Alright, so I finally got around to using that power washer cleaner thing everyone’s been raving about. My patio, let me tell you, it was looking like a forgotten swamp. Years of grime, moss trying to claim territory, the whole sad story.

Getting Started - The Setup Saga

First off, getting the actual power washer was a bit of a to-do. Borrowed one from my neighbor, seemed simple enough. Then I had to figure out the cleaner solution. I just grabbed some all-purpose outdoor cleaner, hoped for the best. Mixing that up, connecting the hoses, fiddling with the nozzles – it’s never as plug-and-play as you think, is it? I spent a good twenty minutes just making sure water was going where it was supposed to, and not, you know, into the garage.

The Moment of Truth - Unleashing the Beast

Finally, I pulled the trigger. Whoosh! That jet of water hit the concrete and, I gotta admit, it was satisfying watching that first layer of gunk just peel away. I started sweeping the nozzle back and forth, trying to get an even clean. It’s kind of a workout, actually, wrestling with that wand. My arms were feeling it pretty quick.

I tackled the worst spots first, where the green stuff had really taken hold. The power washer blasted a lot of it off, sending dirty water everywhere. Note to self: wear old shoes. And maybe a raincoat. I was getting soaked. It definitely made a difference, you could see the original color of the pavers peeking through.

The "But Actually..." Part

Here’s the thing though. Residual Dirt Pressure washing will remove most of the dirt, however, some of those really ground-in stains, the dark, oily-looking patches? They just sort of… faded a bit. They didn’t magically vanish. I went over them a few times, tried different angles, got up real close. Still there, mocking me. So, it’s not a miracle cure for everything, that’s for sure.

I also tried it on a small section of the wooden fence. You gotta be careful there, man. Too much pressure and you’re stripping paint or gouging the wood. I used a wider fan nozzle and kept my distance. It cleaned off the green algae, but it’s a slower process if you don’t want to cause damage.

Cleaning Up the Clean-Up

And the mess! Oh boy. You think you’re cleaning, but you’re also just relocating the dirt. All that dirty water runs off, and if you’re not careful, it pools up or streaks down other surfaces. So then I had to spend time hosing down the run-off areas. It’s like a chain reaction of cleaning.

• Patio: Mostly good, some stubborn spots remained.
• Fence: Okay, but needed a gentle touch.
• Me: Definitely needed a shower afterwards.

So, yeah, the power washer cleaner definitely did a job. It’s way better than just scrubbing with a brush, no doubt about that. But it’s not quite the effortless magic wand some folks make it out to be. It takes time, it’s messy, and some dirt is just super stubborn. Still, the patio looks a heck of a lot better, so I guess it was worth the effort. Just gotta manage expectations, you know?