Tips on Pressure Washing Wood

Pressure washing can quickly and effectively clean any object around the house, from a fence to the outside of the home itself. A good pressure washer eliminates the need to scrub away dirt and grime. And while pressure washing makes cleaning easier, a few tricks can make the pressure washing itself easier, too. Work smart and a pressure washer can cut down on the time and water it takes to do the job.

Choose a Nozzle

Choosing the correct nozzle for the job is an important part of pressure washing. You want a nozzle that will cover the most surface area while still effectively cleaning the object that is being pressure-washed.

A brick wall, for instance, will withstand a harder pressure-washing stream than a glass window. For wood, it will depend on the type of job you need done. If you want to strip old chipping paint, try a more-concentrated nozzle with about a 15-degree spray. For a more-general cleaning of wood, try a nozzle with a wider spray, perhaps 25 or 40 degrees, the kind you would find on a car-wash nozzle.

Try several nozzles and adjust the spray before settling on the one that seems to be doing the best job.

Aim Well

If you are working around windows or other breakable objects, the force of the water stream from the pressure washer could very well break the glass. Aim the nozzle carefully when working around windows and other fragile material.

Start the washing away from the object you want to clean and work your way into it. That allows you to test the washer's pressure. A pressure washer with a good strong stream may "chip away" at the material if you are standing too close and the stream is too concentrated in one area.

Spray Top to Bottom

As with any cleaning, always work from the top down, sliding the dirt and grime toward the bottom. By starting at the top and working your way down, you only need to pressure-wash an area once, instead of having to go back and clean again the areas you've already covered.