So, the other day, I finally decided to tackle the grime on my siding. It was looking pretty sad, you know, that green and black stuff that just creeps up on you. I figured it was time to break out the pressure washer and some detergent to get the job done right.

Getting Started with the Gunk

First things first, I went to the store. Man, the choices for pressure wash detergent are a bit much, aren't they? Bottles everywhere, all promising miracles. I just grabbed one that said "House and Siding Cleaner," seemed straightforward enough. Didn't want to get bogged down in analysis paralysis, just needed something that worked.

Back home, I got my trusty pressure washer out of the shed. It’s one of those electric ones, not too fancy but does the job. Now, the detergent part. Mine has this little soap tank you fill up. I’d read the instructions on the detergent bottle – always a good idea, even if I skim sometimes. It said to dilute it for some applications, but for the pressure washer tank, you usually pour it in straight or follow the washer's own guide. My washer is pretty basic, so I just poured the detergent into its designated tank.

The Actual Washing Process

Okay, so I connected everything up: water hose to the pressure washer, pressure hose to the gun, and picked the special low-pressure soap nozzle. That’s a key thing, you gotta use the soap nozzle, otherwise, the detergent won’t get siphoned through properly. Learned that the hard way a while back on a different project, ended up just spraying water and wondering why nothing was happening.

So, I started spraying the siding, working from the bottom up. The detergent came out all foamy, clinging to the surface. It’s important to let it sit for a bit. The bottle said 5-10 minutes, but not to let it dry on the surface. This is where the magic is supposed to happen, the detergent breaking down all that dirt and algae.

• Sprayed a section, making sure it was well-covered.
• Watched the clock, gave it a good few minutes to soak in.
• Made sure I didn't let it dry, especially since it was a bit sunny.

I worked in manageable sections. Trying to do the whole side of the house at once would mean the first part would dry before I got to rinse it. No good.

Rinsing and the Big Reveal

After the waiting game for each section, it was time to switch nozzles. Off with the soap nozzle, on with a regular cleaning nozzle – I used a 25-degree one, good for general rinsing without being too aggressive on the siding. Then, starting from the top down this time, I rinsed all that detergent and loosened grime away. Always rinse from the top down, so the dirty water doesn’t run over the clean bits.

And you know what? It actually worked pretty well! The green gunk was gone, and the siding looked a whole lot brighter. There were a couple of stubborn spots that needed a second pass with the detergent or a bit more focused rinsing, but overall, a huge improvement.

What I Reckon Now

So, yeah, using pressure wash detergent isn't rocket science, but there are a few things that make a difference. Using the right nozzle for soaping and then for rinsing is super important. Letting the detergent do its work – that dwell time – is also key. And working in sections, bottom-up for soap, top-down for rinse.

Honestly, I was pretty pleased with myself. The house looks much better, and it wasn't as complicated as I sometimes build it up to be in my head. Just gotta get the steps right and have a bit of patience.