Pressure Washing 101: The Complete Guide to How to Use a Pressure Washer
Learn how to use a pressure washer like a pro with this simple guide! It covers setting up your pressure washer, how to use a pressure washer, and all the tips and tricks you need to get your space spotless.
Pressure washing is one of the most satisfying cleaning tasks you can do around your house. It’s tedious and a bit messy, but when you take the time to do it, it’s 100% worth the effort! If you’ve never tried pressure washing, I’m here to tell you it’s a job that the average homeowner can definitely take care of themselves.
This is the complete guide to pressure washing. An intro course, if you will – call it Pressure Washing 101! Ready to learn everything you need to know?!
In This Guide:
This is a full and detailed guide on how to use a pressure washer, and you’ll learn all you need to know to get started!
We’ll cover:
- Choosing a pressure washer
- What to use a pressure washer on
- Setting up your pressure washer
- How to use a pressure washer
- General tips (including safety tips)
- How to store your pressure washer
And more! So, let’s jump right in, shall we?!
What Is a Pressure Washer?
A pressure washer is a tool that uses a high-powered stream of water to clean surfaces. It’s particularly good for things like dirt buildup, mildew and algae, and grime that regular cleaners just can’t handle.
Power Washer vs. Pressure Washer?
Often, these words are used interchangeably but they’re actually slightly different! Power washers use heated water to break down grime, and are generally used by the professionals and in more commercial applications. A pressure washer simply uses tap-temperature water!
When to Use a Pressure Washer
Typically, most homeowners do a general clean-up with their pressure washer in early spring. It’s the perfect time to get your backyard cleaned up and ready to be used for the season! It can also be a good idea to do another touch-up of things in the fall before you pack it all away for the cold weather.
Of course, a pressure washer can be used any time of year – basically, if you’ve got big, messy outdoor cleaning task, a pressure washer will be your friend.
What I Clean With My Pressure Washer
You can use a pressure washer on a lot of outdoor surfaces. Here’s a brief list:
- Wood decks
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Outdoor cushions and fabric
- Outdoor furniture
- Concrete patios
- Fences
And a lot more! See 15 genius pressure washer uses right here.
How to Use a Pressure Washer: Video Overview
Here’s a quick video tutorial to show you how I set up and use my pressure washer. And, of course, it comes with a few very satisfying before and afters!
Choosing the Right Pressure Washer
I have this Greenworks 1800 PSI pressure washer. I’ve had it for seven years and it’s been a great tool for us. It’s powerful, it is trustworthy, and it’s super simple to use Another really popular option for homeowners is the Ryobi pressure washer. Both are great for non-professionals and will hold up really well over time.
If you’re doing some research, though, here are a few things to know.
Electric vs. Gas Pressure Washers
Electric pressure washers are
- lighter and quieter
- easier to use and maintain
- great for most home projects
Gas pressure washers are
- more powerful
- better for large or heavily soiled areas
- require more maintenance
For most homeowners, an electric pressure washer is more than enough!
What to Look For:
Here are a few key terms you’ll want to know as you’re researching:
- PSI (pressure): 1,300–2,000 PSI is great for most home use
- GPM (water flow): higher = faster cleaning
- Nozzle options: make sure your pressure washer comes with a variety!
For most homeowners doing basic cleaning, you don’t need to overthink your choice! I can highly recommend my favorite pressure washer and tell you it’s held up great for me over the years.
How to Set Up Your Electric Pressure Washer
A pressure washer might look like an intimidating tool, but setting it up is really quick and easy.
Step 1: Connect the water supply
Attach your garden hose to the pressure washer’s water inlet and turn the water on. You’ll do this by inserting the hose into the attachment area on the pressure washer, then twist the plastic collar so it’s tight. Be sure to get a really good fit here, or you’ll lose some water pressure!
Step 2: Attach the high-pressure hose
This connects the machine to the spray wand. If you’ve used your pressure washer before, this will likely already be set up, as you don’t have to disconnect it every time. But, it’s worth checking the connection each time you use it!
Step 3: Choose your nozzle
Different nozzles control how strong and focused the spray is:
- wider spray = gentler
- narrow spray = more intense
Start with a wider spray if you’re unsure, or check the guide for your pressure washer to see what they recommend for each included nozzle. To attach the nozzle, simply pull down on the brass bib at the end of the wand, insert the nozzle, and then let go. It’ll lock into place (though, I recommend giving it a quick tug to be sure!)
Optional: Add Detergent
If you’re using a cleaner or soap, now is the time to add that in! If you have a soap injector in your pressure washer, it can help mix the soap in with the water to spread it around quickly and easily. You’ll allow that to soak in for a while, then rinse it off with the regular attachments.
Step 4: Plug in or start the machine
Once everything is set up, you can plug your machine in and turn it on! If you have a gas-powered pressure washer, the setup and startup will be slightly different – I recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions here.
Step 5: Test the spray
Point the wand in a safe direction and test before starting your project. I also highly recommend taking a minute to double-check both the pressure hose and the garden hose to make sure there are no kinks or tangles. It’s highly annoying to have to stop to fix it once you’ve started working! If you notice low water pressure at any time while you’re working, check for kinks in one of your hoses!
How to Use a Pressure Washer
Using the pressure washer is pretty much as easy as pointing and pulling the trigger! But, there are a few general tips to keep in mind to make it easier and ensure you don’t damage anything while you’re working.
General Use Tips
- Play with Distances. You always want to start a bit further away (about 18″) and slowly move the trigger gun closer if you need to. You can damage some surfaces if you get too close, so take your time until you figure out the right pressure.
- Use smooth, even motions. You can get streaks if you work too quickly! Overlap your passes slightly and don’t stay in one place for too long.
- Work from top to bottom on vertical surfaces, and back to front on flat surfaces. Basically, make sure you don’t end up with dirty water and debris on an area you’ve already cleaned! Consider where the water runoff will go and make sure to work in a direction that makes sense.
- Consider using a surface cleaner attachment. If you’re working on large areas like driveways, wooden decks, or patios, you might want to grab one of these surface area cleaner attachments. It makes the job go much faster!
Safety Tips
Pressure washers are generally very safe to use. But, like any tool, there are definitely a few things you should keep in mind when you’re using it:
- Never point the spray at people or pets
- Wear closed-toe shoes (always!)
- Safety glasses are super helpful to prevent debris in your eyeballs!
- If you use a ladder, be extra careful because it can get slippery! An extension wand may feel safer.
- Be careful around electrical outlets and fixtures
- Keep a firm grip on the wand (there’s some minor kickback)
- Make sure no water gets on the cords! If you’re using an extension cord, make sure to keep it well away from any water on the ground.
- Be mindful of any cracks in your surfaces – too much pressure can cause them to chip or become more pronounced!
Pressure Washer Before and Afters
A post about how to use a pressure washer is no fun without some before and afters, right?! Let’s take a minute to show some of the jaw-dropping transformations I was able to get in just an afternoon of working.
Driveway Before & After Pressure Washing
Here’s a look at the driveway before cleaning and after.
We have a loooooong driveway that runs the length of our house, plus a 3-car-wide area at the front. So, as of writing this post I actually haven’t finished it yet. I’m considering paying my 12 year old to finish the job for me because I am tired.
Stone Walkway Before & After Pressure Washing
The other area I worked a lot on was the stone walkways in the back of our house. They had a lot of mildew and algae growing and some of them were getting slippery.
It was pretty shocking how stark the difference was here! Many of these areas required some 30-Second Cleaner before I did any pressure washing, and even with that I think we’ve got a few spots I really need to go back over!
How to Store Your Pressure Washer
Once you’re done, a little care goes a long way in keeping your machine in good shape.
After each use:
- Turn off the machine
- Disconnect the garden hose
- Drain any remaining water or soap
- Coil up the cords to prevent tangling or kinks
For longer-term storage:
- Store in a dry, protected area
- Avoid freezing temperatures (water left inside can cause damage)
- Disconnect the pressure hose
If you’ve never tried pressure washing around your house before, now is the time to give it a shot! Cleaning patios and driveways might not sound all that exciting, but it’s one of the most satisfying cleaning jobs you can tackle. Plus, taking care of these things helps make sure all of your outdoor surfaces stay in great shape for years to come.