WITH summer on the horizon, chances are you’ll be eager to get your pressure washer out and give everything a wash down.
But before you get carried away in your garden, a landscaping expert named Claire Baglin, from Toolstation, has warned that while they can greatly speed up cleaning, there are some jobs where they absolutely should not be used.
“Incorrect use can lead to damaged surfaces and items which can be very costly to fix or replace,” Claire warns.
“In a worst-case scenario, you could even cause serious injury.”
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Claire explains that the powerful water pressure will cause the paint to chip or peel and in some instances, can strip away the paint altogether.
“If the aim is to remove paint from a surface, this should be done via sanding and scraping,” she advises.
Incorrect use can lead to damaged surfaces and items which can be very costly to fix or replace,” Claire warns. In a worst-case scenario, you could even cause serious injury.”
Claire Baglin
Brick is a porous material and soaks up a certain amount of water.
According to Claire, too much of this water will cause the brick to crack as it dries out, weakening the structure.
“The mortar between bricks can also be forcibly detached from the high water pressure,” she adds.
The landscaping expert notes that the high-pressure water can “penetrate to the window seals,” which can cause lasting damage including dampness and condensation.
She points out that the force of the water may also potentially shatter the window leading to a costly replacement.
Claire also highlights the risks with pressure washing solar panels, noting that they can scratch the surface, thereby reducing their effectiveness.
“The high-pressure water can also penetrate the frame causing long-term damage,” she warns.
Claire explains: “Not only is working at height dangerous, but the intense water pressure can loosen roof tiles causing them to detach and break away either instantly or worse, at a later date.”
She says that this will leave the roof susceptible to leaks and damage.
The landscaping expert explains that pressure washers are measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) and most can be adjusted depending on the job.
“If you’re a DIY’er, a pressure washer with at least 3,000 PSI should cover most jobs around the home,” she says.
For vehicles, Claire recommends a pressure of no more than 1,500 PSI should be used with a nozzle that is 40 degrees.
“The higher the nozzle degrees, the gentler the spray pattern will be, and so the vehicle’s paintwork or glass windows will not be damaged,” she says.
The landscaping expert says that for patios and paving slabs a high-pressure setting should be used of approximately 3,000 PSI.
“A 10-15 degree nozzle should also be used to help blast away any built-up dirt and grime,” she explains.
“Make sure to take extra care on the grout between paving slabs as the high pressure can cause it to break away.”
As for Decking, she notes that this requires a low pressure of no more than 1,200 PSI with a 60-degree nozzle.
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“This pressure will remove any stubborn dirt and algae but leave the decking surface unharmed,” Claire explains.
“If your decking has any chips or cracks in the wooden surface make sure to completely avoid these.”
For wooden outdoor furniture, the gardening pro recommends setting your washer to 1,200 PSI using a 25-degree nozzle.
For metal and plastic furniture, she says this can be increased to 1,700 PSI.
“These should remove any built-up dirt and grime but leave the surface of the material unharmed,” Claire adds.
Similar to paving slabs, Clare recommends that a high pressure of 3,000 PSI should be used with a 10-15 degree spray nozzle.
“This will help to remove any dirt build-up and brighten the surface,” she explains.
“A specialised cleaning hood can also be used to stop dirty water or debris from spraying about and causing a mess.”
