Using a pressure washer is the easiest way to remove mold and mildew from virtually any surface, including your home’s exterior surfaces such as brick or your driveway. All you need is a pressure washer that outputs at least 1800 psi and some household cleaner.
A pressure washer is an incredibly useful cleaning and washing tool. It can be used to clean surfaces that would otherwise be difficult or time-consuming to do manually. One often overlooked area for a pressure washer is the cleaning of mold and mildew from surfaces such as brick, concrete, siding, outdoor furniture, artificial turf, etc. The use of a pressure washer can reduce the time it takes to clean these surfaces from hours of hard labor to just minutes.
A pressure washer works by spraying a powerful stream of water at high pressure. Different tips can be attached to make changing the spray pattern easy. There are different pressures available ranging from 1800 psi (pounds per square inch) to 4200 psi. Generally, the higher the psi rating, the stronger and more effective a pressure washer will be at removing mildew and mold from surfaces.
Follow these instructions to use a pressure washer to remove mold or mildew from a surface:
Get The Area Ready
Ensure that the area is properly ready for use of a pressure washer. The high water pressures can remove paint from surfaces or even cause damage if used on areas that are too close to concrete or brick where it can strip the mortar and damage the surface if used incorrectly.
Cover Nearby Plants
Ensure that there are no people or animals nearby who could get hurt by flying debris or water pressure.
Stand At a Reasonable Distance
Approach the surface from a few feet away while keeping both eyes open. It may be difficult to see through the water spray. Note that some surfaces may be extremely dirty and will require more than one round of washing to remove all mold or mildew.
Adjust The Pressure Before Starting
Turn on the washer and set it to a low psi for softer surfaces like wood decks or set it to a higher psi (preferably around 2200 psi) for harder surfaces such as brick or siding.
Use Specific Cleaner To Remove Mold
Spray an all-purpose cleaner such as Simple Green or Greased Lightning onto the mold and mildew. Give it some time to penetrate properly.
Rinse With Low or Moderate Pressure
Attach a green tip to your pressure washer for a low-pressure spray to rinse the surface clean. Move the spray head across the surface until all of the mold and mildew are gone.
Avoid using a high volume of high-pressure water for longer than necessary as this will increase the possibility of damage
Note that some surfaces will require more than one application of cleaner and rinse to remove all residue completely.
Dry The Surface
All surfaces should be allowed to dry before use or re-coating if necessary. Letting them dry overnight is a good idea.
Repeat If Necessary
Once you have finished the first pass, inspect the surface for any remaining patches of mold or mildew. If there are spots left over, repeat the process until all traces of mold or mildew are completely removed.
Once you have used the pressure washer to remove mold and mildew from a surface, simply wash it as normal and allow it to dry completely before re-coating or reusing. This can increase your productivity and save time on exterior clean-ups.
[OPTIONAL:] For further protection, use an EPA-registered disinfectant after cleaning with a pressure washer as an added precaution.