My Day Tackling the Grime

Okay, so I finally got around to using that pressure jet washer I bought a while back. The patio, man, it was looking seriously sad. Green stuff everywhere, dirt tracked in, just grim.

First thing, had to drag the machine out of the shed. Heavier than I remembered. Then figuring out the hoses – water in, high-pressure hose out. Hooked up the garden hose to the tap, then plugged the machine into the outdoor socket. Felt a bit like preparing for some kind of water-based battle.

Grabbed the spray gun thing. It felt pretty solid. Turned on the water tap first, let the water run through the machine for a sec like the instructions mumbled about. Then, took a deep breath and switched the power on. It hummed to life, not too loud at first.

Pointed it at a really grubby paving slab. Pulled the trigger. Whoa! That jet was strong. It kicked back a little in my hand. The noise ramped up too. Started blasting the slab, moving the spray gun side to side, kinda slow.

You could see the dirt just lifting off, melting away. It was actually pretty satisfying, watching the clean stone appear underneath all that muck. Did get splashed a fair bit, though. Note to self: don't wear your good trainers next time.

• Started close, maybe too close, nearly dug a hole in the pointing.
• Learned to keep a bit more distance for general cleaning.
• Had to sweep away the dirty water pooling up every so often.

Worked my way across the patio, section by section. Took a while, my arm started to ache a bit from holding the trigger and directing the spray. It’s definitely more work than just pointing and shooting.

Finished up after maybe an hour or so. Turned everything off – power first, then the water tap. Squeezed the trigger to release the pressure like you're supposed to. Then disconnected the hoses. Water everywhere, of course.

But yeah, the patio looks way better. Like, loads better. Not perfect, some stubborn spots are still there, but the difference is huge. Was it worth the effort? Yeah, I reckon so. Beats scrubbing on hands and knees, that's for sure. Just gotta remember the old clothes next time.