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More often than not, my friends and acquaintances ask me the question is it safe to pressure wash a car?
While I answer them in the affirmative, I also tell them that a lot depends on how they handle their pressure washer.
I know the fact that to every car owner, their car is a valuable asset. And the majority of them know that the pressure washing techniques can save them time, effort, and hassle at once.
Also, I get asked the questions:
Is pressure washing cars good or bad?
Is power washing bad for car paint?
To be fair, pressure washing a car has its benefits as well as downsides; by following the right procedure, you can conclude your task within a shorter time frame and with less effort without causing any damage to the paint.
In this post, I’ll answer all the questions in detail to help you make an informed decision.
Many people come out with the thought can I use a pressure washer on a car? Yes, of course.
But can you pressure wash a car with any pressure washer that is available in the market?
My shortest possible answer to this is “no”.
No doubt, you can find an impressive array of pressure washers for car cleaning in the market these days. While some of them run on gas, and others on electricity. Considering the delicacy of the surface of a car, it is a good idea to go with an electric pressure washer.
The reason behind, the variants that run on gas produce more output than what you need for removing dirt from the car. The lesser impact on the painted surface of your car means a lower risk of damaging the paint.
At the time of washing a car with a pressure washer, you will need about 3000 cleaning units to restore its shiny appearance. So, you’d be better off going with a unit that could produce a power output ranging between 1200 to 1900 PSI at 1.4 to 1.6 GPM.
Of course, you can adjust the PSI to a slight upper or lower limit as long as it provides an output within the range of 3000 cleaning units.
Here are some of our recommendations.
| Pressure Washer | PSI | GPM | Cleaning Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Joe SPX3000 | 2030 | 1.76 | 3572 |
| Stanley SHP2150 | 2150 | 1.4 | 3010 |
| Karcher K5 Premium | 2000 | 1.4 | 2800 |
Factors to Consider to Safely Pressure Wash Your Car
From choosing a piece of equipment to keeping an eye on the proximity of your car to other objects, you need to consider several things to ensure the safety and efficiency of pressure washing your car.
Make sure you are following the right steps to clean your car with a pressure washer.
Try to bear the following points in mind to pressure wash your car in a safe and secure way:
1. Use soft water
You might know a thing or two about hard water and soft water. In general, the hard needs more soap than the soft for washing due to the presence of magnesium and calcium ions in it.
Soft water works fine normal pressure washers, whereas you need a hot water pressure washer to wash your car with hard water. But keep in mind that such units can strain your finances as they are expensive.
2. Check the pressure
To get 3000 cleaning units with an electric pressure washer, which is the ideal cleaning output you need for pressure washing a car, all you need to do is go with a unit with a PSI ranging between 1200 and 1900.
Also, keep in mind to choose a product that has 1.6 GPM or less to prevent any damage to the paint job.
3. Pick up the appropriate pressure nozzle
Whether you are new to the pressure washing or have spent some time doing it, it is important to know about the five distinctive variants of pressure washer nozzle for car wash.
For pressure washing, you need to be able to control the flow of water. Sometimes you may need to get a wider flow, whereas the narrower flow will prove to be useful to you at the other stages.
You can exercise better control over the pressure setting by adjusting it to a lower level.
Regular users refrain from using the red nozzle for a reason. You can take your cue from it. The red nozzles can affect the paintwork on the external surface of your car with its single stream of water.
When using the yellow nozzle, remember to stand at a safe distance as it releases water to produce the blasting effect for the removal of mud. If using it is your best option, then make sure you use it carefully as improper handling of the nozzle can also lead to a negative impact on the paint job.
Green, white, and black nozzles are the ideal variants of nozzles for your car. They work at 15 degrees, 40 degrees, and 65 degrees respectively.
Want to know more? Check this video out.
4. Maintain the safe distance between nozzles and rubber or trim pieces
When pressure washing your car, you are likely to use one of the nozzles of your pressure washer. No matter which one you use, remember that it will put pressure on rubber or trim pieces. Keeping the nozzles too close puts excessive pressure on these surfaces that may remove the adhesion of emblems or stickers.
5. Opt for an electric pressure washer
As discussed early, a gas pressure washer produces greater output than what you need for pressure washing your car. While it is useful for complex cleaning tasks, it can remove even the strongest paintwork of your car.
When it comes to using a pressure washer to wash cars, going in with a unit that operates on electricity is a safer option which produces an output in the range of 3000 cleaning units.
Advantages of Pressure Washing a Car
- It saves you a lot of time which may not be possible if you adopt the manual cleaning approach for this purpose.
- It helps you conclude a car cleaning task much quicker than the manual way of doing it.
- It gives you the much-needed break from the need for scrubbing. This way, it ensures the safety of the nails and the skin on your fingers.
- Pressure washing enables you to remove sticky substances such as pollen, and bugs. Moreover, it is also effective in removing stubborn stains resulting from bird poop, tar, and other substances.
Disadvantages of Pressure Washing a Car
- It is not suitable for exotic cars.
- Pressure washing may not be the best option for small-sized cars.
- Using it too often can strain your finances as it can be expensive.
Dos to Follow While Using a Pressure Washer
- Before pressure washing your car, check if any of its doors or windows are open. In case you find one, make sure you close it to prevent water from getting into the interiors of your vehicle.
- A gentle detergent is perfect for pressure washing. So, make sure you use only this kind of detergent for removing dirt off the surface of your car.
- Before you proceed with pressure washing your car, check out if the detergent is mixed well with water.
- Wear one of the variants of closed-toed shoes to protect your feet from the impact of the accidental fall of water at high pressure.
- Even as your unit produces more than 3000 cleaning units, you can still stave off the damage to the paintwork on the exteriors by using a clean and soft-bristled brush.
- Wash the sponge and brush after use with clean water to prevent the finer grains from appearing on the surface.
Don’ts to Remember When Pressure Washing a Car
- Do not keep the pressure washing unit too close.
- Do not attempt to pressure wash the engine or any other component that is close to the bottom part of the hood as it may send water through crevices and cracks.
- Do not start washing the car from the bottom. Instead, think about doing it the other way around i.e. from top to bottom.
- Do not begin your pressure washing task without diluting the combination of detergent and water.
- Avoid being playful with a pressure washer and do not spray water on others as it may cause physical damage to them.
FAQs
Can pressure wash be used for inside car cleaning?
The answer is no. For a moment, consider why pressure washers are so good for cars. They clean the exteriors of your car with efficiency due to its impact, capable of removing dirt, dust, grime, and other substances. But the same impact can also damage the interiors of your car as well.
What PSI is safe for washing cars?
A car wash pressure washer PSI ranging between 1200 and 1900 PSI is safe for washing your car provided you also ensure the GPM range of a unit to be somewhere between 1.4 and 1.6.
Which is the best soap for washing cars?
For washing cars, you can explore not just one but several possibilities. Here are some of my recommendations.
While you can also try out the other options, these choices will serve your purpose in the best possible way.
Can I use homemade car wash soap?
Yes, you can prepare it at home by adding the combination of ¼ cup of dishwashing soap and baking soda to a bucket of water. Mix them well to prepare your homemade car wash soap.
How can I extend the life of my car wash pressure washer?
By keeping your pressure washer clean. Removing dirt from its nozzles every time after use. Use clean water to flush the jet and inspect the nozzles from time to time to keep them in the working condition.
Upshot
Are you are still thinking Is it safe to wash a car with a pressure washer? Let us assure you that pressure washing is generally a pretty safe and efficient way to wash your car provided you follow the right technique and use the right equipment. Plus, it also saves you time, effort, and hassle. Make certain you remember the aforementioned points while trying out the technique.