Pressure Washer Uses – The Complete List
Pressure washers have many uses, and you can always get creative with how you want to use your pressure washer for cleaning anything dirty. The advantage of using a pressure washer is that it cuts down on the cleaning time compared to manual ways of cleaning.
The power of the pressure washer can remove even the toughest dirt and grime from a piece of equipment, vinyl siding, a fence, or your deck. Let’s take a look at the regular and unusual uses of a pressure washer in and around the house.
Quick Navigation
- Pressure Washer Uses
- Unusual Uses
- Uses According to PSI
- Uses of Gas Pressure Washer
- Uses of Electric Pressure Washer
- FAQs
- Conclusion
Pressure Washer Uses
There are many uses of a pressure washer. It is mostly used in situations where the grime or dirt is difficult to remove with manual means. Other times, a pressure washer is used post-cleanup to swipe away the grime and dirt that has been loosened from a surface. Let’s take a look at some of these uses.
1) Preparing a Fence for Staining – Pressure washing a fence can make it look clean by removing all the dirt and grime that gets stuck in the wood as years pass by. You can also stain and paint your fence once you’ve cleaned it with a pressure washer. You should use a low PSI setting of 500-600 PSI for cleaning the fences.
2) Cleaning Vinyl Siding – Vinyl siding is a popular fixture on the sides of houses, and it also gets dirty with time. You can easily use a pressure washer to apply soap and then rinse the vinyl siding clean by washing away the soap. Keep in mind, around 1300-1600 PSI should be ideal for cleaning a vinyl siding.
3) Cleaning Brick Walls – Brick walls tend to collect mold and mildew with time, and it can give the brick walls a shabby appearance. You can use a pressure washer to remove the mold and mildew to give the walls a clean and fresh look. Use a low-pressure PSI rating around 500-1000 to wash brick walls as anything more than that can leave marks on the wall.
4) Removing Rust from Metal – Metal tools in your garden or shed can get rusty if you don’t use them often. A pressure washer is an excellent tool for removing rust from the metal parts so that they are ready for painting. A PSI of 2000-4000 should be ideal for removing rust from a metallic surface.
5) Washing your Vehicle – If your boat, car or motorbike has become dirty, a pressure washer is just the tool to clean it up. Use the soap attachment to apply soap first and then rinse it off with a wide-angle spray nozzle. If there is mud or dirt on your vehicle, you can simply use a fan spray to remove the dirt.
6) Cleaning your Driveway – A driveway that gets a lot of traffic can get dirty pretty quickly. You can pressure wash the driveway to remove the dirt and grime buildup to reveal a driveway that looks as good as day one. A PSI of 3000 should be ideal for cleaning the grime from a concrete driveway.
7) Outdoor Furniture – Outdoor furniture made of wood or metal can lose its shine after being out in the elements for some time. You can use a pressure washer to clean off the dirt or rust from outdoor furniture with ease. Use a lower PSI rating and test on a small area first.
8) Trash Can – Cleaning a trash can is not a job that anyone looks forward to. But when you use a pressure washer, cleaning a trash can becomes an easy task. Simply wash it with a soap solution first and then rinse off with a pressure washer on a low setting.
9) Cleaning Farm Equipment – Farm equipment is used in rough conditions, and it can often gather dry dirt that is difficult to remove. You can use a pressure washer with a wide fan setting of 40-60 degrees to remove dirt from any kind of farm equipment such as tractor and plows.
Unusual Uses for Pressure Washer
Once you are done with the cleaning and washing of your domicile, there are many other uses of a pressure washer that are a bit fun and quirky. A word of warning, though, while these pressure washer uses might seem like fun and lighthearted ways to use a pressure washer, follow safe practices at all times while handling a pressure washer. The stream from a pressure washer can injure you or others around you if you are careless. Here’s a look at some of the pressure washer uses.
1) Removing Wasp Nests from Your Property – Wasp nests are icky and bothersome. Reaching a wasp nest can be a bit of a problem. But with your trusty pressure washer in hand, you can use an extension wand to use a stream of high-pressure water to knock down any wasp nests on your property. Make sure you do this around dusk when the wasps are least active.
2) Removing Graffiti – If there is graffiti on your property, it can ruin the whole look of your walls. You can use your pressure washer with a spray attachment to soap up the walls and spray off the graffiti.
3) Make Art on the Sidewalk – Different setting of a pressure washer can be used to make small art pieces on a dirty sidewalk. As some areas get cleaned up, they can be used as different shades in a work of art. The only limit here is your imagination. Many people use stencils to create pressure washer art on their sidewalks and driveways.
4) Carve a Pumpkin – Who doesn’t like a well-carved pumpkin on Halloween? Now you can use your pressure washer to carve your pumpkin in the scariest form. Just be careful while using the pressure washer and wear safety gear.
5) Removes Leaves from Your Driveway – If there are trees in your driveway, you must be tired of shoveling away dry leaves. Now you can use your pressure washer on the wide fan setting to swipe away all the leaves in a corner for collection.
Pressure Washer Uses According to PSI
Different pressure washers have a PSI rating, which means pressure exerted Pounds per Square Inch. For any pressure washer cleaning task, it is always a good idea to start with the lowest pressure setting and then increase the pressure as needed. The distance of the nozzle from the surface also determines the impact of the stream on the surface. Here are some of the uses for different PSI pressure washers.
Light-Level Use – 1300 PSI to 1800 PSI pressure washer is low powered, and it can be used for cleaning cars, patio furniture, sidewalks, and most other surfaces.
Medium-Level Use – 1800 PSI to 2700 PSI pressure washer offers medium level power, and it can be used for cleaning of fencing, decks, stairs, sidewalks, and driveways.
High-Level Use – 3000 PSI to 4000 PSI pressure washer offers high power for stripping paint and rust off surfaces, and it is ideal for stain removal, paint prep on metal, and washing second story floors.
Uses for Gas Powered Pressure Washer
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A gas-powered pressure washer is ideal for large cleaning tasks that require more PSI. Whether you are cleaning your driveway, vinyl siding, deck, or patio, a gas-powered pressure washer can give you the right amount of pressure starting from 2000 PSI with the highest pressure rating of 5000 PSI.
Another advantage of gas-powered pressure washers is that these are mobile as you are not tethered to a power source like in case of an electric pressure washer. You can work with more freedom as no cords are attaching the pressure washer to a power source. Keep in mind, gas-powered pressure washers should not be used indoors under any circumstances as the gases they release can be lethal.
Uses for an Electric Pressure Washer
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An electric pressure washer is ideal for small jobs that do not require too much PSI. The power of these pressure washers can go up to 3000 PSI, and these are perfect for cleaning patio furniture, sidewalks, stairs, or garage floors. One advantage of electric pressure washers is that these are quiet, and you can use them indoors without any risk of poisonous gases. These are also very low maintenance, and you can move these around with ease as they are portable.
FAQs About Pressure Washer Uses
Here are some of the frequently asked questions and answers about pressure washer uses.
Ans. A pressure washer can be used for any kind of cleaning task where grime or dirt has become stuck to a surface. There are several other uses of a pressure washer that are only limited by your creativity and imagination.
Ans. If misused, a pressure washer can cause grievous bodily harm. If you get a wound from a high-pressure stream from a pressure washer, it can become infected and be a severe health issue. Any injury from a pressure washer should be treated as severe, and you should get medical help immediately.
Ans. Yes, you can use a pressure washer indoors, but only an electric pressure washer. A gas-operated pressure washer releases carbon monoxide that can be lethal. Even if you have windows open, never use a gas-operated pressure washer indoors.
Ans. You cannot use a pressure washer to paint a surface as these are more suitable for removing paint from a surface. The pressure washers are designed to work with water and cleaning solutions.
Ans. No. You should not attempt to remove snow with a pressure washer as the snow can soak up the water, and it can damage your roof. The snow might break away at any point, and you might end up damaging your roof with the stream from your pressure washer. It is best to get professional help for snow removal instead of using a pressure washer.
Conclusion
There are many different uses for a pressure washer that can be fun or serious, but in all cases, you should give primary consideration to your safety. Always wear safety glasses, thick pants, and closed-toe shoes when using a pressure washer. Never point a pressure washer at anyone, even if the unit is switched off. Most of all, be mindful of the power of water that comes out of the pressure washer.
If you have any questions or queries about pressure washer uses, please feel free to leave a comment below this article.
