How to Use a Pressure Washer/Cleaner? Despite having different power generators, all power washers use the same principles to provide users with enough cleaning power. Let’s now look at how these washers work, starting with electrical-powered models.
If you are wondering how your place got so dirty, the next logical step is to think about ways to clean up your property. And because you have a pressure washer, you know that cleaning will be much easier, fun, and faster than if you had to clean it manually.
Therefore, we’ve compiled this guide to show you the process of using a pressure washer. It will clean up your property, and you will learn various indoor and outdoor cleaning techniques. This guide also gives you some tips on how to maximize your washer’s performance output, as well as some of the do’s and don’ts when operating a power washer.
How Do Electric Power Washers Work?
Electrical washers cost significantly less, run quietly, are lightweight, and start with a flip of a switch. One drawback of electrical washers is that they are less powerful than gasoline washers.
This factor makes them more suitable for light-duty cleaning jobs at home, such as cleaning windows, patios, furniture, vehicles, etc.
So, how exactly do these pressure washers work?
This is not rocket science, which is very complex. In fact, it is quite simple to understand their work.
Related: Ryobi Pressure Washer Review
Well, water from the tap/garden hose enters the pressure under normal pressure, and then the electric motor produces power to pump the water out of the pressure washer.
The water then comes out through the water outlet (hose and spray nozzles) at an increased pressure. You must read your washer’s instruction manual to know how to operate it effectively.
You will find that some electric washers allow you to use an extension cord to extend your cleaning range, while others don’t allow the use of extension cords. If your washer doesn’t allow extension cords, plug it directly into the power outlet.
When you’re in the market for an electric pressure cleaner, one of the significant things to find out beforehand is whether or not the pressure washer can be used with an extension cord. This will help you determine the area you’ll be able to clean.
If your power washer is compatible with an extension cord, it is essential to use a manufacturer’s recommended model.
Lastly, it is vital to place the electric connections off the ground and away from water to prevent short circuits.
Related: Best Electric Pressure Washers 2025 Reviews
How Do Gas Power Washers Work?
Gas-powered washers are more powerful and more expensive than electric-powered washers. They also produce a lot of noise and vibrations when operational.
Newer gas-powered pressure washers have moved on from the manual pull-start ignition and now feature a simple push-start electric starter. Thanks to their extra power, gas power washers are ideal for heavy-duty tasks at home or commercially.
Related: Simpson Gas Pressure Washer Review
They take in water from a garden hose. Then, the gas engine pumps water out of the washer at an increased pressure through the hose reel. The working procedure is the same as that for electrical washers. The only difference is that gas washers have fuel-powered engines instead of electric motors.
Important
Gas pressure washers are known to be more powerful than electric washers. This means you can complete more intensive cleaning tasks, such as removing unsightly stains and grime off paved surfaces
Another good thing about gas pressure washers is that they don’t overheat as much as electric ones. These are ideal for people who want to use washers for commercial purposes for their raw power and reliability.
Troubleshooting and repair are much easier on gas pressure washers since their engine configuration is less complex than electric pressure washers.
That said, electric washers are more suitable for home use because of their power efficiency, low maintenance, lightweight nature, and affordable price.
Like with electric pressure washers, it is important you go through the user manual of your gas pressure washer to learn some tips as well as the dos and don’ts when operating your washer.
Related: Karcher Pressure Washer Review
How to use a Pressure Washer: A step-by-step Guide With Safety Instructions
Here is the step-by-step guide below.
- Prepare the area ( Driveway, inside/outside home, vinyl sidings, or anything else ) where you want to use your washer. Look for the things that can be damaged. Either cover them or remove them from the location.
- Wear the safety gear like gloves, shoes, safety goggles, etc.
- Connect the power source (don’t switch it on) and the water inlet to a garden hose. In the case of the gas washer, fill the gas and connect the water source.
- Connect the water outlet hose and gun. Choose the nozzle you want to use & fix it on the gun.
- Now, prepare the detergent/soap dispenser if you plan to use it.
- Switch on the power source & water outlet source. In case of gas, start the engine and open the water tap.
- Now check/test the washer with a gun towards the floor, at least 3 feet away. Look to see if the power is working and the water is coming out properly. Try to keep the gun at 45° as this saves from any damage.
Hurray, that’s it. If everything is working properly, start using your washer.
9 Safety Tips: How to Safely Use a High Pressure Cleaner?
Here are some tips to get the most out of your pressure washer. Also, this will help you stay safe and not damage the object you are applying it on.
- Vertical surfaces should be cleaned from the bottom up but rinsed from the top down.
- Quick-connect nozzles are colour-coded to easily distinguish them in regard to their spray pattern and level of pressure. The 0-degree nozzle is red, the 15-degree nozzle is yellow, the 25-degree nozzle is green, and the 40-degree nozzle is white. You also get a low-pressure nozzle that comes in black and rinses soap off surfaces.
- When cleaning, use the broadest pressure nozzle because it produces low pressure, which delivers sufficient cleaning that will not damage/tear into the surface you are cleaning.
- Before starting any cleaning assignment, test the nozzles on a hard surface. This will help you understand the nozzles and refine your technique not to damage any conspicuous surface.
- When cleaning, ensure the tip of the pressure washer nozzle is at a reasonable distance away from the surface you are cleaning to prevent damage.
- When cleaning with a pressure washer, always look for electrical equipment such as a/c units, electrical outlets, etc., and avoid cleaning around them.
- You should always move your arms when cleaning to prevent the water from tearing into the surface you are cleaning.
- Always use a pump preservative when storing your pressure washer over long periods. Preservatives help protect your pump against freezing and corrosion in the winter period.
- When filling up your gas pressure washer, always add a fuel stabilizer to the gasoline for enhanced performance.
Pressure Washer Do’s & Don’ts
Do’s: What you must not avoid?
- Always read the instruction manual before using the pressure washer.
- Wear protective clothing when handling a pressure washer. Protect your body with long pants, eye goggles, and sturdy footwear.
- Always select the widest spray angle when cleaning.
- Start cleaning at a safe distance away from the surface and get closer when necessary (tackling tough stains.)
- Always turn off the washer when replacing the spray nozzles. Also, always drain excess water when changing the nozzles.
- Before beginning a cleaning assignment, make sure you test the washer on a dummy surface until you perfect your technique.
- When cleaning sensitive surfaces like window panes and vehicles, use the lowest pressure nozzle or even a garden hose for more gentle cleaning.
Don’ts: What you must avoid?
- Never wear flip-flops when handling a pressure washer.
- Always clean when you are at least 6 inches away from the surface. This will prevent damage to your vehicle’s paintwork, puncturing your vehicle’s tires, and even gorging ugly holes in your deck wood.
- Never let the engine run idle for extended periods to prevent the pump from overheating. This will help extend our washer’s lifespan.
- Avoid pointing the spray gun at people, pets, and fragile objects to avoid injury/damage.
- Never use a pressure washer when standing on uneven places, such as a ladder, because the recoil force will likely throw you off balance.
- Never use an extension cord with an electric pressure washer unless your pressure washer is compatible with one. Even if it is, always buy an extension cord model recommended by the manufacturers.
How to Pick the Perfect Pressure Washer?
When picking out a pressure washer, the two main things to consider are your intended purpose for the pressure washer and the pressure washer’s power output. If you are thinking of purchasing a pressure washer to tackle intensive cleaning jobs, you should consider washers with higher PSI and GPM ratings. For the cleaning duties laid out below, you need a pressure washer with the following performance ratings to complete the cleaning tasks effectively;
Light-duty
Light-duty cleaning tasks are usually the smaller cleaning jobs around your home and need washers rated between 2 GPM at 1300 – 2000 PSI. You can get either an electric or a gas pressure washer with those ratings, and it can be used for smaller jobs such as cleaning window panes, furniture, vehicles, and more.
Medium-duty
Gas-powered pressure washers are ideal for handling medium-duty cleaning jobs, but you can also use electric pressure washers. Medium-duty pressure washers are rated between 2-3 GPM at 2000 – 2800 PSI and are suitable for homes and small-scale businesses such as garages, car & carpet cleaning services, etc. These machines are generally more sturdy and powerful for handling demanding cleaning jobs such as cleaning driveways, getting rid of oil stains, etc.
Heavy-duty
Heavy-duty pressure washers provide a power output rated between 3 – 4 GPM at 2900 – 3000 PSI and are ideal for commercial purposes. They are mostly gas-powered pressure washers that are characterized by their durability and powerful cleaning performance. With a heavy-duty pressure washer, you can tackle jobs such as cleaning a two or three-story building as well as graffiti and paint removal.
Extra heavy-duty
These are rare pressure washers and are rated above 3300 PSI. Heavy-duty pressure washers are powerful and are ideal for tackling intensive cleaning jobs.
Multi-Duty
Also called all-in-one pressure washers. These pressure washers offer great versatility that allows users to adjust the temperature and pressure of the washers to take on different cleaning tasks.
Hot Water Pressure Washers
These pressure washers are rare, use less soap & chemicals, cost more, and have a more complex operation. They have the best cleaning performance, making them suitable for industrial and farm use.
Related:
- Light-duty Pressure Washer Review
- Medium-duty Pressure Washer Review
- Heavy-Duty/Commercial Pressure Washer Review
- Industrial Pressure Washers Review
Final Words: So, How to use Pressure Washer?
Now that you’ve learned the important tips on how to operate a pressure washer, you should never forget to use it with caution and maintain proper care of it to get a long life out of it. Inspecting your pressure washer before every use should be second nature to ensure your machine is running as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Lastly, these guidelines are meant to get your pressure washer performing at its optimal level. They will also help you learn safety practices when operating a pressure washer to ensure that you, people, pets around you, and objects near you are safe from a pressure washer blast.
Related: How to maintain a Pressure Washer?
