Essentials for Proper Car Washing at Pressure Washers
PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)
The pressure washer's power is measured in pounds per square inch or PSI. A higher PSI rating means the water will be expelled from the pressure washer with greater force. For washing your car without risking damage to the paint, you should use a pressure washer with a PSI setting between 1200 and 1900. That range of pressure is considered safe for car washing and won't harm the finish.
GPM (Gallons per Minute)
GPM stands for gallons per minute. It indicates the volume of water flow from a pressure washer. A higher GPM rating means more water will be discharged by the pressure washer. Experts recommend using a pressure washer with a water flow between 1.5 and 1.6 GPM when washing your vehicle. Within that range, there will be enough water volume to effectively wash your car without excessive overflow.
Spray Nozzles
Choosing the proper nozzle is important for effective and safe cleaning with a pressure washer. There are different nozzles available in different sizes, each designed for specific cleaning purposes. On average, each pressure washer has 3-5 different types of nozzles, each with a different spray angle to meet each specific purpose (the color of the book often annotates them, so you can pay attention to them). mean this).
For a high-pressure car wash without the risk of damage, the best nozzle size is a 25-degree green tip or a 40-degree white tip. Compared to the higher pressure 0-degree and 15-degree nozzles, the 25-degree and 40-degree nozzles provide enough cleaning power to thoroughly wash a vehicle while generating lower pressure without harming the paint layer. Compared to narrower nozzles, the 25-degree and 40-degree nozzle's wider spray angle, and reduced pressure make them ideal for safe and efficient car washes.
For the car wash foam solution, you need to pay attention to using the right nozzle to create foam to help remove stains on the car surface.
Detergent for Pressure Washer Use
High-pressure washers typically include a detergent container to hold the car wash soap or cleaning solution. This makes it easy to apply soap while washing. You should only use car wash soaps or cleaners specifically for your pressure washer and vehicle type.
You should choose car-specific cleaners to ensure the durability and quality of the car's paint. The detergent of the high-pressure car washer is concentrated, so you need to dilute it with water before use. As a general guide, mix about a quart of detergent with water in the detergent drawer.
The steps would be:
Fill the detergent drawer with about a liter of pressure cleaner.
Add water to the detergent drawer until it is about 2/3 full.
Close the detergent drawer and attach it to the pressure washer.
Turn on the pressure washer and activate the detergent spray function to apply the soapy water mixture to your vehicle.
Thoroughly rinse your car with pressurized water to remove all soap and dirt.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here is the correct pressure washer procedure to avoid damage to the car. Please read carefully for reference.
Step 1: Park Your Car in a Spot Good For Car Washing
Park in an open area, possibly a driveway to a large house. You must keep your car away from other cars or objects that you don't want to accidentally get wet or damaged by the pressure washer. Make sure that the power source area is far away to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Step 2: Pre-Wash your Car with Clean Water
When rinsing your car, use a green, 25-degree or white, 40-degree faucet to avoid damaging the paint. This helps remove mud, dirt, bugs, and debris from the exterior. Pre-clean the car to remove loose dirt before pressure washing. Do not use abrasive materials like cheap sponges as they can scratch the paint.
First, spray water on the ground from around 4 to 5 feet away as a test. This checks the water pressure is not too strong. Start washing the car from 4 to 5 feet away, then gradually closer to about 1 foot away.
Direct the spray downward to minimize the risk of damaging the paint. For more delicate parts like windows, mirrors and lights, stay further back. But for the wheels, which get dirtier, you can move closer to provide more pressure for better cleaning.
Step 3: Spray the Detergent on Your Car and Wash
Dilute the concentrated detergent in a bucket according to the instructions. Load the diluted soap into the detergent tank or foam cannon, following the product manual.
In summary, diluted car wash soap is loaded into either: the detergent tank built into the pressure washer or foam cannon attachment. The pressure washer has a spray setting that applies the soapy water to the car for cleaning.
Step 4: Apply the Detergent again and Scrub off the Dirt and Grease
At this wash, after spraying the detergent on the body of the car, you can use a wipe and a flow brush to clean your car. We recommend using only specialized cleaning supplies such as fleece towels – to avoid scratching the paintwork.
Step 5: Rinse off and Dry Your Car
Use the 40-degree nozzle (white) to completely remove the remaining detergent from the car. Note that it is advisable to drop the tester on the ground first to check the pressure of the nozzle. To ensure all the soap is thoroughly removed from the pressure washer, it is necessary to spray water onto the ground. This will help to flush out any remaining soap residue.
Stand 3 to 4 feet away from the car and wash from top to bottom. Keep the pressure sprayer at a 45-degree angle and for sensitive areas such as the engine compartment and light bulbs, avoid direct spraying.
After rinsing off the cleaner, you can use a soft cloth or towel to dry the car.
Conclusion
In conclusion, following these guidelines for keeping the pressure and distance proper, cleaning section by section, and avoiding sensitive areas will allow you to effectively remove surface grime from your car while preventing damage that could occur from using too much force. A proper car wash with your pressure washer will have your ride looking like new again.
