Power Washing

[Katrina]

We're getting our house power washed today to get it nice and clean. Where I live, the houses get a little green from humidity and need pressure washing or power washing at least once every 3 years. We bought a pressure washer but it's a real pain to use and is more convenient to pay someone in the business.

We have a composite deck and my husband is afraid to power wash that, thinking it would ruin it. Anyone else have composite and use a power washer?

How often do you need to clean your house?

 

[Shortie_]

We don't tend to need to clean our houses due to how they are built, we tend to just fix them up with paint when we need to.

Washing the windows is one task that can be a pain, especially when it comes to needing to wash the top windows.

 

[Deleted member 31696]

I have a log home and hire a company that specializes in cleaning & maintenance of log homes. I have it cleaned once a year.

 

[Katrina]

I have a log home and hire a company that specializes in cleaning & maintenance of log homes. I have it cleaned once a year.

Is it very costly?

 

[Allan]

I power wash my deck and wood fence every year. I use 1/2 pool chlorine and half water. On composite make sure you don't use anything with bleach or chlorine it will cause it to change color.

 

[Katrina]

I power wash my deck and wood fence every year. I use 1/2 pool chlorine and half water. On composite make sure you don't use anything with bleach or chlorine it will cause it to change color.

The guy who power washed our house said he uses pool chlorine! It gets diluted in the machine but he had to use it full strength on our stone facade because a few parts were green.

 

[zappaDPJ]

We have a composite deck and my husband is afraid to power wash that, thinking it would ruin it. Anyone else have composite and use a power washer?

I don't have that exact kind of decking but I do know a bit about it. I would favour using a soft broom rather than a jet washer especially if it is uncapped. Use washing up liquid or preferably a composite deck cleaner and always go with the grain no matter what.

If you do use a jet washer it should be set to a low PSI.

 

[Katrina]

I don't have that exact kind of decking but I do know a bit about it. I would favour using a soft broom rather than a jet washer especially if it is uncapped. Use washing up liquid or preferably a composite deck cleaner and always go with the grain no matter what.

If you do use a jet washer it should be set to a low PSI.

We have some dark spots here and there and the broom isn't getting rid of them. I have a tiny scrub brush I've used too and the specks are still there. If I take my fingernail against them, they'll go away though, so I know it can be done. It's just being a pain.

 

[zappaDPJ]

We have some dark spots here and there and the broom isn't getting rid of them. I have a tiny scrub brush I've used too and the specks are still there. If I take my fingernail against them, they'll go away though, so I know it can be done. It's just being a pain.

From what you've described, if the decking is still in good condition I would consider getting a professional in. Get a few quotes and ask how they would go about the job. You only have to do that once and then you can try and keep on top of it yourself.

 

[Lord Saru]

Power washes in this side of the world, thankfully, need not be done so frequently.

We power wash and paint our house every 5 to 7 years.

 

[Yoda]

We are fortunate that we don’t need to power wash very often and the area that does need done is relatively small. I find it almost therapeutic in a way because the way the dirt just disappears is so satisfying.

 

[Kino]

We just paid someone to do our house also. Cost me $398. Not too bad.

 

[Katrina]

We just paid someone to do our house also. Cost me $398. Not too bad.

How big is your house?

Ours ended up being $274. I noticed this time that they got the gutters really clean and I don't think they even tried last time we used them 3 years ago.

 

[Kino]

How big is your house?

Ours ended up being $274. I noticed this time that they got the gutters really clean and I don't think they even tried last time we used them 3 years ago.

It's a raised ranch, upstairs is about 1900 square feet. They did the front of the gutters. I thought they did a decent job.

 

[Felly]

I've only had my house power washed once since I've been here, and it was only the back if I remember correctly. Guy only charged $75 and actually does power washing (and fences) for several of the houses in the neighborhood, which was how my mom found out about him because she saw him out doing someone else's house and started talking to him. We used him for the power washing initially, but he's since come back to do our fence, shed, and a part of our roof that showed some damage after a snowstorm. Very nice guy, and I'd definitely recommend him to others.

 

[MrDawn]

We're getting our house power washed today to get it nice and clean.

I'd like to power wash my driveway, but don't have an outside faucet to do it.

 

[Katrina]

I'd like to power wash my driveway, but don't have an outside faucet to do it.

Oh wow. I don't have a workaround for that. None of the cleaners actually get driveways clean from what I have read. 🙁

 

[Nebulous]

Is it power washed or pressure washed? I usually say pressure washed. I know how to use a pressure washer. I'd like to rent a good one to do my house.

 

[Katrina]

Is it power washed or pressure washed? I usually say pressure washed. I know how to use a pressure washer. I'd like to rent a good one to do my house.

I use them interchangeably, but I'm not sure if there is a difference?

We hired someone and with the chemicals you'd have to buy and then try to figure out the machine, it's probably worth to pay someone than to rent and do it yourself? At least in our case. We have a place that does a house for $199. We paid more because we have a stone facade front that needed cleaning this time, otherwise it would have been $199 and we have a fairly large home.

 

[Nebulous]

I use them interchangeably, but I'm not sure if there is a difference?

We hired someone and with the chemicals you'd have to buy and then try to figure out the machine, it's probably worth to pay someone than to rent and do it yourself? At least in our case. We have a place that does a house for $199. We paid more because we have a stone facade front that needed cleaning this time, otherwise it would have been $199 and we have a fairly large home.

Google says pressure washed uses non-heated water and power washed means you have the hot water on. I didn't know that, I suppose hot water does give it more of a boost (more cleaning power).

$199 to have them do your whole house seems reasonable. I'll bet renting one probably saves you like $50, but that buys you a day off from house work so might be worth it. 😛