Getting a pressure wash can do wonders for your property. It can make dirty paint look as good as new, restoring your home’s curb appeal. It can help to prevent damage by removing buildup from your house to your driveway and more. However, is there anything that you need to do to prepare for a pressure wash? 

We’re not talking about preparing to DIY a pressure wash here. You can learn more about the dangers of DIYing pressure washing in our previous blog, Can Pressure Washing Make You Sick? 5 Alarming Reasons To Not DIY A Pressure Wash. We’re talking about if there’s anything you, as a homeowner, need to do to prepare for a pressure wash before the pros come to your home.

There are indeed helpful measures that you can take to prepare your home for a pressure wash. These help to preserve the safety of the pressure washers, the safety of any children and pets, and the security of your home. Let’s get into what exactly you can do to prepare for a pressure wash!

#1. Keep Children And Pets Inside

Children and pets can both be very curious about pressure washing. However, for both their safety and the safety of the pressure washers, you want to ensure that they stay inside the house while the pros do their job. 

Pressure washing is very dangerous. The highly pressurized water can damage your property when used incorrectly. It can also cause serious injuries. You don’t want the pressure washers to be distracted or trying to do their job while also avoiding children and pets. For the safety of everyone, keep your children and pets inside. 

#2. Remove Any Hazardous Items

While your pressure washing professionals are going to be careful, you don’t want anything to be in their way or create a tripping hazard. If you have any garden decorations, stray cables, children’s toys, tools, or anything else that could cause someone to fall, store it in your garage until the pressure wash is done. 

Not only is this important to prevent trips and falls, it’s also important so that the professionals have the space to be able to move the pressure washer around. If they’re needing to navigate about your yard decorations, this can lengthen the amount of time it takes to clean your property.

#3. Relocate Anything You Do Not Want To Get Wet Or Damaged

This applies to, well, anything that you do not want to get wet or damaged. From your patio furniture to plants to your grill and more, you’ll want to store it somewhere safe and dry for the duration of the service. 

This also applies to your vehicles. Again, pressure washers can do serious damage. The last thing you want is for an accident to occur and then your car is left damaged. For safety, either keep your car parked in your garage or move it to the side of the street. 

#4. Secure All Exterior Openings

This applies to your windows, doors, and any other openings you may have. Close them tight and keep them secured in order to keep the water from getting into your home. You’ll also want to check along the frames for any cracks or gaps, as water could get through these spaces. If you have any damaged weatherstripping, you can prepare for a pressure wash by replacing it first.

#5. Cover Electrical Outlets

It’s easy to forget about the outlets on the exterior of your home. However, water and electricity are never a good mix. For optimal safety, take a walk around your house and note all the electrical outlets that you have. Unplug anything that is plugged in, cover the outlets, and store the appliances or cords somewhere dry and safe

Does Your Home Need A Pressure Wash?

The best way to prepare for a pressure wash is to know what it is that needs pressure washing. If you need a pressure washing service, True Clean Power Wash & Seal is here to help. We also provide soft washing so that your home can be clean from top to bottom. If you need any more advice on what you can do to prepare for a pressure wash, don’t hesitate to contact us today! 

While pressure washing may seem like an easy, quick way to clean your property, if you aren’t extremely careful, you could end up with serious injuries. This is the type of job that needs to be left to trained professionals. Trying to DIY a pressure wash can damage your property, injure you, and even make you sick. 

Why Is Pressure Washing So Dangerous?

Pressure washer sales have increased over recent years as more and more people learn about how pressure washing can speed up outdoor cleaning tasks. For those who don’t wish to buy, there are plenty of companies that one can rent pressure washers from. 

However, if you want to have your home pressure washed, it is infinitely better to leave this in the hands of trained professionals. This is because many people don’t really just how dangerous pressure washing can be. It may not initially seem dangerous – it’s just water, after all. However, it’s highly pressurized water. 

The water pressure washers use is so highly pressurized that it can cause permanent damage to your property and to you when operated incorrectly. Additionally, the risk of exposure to chemicals, mold, bacteria, electric shock, and carbon monoxide poisoning can result in long-term health problems. 

You should only DIY a pressure wash if you are a professional pressure washer yourself who is trained and experienced.

Yes, Pressure Washing Can Make You Sick

If you’re pressure washing a surface with mold, algae, or mildew, you could end up breathing these substances in if you don’t have appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment). This can worsen respiratory problems and lead to sickness. 

Skin Injuries And Risk Of Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome is when air, water, and/or debris get lodged under your skin, as can happen with the extreme force used by pressure washers. It can lead to severe infection of your muscles and tissues. Left untreated, it can lead to needing to amputate the affected body part, and in the worst cases, even death.

While some injuries from trying to DIY a pressure wash may immediately present as serious, this isn’t the case. Some pressure washing injuries may initially present as relatively small. This can cause people to assume that they don’t need to seek medical attention, as the wounds seem superficial. However, if you have sustained even a seemingly insignificant cut as a result of using a pressure washer, it is crucial that you get medical attention. 

Such injuries can result in soft tissue injury, deep-space infection, and even compartment syndrome.

Chemical Exposure

Pressure washing uses chemicals in order to clean your property. You shouldn’t DIY a pressure wash in an enclosed space, especially if the pressure washer you have is gas-powered, as this increases the risk of chemical exposure and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Chemicals need to be handled with care in order to avoid long-term health problems, such as nerve damage, bacterial infections, and more. 

Electric Shock

Pressure washing is an interesting service in that some pressure washers are powered by electricity, even though pressure washers use water. Naturally, this causes an increased risk of electric shock, especially if you’re trying to maneuver around wires.

While many electric power washers are equipped with safety features in order to prevent electrocution, you can’t be too careful. 

Not Understanding How Dangerous They Are

It’s natural to assume that a pressure washer is basically like a hose with more pressurized water. If someone tries to DIY a pressure wash without understanding just how dangerous this pressurized water is, they could end up seriously hurting themselves, someone else, and/or their property. 

A pressure washer is not a toy. You cannot spray a pressure washer at someone else in an effort to be playful, the way you would a hose. It’s absolutely essential that people understand how dangerous it is to try to DIY a pressure wash in order to avoid any injuries or damage to your property.

Professional Pressure Washing Services

With how trying to DIY a pressure wash can make you sick, lead to injury, and more, it’s much safer to leave this chore in the hands of experienced professionals. A professional pressure wash is much cheaper than the medical bills you could end up with from improper use of a pressure washer, after all. It is more than worth it. 

True Clean Power Wash & Seal provides professional pressure washing services. Our experts know how to safely handle pressure washers so that they’re protected and your property shines. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

It’s easy to see the benefits of pressure washing some parts of your home, like your siding or your porch. Other areas, though, it can feel pointless to, or like it would be a waste of money, such as your driveway. Unless you have a fancy driveway with cobblestones and the like, pressure washing your driveway may seem like a frivolous expense. In truth, there are multitude of different benefits when you pressure wash your driveway to make it worth its buck. 

Here is what you need to know about why people get driveways pressure washed so that you can determine whether or not this service is worth it to you.

#1. Increase The Safety Of Your Home

The most important reason why you should pressure wash your driveway is to maintain a safe home environment. Some people may assume that the only danger they need to worry about on their driveways is the risk of someone not seeing them and backing into them or stubbing your toe and tripping and scraping your skin on the rough concrete. 

Some roughness is good, as it provides traction so that people can more safely walk on your driveway. However, if your driveway gets slippery as a result of mold growth or residue from oil or something else, this creates slip-and-fall hazards. Such hazards are especially perilous if you have a sloped driveway, as you don’t want someone to lose their balance and then tumble into the road. 

When you pressure wash your driveway, you’re having the harmful growths, such as mold and mildew, removed from the surface. Not only does this make your driveway look better, but it also makes your property safer for people to walk on.

#2. Maintain Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Your driveway likely makes up a significant portion of the exterior of your property. While it may seem insignificant and easily forgettable, like it does not matter whether you do or do not clean it, consider how a striking driveway can make you give pause and double-take. For instance, a cobblestone driveway certainly draws attention to a more historic style home and greatly enhances the property.

Even if you have a simple concrete driveway, you want to ensure that you take good care of it. If your driveway gets old and dirty and rundown, this doesn’t just impact the look and feel of your driveway, but also of your entire property. When you pressure wash your driveway, you’re removing any buildup of dirt, grime, and other unsavory elements that could be ruining your home’s curb appeal. 

Many homeowners are shocked at the difference a driveway pressure wash can make. It’s similar to how, when you think your house needs a new coat of paint, but then you have it pressure washed and it comes right back to life. When you pressure wash your driveway, you’re ensuring that your entire property looks its best.

#3. Prevent Damages

Concrete is an incredibly durable material. However, nothing is invincible, especially not when it comes to a concrete surface like your driveway that is constantly exposed to the elements. Leaves can fall on it, dirt gets tracked all over it, wind can blow debris onto it, there are so very many factors that can dirty your driveway. Left unattended to and allowed to buildup, said factors can be very abrasive and end up damaging your driveway.

Pressure washing helps you to avoid expensive repairs by keeping your driveway in good condition for longer. Not only does a clean driveway look amazing, but it’s also likely to last longer than a driveway left to drown under layer after gradually growing layer of dirt and grime.

#4. Save Time

You know what they say: time is money. Why waste yours on trying to keep your driveway clean when you can leave it to experienced professionals, like the experts here at True Clean Power Wash & Seal? Rather than trying to learn how to correctly use a pressure washer without potentially damaging your driveway or spending forever trying to suds it and hose it clean, you can simply hire a driveway cleaning service. 

That way, you get the best of both worlds: a beautiful, clean driveway pressure washed by experts who know how to prevent damage and being able to make the most out of your time, be it by working or running errands or simply spending quality time, by yourself or with loved ones.

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to pressure wash your driveway is up to you. Should you deem it worth it, True Clean Power Wash & Seal provides professional pressure washing services throughout the Charlotte area that you can rely on to get the job done right. Contact us today to learn more about our pressure washing services!