The season of watery eyes, runny noses and itchy throats has arrived. Not only does pollen wreak havoc on your body, it also makes a mess of your cars, home an pretty much anything that’s exposed to it. Fear not, we can get the house portion of that all taken care of. Pressure cleaning will remove pollen from outside areas as well as help extend the life of the exterior finishes of your house, but you must do it properly to protect surfaces.
Tree pollen is usually the biggest culprit and typically does its damage through the early days of June. If you have problems with allergies you might consider investing in a pressure washer and using it throughout the season. If allergies are not a problem in your household then you can wait until the end of the season to rid yourself of the pollen coating. Doing it yourself is an option, but if it is a more ambitious task that you are looking to take on yourself, a power washing professional or painter can perform pressure cleaning for you.
Brick, stucco and siding all benefit from pressure washing. You also can pressure clean decks, patios, walkways and driveways. Each surface type requires its own method, though. For example, siding can withstand medium pressure, but stucco and brick call for low pressure as they prove more susceptible to damage.
Before you pressure wash there are some things that need to be done in preparation for the cleaning. You should patch any cracks and chips on stucco and any damaged mortar on brick. This prevents water from getting where is doesn’t belong and keeps you from making small problems worse. You will also want to make sure to wet and cover nearby plants, exterior lights, exterior fans and outlets using plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. Close all windows and doors to avoid making a mess of the inside of your home while cleaning up the outside. I encourage you to keep an eye on the inside around the windows and doors as you clean those areas because sometimes the water finds its way through small cracks.
One final note before you make plans to pressure clean your home’s exteriors is to follow the directions on both the pressure cleaner and any cleaning products involved. As mentioned before, different surfaces require different cleaning methods to avoid causing costly damage. If the pressure cleaning is beyond your comfort level, turn to a professional pressure cleaning services and simply enjoy the results.