Power Washing Tips
There are three P’s that plague my patio. They are plants, pets and paint. Maybe you can relate? We live large on our outdoor living space, we’ve left our mark all over the concrete to prove it. And we’ve only been in this house a year! Not to mention, we poured new concrete a few months ago for a back yard renovation we’re working on. The dirty, paw print, paint splattered, plant ring patio next to the fresh new concrete only make the situation look worse. When Greenworks offered to work with me on cleaning this space up I was SOLD! 
I’ve been known to go rogue a time or fifty and paint and stain project straight on the patio and driveway with no protective covering on the concrete. My husband loves when I do this. Large wink inserted here.
Then there are the muddy paw prints that my little fur-balls track all over. 
And what about potted plants and the water stains they so sweetly mark their spot with?
Friend, I’m letting you in on a secret. The most satisfying cleaning chore you will ever encounter. Power washing. Of course it helps when your muddy paw print bandit sits and watches you clean his dirty work. 
Have you tried it? It’s super easy work that just about anyone can do and it helped me rid our brand new patio of paint, paw prints and plant rings! Woo Hoo! Here are a few tips if you want to give it a go!
Power Washing Tips:
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- Get the perfect power washer for the job. I used the Greenworks 2000PSI Electric Pressure Washer for our patio concrete cleaning job and it was more than enough to do the job.
- Get yourself ready. Wear rubber boots or close toed shoes for power washing. (Do as I say, not as I do – I was so excited to try my new sprayer I kicked off my shoes after church and tried it barefoot, not a good idea! I put them on shortly after taking these pics.) You can really get hurt if you accidentally spray your foot. If you are in the sun, consider sunscreen. Power washing will take some time if you have a large space!
- Raise your plug above the ground so it never sits in water! Be safe, keep you and your machine safe.
- Pick the right nozzle. The Greenworks Power Washer comes with multiple nozzle options. There is one for soap (and a soap tank for cleaners!). I used the 25 degree nozzle for our concrete patio.
- It helps to run the pressure washer multiple times over hard to clean spots, also try holding the spray nozzle at different angles and directions, it will help lift paint and stain off the concrete! Worked for me, yay…no more frustrated husband! He loves my DIY but my clean up skills can be lacking.
I even got a grease stain out from where a BBQ tray fell over! 
- Be careful on newer concrete, you can spray streaks into the concrete. You might want to test a spot before you start and make sure you have the best nozzle for the surface you are cleaning. Ask me how I know…
- That’s it! It really is that simple and makes the biggest change in your space! I’m already looking for the next thing to power wash! Just think, siding, brick, old furniture, paint removal, patio furniture, wash your car…what else have you used a power washer for (or do you need to use a power washer for) at your house? Gimme all the ideas!!!
- Grab some other pressure washer ideas and tips from these great blog posts:
- Get the perfect power washer for the job. I used the Greenworks 2000PSI Electric Pressure Washer for our patio concrete cleaning job and it was more than enough to do the job.
What a great looking machine.
I keep telling my husband that we need to get one but all I get from him is a ‘grunt’.
lol – well, you can totally run this machine by yourself, so maybe you should just go grab it, spray away and then see what he says!!!
I’ve used pressure washers for years. At our previous home the previous owners built a nice wooden deck right under a mulberry tree. And then we, not thinking ahead, had a sidewalk poured on the other side of the tree! Mulberries are great – they are delicious! I’d go out and pick some for breakfast every morning. They are also extremely messy and stain everything they touch. I’d keep the deck and walk hosed off during the berry season, then bring out the pressure washer. Always did the trick of removing the stains left by the mulberries, and the birds that ate the mulberries! I have been through several pressure washers, I think we wear them out…and they do not like well water! Never tried the Green Works, but I’m thinking about it. The one we have now is a huge and powerful one that I have trouble managing, much less starting up. I need something I can use on my own.
This one is so easy to use – you can completely do it on your own. Plus they have some larger ones if you need something more powerful, I just felt like this was good for my needs!
This pressure washer works so well! It is so satisfying! Immediate gratification!
yesssss….the immediate gratification makes you want to keep on going. If only a diet where like that! lol
Thank you for sharing these vital tips especially in choosing the right nozzle, as many homeowners don’t realize they’re all different. And it’s good to hear you put on shoes! Excellent information.
I really appreciate your tips for power washing . We’re thinking of hiring a pressure washing service. We really want our house’s exterior to look nice.
you can totally do it yourself! I promise!!