So, the patio was looking absolutely grim the other day. Seriously, covered in green stuff and just general muck from winter. I figured it was finally time to haul out the pressure washer and actually use it.

Getting it set up wasn't too bad. Pulled it out from the back of the garage. First, hooked up the garden hose for the water supply. Then attached that stiff, high-pressure hose that goes to the spray gun thing. Checked the connections were tight. Plugged the power cord in. Made sure the water was running before turning the machine on – don't want to burn out the pump!

Starting the Wash

Alright, moment of truth. Squeezed the trigger on the wand. VWOOOSH! That jet of water comes out strong. You definitely feel it. I started in one corner of the patio, keeping the nozzle a decent distance away at first.

You learn pretty quick you need to keep moving. If you stay in one spot too long, especially on softer stone or wood, you can actually carve lines into it. Found a rhythm, sweeping back and forth. It was honestly pretty satisfying watching the dirt just lift off and wash away. Like magic, almost.

Dealing with Tough Spots

Some areas needed more attention. Had some really baked-on grime and algae near the edges. For those bits, I moved the nozzle a bit closer and went slower. Had to be careful though. It’s a balance between getting it clean and not damaging the surface.

Things I noticed while working:

• It's loud. No doubt about it. Probably best not to do it super early on a Sunday morning.
• You will get wet. Water sprays back, mist goes everywhere. Definitely wore my old work boots and clothes I didn't care about.
• Managing the hoses – the water hose and the pressure hose – can be a bit annoying. They kind of get tangled around your feet sometimes.
• Holding that vibrating wand for an hour or two does make your arm ache a bit afterwards.

The End Result

After maybe an hour and a half, the whole patio was done. Stepped back to take a look. Honestly, the difference was huge. It looked so much brighter and cleaner. Almost like new paving stones.

Cleaning the machine afterwards was simple enough. Disconnected everything, gave the washer a quick wipe down, rolled up the hoses (always a fun job), and tucked it back into the garage. Felt good to get it done. Definitely faster and more effective than trying to scrub it all by hand. Yeah, pretty happy with how it turned out.