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Lawn mowers, weed wackers, and leaf blowers are often the first power tools that come to mind for keeping your house exterior in tip-top shape. Maintaining any unruly vegetation is a key part of your home’s curb appeal, but it doesn’t address all the concerns. Over time, the siding, driveway, and sidewalk develop a layer of dirt and grime from being exposed to the outdoor elements, making them look less than their best. In these cases, there’s nothing better than a pressure washer for blasting away filth from these surfaces.
How does a pressure washer work?
A pressure washer, sometimes called a power washer, essentially puts your garden hose into overdrive. Most machines connect to a traditional garden hose, then pump water through a system of valves to produce a high-pressure spray that’s released when you pull the nozzle’s trigger. This intense blast of water is powerful enough to remove all kinds of filth, including moss, mud, oil stains, and algae.
Depending on the angle of the nozzle, you can adjust the intensity of the spray and customize the pressure for a variety of household projects. At zero degrees, you’ll have the most concentrated jet, which is used for the hardest-to-remove stains, like graffiti. You’ll want to use caution with this setting because the sheer force could potentially damage softer materials and even cut through skin or protective gear with improper use. The least powerful setting, often around 40 degrees, has a wider, gentler spray that’s ideal for rinsing more delicate surfaces, like windows and vehicles.
Is a pressure washer a cost-effective investment?
The most convenient way to pressure wash your home would be to hire a professional service, which averages around $310, but could cost anywhere from $100 to $700, according to Angi. If you don’t mind a little sweat equity, you can also rent an electric pressure washer for around $40 to $50 per day.
If you want to invest in a pressure washer of your own, the Westinghouse ePX3500 Electric Pressure Washer is an extremely popular choice, and it’s on sale for just $169 at Amazon. It has a maximum pressure of 2,500 pounds per square inch, which is strong enough to strip greasy motor oil off driveways or chipped paint on the second story. It also comes packed with handy features, like quick-locking wheels, a built-in soap tank for extra cleaning power, and five versatile nozzle tips.
Renting may be the most affordable option when it comes to pressure washing, but in the long run, it’s likely a better bang for your buck to purchase one of your own. If you do the math, by your fourth use, the $169 pressure washer will pay for itself compared to renting one.
Westinghouse ePX3500 Electric Pressure Washer
6 reasons to invest in a pressure washer for your home
A pressure washer may be best known for stripping gunk off concrete surfaces, but its capabilities go far beyond cleaning your home’s exterior. The versatile tool is useful for numerous household chores where you’d usually waste away muscle power on scrubbing.
- It clears concrete and masonry. Stone, brick, and concrete surfaces are no match for the power of a pressure washer. Whether it’s the garage floor, sidewalk, or pavers creating a pathway, the spray from a pressure washer is strong enough to strip away built-up layers of moss and mud.
- Clean up your home’s exterior. From siding and windows to the roofline and deck, a pressure washer can scrub away cobwebs, dirt, and fallen leaves from all these surfaces. You’ll want to use a continuous sweeping motion on these surfaces and keep the nozzle a safe distance away, so you don’t damage any of the softer materials.
- Create a makeshift car wash. You can skip the gas station car wash line and spray down your cars, trucks, and boats with a pressure washer instead. Many pressure washers have a soap tank, so you can add cleaning products to the machine to streamline the process further.
- Refresh your patio furniture. Outdoor furniture can start to look grimy after it’s sat outside for prolonged periods. Generally, patio furniture is waterproof, even if it’s wicker or teak wood, so you can quickly clean it up with a round from the pressure washer.
- Spray down various equipment. Are your trash bins stinky? Or perhaps your barbecue grill grates have become caked with greasy drippings. One of the most efficient ways to clean these items is with a pressure washer.
- Deep clean an outdoor rug. Using a pressure washer on a dirty outdoor rug is extremely satisfying. If your indoor rug is durable and made with synthetic fibers, it may be sturdy enough to withstand a rinse from the pressure washer.
More electric pressure washers under $200
Hyper Tough Electric-Powered Pressure Washer
Sun Joe Electric Power Pressure Washer
Ktaxon Electric Pressure Washer
Greenworks Portable Pressure Washer
Kärcher Pressure Washer K1700 Cube
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