Back in early February, we looked at 4 unconventional ways to use a pressure washer. The blog got us thinking about even more unconventional uses for our beloved washers. So we thought; why stop at just 4? There are so many weird and wonderful uses for high power washers; let’s look at least another 4. 

At Britclean, we offer many great and all encompassing services in a variety of locations. These include industrial pressure washer hire in Staffordshire and Cheshire. However, we have to admit, some of these unconventional uses even surprise us. 

When considering all of these weird and wonderful uses of washers; we must always highlight the issue of safety first. Before undertaking any pressure washer activity, you must ensure you understand any potential danger or hazards and have put place prior plans to combat the issues should they occur. 

All of that being said, let’s look at 4 more unusual uses for pressure washers. 

Stress Testing

When a roofing project has been completed, roofers must put their work through the metaphorical ringer to ensure their work can withstand harsh weather conditions. This is where stress testing comes in. 

Obviously recreating the various weather conditions is potentially difficult and sometimes borderline impossible, especially if conditions are to remain moderate. This is where pressure washers can help. You can use a pressure washer to recreate wet and windy conditions on your roof. By enacting this technique, the roofer ensures the roof remains strong and stable during some more potentially treacherous conditions. 

Killing Weeds 

Using steam and heat is an incredibly eco-friendly and effective way to kill unwanted weeds. As such, you can use the faithful pressure washer to enact this technique. Whether you have weeds growing in cracks on your driveway or around your home, all that is required is to simply point the washer at them and use a tailored setting to effectively remove them. 

Paint Stripper

In previous blogs, we have covered how you might accidentally remove paint if you are washing on a higher setting. However, we never contemplated whether you might actually want to remove the paint in the first place. 

Washing on a higher setting is a fantastically easy way to quickly and effectively remove paint you no longer want. 

To Drill

We have saved potentially the strangest use until last. When you think of tools for drilling, the chances are; a pressure washer does not come to mind. Contrary to popular beliefs, you can actually use a pressure washer to drill. 

Pressure washers are particularly useful at digging small holes in the ground. In fact, they are usually preferred for this purpose compared to more traditionally sized drills. 

We offer a wide range of repairs and services to a plethora of locations at Britclean. This includes karcher pressure washer repairs in Cheshire and Staffordshire amongst many others. So, if you have any questions regarding our brilliant pressure washers or our industrial vacuums, please contact us. 

In many of our previous blogs, we have extensively covered the many advantages of using a high power washer to clean a variety of materials, household items and products. This has included car cleaning and jet washing away stubborn dirt from wood and other garden materials. 

While the humble pressure washer is a fantastic cleaning tool, there are some instances where you must err on the side of caution when it comes to using a high powered washer to clean. As a well regarded supplier of a wide range of pressure washers including Karcher pressure washers in Shropshire and Staffordshire; we believe it our duty to inform you of the potential dangers of high power washing. 

For the most part; using a pressure washer is relatively safe and straight forward. However, sometimes jet washers just have too much power and instead of cleaning the material as originally intended; it can actually be to the material’s detriment. So we thought it best to detail the times when it is not appropriate to use a high water pressure washer. 

On A Brick House

Arguably the most common mistake by people using a high power washer is using the washer to clean bricks. 

It is very tempting, if you happen to see dirt or bacteria forming on the bricks of your home, to use the washer to quickly and effectively remove it. While you can sometimes get away with washing bricks on a very low power setting, it is strongly not recommended.

Using a high power jet washer can damage the brick. The process can actually be quite misleading. This is because the deterioration in quality of brick might not become apparent straight away. The delamination process can be excruciatingly slow taking many years for the damage to appear. By the time the damage does appear, the damage is irreversible. 

Insects And Bugs

This might go without saying, but you should not use pressure washers on insects and bugs. This is because the high pressure from the water can either severely injure them, or in some more serious cases kill them. 

The same can be said for using the washer on any living thing. Using it on animals, humans or even plants can cause severe injury, physical harm or even destroy your plants. 

Windows 

Cleaning your windows can seem like a very arduous task. As such, you might look for ways to cut corners and make the process quicker and more efficient. But using a pressure washer to clean your windows is definitely not the way to do it. Well, using it at close range on a high setting isn’t. 

The high pressure can, rather unsurprisingly it must be said, break and shatter your windows. This will give you an unwanted headache as not only will you get a unenvious bill for new window installation; you will also acquire a nasty draft coming from where your windows used to be. 

Light Fixtures

Ringing especially true for outdoor light fixtures; using a jet washer on a light fixture can be potentially catastrophic. Using the washer on light fixtures indoors is pretty obviously a bad idea but using it on outdoor fixtures might seem all the more tempting. 

Because the lights can withstand water and heat, you might imagine they can withstand the water from a washer. However, the water can get into cracks and cause damage to the integrity of the overall light structure. 

Lead Paint

Differing slightly from the previous non-uses mentioned above; using a washer on lead paint won’t necessarily damage the paint, the bigger worry is the health impact. Most lead paints were actually banned in the UK back in 1992, however, it can be used for some special circumstances. As such, when using this form of paint, you will want to know what to do and not to do. 

When removing lead paint, the substance should be isolated and removed separately instead of blasted into the air with a high power pressure washer. This can cause some serious health problems if the process is not carried out correctly.  

Do You Require A High Power Washer?

If you require a high power washer, please get in touch with us. We offer many great services which include spare parts, industrial vacuum cleaners and repairs in a variety of locations. For example, we offer Karcher pressure washer repairs in Derbyshire amongst many, many others. 

With spring here and temperatures on the rise, you will probably want to make sure your car is looking in the best shape possible. There is nothing quite like having the sun glistening off your freshly cleaned and shiny car. 

When it comes to the long and arduous process of cleaning your car; there are many different cleaning utensils at your disposal. From the trusted old buckets and sponge or a variety of cleaning scrapers. But there is one cleaning tool we believe reigns supreme in this regard. 

Being a stockist of premium quality industrial pressure washers in Stoke-on-Trent, you might have guessed what we are referring to. We talk, of course, about the aforementioned pressure washer. 

In this blog, we will go over some of the most effective ways to use your pressure washer to wash your car. For convenience and practicality reasons, we will try to walk you through the procedure in chronicle order. 

Take Off The Initial Layer Of Dirt And Grime 

Before you get deeper into the procedure; you will want to remove the initial layer of dirt and grime with the washer. You will want to adjust the tip to be 5-8cm wide. 

If your washer is set on a high pressure setting; you might want to consider lowering the setting. This is because if the washer is too high then it can damage the paint work on your car and cause chips. Furthermore, when washer your windows, if the setting is too high, it might damage them. 

After you have enacted this technique, a large portion of the dirt or bacteria on your car will be removed. However, you will want to make sure you do not stop there. As that would not be the most effective way to clean your car with a pressure washer. 

Apply A Detergent 

The next step will involve setting the nozzle to the widest possible setting and covering the car in a layer of detergent of your choosing. Detergents do a great job at ensuring your car looks sparkly clean but there are a few caveats. 

After applying the detergent, you will want to let it sit for a few moments. You will do well to not let it settle and dry however. If the detergent remains on for too long without being washed off, you will either be left with blemishes or the detergent can damage the wax coating of your paint. 

Use Your Washer To Remove The Detergent

Using a slightly stronger setting for the paint than the glass, use your washer to wash away the detergent so your car has that glimmering shine. Again, you will want to make sure the washer is on an overall low setting so that you do not damage the paint on your car. 

Use A Brush To Remove The Hard To Get Off Stains 

After washing off the detergent with a low setting on your washer and from a decent enough distance away to ensure that you don’t chip the paint or damage your car. You might want to get a car brush. Apply warm soapy water and use the brush to remove any hard to remove stains.

Clean The Alloys 

When it comes to cleaning your car many people forget to clean their alloys. However, you might be pleased to know that you can effectively use a pressure washer to clean the alloys on your car. Similar to the rest of your car, you can use soap to clean the alloys and then to washer to significantly remove all of the previously accumulated dirt and grime. 

What To Do Now?

Do You Need a pressure washer to clean your car? We supply a diverse and dynamic range of pressure washers including the industry famous karcher pressure washer in Stoke-on-Trent. 

In our previous blogs, we have extensively discussed the different occasions you might use your trusted pressure washer as well as detailing the various types of washers you can obtain. However, one thing we do not talk as much of; is the general ins and outs of how a pressure washer works. 

While we could very quickly delve into the necessary jargon, other technical lingo and the general detailed intricacies of the various mechanisms; we will try to keep things as simple as possible. 

So if you have been using one of our industrial pressure washers in Staffordshire (or anywhere else for that matter) and you have always wondered how they actually work, then you are in luck. Let’s take a look at just how pressure washers work. 

Parts And Equipment 

When you think of the numerous components contained in the pressure washer, you might think that there are technical and hard to remember names being allocated to the parts. But you will be pleased to learn that washer parts are not as overly sophisticated as you might at first think. 

To put it plainly, the water pump which squirts the water out of the hose is powered by an electric motor. The washer takes in ordinary water from the faucet and then the pump accelerates the water through the washer which makes it squirt out of the end of the hose. 

Some of the main parts of the pressure washer include: 

• Cleaning Attachment- largely dependent on what you are cleaning. You can rotate between a simpler trigger gun, a spinning wand spray or a revolving brush. 
• Water Pump- the metaphorical beating heart of the pressure washer. The washer pumps water through the rest of the mechanisms.
• High Pressure Hose- The tube that runs from the washer to the cleaning attachment. The high pressure hose also enables the water to come out at a high pressure. 
• Water Inlet- A hose that connects the washer to the primary water supply. 
• Electric Motor Or Gas Engine- depending on your exact model, you will have a gas or electric engine. 

How They Actually Work

Now we have all of the necessary equipment; we can look at just how the moving parts work. We will break down the general working process into various steps to make the information more digestible and easier to understand. 

Step 1- The relevant detergent flows into the container or bottle from one hose. Once this achieved you can move to the next step. 

Step 2-  Then cold water can pass through the faucet directly from the tap. 

Step 3- Simply; ensure a diesel engine or electric powered motor powers the engine of the washer. This step is pretty pivotal.  

Step 4- Then a water impeller (or water pump to use a more common term) draws in the detergent and water. The impeller should then mix these two together. 

Step 5- Water is then heated to between 50-70 degrees Celsius. 

Step 6- Finally the water pump pushes out the freshly prepared hot soapy water at very high pressure. The secure and narrow nozzle helps the pressure of the washer increase. 

Step 7- You can now use your pressure washer as much as you like. 

Contact Us

If you have any other questions regarding industrial pressure washers in Staffordshire in surrounding areas or if you considering hiring a commercial vacuum in Stoke; then please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Statistically speaking, homeowner’s spend more time in their garden during spring. This is arguably due the fact that gardeners will have started the intrigue preparations for ensuring your garden looks fantastically ready for the summer. You might not know; but an industry level pressure washer can help to get your garden in the best shape possible. 

At Britclean, your proud supplier of commercial pressure washers and industrial vacuums in Stoke-on-Trent, we understand the importance of maximising your purchase. 

This is why we thought we should take a look at some of the best ways to use your pressure washer for garden maintenance. 

Branch Removal 

During spring, it is not uncommon for leaves and branches to gradually fall from your trees. While it is known that you should use a garden scraper to remove the leaves from your expertly kept grass; it is not as clear as to how to remove loose hanging branches. 

Loosen branches can produce many problems. Whether it be aesthetically, no one wants to see a healthy tree with ill looking branches. Or the obvious safety concerns; when the branch is loose it could fall at any time and potentially injure an incident bystander in the process. 

Luckily, if you happen to have a high power washer to hand, you can use this to remove any branches. There are a few safety tips for this removal process however. 

Firstly, you will want to clear the branch drop zone. As a rule of thumb, you will want to leave a circular of about 12 feet long and wide. The more space you can allow for the branch to drop on safely the better. 

When you start the actual removal process; you do not have to rush it. You might even want to set your washer to a lower setting to start with. If the setting is very high, you could actually rip the branch off and repel it into an unsafe area. 

Decking Cleanliness

Throughout the winter your decking might have been exposed to the elements. Your decking might have seen frost, foreign bodies and even elements of snow. 

Because of this, your decking might have seen it’s fair share of dirt. Potentially the quickest and most effective way to clear the unwanted germs and bacteria is by using the trusty pressure washer. 

We have recently covered in detail the intricate ways of using a pressure washer to clean wood. Additionally, we might recommend mixing one part antibacterial soap and one part hot water in a practically sized bowl. Gently empty some of the contents of the bowl over the decking. Be sure not to drench the wood as this can create problems later. 

Position the hose at a suitable angel and start to pressure wash. You should use overlapping strokes to avoid visible stroke lines. Do not start spraying in the middle of the decking; you should start in one of the corners. 

After you have finished cleaning your washer, it is time to seal the wood. By doing this essential  part of wood maintenance, you protect your wood against the future harmful elements.

Do You Need Pressure Washer For Garden Maintenance?  

If you are in the Staffordshire area and require a pressure washer to assist you with  your garden maintenance this spring; do not hesitate to contact us. 

Research has shown around two fifths of UK citizens spend more time cleaning and performing home DIY during the Christmas period than at any other time of the year. 

We could assume from this that household products are arguably in the best shape they can be at the start of the year, however, what if there is not much attention paid to the care of the pressure washer? 

Luckily, you can look to your local supplier of commercial pressure washers from Staffordshire and Cheshire to give you a few pointers on how to keep your pressure washer looking spick and span in 2022 and beyond.

Before you use your Pressure Washer

First thing is first. Before you start using your washer, you will want to do all the necessary checks and identify anything that might cause a problem. 

Before you even start using your washer you will want to check the fluid levels, the spray and gun and inspect the detergent system. After this you will want to prepare the garden hose. After this, you should be good to go.

Day to Day Maintenance

Getting into a daily or even weekly routine is a great way of looking after your pressure washer. As well as drastically prolonging the life of your washer, it can also massively improve it’s performance. Some ways to do this is by: 

• Cleaning out your washer after every use- It might go without saying but flushing your washer out after every use is a fantastic way to keep your washer in great condition.
• Make sure to replace O- Rings when they have seen better days- You might want to consider checking and potentially replacing your O-Rings on a regular or semi-regular basis, you can do this even before the ring has fully degraded. Your washer has multiple O-Rings which are put under immense stress, if these O-Rings start to degrade, they can eventually lead to catastrophic pump failure. 
• Stabilise your Fuel- If you intend to to not use your washer for a longer period of time, usually anything over a month, you might want to consider adding stabilisers to your gas tank. This is especially true for gasoline models as if you don’t, gasoline can form deposits that can clog up and lead to overheating. 

After Use & Storage

After you have used your pressure washer there are a few techniques you can implement to help give your washer a new lease on life. One of the most important ways you can keep your washer in great condition is by storing it in the correct way.  

Storing your washer for longer periods of time, especially over the winter can prove very problematic. One way you can ensure your washer is ready for the next cleaning project is identifying a place you can store it where there are limited options for accidents. Somewhere dry indoors and away from any other potentially mechanical hazards. 

You will also want to ensure you perform regular maintenance checks, don’t just leave the washer unattended for long periods of time. In the winter months, you might want to use antifreeze or pump lubricants on the seals and pistons, this protects against freezing and damage from mineral deposits. 

Finally, you might want to consider covering your washer with a cover which will not hold moisture. 

Pressure Washer Repair 

Even if you have followed all of our instructions, you might run into problems from time to time. In this case, you might need your washer to be repaired by an expert.

Luckily, at Britclean, we offer commercial pressure washers repair in Staffordshire and surrounding areas. Our experts have many years of experience and all the relevant equipment to repair your washer. If we can’t repair your washer, we will order the replacement parts and provide you with an alternative washer until yours is fixed. 

Whilst we are on the topic of repairs, we also offer commercial vacuum repairs in Shropshire, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire. 

Contact Us

If you have any other questions regarding your pressure washer or even your vacuum, please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our team of experts will be more than happy to help.