In keeping with my recent post about our electric lawnmower, I'll post an update about another useful tool: a pressure washer.
I simply despise gas-powered ones. They have proven finicky and fragile in my experience, and they are noisy. They emit pollution I don't wish to breathe.
A year ago, I pressure-washed the stupid vinyl siding (I hate the stuff!) that we have not yet removed from our house. We still have it on the back of the home. Being old-school by nature, I would rather paint weatherboard or at least Hardie-Plank siding. They both hold paint well and...do not look like plastic.
In any case, a neighbor loaned me his 2000 PSI plug-in washer. I used a transfer pump from the bottom spigot of a rain barrel to get water. The results were astounding. It looked like I was respraying the vinyl white as it stripped off dirt. I used a cleaner that does not harm plants near a house, which you should research before letting a washer go wild near your hostas.
This year, I purchased my own 3000 PSI electric washer for under $200, ahead of the ludicrous and self-destructive US tariffs against Chinese goods. I've since purchased a 24' telescoping wand to clean second-floor areas without venturing onto a wet ladder. It includes a scrub-brush attachment.
Folks PAY money to have their homes washed. I suppose it lets them watch more TV shows or play golf.
I'd rather do it myself. I get to use up surplus stored water in the fall, as the garden winds down. The house looks great for the holidays. I still don't love vinyl siding, but it looks nice when clean.
If it's above freezing, get outside and put on waterproof clothes. Let the water fly! As with any tool, practice. Using the wrong nozzle (read the instructions!) can peel paint. With the right nozzle and technique, my washer can blast farm equipment clean or remove gunk from the underbodies of vehicles.
Bob Villa's site offers some reviews. We opted for a generic unit something like the Earthwise shown in the reviews. I now see no advantage now to gas-powered units except their use away from an electrical outlet. For ease of starting, sound, emissions, and power, electric washers work just fine.
Creative Commons image by Debbie Wolfe from Bob Villa's site.
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