Alright, so today I finally got around to cleaning my pressure washer. It’s one of those things, you know? You use it, it gets the job done, then you kinda just… put it away. But then it starts acting up, or you remember that if you don’t clean these things, they just die on you. And I’m not about to buy a new one if I can help it.

Getting Started - The Obvious Stuff

First things first, I made sure the blasted thing was completely disconnected. No power, no water hose attached. Common sense, right? But you’d be surprised. I grabbed a bucket, some rags, and my go-to cleaning solution. Nothing fancy, just some all-purpose cleaner that’s safe for the machine. I’ve heard folks talk about mixing up special concoctions with vinegar or specific detergents if they're cleaning the house with the washer, but for cleaning the washer itself, I keep it simple.

I started by just giving the outside a good wipe down. It was covered in a fine layer of dust and a bit of grime from the last job. You know how it is, splashback and all that. Gets surprisingly dirty for a machine that cleans things.

Tackling the Important Bits

Then, the real work. The nozzles. These little guys are always the first to cause trouble. I took off the nozzle I used last and had a good look. Sometimes they get clogged with tiny bits of grit. I keep a little pin tool handy, specifically for this. It's just a thin piece of metal, perfect for poking out any debris. I checked all my other nozzles too while I was at it. Better to do it all in one go.

Next up, the water inlet filter. This is a big one. So many people forget this little screen. I unscrewed the hose connector and there it was. Pulled it out, and yeah, it had caught a fair bit of sediment. I just rinsed it thoroughly under a tap until it was clean. If that thing gets completely clogged, you’re gonna have a bad time. No water in, no pressure out. Simple as that.

I also thought about the detergent tank, or the siphon tube if your model has one. I hadn’t used detergent recently, but if I had, I would’ve run clean water through the system. I learned that lesson a while back. Left detergent in once, and it dried up and caked everything. What a mess that was to sort out.

• Wiped down the exterior.
• Cleaned all the spray nozzles.
• Checked and rinsed the water inlet filter.
• Made a mental note to always flush the detergent system if used (didn't need to this time).

Thinking Ahead and Wrapping Up

Since it’s getting to that time of year where I might not use it for a bit, I also considered using some pump protector or antifreeze solution. It’s good practice, especially if you live somewhere it gets properly cold. Protects the pump from corrosion and freeze damage. I still have some from last year, so I ran a bit of that through as per the instructions on the bottle. Just connects to the inlet, squeeze the bottle, pull the starter rope a few times – easy peasy.

Finally, I gave the hoses a quick once-over. Checked for any cracks or damage. Made sure all the connections were still looking good. Coiled them up neatly. There’s nothing worse than wrestling with a tangled hose when you just want to get a job done.

And that’s pretty much it. Took me, what, maybe half an hour? Not a huge time investment, but it makes a world of difference to how the machine runs and how long it’ll last. It’s running smooth now, ready for whatever I throw at it next. Definitely beats the alternative of a dead washer and an empty wallet.