7 Tips to Prepare For a Pressure Washing Service
As a responsible homeowner, you have a never-ending to-do list. It seems as though there’s always another maintenance or repair project to consider. Sometimes it’s a necessity, like routine gutter cleaning, but sometimes it’s because you just want to add value to your home. To make it easier, we’ve broken down these seven key tips that you can use to prepare your home for pressure washing, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional.
Keep reading to ensure your property is ready to be pressure washed!
General Tips for DIY Pressure Washing
When it comes to pressure washing your property yourself, there are some general tips that you can do in preparation, regardless of what you’re cleaning. Keep reading for our list of general tips that will help you have a successful and less stressful cleaning experience!
Remove Items That Could be a Hazard
Don’t underestimate how important it is to have access to your home’s entire exterior. For example, even if you don’t think your garden decorations are in the way, take the time to move them. This is important because you’ll be handling a very powerful machine that can, and will, cause serious injury if accidents happen. You don’t want a tripping hazard.
Beware of Electricity in the Area
It’s no secret that water and electricity don’t mix well together. Make sure you unplug any extension cords around your house before you start pressure washing.
Not only is it possible for the electricity to potentially jolt when in contact with the water. In addition to the risk of electrocution, it’s easy to trip on those extension cords and injure yourself or someone else. Plus, cover any existing outdoor outlets you may have before you get started.
If You Can, Remove Plants That Might Get Damaged
The fact of the matter is that pressure washing can be intense. When it’s time for your home to be pressure washed, you don’t want to damage any decorative plants you may value. If it’s possible to relocate them temporarily, then take the opportunity to do so.
Keep Your Pets and Kids Safe
During the time of your actual pressure washing, keep track of who’s outside. For instance, if you have outdoor pets, have them hang out in the garage while you’re pressure washing your home.
That way, you can leave gates open and accessible, for one thing. Plus, your pets won’t accidentally get in the way or be injured! Also, take care to keep kids inside and safe while you work.
Prepping Your Home for Painting
When it comes to repainting your home (or even just cleaning its exterior), there are some very specific things you should do to get your home ready. Here are some of the best ways to prevent costly damage to your property during cleaning.
Make Sure All Your Windows and Doors Are Sealed Tight
Perhaps the most significant step to take before pressure washing is to prevent any water from entering your home. If you have cracks or openings in your windows and doors that aren’t sealed, that could be an issue.
For that reason, make a detailed inspection of all of your home’s windows and doors. Are any of them improperly sealed? If so, it might be in your best interest to get some sealant and close them up in time for the pressure washing.
Check Your Window Screens
Sometimes, loose window screens can get dislodged during a thorough pressure washing. While this might not seem like a big deal right now, it’s possible that dislodged window screens can cause further damage to either themselves or your windows. In other words, it’s not worth taking the risk!
If you have any window screens that aren’t fitted tightly, it might be a good idea to remove them. You can put them back in their proper location after you finish pressure washing your property. Otherwise, leave the window screens on so they can get washed, too!
Use Cleaners When You Pressure Wash
While this is less a matter of preparing your home for a pressure washing it yourself, it’s important to keep in mind what comes next. Because you’ll be painting over your exterior, make sure to use bleach on any build-up to kill any potentially harmful grime that’s growing, then use a cleaning solution to ensure that your exterior is as clean as possible. This is essential to make sure that paint is applied properly.
Relax and Hire The Professionals
It sounds like a lot—and it is! You’ll be handling dangerous equipment for a laborious, difficult task. Why not leave it up to us? We provide our customers with high-quality professional exterior cleaning services every day so that you don’t have to.
By using a professional service, we do all the prep work for you, including
- Securing your windows, doors, and window screens
- Moving or protecting your plants
- Removing obstacles from the area, and
- Ensuring that there’s no risk of electrocution
With us, we’ll take care of the details while you spend quality time with family and friends! Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote so we can help you love your exterior again!
