Pressure Cleaning and Your Home

Dec 102011

Pressure cleaning has changed the way we work around our Sydney homes. Years ago anything that needed to be cleaned was done manually. It would take the average home owner a minimum of 1 full day to clean the windows of your home on the outside. Today, pressure cleaning your windows has taken the chore out of it. With the various tips that most high pressure washers come with, you can gently but efficiently get the job done.

And don’t forget the vinyl siding. Before high pressure sprayers it was nearly impossible to complete this task. Add a vinyl siding solution to the sprayer and easily remove the grime and moss-like film that develops on your siding. A single story ranch home can be done in just a few hours. In no time you will have restored that new siding look that your neighbors will be envious of.

How often do you wash your vehicles? Do you wash them by hand? Add some gentle soap to the dispenser and with the gentle spray tip you will get that commercial car wash look at the cost of a little bit of water and soap. Keeping your cars clean is no longer that daunting task it used to be.

Well, it’s that time of year when all the gutters on your house are begging to be cleaned out. How have you done this in the past? Do you take a paper bag on the roof and then reach your hand into the nasty gunk that your leaves have turned into? Try this. Most power washers have plenty of hose for a single story home. Grab a partner to walk the machine around while you get on the roof. Pressure cleaning your gutters just got easy. Take your hose on the roof with you and begin to spray from the end of the gutter that does not have the downspout. You will want to spray toward the downspout. This can be a little messy if you are not careful, but with a little practice you can perfect this method and make light work of a dirty job.

How about your concrete? Have you ever thought of pressure cleaning your patio, garage floor or driveway? You may be amazed at the end result. Again, there is a right and a wrong way of doing this. Use too hard of a tip and you may blow weak spots in your concrete out. As with any pressure cleaning job, use good judgement on what tip you will use. The idea is to clean the concrete, not blow holes in it. For most concrete, a simple cleaning will come easier than you may expect. Once you clean all of your concrete one time, a regular cleaning will be almost effortless.

Pressure cleaning around your home comes in many different forms. There are far more than discussed in this article, but with a little practice and regular cleaning, your Sydney home and everything around it can fairly easily stay clean. So, get out today and let’s get clean.

Concrete Sealing – Do it yourself or Hire Professionals?

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Dec 082011

Concrete, with its high porosity, is a cleaner’s nightmare. Since it has the tendency to absorb all sorts of liquids, thorough cleaning becomes very difficult. Further, since concrete on the exterior surfaces is constantly exposed to climatic conditions and staining, it needs to be cleaned regularly. Although pressure cleaning is very effective in removing stains and cleaning surfaces, it is time consuming and takes effort. Fortunately, there is a solution to the problem of cleaning concrete. It is called concrete sealing.

Sealing is the process in which concrete is coated with paint or other materials that render it impervious. This prevents penetration of stain causing elements. In addition, cleaning a sealed surface requires half the time needed for cleaning unsealed concrete. Do-it-yourself concrete sealing kits are available in the market. Therefore, you can seal concrete either yourself or hire professionals to do the job.

Do-it-yourself

Sealing concrete yourself is a viable option only if you have the time, patience and resources. Sealing is done in two stages. The first stage is pressure cleaning the surface, which is mandatory because sealing cannot be done on unclean surfaces. The second stage is applying the seal coat. The whole process can take up to seventy-two hours because the concrete surface has to be left to dry for forty-eight hours after cleaning. Then, you have to apply the seal coat and let it dry, which will take another twenty-four hours. The time taken can increase if you pressure clean and apply the coat at a slow pace.

Concrete sealing is a two-person job because one has to spray the sealer and the other has to cover gaps. Therefore, you will require a companion. You have to learn the technique of doing it in the right manner. Further, the sealer spray has to be spread before it dries. According to most professionals, sealing two hundred square feet of concrete surface takes an hour. You can calculate the time required for sealing your whole space.

If you plan to seal concrete yourself, you need to purchase protective gear to protect your body, hire pressure cleaning equipment, concrete sealers and tools. Therefore, you have to spend quite a bit of money. If you suffer with respiratory problems like asthma, then you should not attempt concrete sealing. The same applies to pregnant women. To put it concisely, although you can seal concrete yourself, the whole process is time consuming and tiring.

Hiring professionals

Hiring professionals has its positives. The major benefit is that you can save a lot of time and energy. If you prepare an estimate, you will notice that hiring professionals can turn out to be more cost effective than doing it yourself. Professionals will coat the concrete surface evenly and the surface will look smooth and neat.

The best thing you can do is hire a professional service to seal your concrete and then clean it yourself regularly. Sealing needs to be done every alternate year. Regular cleaning and maintenance will prolong the life of the sealed surface.

Pressure Cleaning Factors To Consider

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Dec 072011

There are some concepts that you have to learn first before performing pressure cleaning. Sydney experts have emphasized that you have to understand these concepts first before you even attempt to take a grip of a pressure washing unit. One of the fundamental pieces of knowledge that you have to acquire is the factors that affect the quality of your pressure cleaning.

There are four factors that you will have to consider in performing power washing. Sydney pressure cleaning experts have deemed it necessary for beginners to understand them. This is because if you try to alter at least one of the factors involved in pressure cleaning, there is a high probability that you will get a largely different result. Therefore, if you know what these factors are and what they can do to the things you will perform pressure cleaning; you may use these pieces of knowledge to your advantage. If you get the hang of it, you can even manipulate them to get better results from your gerni. Sydney pressure cleaning units have been designed with these factors in mind.

The first factor that you should consider is the pressure. For those types of stains that are difficult to remove, this is helpful because the pressure also capitalizes on a certain amount of force to get rid of the stain. Therefore, if you turn the pressure of your unit higher while aiming at the object that you need to clean, there is more chance for you to remove it easily. Conversely, if you lower the pressure of your unit while aiming the nozzle at the object, you will need longer time to deal with the stain. While it is important for you to keep the pressure up when cleaning stubborn stains, it is also important to determine the main material used for the object that needs maintenance. Sydney experts noted that for objects made of porous or malleable material, you should use lower pressure. Experience also plays a great role in gauging the level of pressure that you need to use for certain objects.

Another factor that you will have to consider in external cleaning is the temperature of the water that comes out of the pressure cleaner. For stains that are hard to get rid of, it would be advisable for you to use water with a higher temperature combined with detergent in pressure cleaning. Sydney experts have claimed that this combination can aid in emulsifying the particles of the stain in a more efficient manner than using lukewarm or cold water. Aside from that, it aids in dissipating the particles of the stain faster. As a result, the particles move out and eventually break their bonds with the object concerned. Some of the stains where this strategy works best are grease and oil.

In case the alteration of the previously mentioned factors does not work well, you may change the amount of cleaning solution that you inject in your pressure cleaning unit. Aside from that, you may also increase the rate at which the water flows out of the nozzle to achieve better effects. Just try to experiment with these factors and you will eventually determine what works best for you.

After much procrastinating our official Sydney Wide Pressure Cleaning forum is now open.

Here you will be able to post all questions relevant and specific to our industry.

So with introductions taken care of….

may we present to you the….

Sydney Wide Pressure Cleaning Forum

Pressure Cleaning for Roofs

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Nov 302011

You should keep in mind that you must undergo two main phases for your roof if you decide to perform pressure cleaning. Sydney experts have divided the entire task in this manner to increase the efficiency of roof such a task. The first phase is eliminating the dirt and other types of debris that rest on your roof. The second phase mainly focuses on rinsing and completely getting rid of these dirt particles and other debris. Pressure cleaners are usually utilized for washing even and leveled surfaces. Good examples of surfaces like these are sidewalks, parking lots and driveways.

Surfaces made of concrete are also excellent spots for pressure cleaning. Sydney experts, however, stressed out that if the surface that you are planning to clean up is made of shingles or asphalt; do not proceed with power washing. Instead, it is more advisable for you to use a spray nozzle and a mild cleaning solution in cleaning up the entire surface.

Compared to a wand, the pressure cleaners do the job around five times as effective for roofs. If wheels are attached to your pressure cleaner, it is advisable that you remove them. This should be done to enhance the level of safety while you are using the gerni on your roof. Chances are, if your pressure cleaner has wheels, you may be taken back by the initial jetting out of water from the nozzle. Aside from that, this enhances your freedom of movement because you do not have to worry about stuck wheels. In some cases, experienced people uses water with higher temperature to get rid of stubborn debris. For most of the cases, this method is recommended, especially if you prefer having a shorter session of maintenance.

Sydney pressure cleaners should be attached to the pressure washer. After that, place your preferred cleaning agents inside the container of the chemical injector. Once you turn on the entire unit, you are ready to perform some serious pressure cleaning. For this task, you should make sure that the cleaning agents that you are using for your pressure cleaner are highly compatible with the machine to avoid clogging especially on the nozzle. Theoretically speaking, the cleaning agent that you will use with the pressure cleaner is formulated to get rid of the fungus; mold and mildew without affecting the overall appearance of your roof after you have performed pressure washing.

Sydney pressure cleaning experts strongly advise you to start off the entire cleaning process on the corner of the roofs. From the corner, you should move the nozzle in a sideway sweeping motion. If the stain still would not come off, you should add detergent to the chemical injector or increase the rate at which the water flows out of the nozzle. If you will be cleaning your roof during the summer season, you should constantly rinse the entire roof surface with water to prevent the paint from fading after performing power cleaning. Sydney pressure cleaning experts advise you to do this with intervals of 10 or 15 minutes. If ever you have noticed certain spots on your roof that where not thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, you should deal with them immediately to avoid having unsightly faded spots on your roof.

House Washing Tips For Cleaning Walls

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Jul 172011

Wondering how you could clean the dirty walls that are ruining the charm of the house? House washing is the best solution to restore the beauty of the walls.

Pressure cleaning the walls is not as easy as it may seem to be. It requires proper technique and genuine effort. It demands a lot of time, of which we have an inadequacy. Therefore, let the professional hands do the cleaning for you and let yourself to relax the weekend.

Concrete walls are best cleaned using the soft house washing technique. First the concrete is to be prepared by wetting it using a low-pressure sprayer, as this will prevent the concrete to soak the detergent. Make sure you spray from the bottom of the wall and slowly move upwards.

The chemical or detergent is to be carefully chosen, best suited for the kind of surface that is to be cleaned. Scrub the tough stains with the help a stiff bristle brush. Evenly spray the chemical on the wall using low pressure mode on the pressure washer nozzle. This too is to be sprayed starting from the bottom of the wall to the top. Leave the detergent for 5 to 10 minutes to do its job.

The nozzle of the pressure washer is to be cleaned thoroughly and it is to be made sure there is no detergent left behind. Switch the pressure cleaner to the high pressure mode and rinse off the detergent with slowly subjecting the wall to the pressure of the water. This time you should start from the top and slowly move to the bottom of the wall in sections. Ensure the areas near the wall are rinsed down too and also it is to be made sure that no detergent remains on the wall.

Precautions that need to be taken:

House Washing tools may seem simple tools to operate but, one small mistake can make you handicapped for life. Hence, it is always better and wise to take necessary precautions before you start cleaning your walls using this technique. If your eye is exposed to the pressure of water gushing through the nozzle of the pressure cleaner, you may lose your eye sight for ever.

To prevent this, you should always use a pair of safety goggles while cleaning anything using the pressure cleaner. Hand gloves and long pants help prevent your body from any kind of mishap. Never point the nozzle at anyone and not even yourself. It is to be made sure that the nozzle is tightly fixed to the wand of the pressure cleaner.

It is advisable to first test the pressure cleaner on a small patch of wall before going ahead with the cleaning. Also one should be acquainted to the usage of the machine, if not one should spend considerable time to learn how to use it. However, to attain best results, the nozzle is to be held 6 inches away from the concrete and evenly clean each part of the wall.

Concrete walls can collect a lot of dirt over time and make your house look dull. To brighten up your house you will have to pay due attention to the walls. And making use of the pressure cleaning technique would bring back life to your walls again, guaranteed!

Benefits Of Driveway Cleaning and House Washing

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Jul 062011

A clean driveway adds much to the attractiveness of your house, which is why it’s important to have a driveway as clean and resplendent as your house. There are numerous benefits of getting your driveway cleaned once in a while as an integral part of your house washing arrangements.

The driveway forms the entrance to your house. It is as important as the garden or the porch. First impressions are instantaneous. If you wish to make a good overall impression on your relatives, clients and other important visitors, you have to hit it off perfectly. A neat and clean driveway sets the stage for you. It shows that you are a responsible person. Furthermore, if your driveway is not clean, your children can come in contact with the accumulated dirt and fall sick. Driveways are subjected to dirt accumulated in the gaps of car tires and even shoe soles. A thorough cleaning twice every year will keep your driveway gleaming in the sun.

If your driveway is kept clean, it would be a lot easier to drive your car in and out of the garage throughout the rainy season. However, if it’s not cleaned from time to time, whenever the wet season sets in, your driveway will be soaked and grimy with all the debris stuck in between the paved bricks or stones. You will then have to waste your valuable leisure time for cleaning up your car, when instead you could have ensured a thoroughly cleaned driveway just once in every six months. Visitors also won’t have to worry about their cars getting dirty if the rain comes. You also restrict the amount of filth that gets into your house to a minimum if you keep your driveway clean. A clean driveway will drastically improve your home’s overall appearance.

Pressure cleaning your driveway is neither a difficult nor a time-consuming task. It is all the more inexpensive if you can do it yourself. For flat surface cleaning problems, pressure washers are the most imperative mechanism till date. A pressure washer forms an indispensable partner in your house washing endeavors. It benefits from high professional specifications and will make your work a lot easier while cleaning your driveway. The pressure generated by its flush is more than enough to tackle dirt and stains in the dullest of driveways, leaving a uniformly clean surface. Its high work rate and operator friendly design dramatically reduces fatigue, increases productivity and saves on house washing labor costs. Operating a pressure washer is as straightforward as using a lawn mower. Simply connect it to a water outlet, turn it on and you can start working.

Pressure cleaning your driveway requires a lot less future maintenance and will prevent wild plants and grasses from growing on your driveway and creating an undesirable mossy coating. However, before attempting to clean your driveway yourself, it is essential that you consult people who are acquainted with house washing works. You can also hire a cleaning contractor to clean your driveway if you are unsure about doing it yourself.

Driveway Cleaning and Sealing Pavers – Leave it to the Professionals!

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May 132011

Driveway cleaning and sealing pavers is no doubt a tough job, as it requires a lot of time and hard work. Most of us tend to neglect the driveway and pay more attention to the interiors of the house so that it makes a good impression on the visitor or guest. But the truth is that, it is the driveway that makes the first impression about the house, as it is the driveway that ultimately leads the guest or visitor to the house.

Driveway cleaning is very important, as it is the driveway that creates an impact on the overall appearance of the house and also gives you a confidence about your home while welcoming a guest. But, driveway cleaning may prove to be an unpleasant experience as it is a tedious job. Therefore, it is always better to hire a good cleaning company to do it for you as the scope for any complaint or distress could be done away with.

Professionals usually use the pressure cleaning technique for driveway cleaning. Your car or truck moves in and out of the driveway at least thrice everyday. This leaves tire marks on the driveway, making it dirty. It may also leaves behind grease or oil stains that may not be easy to remove. The pressure cleaning technique proves efficient enough to remove such stains while sealing pavers provides for easier maintenance.

Cleaning a hard surface could be very demanding in terms of patience and hard work. Pressure cleaning is the most efficient method to clean the exteriors of the house. Under this technique, the driveway of your house is cleaned with the help of superfluous pressurized water. Hot water is more effective on stains than cold water. Therefore, hot water should be used. It is always safe to hand over this job to professional and qualified personnel’s.

For a cement or paved driveway, a pressure washer producing 3000 PSI is required. First and foremost, all the things from the driveway are to be removed including your car. Then, it is very essential to ensure that all the attachments of the pressure machine are fixed properly especially the nozzle. Also make sure the nozzle is not clogged so as to prevent any kind of obstruction caused to the pressure of the flow of water. Replace the nozzle if it is necessary. Also the inlet of the hose and filter is to be checked to see if they need to be cleaned or replaced. The same is to be ensured with the discharge valves and valve springs.

You must be well equipped with a protective gear, eyewear and a pair of gloves before using the pressure cleaner. First test the spray by spraying away from the driveway to check the pressure of the water and then slowly point the wand towards the surface of the driveway, 3 to 4 feet away. It is always better to start from the highest point of your driveway and slowly go down the pathway. Stop to check if the surface is cleaned after a few passes. If it isn’t, add a chemical to the pressure cleaner with the help of an injector and spray it evenly on the surface and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes to let the chemical to do its job. Then, using the pressure cleaner spray evenly on the surface to rinse the chemical thoroughly and get a clean surface. Before sealing pavers, the driveway is to be left to dry for at least 48 hours. One must be very cautious while using the pressure cleaner and not point it at someone, as it can prove fatal.

Driveway cleaning by pressure cleaning helps you to achieve the desired results and fetch you a driveway that looks completely new. To obtain the best results, it is wise to hire professionals for both sealing pavers and the pressure cleaning.

3 Concrete Cleaning Tips for R…

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Mar 152011

3 Concrete Cleaning Tips for Removing Rust http://t.co/5cWm7zA

Concrete Cleaning the Green Wa…

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Mar 152011

Concrete Cleaning the Green Way http://t.co/5EO6Xji via @AddThis

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