Things You'll Need:
- Pressure washer
- Wasp killer spray
- Detergent
- Garden hose
- Eight foot step ladder
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Step 1
Buy or rent a pressure washer. Also known as power washers, they are fairly inexpensive to rent for a day or a weekend and rental equipment is powerful and well maintained. Should you opt to buy a pressure washer, do your research carefully first and buy a reliable machine. Stay away from the electric ones because they are usually not powerful enough to properly wash house siding. Gas powered pressure washers are a safer bet. 1500 PSI is enough pressure to wash even a two story house. The rental machines will be larger, usually 2800-3000 PSI. Follow all safety and use directions as pressure washers can cause damage if not used correctly.
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Step 2
Close all windows and doors securely before starting the job. Move grilles, container plants and everything you can away from the house. Most plants will be fine but the force of the water can shred leaves. Unplug everything electrical and either close outlets or put some duct tape over them.
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Step 3
Check for wasp nests before starting. Usually they are in the eaves, behind shutters and sometimes under decks, steps or inside light fixtures. Use the spray that kills them from twenty feet away before starting to work on the house. The water won't kill them and you don't want wasp nests full of angry wasps flying through the air while you have your hands full with the pressure washer.
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Step 4
Pressure wash your house without detergent if there is no mildew or heavy grime to get rid of. Hook up the water hose to the machine before starting it to avoid overheating the motor. Start at the bottom of the house and work up, then rinse back down. Try to direct the water perpendicular to the surface rather than forcing it up under the siding from below. An 8' stepladder will safely get you up to a level where a regular two story house can be washed.
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Step 5
Use detergent if the house is very grimy. If you have mildew, buy a detergent containing mildewcide. Your local hardware store will have good cleaners for washing down siding. Always wash from the bottom up to prevent "clean streaks" and rinse from the top down.
