Okay, here's my blog post about cleaning solutions for pressure washers, written in a casual, personal style:

Alright, so the other day I pulled out my pressure washer to give the driveway a good scrub. It had been looking pretty grim – oil stains, dirt, you name it. I've learned the hard way that just blasting water at it doesn't always cut it. You often need a little extra oomph in the form of a good cleaning solution.

So, I started experimenting (because, why not?). I had a few different things lying around the garage, and figured I'd see what worked best.

My Little Experiment

• First up: Plain old dish soap. I mixed a squirt of Dawn with some water in a bucket, and then used the pressure washer's soap dispenser to apply it. It did...okay. Got rid of some of the surface grime, but the tougher stains didn't budge.
• Next: I tried a dedicated "pressure washer detergent" I picked up from the hardware store. This stuff was thicker, and it definitely seemed to foam up more. I let it sit for a few minutes before blasting it with water. Better results! The driveway looked noticeably cleaner, and even some of the older oil stains started to fade.
• Finally: for the REALLY stubborn spots, I whipped out some Simple Green. I've used this stuff for all sorts of cleaning projects around the house, and it's pretty powerful. I diluted it according to the instructions, applied it directly to the stains, and let it soak for a good 10 minutes before hitting it with the pressure washer. Boom! This did the trick. The worst stains were either gone completely or significantly lighter.

My Conclusion from testing those solutions: For general cleaning, the dedicated pressure washer detergent is probably your best bet. It's designed for the job, and it's usually pretty affordable. But for really tough stains, don't be afraid to break out the Simple Green (or something similar). Just make sure you dilute it properly, and always test it in a small, inconspicuous area first, just in case.

One more thing I learned: Don't forget to rinse! After you've applied your cleaning solution and blasted away the grime, make sure you give everything a good rinse with plain water. You don't want any soapy residue left behind.

So that was my little cleaning adventure. Hope this helps someone out there! Cleaning can be satisfying, especially when you see those before-and-after results. Happy washing!