Did you know that the average American spends 53 hours a month doing manual labor around the yard and house?

Keeping your home and possessions clean, neat, and well-maintained is rewarding, but it can also eat up a lot of valuable time. Pressure washing your home’s exterior, paving, and your vehicle is a great way to get more done in less time.

However, if you’re going to be cleaning your car with a pressure washer, it’s very important that you learn how to pressure wash without damaging your vehicle’s paint job.

If you don’t use the right pressure washing method and nozzle, you could do some serious cosmetic damage to your car.

Avoid this and read on for 4 tips for pressure washing a car like a pro. 

  1. Keep Your Distance

One of the first pressure wash tips to follow is not holding the nozzle too close to the body of your car. It can be tempting to zero in on tough dirt spots, but this can damage your clear coat, especially if you’re using a high-powered pressure washer.

Therefore, always make sure you keep the nozzle at least six inches away from your paint job, and about 12 inches away from the trim on your vehicle.

  1. Avoid Pressure Washing Damaged Paint

Is there any flaking paint on your car? If so, avoid these areas while pressure washing. If you pressure wash damaged clear coat or paint, this can make the problem worse and loosen more paint.

Instead, go over these areas by hand with a plush cloth, water, and some detergent.

  1. Follow the 25-Degree Nozzle Rule

One of the most important pressure wash tips is to never use a pressure washing nozzle with a spray pattern of less than 25 degrees.

The tighter your spray pattern, the more concentrated the pressure will be.

If you’re tackling something like paving or a driveway, most tips for pressure washing your driveway will direct you to use a nozzle with a spray pattern of 15-degrees.

However, if you’re pressure washing your car, this concentrated pressure can damage your paintwork and trim.

While we’re on the topic of pressure, reducing the PSI on your washer is another pressure washing method you should adhere to for car cleaning. A PSI of 1,500 is all you need for pressure washing a vehicle, and the PSI should never go above 2,000.

  1. Use the Right Add-Ons

If you want to perfect your pressure washing method for your car, you might also want to look into investing in some handy add-ons such as a foam cannon.

Not sure what type of foam cannon is the best for pressure washing a car? Learn more about this foam cannon supplier and their products here.

Perfect Your Pressure Washing Technique With These Tips

Pressure washing your vehicle is a great way to get it gleaming in less time and with less elbow grease. However, don’t forget that pressure washers are high-powered tools. Follow the above pressure wash tips to make sure that you don’t run the risk of ruining your car’s paint job.

Are you an automotive lover looking for more informative reads? Browse the rest of our blog for a wealth of car-related content.