panes and send glass flying everywhere. Not only can the glass break but in older single-pane windows the glazing compound can become compromised causing the pane to loosen, leak, and even fall out.
Air Conditioners
Air conditioning units have delicate metal fins that are easily damaged. Damaged fins can cause restricted airflow and that will shorten the life of the unit. A better choice than a power washer would be a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. For bent fins, try using a putty knife, or even a butter knife to straighten them out.
Asphalt Shingles
There are tiny granules in asphalt roofing shingles that help protect the roof from water damage. A pressure washer can wash them away and remove a layer for protection. This can allow water to get under the shingles and cause damage to your roof.
Electric Panels or Meters
Outdoor electric panels and meters are made to withstand high winds and rain. However direct concentrated pressure from a pressure washer can force water into even the most minute of cracks causing damage. Water that enters an outside electric panel can corrode electrical wiring and rust the inside of the box. Moisture can even flow through the wiring to the inside panel box causing circuit breakers to not trip when there is an electrical overload.
Vehicles
Even though many people say it is safe and do it all the time, pressure washing your car can cause small dents and even chip the paint. This can lead to rusting. Try using a foam gun attached to your garden hose instead.
Pressure washing the car’s tires is acceptable but never pressure wash under the hood, you risk causing damage and incurring costly repairs.
Fun Fact: Power washing and pressure washing are not the same things. Power washing uses hot water to clean while pressure washing relies on water pressure to clean
Wood Siding
Wood siding is one of the surfaces that can be power washed but extreme care should be taken. water can get under the siding and cause damage to electrical or cable wiring as well as insulation. Water trapped behind the siding can create a costly mold problem.
Old Brick and Mortar
Soft surfaces like brick and mortar can be very quickly damaged by a pressure washer. The brick can flake into pieces and the mortar crumbles away. Try using a sponge mop instead.
Outdoor Lighting
Like electric panels and meters, outdoor lighting is made to withstand rain. It’s the force behind the water that can cause damage. Tho time-consuming, hand washing is the best method to clean outside lighting.
Living Things
I include this obvious one because my granddaughter pressure-washed my grandson thinking it was the same as using a garden hose with a spray nozzle. So don’t be like me, please supervise young children when using the pressure washer. Always use care to not use one on living things. The pressure can cause damage to our delicate skin. It can also hurt the dog, so don’t use it to give the dog a shower. It will also damage plants, in many cases destroy plants, similar to what a weed whacker can do.
Other
Additionally, it is not recommended to use a pressure washer in high places, such as roofs. When you squeeze the trigger the powerful recoil on the spray wand could throw you off balance. It’s also dangerous to pressure wash anything while standing on a ladder for the same reason.
The CDC list the risks when using a pressure washer as:
- The strong spray from a pressure washer can cause serious wounds that might first appear minor. Wounds that appear minor can cause a person to delay treatment, increasing the risk of infection, disability, or amputation.
- The fast, strong spray can throw objects that strike and injure others who are close by.
- Electric shock can occur if the pressure washer is not used properly and if safety instructions are not followed.
- Using small, gasoline-powered engines can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Workers should not use any equipment powered by gasoline engines inside buildings or other partially enclosed spaces unless the gasoline engine can be placed outdoors and away from air intakes.
Read the complete safety CDC article entitled Pressure Washer Safety
Now that you know what not to clean with a pressure washer, get out there and tidy up that yard.
Happy Spring Cleaning!