Pollen describes the miniscule seeds produced by plants to propagate. It is a fine powder, usually yellow, that is carried on the wind or on insects or birds. Pollen can prove to be inconvenient, especially when painting, and it can cause allergies. Power washing pollen can be very effective in cleaning off homes, fences, and decks.

The Problems with Pollen

Pollen grains are designed to be barely perceptible and weightless. This makes them very easy to spread by a variety of methods. This very haphazard dissemination method of pollen that makes it so effective for plant reproduction can make it a nuisance or something worse for humans.

Pollen gets everywhere and tends to build up if not taken care of. It will stick almost anywhere, windows, gutters, sidings, cars, etc. The buildup of pollen is unsightly and can cause staining. Unattended pollen can become ground into horizontal surfaces especially. When the rain begins to fall, pollen can seep into porous surfaces like wood and concrete.

In addition to being unattractive and making painting or staining surfaces difficult, pollen can cause more serious health concerns. It is insidious for allergies, leading to sinus troubles like runny noses, itchy throats, irritated eyes, etc. and more problematic symptoms like choking and breathing problems.

Can You Wash Off Pollen?

Because it is so light, pollen can be difficult to wash away. When it mixes with water, the solution can become a sticky mess. Because of this, some methods of DIY pollen washing can make the situation worse. It is also easy to miss spots. Nevertheless, many people manage to wash pollen off of their homes or cars with regular garden hoses or a bucket of water. While this may seem like a quick solution, it comes with other problems that power washing pollen doesn’t bring.

Power Washing Pollen

Power washing pollen can be incorporated into annual exterior cleaning. We recommend regularly power washing your house; twice a year is actually best, usually right before winter and right after. Regular power washing ultimately saves homeowners time and energy because the longer pollen and other debris cake onto surfaces, the harder it is to get them off. Power washing pollen is most effective once the height of pollen season has passed but before the residue has time to settle into grooves and cracks.

Cleaning pollen off of surfaces is even more essential to take care of before painting them, and power washing is the way to go. This must be done properly, otherwise you can damage your siding or roof shingles. Professional pressure washing will ensure that the pressure and temperature settings are correct to minimize the risk of damage.

The Benefits of Clearing Away Pollen

Power washing pollen off of your home will improve its curb appeal and its value. The process creates a clean slate, so any surface washed—exterior walls, fences, porches and decks, driveways, cars, and patios—will be primed for paint or stain. That being said, and even with all of pollen’s flaws, it is more crucial to remove other interlopers like mold and mildew in a timely manner. A thorough power washing job will do the trick. 

Does Pressure Washing Help with Allergies?

Pressure washing your home can combat allergies on two fronts. It removes traces of pollen, dust, dirt, and other allergens from the exterior surfaces. This removes these particles from circulation, reducing the risk of people with allergies inhaling them. Cleaning these things away also cuts back on the risk of mold and mildew growth.

Microbial growth is even worse for the respiratory system than pollen. These noxious interlopers can irritate asthma and lead to more serious health conditions. They also grow rapidly, another reason why regular pressure washing is such a powerful defense against them.

Power Washing Pollen with Liberty Power Wash

Professional power washing services provide you with a fresh outlook on your property, removing pollen and anything worse. Our skilled technicians know exactly how to apply pressure and chemical solvents to remove debris without damaging your home. We can manage the job at minimal inconvenience to you.

If you are looking for services for power washing pollen in Northern Kentucky or the Cincinnati area, Liberty Power Wash is here for you. Let us handle your spring cleaning so you can enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine.

Many Kentucky homes are covered with vinyl siding. The material serves as a decorative weatherproofing method, but it must be properly maintained to avoid staining or fading. Cleaning siding with a pressure washer is to prevent the buildup of dirt and grime and the growth of mold and mildew, and a pressure washer allows you to avoid using up your supply of elbow grease which used to be necessary with a scrub brush and bucket.

How to Clean Siding Without a Pressure Washer

Cleaning siding by hand is the traditional method for keeping siding looking fresh. It takes a lot of effort, but many prefer the appearance of a hand-washed home. Cleaning siding without a pressure washer is a good way to protect the material from the damage incorrect pressure washing can cause.

If you choose to clean your siding by hand, you will need a ladder in addition to brushes, a hose, and sudsy bucket. Take the process in pieces. Be gentle with particularly dirty areas and remember that you don’t need to clean every side of the house in one day. Before you commit, know that cleaning by hand is a very time- and energy-consuming process.

What is the Best Way to Clean Vinyl Siding with a Pressure Washer?

If you decide that cleaning siding with a pressure washer is the right method for you, it is important to know how the process works. The first step is to apply mild detergents in overlapping strokes, starting from the bottom of the exterior wall. The cleaning solution will break down grime and stains, so give it time to do so before rinsing, but be careful not to let the solution dry. For rough patches of debris, scrub gently with a brush with soft bristles.

Rinsing off the cleaning solution is the critical part of cleaning siding with a pressure washer. Start with low pressure settings and put plenty of space between you and the wall when you start out to protect your siding from damage. If you need more power, you can get closer or gradually add more pressure. 

Unlike when applying soap, start rising at the top of the wall. The most important thing you can do is to hold the pressure washer level so the pressurized water doesn’t blow up underneath the siding. Be mindful of the siding manufacturer’s instructions before you start the cleaning process. Pressure washing your siding may void your warranty.

What Soap Should You Use to Pressure Wash Siding?

Always use cleaning solutions appropriate to the siding material. Solutions that are too corrosive such as those that contain undiluted bleach or degreasers can eat away at the siding material. 

What Is the Right PSI for Cleaning Siding with a Pressure Washer?

While it is best to follow the siding manufacturer’s instructions, pressure settings around 2,500–3,000 psi are generally appropriate for cleaning siding with a pressure washer.

How Do You Clean Vinyl Siding High Up?

Although pressure washers provide a great deal of distance when projecting water, this power alone is not a great fit for cleaning siding with a pressure washer. If you blow pressurized water at your siding from below, you risk water getting underneath the material. Once there, it can ruin insulation and foster mold and mildew growth.

Though not ideal, the best way to clean siding at higher sections of the house is to use a ladder. Following all possible safety precautions, mount a ladder to apply cleaning solution and to rise at eye level. If you want to manage the scrubbing from below, use a telescoping or pole-mounted brush.

The Pros and Cons of Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding

Cleaning siding with a pressure washer makes the process quick and relatively easy and minimizes the risk of developing tennis elbow. A pressure washer makes tricky-to-reach places more accessible, and because the process goes more quickly than hand-washing, you can finish rinsing before the cleaning solution dries on the wall. The process can even be fun, or at least satisfying.

Pressure washing gives you more options since you can either rent a machine and perform the chore yourself or contract a professional to do it. Once you have the pressure washer in hand or the professionals on their way, you have the flexibility to clean other surfaces on your property as well.

While pressure washing siding can save a lot of time and energy, the reverse can also be true. If done incorrectly, pressure washing the siding can cause a lot of damage, not only to the siding itself but also to the wood or insulation underneath as well. The intense pressure can blow holes in the siding or strip off any paint if the wrong settings are used.

You must be very cautious when handling a pressure washer as that much power can lead to injury. All of these cons can be avoided by leaving the job to the professionals, and when it comes to quality professional pressure washing services, you can’t do better than Liberty Power Wash.

With spring just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about how you plan to freshen up your property. One well-loved method is to add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior of your home. This can make a house feel like a whole new building, but don’t get ahead of yourself. You must not forget to pressure wash before you paint.

Why Is It Important to Pressure Wash Before You Paint?

Pressure washing is an incredibly helpful technique. The highly pressurized water packs a big punch, and the method offers convenience, allowing homeowners to quickly and thoroughly clean a home’s exterior. With all this in mind, why is it so important to pressure wash before you paint?

Any painter knows the job is much easier when you have a clean slate. This is perhaps especially true when painting a building’s exterior walls. Particulates in or under the paint job can compromise the coating’s appearance, and painting without cleaning the walls first runs the risk of trapping mold and mildew underneath the veneer.

Pressure washing exterior walls before painting them ensures that paint can adhere properly to the surface. If you clean your home’s exterior thoroughly, your paint will last longer than if you don’t. An hour of cleaning can add years to your paint’s longevity.

Know Your Stuff

We should clarify: it is not enough to merely pressure wash before you paint. You must pressure wash properly if you want to have a positive painting experience. The nozzle and pressure settings you use matter. If your nozzle is too focused or your pressure set too high, you run the risk of inflicting serious damage on the surface you plan to paint.

Keep the surface you’re painting in mind. The pressure washing methods you use should reflect what’s being washed. For example, power washing (which utilizes high heat in addition to pressure) can cause more damage than soft washing techniques. Vinyl should be treated with kit gloves. Areas affected by wood rot will need to be repaired or replaced before they can be pressure washed. The mortar between bricks does not hold up well under pressure and requires careful finessing to clean. 

If you are at all worried about doing the job right, let the professionals facilitate your pressure wash before you paint to avoid damage to your home.

The Best Way to Apply Exterior Paint

If you take our advice and pressure wash before you paint, you will have your canvas ready. Your next step is to choose how you want to apply your home’s exterior paint. You have a few options, each with its pros and cons. You also have the choice to let a professional painting service handle the job.

Paint Spraying

Paint spraying involves using a paint sprayer to apply aerosolized paint to the surfaces being painted. The process is quicker than painting by hand, though that advantage may be lost in the copious amount of prep work required. Any surfaces not being painted need to be completely covered with plastic tarping to shield them from airborne paint particles.

With the cost of tarping, the pair sprayer (either to buy or to rent), and personal protective gear like goggles and gas mask, paint spraying is the more expensive option. It is also not very forgiving for beginners because getting an even coat takes a lot of practice.

In addition to facilitating a quicker application, paint spraying allows a painter to reach where a brush cannot. That being said, spraying is terrible for painting smaller or more intricate areas because it tends to puddle in crevices and corners. “Cutting” paint into such areas is better even if the rest of the paint is applied with a sprayer.

Brush Application

As the name implies, this painting method uses paint rollers or brushes to apply a deliberate and enduring coat of paint. This method is often more cost-effective but more time-consuming and labor-intensive. Using a brush makes detail work easier, and the amount of prep work required is minimal when compared with using a paint sprayer.

The Best of Both Worlds

Paint spraying with back rolling is a combination of the two aforementioned methods. The paint is sprayed on and then pressed into the walls for better adhesion. Two people work simultaneously, one spraying and one rolling, so the paint can be pressed into the walls immediately after application. This technique offers the speed of spraying and the durability of rolling.