Alright, so I decided it was finally time to tackle the grimy patio slabs. Been meaning to do it for ages. Dragged the water jet washer out of the shed first thing Saturday morning. Thing's heavier than I remembered.

Getting Started

First up, had to uncoil the power cord and the high-pressure hose. Always a bit of a tangle, isn't it? Found the nearest outdoor tap and hooked up the garden hose to the machine's inlet. Made sure that connection was tight. Don't want water spraying everywhere before I even start.

Then, plugged the power cord into the outdoor socket. Flicked the switch on the machine. Heard it hum to life, sort of a low growl waiting to go.

Picking the Right Tool for the Job

It came with a few different nozzle heads. Last time I used the really narrow, pinpoint one and nearly etched lines into the concrete. Wasn't going to make that mistake again. Grabbed the fan-shaped nozzle this time. Seemed like a safer bet for large areas.

• Connected the lance to the trigger gun.
• Popped the fan nozzle onto the end of the lance. Clicked right in.
• Turned on the water tap fully.

The Actual Washing Bit

Okay, moment of truth. Squeezed the trigger. Whoosh! The pressure kicked in immediately, a nice strong jet spraying out. Pointed it at the dirtiest slab near the back door. You could see the grime just lifting off, turning the water brown as it ran away. It’s pretty satisfying, watching years of dirt just disappear like that.

Worked my way across the patio, overlapping each pass slightly. Had to be methodical, otherwise you get stripes. It's loud work, the machine humming and the water hitting the stone. Found a rhythm though. Sweep, step, sweep, step. Got into a zone.

Some stubborn spots, like where the old plant pots used to sit, needed a bit more attention. Held the nozzle closer for a few seconds on those bits. The fan spray was decent, powerful enough but didn't feel like it was damaging the surface.

Finishing Up

Took a good hour or so to do the whole area. Stepped back to look. Big difference. The slabs looked almost new again, much brighter. Lots of muddy water to drain away, but worth it.

Turned off the machine, then the water tap. Squeezed the trigger gun one last time to release the pressure in the hose. Always do that, feels safer. Disconnected everything – power cord, garden hose, high-pressure hose. Wiped the machine down a bit before coiling everything up and shoving it back into the shed. Job done. Patio looks much better now.