Okay, so the other day, I noticed my concrete patio was looking pretty rough. Like, seriously grimy. I decided it was time for a deep clean, and that meant breaking out the pressure washer. But I wasn't sure exactly how much pressure I needed.

Figuring Out the PSI

First, I did a little digging online. Gotta know your enemy, right? I quickly learned that "PSI" stands for "pounds per square inch," and it's basically how much force the water's hitting with.

I found some general guidelines, but honestly, it was a little confusing. Different numbers for different types of dirt. So, I decided to just start low and work my way up.

The Cleaning Process

• I hooked up my pressure washer, making sure all the connections were tight. No leaks!
• I started with a wide-angle nozzle, the one that fans out the water the most. This is supposed to be gentler.
• I set the pressure to around 1500 PSI. Seemed like a safe starting point.
• I tested a small, hidden area first. Gotta make sure you don't damage anything!
• I sprayed back and forth, overlapping each pass. Like mowing the lawn, but with water.

1500 PSI worked okay on some of the lighter dirt and grime, but it wasn't cutting through the tougher stuff. So, I bumped it up to around 2000 PSI.

That seemed to be the sweet spot! The dirt started coming off much easier, without me feeling like I was going to etch the concrete. I kept going, section by section, until the whole patio was clean.

The Result

Man, what a difference! The concrete looked so much brighter. It's like I had a brand-new patio. And the best part? I didn't damage anything. All it took was a little patience and finding the right PSI.

Take it from me and do it from lower PSI and test it first!