Alright, let's talk about my session with that high pressure pressure washer the other day. The patio was looking absolutely grim, seriously, green stuff everywhere, and the fence wasn't much better. Figured it was time to break out the big guns.

Getting Started

First things first, had to drag the machine out of the shed. It's not super heavy, but awkward, you know? Then came the hose situation. Connected the garden hose to the inlet – easy enough. Made sure the water was on full blast before plugging the machine in. Didn't want to run it dry, heard that's bad news.

Then attaching the high-pressure hose itself and the spray gun. That took a bit of fiddling. The connections needed to be tight, really tight. Double-checked everything because, well, high pressure sounds like something you don't want spraying unexpectedly.

Choosing the nozzle was next. Came with a few different ones. Started with what looked like a medium-angle one, figured it was a safe bet. Didn't want to accidentally strip paint or carve lines into the wood right off the bat.

The Actual Work

Plugged it in, took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger. Whoa, okay, that thing has a kick! And it's LOUD. Definitely glad I did this during the day and not early morning. Started on a corner of the patio, just testing it out.

• Held the gun firmly with both hands.
• Kept a steady distance from the surface.
• Moved in sweeping motions, overlapping each pass a bit.

The difference was pretty much immediate. Years of grime just peeling away. It was actually really satisfying to watch. Moved onto the fence after getting the hang of it on the concrete. Had to be a bit more careful there, keep a bit more distance so I didn't fuzz up the wood grain too much.

Found a really stubborn spot near where the grill usually sits. Switched to a narrower angle nozzle for a bit more power. Big mistake. It definitely cleaned the spot, but also left a slightly lighter patch because it was too aggressive. Lesson learned – stick with the wider angles unless you really, really need it, and test somewhere hidden first.

Spent a good couple of hours out there. Sweeping the water and dirt away as I went. It's messy work, definitely wear clothes you don't mind getting soaked and dirty. Boots are a must.

Wrapping Up

Once done, turned off the machine, then the water tap. Squeezed the trigger one last time to release any pressure left in the hose – another tip I picked up somewhere. Disconnected everything, wiped the machine down a bit, and coiled up the hoses. That always takes longer than you think.

But yeah, the patio looks brand new. The fence is much improved too, though I might need to re-stain it now it's actually clean. Overall, a good bit of work, and the pressure washer did its job. Just gotta respect the power it has and take your time.