In this article you will learn:
How to safely pressure wash your car
When to use a pressure washer on your vehicle
Table of Contents
Remember to choose a right pressure washer for car wash
Washing cars is one of the most popular uses for pressure washers. But, like many car owners out there, you may be wondering if pressure washers are actually safe to use on your vehicle. Well, the answer is yes… and no.
When used properly, powered washers rinse away more dirt and soils than your typical garden hose in just a fraction of the time, leaving a smoother, glossier finish. But, without the right know-how and equipment, a pressure washer could potentially damage your paintwork.
Before using a pressure washer on your vehicle, it’s important to know how to use one of these powerful machines, which costly mistakes to avoid and what kind of pressure washer is best for you. So, here are some helpful tips for safely integrating a pressure washer into your car cleaning routine!
CHOOSE ELECTRIC, NOT GAS
If you’re shopping for a pressure washer for your car, make sure you’re searching for electric and not gas powered washers. An electric pressure washer is much better suited for washing your car than gas pressure washers. Not only does it spray a shorter stream of water, but an electric pressure washer also features a lower maximum pressure, and, in the case of pressure washers and your car, less is more.
A gas pressure washer, on the other hand, is capable of much more powerful pressure, which is useful for clearing the dirt and soils from parking lots and driveways, but these machines are much too aggressive to use on your car.
USE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE
Although many electric pressure washers produce a pressure of about 1900 psi, you should only use a water pressure of 1500 psi or lower on your car. You‘ll need to look for a low-pressure machine that’s a bit less aggressive than the standard. Pressures higher than 1500 psi won’t provide a significant increase in cleaning power; it only raises your chances of scratching or damaging your paintwork.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT ATTACHMENTS
In addition to making sure your machine uses the right water pressure, you’ll also need to use the correct attachments. The smaller the attachment’s spray pattern, the more powerful your stream of water will be. You should never use a spray pattern of less than 10 degrees on any part of your vehicle, including the wheels.
We recommend using a 25-degree spray pattern to clean your wheels and tires, and a 40-degree spray pattern on your painted surfaces and auto glass. Your nozzle should always produce a fan-like spray; steer clear of bullet tips that could scratch or chip your vehicle’s paintwork.
It’s also important to make sure you always hold the tip of your pressure at least 6 inches away from your paint and 12 inches away from plastic trim. Holding the tip any closer could loosen your trim or damage the clear coat, especially around already scratched or chipped areas.
USE IT TO REMOVE HEAVY SOILS
Pressure washers are not always the right tool to reach for when washing your car. In certain instances, it may be safer or more effective to handwash your vehicle. Other times, you may need to use a specialty cleaner, to get rid of particularly stubborn stains, like fresh tar or bug remains.
The best time to use a pressure washer is to remove heavy soils from your car after off-roading or driving through mud on a wet, rainy day. Your pressure washer will especially come in handy during the pre-rinse to clear loose dirt and soils from your wheels, tires and exterior panels.
Remember to choose a handy home pressure washer
A convenient pressure washer is the premise of your frequency of use. If the pressure washer has a very cumbersome preparation process before use, or it is troublesome to store after use. This will add more trouble to your car wash, otherwise the pressure washer will be idle. So a convenient pressure washer is very important. Check out the Giraffe Tools Pressure Washer, a compact unit that requires no preparation and is ready to use. There is no cumbersome storage process after use. It is definitely an ideal car washing equipment.
