For the most part, outdoor furniture is exposed to various weather conditions, and soon enough, you will start to consider replacing it. However, outdoor furniture is built to last, and the fact that it has a few stains here and there does not mean you need to throw it out.
Quite the contrary, you can easily bring back its old shine with proper cleaning. You might have attempted washing it down with a garden hose, scrubbing with a sponge, or a similar method that could not quite do the trick.
But when you use a powerful tool like a pressure washer, you are guaranteed to get excellent results.
Should I clean outdoor furniture with a pressure washer?
Using a pressure washer on your outdoor furniture is the most effective method for cleaning it, as long as you use an appropriate pressure washer model (of up to 1700 PSI) with the 25° green nozzle.
A pressure washer withholds enough power to clean the most stubborn stains on the sturdiest surfaces. As such, only some models will be suitable for cleaning outdoor furniture, as too much pressure can damage some furniture pieces.
Gas pressure washer models can reach up to 4,000 PSI, which is way too strong for these types of jobs. For cleaning outdoor furniture, you should stick to a range from 1500 to 1900 PSI at most. Electric pressure washers usually operate between 1,300 and 1,700 PSI, making them ideal in this scenario.
Outdoor furniture is usually made of hardwood, PVC, hard plastic, and aluminum. A pressure washer with the mentioned range will be a perfect fit for any of these materials. However, if you have furniture pieces made from softwood (like cedar or pine), you should avoid using a pressure washer on those surfaces. The same goes for glass table covers or cushions.
The next thing you should pay attention to is the nozzle you are attaching. With every purchased pressure washer comes a set of nozzles suited for different types of jobs. For example, lower-degree nozzles, like the 0° or 15°, will do wonders for spot-treating areas with stubborn stains.
However, those should only be used on robust surfaces, like a driveway or concrete patios. The 25° nozzle is the ideal choice for damage-free, excellent results for cleaning outdoor furniture.
Outdoor furniture pressure washing tips
Use these top tips and techniques when pressure washing your garden furniture.
Keep a safe distance
When pressure washing outdoor furniture, or any other surface, you should keep a safe distance of two feet away from the object. Getting too close to the surface you are cleaning can potentially damage it. Furthermore, do not perform cleaning near windows, outlets, or any electrical devices.
Do not point the stream at a single spot for too long
Cleaning should be performed in a sweeping motion, where you point to stream at a single spot for up to two to three seconds. Pointing it at a single spot for too long can penetrate the surface, regardless of the pressure you are using.
Use appropriate detergent
Using soap is an excellent addition to pressure washing for efficiently cleaning outdoor furniture. However, always use a detergent intended explicitly for pressure washers. There are various kinds on the market, including detergents for vehicles, concrete, wood, and general cleaning detergents suited for multiple surfaces.
Using a general-purpose detergent will provide solid results for all surfaces, but naturally, using a detergent made for a specific material will clean it the best. Whichever you choose, remember not to use laundry detergent, dish soap, or any other household cleaning items. They can have substances that can damage the pressure washer or the object you are cleaning.
Do not wash outdoor furniture too frequently
Although pressure washing your outdoor furniture is completely safe, you should do it every so often. Doing it too frequently can weaken it and decrease its lifespan. Pressure washing it once per year is the sweet spot; more than that is not advisable.
In conclusion
Pressure washing your outdoor furniture can save you time and money and provide significantly better results compared to other cleaning methods.
Although outdoor furniture can be perceived as fragile, it is absolutely fine to pressure wash it as long as you know which material you are dealing with, how much PSI your pressure washer operates on, and which nozzle to attach.
By following these simple tips, you are guaranteed to rejuvenate your furniture’s appearance and prolong its lifespan in a matter of minutes.
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