A brief guide on forming a check list if contemplating pressure cleaning.
Pressure cleaning is an effective method of cleaning hard surfaces like stone, concrete, brick and asphalt. If concrete sealing is on the cards, then it is very important to clean concrete surface thoroughly since unclean surfaces spoil the sealed layer. There are certain things to be checked while pressure cleaning concrete surfaces of your house prior to sealing concrete.
Condition of the equipment
With pressure washing, the condition of the equipment is a very important consideration. In order to clean surfaces thoroughly, it is important to be able to control the pressure, volume and velocity of water flowing through the nozzle since different surfaces have to be cleaned with different pressures.
Choose the right accessories
The pressure of water has to be varied depending on the surface to be cleaned. Therefore, before you begin to pressure clean, make a list of all the surfaces that you plan on cleaning and check if the equipment contains the necessary nozzles. Choosing wrong nozzles and using wrong water pressure can damage surfaces.
Unclogging drains
Pressure cleaning utilizes large volumes of water. Four to five gallons of water flow out of the nozzle per minute. The draining system or water outlet system has to be clear in order to simplify the process of cleaning. Large amounts of water logged at the clogged drains wastes time and is troublesome.
Preparing the surface
You need to prepare the surface that you are going to clean. If you are cleaning driveway, then make sure that all debris is cleared from it. Remove vehicles, pots and other ornamental articles from the driveway. High pressures of water can damage these things. Cleaning will also become difficult if there are objects on the driveway. If you are cleaning walls, then make sure that the doors and windows are shut tight so that water does not enter the house. You need to be very careful while cleaning indoor surfaces since and more than often requires some form of a vacuum attachment.
Pre-treating stains
Some stains like oil and grease stains tend to be very stubborn. Such stains need to be pre-treated with stain removing solutions or muriatic acid. Although water blasting removes most of the stains, pre-treatment may be necessary in some cases. Ensure that you apply the solution a few hours before pressure cleaning so that you do not have to spend more time on places with stains.
Need for disinfectants
Check the surface that you are going to clean for fungal or moss growth. If you find such growth, then you will have to mix disinfectants with water while cleaning. It is important to get rid of fungal formation to keep up hygiene and sanitation of the surfaces.
Protective gear
It is important to put on protective gear in order to be safe while power washing. You need boots, gloves, mask and clothing with full sleeves and pants.
After care
Regular maintenance is important after pressure cleaning. You should wait until the surface is completely dry before sealing or painting it. If using a water based sealer, you may on the other hand apply it damp!
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