Getting Started with the Washer

Alright, let's talk about dealing with that pressure washer. My patio was looking seriously sad, you know? Green stuff creeping everywhere, dirt ground into the stones. Honestly, it was getting a bit embarrassing when people came over. Just looked neglected. I’d tried scrubbing parts of it by hand before, and let me tell you, that’s a workout I don’t need. Knees aching, back protesting. No thanks. So, I finally decided it was time to break out the machine.

First job, dragging the thing out of the shed. It’s not exactly lightweight. Then comes the dance with the hoses. Connect the garden hose to the inlet – gotta make sure that washer is seated right, otherwise, you get sprayed instead of the patio. Learned that the hard way once. Then connect the high-pressure hose to the machine and the spray gun. Check connections. Double-check. You don't want that high-pressure hose whipping around.

Turned on the water tap fully. Squeezed the trigger on the gun before starting the engine, just to get the air out of the system and water flowing. That’s important, apparently, saves wear on the pump. Then, pull the cord – or press the button if you've got one of those fancy electric ones. Mine’s gas. Roars to life, noisy beast.

The Actual Cleaning Bit

Okay, machine's rumbling. I picked a nozzle, started with a wider spray one, not the super-intense pinpoint one. You gotta be careful with those, they can etch wood or concrete if you get too close or stay in one spot. I stood back a bit, aimed at the patio stones, and squeezed the trigger. Whoosh! The difference is instant. It’s actually pretty satisfying watching years of grime just peel away.

Here’s basically what I did:

• Kept the nozzle moving in a steady, sweeping motion. Like painting, but with water.
• Overlapped each pass slightly to avoid weird stripes.
• Worked my way systematically across the whole area. Takes longer than you think!
• Paid extra attention to the really green, slimy bits. Had to get a bit closer for those.

Did the patio first. Then I looked at the wooden fence. It was looking grey and tired. Switched to an even wider nozzle, stood further back because wood is softer. Sprayed it down. Didn't make it look brand new, but definitely took off the surface layer of dirt and algae. Much better. You get into a rhythm with it. Sweep, step, sweep, step. The noise is constant though, definitely recommend ear protection.

Wrapping It Up

After a couple of hours, everything I aimed at was significantly cleaner. The patio looked usable again! The fence looked happier. Downsides? Well, you get wet. Splatter goes everywhere – splashed dirt onto the lower windows, so that was another job created. And it uses a fair bit of water.

Finished up by rinsing everything down one last time with a very wide spray. Then, turned off the engine. Turned off the water tap. Squeezed the trigger again to release the pressure in the hose – very important step! Disconnected all the hoses. Wiped down the machine a bit, coiled the hoses (always a tangled fight), and wrestled the washer back into the shed. Job done. Tired, a bit damp, but the place looks a hundred times better. Definitely worth the effort compared to scrubbing on my hands and knees.