As the weather warms up, gardening experts have urged households to take caution when using pressure washers. They explained that “misusing your pressure washer can cost you” in repairs or replacements as it can cause serious damage to six items.
While the tools are great for patios and driveways, experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk explained: “The pressure applied by the tool can easily break things like gutters, solar panels and garden lights. Even more robust garden materials, like walls and sheds, must be treated with care – as any cracks and gaps can be further damaged by pressure washers.” They shared six garden items that should never be cleaned by a pressure washer.
Outdoor furniture
The blast can strip wood, crack wood or even dent soft materials. They recommended using a sponge and mild detergent instead.
Filthy gutters
They encouraged Brits to avoid the temptation of a pressure washer for clogged up gutters as the pressure can snap brackets, dislodge joints or even puncture particularly thin plastic.
Garden sheds
A pressure washer could lead to rot, warping or mould if the water makes its way into joints and gaps, according to the experts. They recommended a low-pressure hose and a wood-safe cleaner instead.
With metal sheds, the galvanised coating needs to be completely intact with no gaps before bringing it into contact with water.
Bricks
If bricks are crumbling or looking a little loose, a pressure washer could cause costly damage, said the experts. Instead, they suggested cleaning them carefully by hand or with a low-pressure hose.
Garden equipment
They said keep the pressure away from any garden equipment such as the mower, hedge trimmers or other electrical garden equipment.
Garden lights
Garden lights are often delicate and would crack when faced with a pressure washer, meaning you would have to pay to replace or repair them. Anything that’s solar powered should also be avoided, as the high-pressure hose can crack the small panels.