Alright, so lemme tell you 'bout this side hustle I kicked off – pressure washing. I'm callin' it "Five Star Pressure Washing" for now, 'cause, you know, gotta aim high!

First things first, the research. I spent a solid week watchin' YouTube videos, readin' forums, and basically tryin' not to drown in all the info. There’s a TON out there. I learned about PSI, GPM, different nozzles, soaps, the whole shebang. My head was spinnin', but I figured, "Eh, how hard can it be?" Famous last words, right?

Gearin' Up: Figured I couldn't just jump in with any ol' hose. Hit up my local hardware store. Ended up buyin' a decent gas-powered pressure washer (2700 PSI, seemed like a good middle ground), a couple of different nozzles (a 25-degree and a soap nozzle), a long-ass hose (50 ft, trust me, you'll need it), and some basic cleaning solution. Don't forget safety glasses and some gloves, folks! You don't wanna be blindin' yourself with grime.

Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect: My poor driveway was the guinea pig. Started with the soap nozzle, just to get a feel for things. Man, that stuff sprays everywhere! Then switched to the 25-degree nozzle and started blastin' away the dirt. It was kinda satisfying, I ain't gonna lie. But also kinda messy. I learned real quick that you gotta keep a good distance and move at a steady pace, otherwise you end up with lines and streaks. And be careful around plants! I almost turned my azaleas into toothpicks.

First Real Gig: My neighbor asked if I could clean his deck. Figured, why not? Quoted him a price (probably too low, but hey, gotta start somewhere). Showed up, hose'd everything down, applied the cleaner, let it sit, then went to town with the pressure washer. The wood looked brand new! He was stoked. I was stoked. I got paid! Woo!

Lessons Learned (the hard way):

• Don't underestimate the power of that water jet. Seriously, be careful.
• Different surfaces need different pressures. You can't just blast everything at full throttle.
• Proper cleaning solutions make a HUGE difference. Plain water ain't gonna cut it for tough stains.
• Wear old clothes. You're gonna get wet and dirty, guaranteed.
• Customer service is key. Be polite, be on time, and do a good job.

Next Steps: I'm thinking of investing in some more specialized nozzles (a surface cleaner for driveways, maybe a turbo nozzle for really stubborn grime). Also gotta figure out the whole marketing thing. Maybe some flyers, a simple website... who knows? But for now, I'm just gonna keep practicin' and takin' on small jobs, one dirty surface at a time.

It ain't glamorous, but it's honest work, and the satisfaction of seeing somethin' go from grimy to gleaming is pretty damn cool. Plus, the extra cash is nice. So yeah, that's my pressure washing adventure so far. Wish me luck!