Alright, so today I wanted to talk about my journey with jet washers. You hear about them, see the satisfying cleaning videos, and think, "Wow, I need one of those!" My patio was looking pretty grim, honestly, like it hadn't seen daylight in years, all green and slippery. I’d been putting off doing anything about it for ages.

What really pushed me was seeing my neighbour’s driveway. He got it professionally cleaned, and the difference was just incredible. Suddenly, my place looked even worse in comparison. So, I decided, "Okay, I'm going to tackle this myself." I didn’t go out and buy the most powerful, gas-guzzling monster. I started with a modest electric one. Figured I’d learn the ropes first, you know? Less chance of accidentally blasting a hole in something.

My First Go With The Thing

Let me tell you, that first time firing it up was something else. I read the instructions, of course. But reading and doing are two totally different worlds. My first mistake? Underestimating the spray-back. I was soaked in about two minutes. Should've worn full waterproofs, not just an old jacket. And the nozzles! It came with a couple. I tried the really pointy, high-pressure one first, thinking it would be quickest. Nearly took a chunk out of a paving slab! Definitely a learning curve there.

I quickly found out that the wider, fan-shaped nozzle was my best friend for general cleaning. It covers more area and is a bit gentler. So, I properly got started on the patio. I worked from one side to the other, slowly. It was amazing to see years of dirt just lift off. It’s incredibly satisfying, that part. Like an instant reveal of what your patio should look like. Took me a good few hours, though. It’s not a quick job if things are really caked on.

After the patio, I felt confident enough to tackle the driveway. That was a bigger challenge. Driveways collect all sorts of muck – oil drips, tyre marks, moss in the cracks. The jet washer did a surprisingly good job. Some really stubborn, old oil stains needed a bit more persuasion, maybe a pre-soak with a degreaser would have helped, but overall, a massive improvement. My sidewalks leading up to the door got a spruce up too. It just made the whole front of the house look cleaner.

Then I started looking around for other things to clean. It’s a bit addictive once you get going!

Here’s a quick list of what else got the treatment:

• My plastic garden furniture – came up like new.
• The kids' old plastic slide – probably cleaner than it's ever been.
• Even gave the wooden deck a very gentle wash, but I was super careful with that. Wood is tricky; too much pressure and you can splinter it or strip the finish right off. I kept the nozzle far back and used a wide spray.

So, what's the verdict? For me, getting a jet washer was definitely worth it. It’s a tool, and like any tool, you’ve got to learn how to use it properly. It’s not magic, and it takes a bit of effort and common sense. You have to be patient, especially with tougher grime. Don't just point and blast at full power right away. Start gentle, test on a small spot. And wear the right gear, trust me on that one. But for keeping outdoor hard surfaces looking decent, it beats a scrubbing brush and a bucket of soapy water any day of the week. Just gotta respect the machine and what it can do, both good and bad if you're careless.