The exterior of your house takes a beating all year—mud, mildew, pollen, and dirt settle on all sorts of hard-to-reach areas. Exterior cleaning chores are easy to ignore, but doing so puts it at risk of damage or stubborn stains. Take it from me: once you get started, you won’t be able to stop. A good wash can refresh your home's siding, driveway, patio, and walkways. Just remember that it’s not about blasting surfaces with extreme force but using the right pressure to lift grime without damage.
Hire a Pro vs. DIY
- Hiring a Professional Service. If you have a multi-story home, delicate surfaces, or no time to do it yourself, it’s worth hiring out. Professional pressure washers use the right cleaning products and pressure settings on specific building materials to avoid damage while deep cleaning. Make sure the company you hire is insured.
- Power washing yourself is a DIY option if you’re comfortable handling equipment. It’s easier for those with a one-story home and concrete, brick, or vinyl siding. It's also a good chore to handle yourself if you have a concrete driveway, stone surfaces, or patio furniture to regularly clean.
Renting a Pressure Washer vs. Buying Your Own
If you want to save on labor costs, it's reasonable to tackle the cleaning process yourself. Renting makes sense if you wash your home once a year, and according to Tony English, Senior Merchant, The Home Depot Rental, you can rent for a few hours or a full day with prices ranging from $30 to $100. If you're on the fence about buying one, keep in mind that rental models are powerful, and you don’t have to store them.
Buying one is better for frequent pressure washing, be it driveways, patios, sidewalks, or siding. Those in humid climates tend to need regular pressure washing. Electric pressure washers (battery powered or with electrical outlets) are lighter and quieter; gas models offer more power for larger areas.
Remember that pressure washing uses cold water and power washing uses a heating system to create hot water. Otherwise, both connect to a garden hose and use an intense stream of water pressure to blast stubborn dirt and unwanted substances off of services.
Where to Focus Your Time
- Driveways – Removes oil stains, dirt, and mildew
- Sidewalks – Clears grime and weeds between cracks
- Patios – Keeps pavers, stone, outdoor tile, and concrete looking fresh
- Siding – Brightens vinyl, brick, or aluminum siding (use a lower pressure setting)
- Flaked Paint - Prep your surface before applying a new coat of paint.
- Fences – Refreshes unpainted wood or vinyl
- Roofs - Removes mildew, leaves, and debris from metal and shingle roofs.
- Decks – Clears mildew and prep for staining (use low pressure on wood)
- Garage doors – Removes buildup from rain and dust
- Outdoor furniture – Cleans plastic, metal, wood surfaces, and even outdoor fabrics.
A pressure washer or low-pressure setting power washer is a simple cleaning method to keep your home looking fresh without too much effort. Just be mindful of the pressure level, and don’t use too much force on delicate surfaces.
