Pressure washers are effective in cleaning off dirt and grime. Many homeowners think that pressure washing is a DIY task and they can save the money that would otherwise be used for hiring a professional. While some pressure washing tasks don't require any skill, some are best handled by a professional. Here are some DIY pressure cleaning mistakes you can avoid by hiring an expert.

Cleaning Out of Order

Pressure washing should be done strategically for effectiveness and to save time. For example, if you were to start with your sidewalk and driveway, then wash your house and roof, you would need to wash off the residue on your driveway. This is because the dirt from your home and roof will settle on the ground.

Also, you shouldn't start with your windows and finish with the roof. All the dirt from the roof will spread to your cleaned windows. Therefore, to save time, professionals pressure wash in the following order:

• Roof
• House Exterior
• Patio
• Flat Surfaces
• Windows

Using Too Much Pressure

Another pressure washing mistake involves using excessive pressure. High pressure can cause you to damage areas of your wood decking and siding. 

Damage to your wood deck or siding causes moisture leaks which leads to mildew and wood rot. Professionals know the right amount of pressure to use for cleaning sensitive surfaces. Therefore, if you doubt the amount of pressure you should use, hire a cleaning service.

Cleaning With Pure Water

Although pressure washing is effective in stain removal, sometimes pure water will not work. Using detergents enables you to dissolve dirt and kill organisms like fungus and mold. Mixing water with cleaning solutions minimizes the amount of water used. It also reduces the likelihood of damage caused by water saturation.

Washing Water Sensitive Areas

Not all surfaces can be cleaned with a pressure washer. There are sensitive areas you should avoid when pressuring washing because you risk doing more harm than good.

First, don't pressure wash non-watertight windows. While after washing, they appear clean on the outside; when you go inside, you will find everything from your bedding to your room furniture soaked in water. This is because windows have little gaps that allow water to penetrate them. Therefore, to avoid this problem, seal your windows before pressure washing.

Another area you should be careful with when pressure washing is doors. Doors have small gaps at the bottom. If you fail to seal door openings, you will find a big mess after cleaning.

Lastly, watch out when cleaning drywall ceilings. Pressure washing drywall ceilings can result in costly damages. A professional will know what precautions to take depending on the kind of ceiling they are cleaning. 

For more info about pressure washing, contact a local company.