So, the other day, I had this grand plan, you know? My concrete patio, the driveway, the whole shebang – it was looking pretty grubby after winter. I dragged out the pressure washer, got all my nozzles lined up, feeling pretty good about tackling the job.

And then, wouldn't you know it, the sky opens up. Not a crazy storm, but that annoying, persistent drizzle. My first thought was, "Well, there goes that plan!" But then I got to thinking... can you actually pressure wash concrete when it's raining?

My Little Experiment in the Wet

I stood there for a bit, watching the rain. The concrete was getting wet anyway, right? Part of me figured, hey, maybe this is a good thing. Free pre-soak, courtesy of Mother Nature. I decided, what the heck, let's give it a go. My pressure washer is a gas one, so I wasn't too fussed about the electrics-and-water mix, but if you've got an electric one, man, I wouldn't even think about it in the rain. Seriously.

So, I fired up the machine. The rain was steady but light. Here’s what went down:

• The surface being already wet definitely felt like it helped. Usually, I spend a bit of time wetting everything down, but the rain had that covered. So, less water from my end to start with.
• As I started blasting away the grime, the rain seemed to help wash the dirty water away quicker. Kinda like having a constant, gentle rinse going on. That was a plus.
• On the flip side, it was a bit harder to see exactly what was clean and what wasn't. The wet surface, plus the raindrops, kinda masked things a bit. I had to get a bit closer and really pay attention.
• And yeah, I got soaked. I mean, you get wet pressure washing anyway from all the spray, but the rain just added another layer to it. Good thing it wasn't a cold day!

Getting Down to Business

I just took it slow. Made sure my footing was solid because, you know, wet concrete can get slippery. I worked in smaller patches than I normally would, just to keep track of where I'd been and what still needed doing. The actual power of the pressure washer didn't seem affected at all. It cut through the dirt and algae just like it always does.

I did find myself going over a few spots a second time once the rain eased up for a moment, just to be sure. It’s funny how the sheen of water can trick your eyes into thinking something's cleaner than it is.

So, What’s the Verdict?

You know what? It actually worked out pretty decently. Once the rain finally stopped and the concrete started to dry off, I was pretty happy with the results. The grime was gone, and the rain hadn't made a mess of things or stopped the machine from doing its job.

Would I make a habit of pressure washing in the rain? Probably not my first choice. If it's bucketing down, forget it. That's just asking for trouble and a miserable time. But for a light drizzle, if I'm already set up and in the zone? Yeah, I'd probably go for it again.

My takeaway is this: a bit of rain doesn't necessarily mean you have to call off your concrete cleaning. The water's gonna get there anyway. Just be smart about it. Safety is the big one, especially with any electrical gear. And be prepared to maybe not see results perfectly until it dries. But yeah, sometimes you just gotta roll with what the weather throws at you if you want to get a job done.