Pressure-Wash Pros Wrestling Bad Job Conditions
108 posts across 14 communities in the last 30 days; 33% from r/pressurewashing.
“I normally take that long or longer. If it’s well maintained then you can skip most of the steps and just do a contactless wash. But you need a pressure washer. Foam/rinse/foam rinse air blower then dry. You can skip the windows if you don’t need to and do that another time [re…”
“The first real issue here is why are you washing it on the grass ✍️ [re: Pressure washing advice]”
“Sometimes this can happen due to tape lines, paint will stop at the tape and leave an edge. Not necessarily failing clear, if it is actually flaking then you have a problem l [re: Clear coat failure?]”
Homeowners are experiencing inconsistent and unsatisfactory results from pressure washing and exterior cleaning services. Common issues include incomplete work, damage to property, and a lack of professionalism from cleaning companies, leaving customers feeling frustrated and dissatisfied with the outcome.
SOURCES (60)
“I have no defense, only that I now reap what I sow. If anybody has good advice, please let me hear it 😅 it would be super much appreciated. Thank you! submitted by /u/Uesugi_Kenshin [link] [comments]”
“Used to work for an independent shop as a shop hand. They made me wash a porche boxter with a bristle brush they left outside. I did my best not to scuff the paint, but I’m sure I did at least a little [re: Dealership’s ’complimentary hand wash’ scratched our car]”
“I can’t seem to avoid producing these super uneven spots.. what do I need to do? Add some water to the mud? Stop loading it up too much? What’s the answer? Thank you! submitted by /u/flyawaybucket [link] [comments]”
“Oh wow. This interests me because I’ll be using my brother-in-law’s garage. I won’t have one in a week that’s easily accessible to rewash, clay bar etc. all over again. What does “mindful of the edges” mean to you? Want to be clear, do that mean you skip them and go back maybe after the fact? I have a workshop in my garage so not only is there no space but it’s definitely not clean enough. [re: How long to wait for SIO2 coating after PPF?]”
“I normally take that long or longer. If it’s well maintained then you can skip most of the steps and just do a contactless wash. But you need a pressure washer. Foam/rinse/foam rinse air blower then dry. You can skip the windows if you don’t need to and do that another time [re: Why does it take me so long to wash my stupid car? :-)]”
“The first real issue here is why are you washing it on the grass ✍️ [re: Pressure washing advice]”
“And if so, what kind and how exactly would you put it in? Plan is 4th picture. Also is that white stuff the right way to do it? It was leaking at the joint and plumper slapped that on, and then slapped some more up top to cover a hole (2 actually) you can see in the 3rd picture. submitted by /u/2candiesnahalf [link] [comments]”
“This is my first new construction cleanup job that I need to quote, and I’d appreciate some advice from guys who have experience with these. The job includes: 1,000 sq ft metal-sided building that needs washed Concrete splatter on some of the metal siding 2,600 sq ft of concrete flatwork 600 linear feet of curbs 5,000–7,000 sq ft of asphalt drive-through that needs rinsed after paving Water is available on-site. The contractor wants everything itemized separately on the quote. What would you guy”
“I know a few mistakes here - too much mud, didn’t sand enough, didn’t go out far enough. Maybe some more. What’s the best fix? Should I try to put mud farther out or just cut it out and restart? submitted by /u/EntertainerFancy2285 [link] [comments]”
“I primarily do window cleaning, but i'm hoping someday to pay a lad to continue my round as I do gutter jobs and pressure washing. Because of this, I bought a loncin g420 recently. I have had a little experience with the first lad who taught me how to do windows gutters and pressure washing. I do need to buy a surface cleaner and a lot getter lance, as the turbo lance I got thrown in isn't the best, but it works. I used a 3% hypo mix, followed by a 4.5% but there are still a lot of black”
“Yeah I don’t want to replace it, I would do the contact wash either way. But these tree tannin stains are super frustrating, so I was wondering if the pressurized water would help with those at all. [re: Is a pressure washer more effective than a hand wash and a garden hose?]”
Wasn't prepared properly. Take it back [re: Clear coat failure?]
“Sometimes this can happen due to tape lines, paint will stop at the tape and leave an edge. Not necessarily failing clear, if it is actually flaking then you have a problem l [re: Clear coat failure?]”
“Hahaha I would like to disappear. 🫠 It went EVERYWHERE. The tile walls. The floor. The bathtub. I picked up the glass and vacuumed and locked my cats out because I had to leave, but this clearly isn’t a simple task. Help me, Reddit. 😭 submitted by /u/rydenshep [link] [comments]”
“I have been reading about washing walls to freshen up the house. Is this really even a thing? If you do it, please give me some tips and advice. Does it work to get smells out? TIA submitted by /u/Super_Exp_58517 [link] [comments]”
“Thanks for typing all of that out, all of this is helpful. The strip wash is honestly what I’m most curious about, it’s so aggressive in nature and I have used certain dumb ideas, mixes that I’m not sure I should share, but my cars all have clear coat still lol. I’ve literally tried dawn/purple power (diluted) mixed with a tiny bit of snow foam for suds. I rinsed that off and sprayed the car so quick I have no idea if it worked. That’s on my M3 I’ll fully admit is my test subject because after o”
“Yes 100%! I really mis a 'if its this dirty, you need to at least take these steps, if its this dirty... You are fine with just doing this...' nothing that i can find on YouTube that explained this with good visuals of dirt levels. Maybe something for a future vid ;) [re: Hybrid wash with ONR and struggeling]”
“So I recently had my driveway and sidewalk done. It started pouring rain almost immediately after poured. Here are just a couple of pictures. Pits everywhere and looks very chalky. What would you say to company? submitted by /u/Sweet-Suggestion963 [link] [comments]”
“Wondering if the two dirty spots could be an animal entrance on the siding, or just regular dirt/algae that needs to be cleaned. Thanks for any advice. submitted by /u/Eldertages [link] [comments]”
“I'm trying to find a pressure washer that can handle regular driveway and patio cleaning without turning into a maintenance headache after a couple of seasons. I've seen plenty of recommendations based on PSI and GPM, but I'm more curious about how these machines actually hold up over time. I'd rather get something with a solid pump and parts that are easy to replace than chase the highest numbers on the box. For those who've put some real hours on their machines, what's”
“I took care of this stucco building. I downstreamed 2% then I sprayed with around 4-5%. I am still getting a staining after removing the growth. Is this able to come off or is it just a permanent staining? submitted by /u/sbetters [link] [comments]”
“Awesome vid. Thanks. So i see in the video you do not have a grid guard ik the bucket. Correct? Do you have the rinseless wash solution in both buckets or just the wash bucket? Also. You have a pressure washer, i dont and i dont fancy one due to my time constraints. Would that impact this technique? [re: Hybrid wash with ONR and struggeling]”
Thx man. Kinda makes sense since i already have the hose out for the pre wash. I think that I might not have enough time to wash regularly enough so that i…
“The foaming pump sprayer won't make much difference, but the 2% might. Ultimately without a pressure washer it's always going to be a challenge. My advice would be to two bucket with the rinsless, and also get a Rinseless with more detergent in than ONR. Something like Garage Therapy Rinsless or Koch Chemie RRW. I also tend to double wash the panels myself when it's being a while between washing, this isn't unusual. [re: Hybrid wash with ONR and struggeling]”
“are you cleaning the pads enough, that would be my first thought if only slight machine pressure wasn't working. Your co-workers should be able to give you some tips. I'm going to assume you are using the same pads and polish as they are. [re: Started a new job, need advice]”
“I have a bungalow that needs a roof clean, it has a lot of moss and some repairs. I've had a survey done who advised not having pressure washed as it might cause water to leak through and cause damage and that hand washing is preferred, the house is from the 1930s and I'm not sure whne or if the roof has been redone. I've had a roofer round to quote who said a pressure wash was the best way and that they would spray it after and ensure the moss never comes back, as opposed to a hand”
“Probably going to be an unpopular opinion, but…. The two bucket method sucks, and you don’t need a super high end product to get a really good wash. Marketing is a powerful drug. Power wash your car to get the majority of the gunk off. Spend real time doing this. Like, 3-4 passes around your entire car. Buy a NEW bag of microfiber towels and throw them into a clean bucket (you’ve washed the bucket out beforehand) with your favorite soap. Snow foam the car. Keep the foam handy, because you’re goi”
“Well mate, better learned today than never, you rinse off the pre-wash. Always. [re: How to avoid the scratching/halo?]”
“Here’s a few more pictures of the job I mentioned in the previous post that was locked. submitted by /u/Saints2SB [link] [comments]”
“Is it worth gently raking again to unclump or is that going to cause more damage than good [re: Has this failed?? Please tell me if/how I can save it. UK South East]”
“I just got hired by a pressure washing company, I need to buy clothes and boots. I heard polyester is good to prevent staining, just wondering where I should go to buy stuff submitted by /u/AlexTheBabz [link] [comments]”
“Looking to subcontract this work to a pressure washing company. What would you guys quote this driveway? submitted by /u/Imwoahluis [link] [comments]”
“Question on roof washing, will this stuff fall off on its own or do I need to do something else after I rinse? submitted by /u/Mysterious-Knee-4254 [link] [comments]”
“I have a commercial building I’m gonna soft wash. I’ve done stucco before but this has some pretty bad spots of growth on it. I downstream 12.5 sh normally. I have a limited window to do this because businesses open pretty early. I have a pump sprayer and I’m sure I’ll have to spot treat some of these spots. I’m just looking for some more tips or really any advice on making this go as smoothly as possible. Temps are gonna be mid 70s and it’s only 1 story building. Thanks in advance! submit”
“Most people prefer the higher GPM, it makes rinsing easier, and there's less chance of catching the edge of paint or something. I went with the 1800psi/1.2gpm model because at the time, I had lower water pressure and worried the 1.8gpm would be too much, however I will say it's rinsing is not the best, even for a small car like a Miata. I think I would have preferred this one [re: Ryobi automotive pressure washer on sale at direct tools.]”
“Start with clay bar first before you start with the other jobs, to have a clean surface to work on [re: Should I polish myself or get it professionally done]”
“No reason to leave the hose bib sticking so far from the wall. Also it looks really ugly being able to see the copper. Other work looks okay. [re: First house call]”
“It looks like my neighbor is cleaning their algae off of their roof. Does this look correct to you? submitted by /u/Buttpluggery [link] [comments]”
“Need some help and advice. The driveway is over 2 years old. It was post treated with SH. Is it damage to the surface? submitted by /u/noaadew [link] [comments]”
“That would not fly in my neighborhood. No one wants you walking around their property and into their side, front and back yards. That's invasive and presumptuous, and no one would allow it. The line, "I'll give you a discount if I can wash them right now," is one of the oldest and pushiest slimeball sales lines in existence. Anytime someone is rushing you into a decision - online, on the phone, in person - it's solely for their benefit and not yours. The YT guy may claim su”
“I know this is expected, they barely pushed through, I feel salty calling them up and complaining, its part of a bigger remodel, I just want to move on. I have time to fix myself what should I do? submitted by /u/BunnySprinkles69 [link] [comments]”
“🧹 LET’S CLEAN THIS AREA TOGETHER 🌱 This area needs cleaning, and I’m trying to get it cleaned properly. 🎯 Cleaning Cost Needed: ₹500 You can contribute any amount you’re comfortable with — ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, or more. Every small contribution will help us reach the ₹500 goal. 📲 Scan the QR code above to contribute. Transparency: I’ll share before & after photos and videos once the area is cleaned, so everyone can see the result. 💚 Let’s make our surroundings cleaner, one small step at”
“Hello, Looking for tips on cleaning this garage as I want to put down rubber mats and turn it into a home gym with a heavy bag, wrestling mats, squat rack, etc. It's a rental and I just gutted all of the dirty old shelving holding in dust and nicotine tar. Ultimately, I'll be looking for the cheapest/easiest way to make it functional/safe from a respiratory perspective. Interesting challenges include: How to clean this 60's glass stucco? How to get the thick yellow nicotine tar off t”