Getting Started with the Big Clean

Okay, so let me tell you about my weekend. The patio, man, it was looking like something out of a swamp horror movie. Green stuff everywhere, dirt caked on like it was paying rent. Decided it was time for some serious action: lance's power washing day, as I like to call it. My trusty power washer and my favorite lance attachment were calling my name.

The Prep Work - Don't Skip This!

First things first, you can't just go blasting away like a madman. Learned that the hard way a few years back. Nearly took out a window. So, this time, I was all about the prep. Moved all the patio furniture, the kids' toys, anything that didn't need a high-pressure bath. Gave the whole area a good sweep too, get rid of loose leaves and big chunks of debris. No point turning those into tiny projectiles, right?

Then, hooking up the machine. Always a bit of a wrestle with the hoses, but got there in the end. Water on, power on. Double-checked the nozzle on the lance – didn't want the super-concentrated one for the main area, just a good fan spray.

Let the Blasting Begin!

And then, showtime! Pulled the trigger on that lance and, oh boy, the satisfaction. Watching that grime just melt away. It’s like magic, I tell ya. I started from one end and worked my way across, nice and steady. You gotta overlap your strokes a bit, otherwise you get these weird zebra stripes. Not a good look.

There were a few stubborn spots, of course. Some old oil stain or something. Had to get a bit closer with the lance, maybe switch to a slightly stronger nozzle for a second, but carefully. You don't wanna gouge the concrete. It's a fine line between clean and destroyed, haha.

• Cleared the area first.
• Swept up the big stuff.
• Hooked up the power washer – a bit of a faff but necessary.
• Chose the right nozzle for the job.

The Not-So-Fun Parts (and a bit of a mess)

It's not all sunshine and rainbows, mind you. You get wet. You get muddy. That spray from the lance, it goes everywhere. Had to make sure the windows were closed tight. And my boots, well, they've seen better days. It’s a messy job, no doubt about it. My back was aching a bit by the end too, from leaning over and handling that lance. It's got a bit of a kick to it.

And you gotta be mindful of where all that dirty water is going. Don't want to just push it all into the neighbor's yard or down the storm drain if it's full of gunk. I try to direct it towards a spot where it can soak into the ground a bit, away from plants if I've used any cleaner (which I didn't this time, just good ol' water pressure).

The Glorious Aftermath

But man, when it was all done, and I stood back to look? Chef's kiss! The patio looked brand new. Like, seriously. All that built-up muck, gone. The color of the stones was back. It's amazing what a bit of high-pressure water and a good lance can do. It’s hard work, yeah, but the results? Totally worth it.

Now I can actually enjoy sitting out there again without feeling like I need a hazmat suit. So, yeah, that was my power washing adventure. Lance did a heck of a job. Next up, maybe the driveway... if my back forgives me by then!