Get Sparkling Clean Patio Furniture in No Time with a Pressure Washer

pressure washing furniture

Having some outdoor furniture is a simple way of enjoying the grace and beauty of your garden while sipping on your favorite drink.

Unfortunately, our outdoor patio furniture doesn’t usually get the same amount of love and care that our indoor furniture does, so they always end up dirty and grimy.

Luckily, you can quickly refresh your garden patio furniture if you have a pressure washer. But how do you do that safely?

In this post, we’ll show you how to clean your outdoor patio furniture with a power washer safely. Stick around!

Outdoor Furniture Patio Cleaning Process

When it comes to cleaning outdoor patio furniture, a pressure washer is an effective and efficient tool. However, the procedure for cleaning your patio furniture will vary slightly depending on the furniture’s material. Here are some pointers for using a power washer to clean your outdoor patio furniture:

Wood Furniture: For wood furniture, start by using a soft-bristled brush to

Your furniture could be made from metal or wood, with each entailing a slightly different cleaning approach. There are cushions that you’ll have to clean as well.

Wooden garden patios come in two varieties: softwood and hardwood.

Softwood is more prone to damage from a pressure washer, so using the lowest setting possible when cleaning these surfaces is important.

On the other hand, Hardwood is much more resilient and can usually handle higher pressure settings. To ensure that your wooden patio remains undamaged while being cleaned, it is important to adjust the pressure settings accordingly; use a low setting for softwoods and a higher one for hardwoods.

Additionally, you should always keep the nozzle of the pressure washer at least 8 inches away from the surface of the wood to avoid any potential damage. With proper care and attention, wooden patio furniture can look great for years with minimal effort.

In short, you’ll alter your routine cleaning technique depending on whether you’re cleaning metal, wood, or soft cushions.

How to Use a Pressure Washer to Clean Your Patio Furniture

Here are the steps you should follow in cleaning your patio:

1. Use the Proper Pressure

Before directing your wand to your patio, you should adjust the pressure levels. Excessive water pressure can damage your outdoor furniture, so you need to lower that a little.

Some pressure washers allow you to adjust the pressure manually. These washers have an all-in-one variable spray wand that you can use to change the pressure.

Other pressure washers require changing of nozzles to alter the pressure.

There are five different common nozzles, each with a different color code. The red, yellow, and green nozzles are generally too powerful for patio furniture and might damage it.

You should opt for the white nozzle for cleaning and the low-pressure black nozzle if you’re applying mild soap or a detergent.

2. Remove the Cushions

Whether you have wooden or metal furniture, you should remove the cushions and set them aside.

These cushions will be cleaned separately and will often require less pressure and further distance from the nozzle.

3. Start Cleaning

Direct your power washer nozzle to the first outdoor piece of furniture and start cleaning from top to bottom. This will prevent dirt from splattering and will help everything wash down.

Use the white nozzle or set your spray wand to 40 degrees if cleaning softwood. Keep a fair distance from the wood to avoid damaging or gouging it.

If you still notice damage, switch to the black nozzle or set your wand to 65 degrees.

You shouldn’t worry too much if you’re cleaning hardwood. Confidently use the white nozzle, but don’t forget to keep your distance.

Metal furniture will tolerate both the black nozzle and the close distance. So, you shouldn’t be worried about damage there.

4. Clean the Cushions

Once you’re done with the furniture, place your cushion-to-be-cleaned on a stable chair on a table, and start cleaning.

You’ll need to adjust the water pressure and the distance depending on the strength of your fabric and how dirty the cushions are. At this point, it’s a matter of experimenting.

Keep the foam inside the cushions while cleaning, as the water pressure can be too strong for the foam.

When you finish cleaning the cushions, unzip the foam and allow everything to dry.

Place the foam back in the cushions, and apply some silicone spray on the top and sides of the cushions to restore their waterproofness.

Don’t spray the bottom of the cushions to allow any residual water inside to escape.

Tips and Tricks

Here is some advice to keep in mind while cleaning:

Clean on a Flat Surface

Whatever you’re cleaning with a power washer, it’s best to keep it on a flat surface.

An uneven surface may cause your clean patio furniture to trip or slide, especially if it’s wood.

Stay Away From Windows

Water jet pressure can be strong enough to crack or even break your windows if you’re not careful.

On that account, keep a safe distance from your home windows while cleaning your patio.

Use Vinegar for Mold

Cushions that don’t get cleaned regularly may have some mold covering them. You might be tempted to increase the pressure to eliminate that mold, but you’d only damage your cushions.

Instead, spray a 1:1 water vinegar solution on the mold, and wait for 10 minutes, then use the pressure washer again. You’ll notice that the mold will come out a lot easier.

Will Pressure Washers Remove All Stains?

Pressure washers can remove most stains, but they won’t remove every stain.

Permanent damage to the wood or some stubborn food stains might stay there even after you’ve done your best to clean them.

When this happens, don’t increase the pressure or the cleaning duration any more than you should. Otherwise, you risk damaging your patio.

What Kind of Soap Do You Use in a Pressure Washer?

soap

The best type of cleaning solution for pressure washers is a mild multipurpose cleaning agent.

Alternatively, you may use mild dish soap but dilute it to avoid clogging your machine or damaging your wicker furniture.

A 1:4 soapy water ratio should be safe for your machine and patio furniture.

Conclusion

Cleaning outdoor patio furniture is a simple task when using a pressure washer. It is important to rinse off any loose dirt or debris with a garden hose before applying a mild detergent or cleaning solution. Then use the pressure washer to rinse off all furniture surfaces, keeping the nozzle at least 8 inches away from the surface. After rinsing and drying your furniture completely with a soft cloth, you can return it to its place outdoors and enjoy its fresh new look! With regular maintenance and these easy steps, your outdoor patio furniture will stay looking great for years to come.

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