So, my pressure washer, right? It was looking absolutely grim. Like it had seen better days, and those days were about ten years ago. Covered in who-knows-what from the last few big jobs. I figured it was high time I actually gave it a proper clean-up. You spend good money on these tools, you gotta look after them, otherwise they just give up on you when you need 'em most. It's not rocket science, just a bit of elbow grease.

Getting Started - The Prep Work

First things first, I had to gather up my supplies. Wasn't anything too fancy, mind you. I just grabbed:

• My trusty bottle of all-purpose cleaner. The kind you can use on pretty much anything.
• A bucket of warm water. Always helps to loosen the muck.
• A couple of old microfiber cloths. Got a whole stack of these, perfect for cleaning.
• An assortment of brushes. An old dish brush, a stiff-bristled one, and yeah, even an old toothbrush. You'd be surprised how handy those little things are for tight spots.
• Some degreaser, just in case. For those really oily, stubborn patches.

I laid out an old tarp on the driveway too. Didn't want to make an even bigger mess while I was cleaning, you know? Seemed sensible.

The Actual Cleaning Bit - Down and Dirty

Alright, so I got stuck in. The main body of the washer was caked in dried mud and grass. I gave it a good spray with the all-purpose cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. You gotta let the chemicals do their thing, soften up the grime. Then, I took my main brush and started scrubbing. Circular motions, back and forth, really working it into the surface. Some spots were tougher than others, needed a bit more oomph.

Then I moved onto the wheels and the underside. Honestly, this was probably the worst part. Just layers of gunk. Sprayed them down, let it soak, and then got in there with the stiff brush. It took a while, I won't lie. Lots of rinsing the brush in the bucket and going back at it.

The hose and the wand weren't too bad, mostly just surface dirt. A good wipe down with a cloth soaked in the cleaning solution did the trick for most of it. I paid a bit of attention to the connectors, made sure there was no gunk building up in there. That can cause problems down the line.

Now, the nozzles. This is important. If your nozzles are clogged or dirty, your pressure washer isn't going to work right. Simple as. I took each one off and gave them a good soak in a bit of the cleaner. Used that old toothbrush to get into the tiny crevices and make sure the spray holes were clear. This made a huge difference, I tell ya. Last time I forgot this, the spray pattern was all over the place.

For the engine area – mine’s a gas one – I was a bit more careful. Didn't want to just blast it with water. I used a damp cloth with a bit of cleaner, wiped down the casing. There were a few oily spots near the engine itself, so I used a tiny bit of degreaser on a cloth for those, then wiped it clean with a fresh damp cloth. You just gotta be sensible, not soak anything important.

Finishing Up and The Result

Once I was happy that all the grime was gone, I gave the whole thing a final wipe-down with a clean, damp microfiber cloth. Just to get rid of any leftover cleaning solution. Then I let it air dry properly in the sun for a bit.

And you know what? It looked almost new. Okay, maybe not brand new, but a heck of a lot better. More importantly, it just feels right. Knowing your equipment is clean and looked after. It’s not just about aesthetics; it's about maintenance. Keeping things clean helps you spot potential issues early, and it definitely makes the machine nicer to use next time. Plus, I reckon it’ll last a bit longer now. Worth the hour or so it took, for sure. Ready for the next job, whenever that might be.