Can You Clean Windows With Power Washer

The answer is yes. You can use a high-pressure washer to wash the windows, but only if you use that low-pressure “soft wash” technology. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before the glass breaks or the sealing strip is permanently damaged. To be on the safe side, you have to lower the pressure of the machine, preferably between 500 and 1000 PSI, and you have to use a wide-angle nozzle, such as the 40-degree white nozzle or the special black soap nozzle. Never use the straight high-pressure water column. The secret of many owners is to keep a distance of at least 3 to 5 feet and avoid the right angle of 90 degrees, otherwise the water can easily be forced into the window frame or behind the outer wall hanging board. Spray a special window cleaner to break down stubborn dirt and bird droppings, and then rinse gently, so that you can wash out a professional-grade appearance without worrying about damaging the double-glazed seal or spraying water into the house.

Soft Washing

I ‘ve seen too many DIY tragedies-everything from shattered tempered glass to double-layer windows foggy due to seal failure. Although the term “high-pressure cleaning” sounds like brute force to remove dirt, we only use the method of “soft washing” when dealing with glass.

Today’s windows, especially the kind of double glazing with Low-E coating or filled with gas, are actually very sophisticated objects. They simply can’t stand the impact of more than 3000 PSI generated by ordinary gas high-pressure machines. The core of soft washing is to rely on chemicals to “eat” dirt, rather than by water pressure hard top. Using that red 0-degree nozzle to flush the window is too thick for your wallet.

List of Necessary Equipment for Owner’s DIY

Before you pull the trigger, check that your configuration is really optimized for glass.

• Selección de boquillas: This is the most critical. Never touch the 0-degree or 15-degree nozzle. It can directly cut off the sealing strip or crack the glass. Rinse with 40 degrees, soap with 65 degrees .
• Pressure setting: If your machine can adjust the pressure, press it to 500-1000 PSI. If you can’t adjust, you can only take a few steps back and increase the distance to let the pressure dissipate in the air.
• Special cleaning agent for windows: Avoid strong chemicals that will corrode the paint. Choose one kind of degradable, marked “house and window special” cleaning agent. These formulas make it easy to get rid of bird droppings and also prevent the glass from being etched.
• Protective equipment: high-pressure water flow back to the sand or potion is really not a joke, goggles must be worn.

To Come Up With a “Professional Style” Operation Guide

If you want to wash out the professional-level transparency without wasting money, just follow these four steps:

The first step: pre shower and inspection
Before starting work, walk circles around the house. See if there are any existing cracks, or if the window frame sealant has fallen off. After confirming that there is no problem, wet the window and the surrounding wall surface with a wide-angle nozzle, which can cool the surface so as not to dry on the glass before soapy water is evenly coated.

The second step: on the soap
Change into a black soap nozzle. Spray cleaning fluid from bottom to top. Here’s a tip: it prevents sewage from flowing down the dry glass and leaving inaccessible traces. Let soapy water stay on it for 2-3 minutes, but remember, don’t let it dry out.

Step 3: Rinse gently
Change back to the white nozzle. This time it’s going down from the top. The tip of the gun is slightly tilted downward to allow the water to flow down naturally, instead of rushing hard against the window seam, otherwise the water will get into the wall of your house.

The fourth step: dealing with water stains
If the water quality on the other side of your home is relatively hard, there may be white spots after natural drying. I suggest a quick wipe with a scraper or microfiber cloth on the lower window, and the effect will be different immediately.

What Circumstances Absolutely Can Not Use High Pressure Cleaning

• Old single-layer windows: the old glass before the 1970 s was very brittle, and the fixed putty was loose, and it would fall apart with a little pressure.
• Painted or lead glass: these are handicrafts that are destroyed by the rush of high-pressure water.
• Sealing strip that has failed: If you see fog in the interlayer of the window, it means that the seal is already broken. High-pressure cleaning will only pour more water into it and eventually grow mold.
• Loose window screens: high-pressure water can tear up unfixed window screens like paper.

Safety First

The most important rule in this business is: never stand on a ladder to operate a pressure washer. The recoil of the gun can lift you off the ladder in an instant. Wash the windows on the second floor to buy a special telescopic extension rod, down-to-earth is the absolute principle.

Author： Mike Thompson

Over the years, I’ve seen every DIY disaster imaginable, which is why I’m dedicated to teaching homeowners the ‘soft wash’ secrets that the pros use. My mission is to help you achieve a flawless, professional finish on your home while avoiding the costly mistakes that high-pressure water can cause.