How To Pressure Wash Your wood
Josh Richards • Jan 16, 2023
How to Pressure Wash Your Exterior Wood?
No one likes dirty exterior wood. Be it your deck, fence, or any other thing, you always should keep these neat and clean. We are sharing all about cleaning the exterior wood using pressuring washing technique.
Pressure washing usually requires no chemicals only high water pressure. But if the wood is gray and weathered, you may have to apply some solution.
We recently had a pressure washing job. It was an old wood and required thorough cleaning. So we used a chemical. We are using that job as an example for this post. Let’s get started.
Tools and Supplies to Pressure Wash the Exterior Wood
Unlike staining the exterior wood, pressure washing isn’t a long process. It’s further reduced to a fewer steps if not using a solution.
The tools, supplies, and safety gears you may require to do the task include:
Pressure Washing Your Exterior Wood
Now that everything is lined up, it’s time to start the actual work.
Below are the steps to pressure wash the exterior wood.
Clear the Washing Area
Remove everything from the washing area, including furniture and fittings. Cover nearby plants and flowers with a plastic sheet. We suggest using drop cloths to cover the plants. Water the plants before covering them. You may skip covering the plants if using an eco-friendly solvent.
Tip: Avoid covering plants and flowers with black sheets. That may kill them.
Prepare the Cleaning Solution
We used an eco-friendly cleaner. Read instructions on the container and prepare it accordingly. The one we used was in powder form. We mixed that with warm water in the pump sprayer and shook it well.
Apply the Solution
Once the solution is prepared, spray it on the wood. Be sure to spread the solution evenly on the wood, leaving no gaps.
Wood cleaning solutions are powerful solvents. We use them to remove harsh, stuck-on oils and grime.
If you aren’t using any solvent, you may also use vinegar. Add one cup of vinegar to one gallon of water. You may also use a mixture of water, bleach, and dishwasher as the wood cleaner. It will give amazing results.
Note: You don’t always need a cleaning solution when using a pressure washer.
Let it Soak into the Wood
The cleaner usually requires several minutes to soak into the wood. The recommended time is five to 15 minutes.
Once the cleaner sets in, move to the next ste
Tip and Pressure Setting
Use the appropriate pressure tip to start the application. For soft wood like cedar and pine, use a low PSI tip. For harder woods, choose a tip with high PSI.
You may also use a rotating tip. It’s faster and doesn’t leave any stripping once you’re done washing.
Test the Pressure Washer Settings
If you’re a rookie, it’s better to test the pressure on a different surface, such as a stair tread or corner. Start with low PSI, gradually increasing the pressure. Once satisfied, you may go to the bigger area with the sustainable PSI.Wash the Wood
Pressure Wash the Wood
Once the solution sets into the wood, you can wash away the solution along with the grime with power washing.
The power washer will wipe off every unwanted thing from and between the boards. You merely have to control the pressure.
Continue washing the boards until the entire area is clean. Depending on the solvent, you may require to repeat the cleaning process multiple times.
Maintain a safe distance - about six to 10 inches - from the wood. Pressure wash the wood along the grains and keep moving the nozzle so you don’t damage the wood.
Tip: Make broad strokes with the pressure washer. That will ensure the water reaches every part of the board, including corners, cracks, or gaps, and rinse well.
Let the Surface Dry
Now that you’ve washed the wood, it’s time to give some time to dry wood. We suggest allowing at least 24 hours to let the wood dry. After the wood is dried, you may want to apply sanding to smooth it. Use your orbital sander with 80-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface and edges.
Note: Sanding or scrubbing the wood after washing isn’t necessary. Only scrub or sand if the wood has rough surface.
Staining the Exterior Wood
The station is all ready to apply stain. Wood staining is usually a day’s job. DIY if you’re certain you will not damage the wood and will properly do the job. Is you aren’t certain, call an expert. At Precision Staining LLC, we are all experts and know how to do the job in less time and effort.
FAQs
Should you apply pressure washing on softwood?
Soft washing is recommended for softwood like cedar and pine. Applying pressure washing on such woods may damage the wood plank.
Do you need cleaning solutions when pressure washing?
You don’t generally require a chemical when pressure washing. However, you may choose to mix it with water to wipe off hard-to-remove stains.
What is the ideal PSI when applying pressure washing?
Pressure washing can go as low as 1,000 PSI up to 5,000 PSI, depending on the wood kind and the content you want to remove.