Whether you are a homeowner or an investment property owner, keeping the exterior of your home clean is essential. It is a great way to increase the value of your property and add curb appeal.

When it comes to house washing, there is a science behind the process. It involves time, agitation, chemicals, and temperature.

Time

House washing is an excellent way to get the dirt out of your home’s exterior and to make it look nice. A periodic power wash can also help prevent mildew and mold from forming on your shiny new shingles and trim. The best part is that it’s a fun job for a skilled contractor. Besides the apparent shingle washing, a power washer may be used for a few other tasks, such as window cleaning and deck sealing. A power wash with the proper detergents can extend the life of your shingles and trim by a decade or two.

Agitation

Agitation is a term that refers to stirring up something, often by shaking or moving it. It’s common in house washing, where the machine moves the water, detergent, and clothes around and removes all the dirt. It’s also used to describe the agitation of political activists who want people to work together to change something in their community or world.

It’s a normal emotion for most people, but it can be a sign of an underlying mental or physical health condition causing you to feel uncomfortable or unsettled. If you feel agitated more than usual, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the cause.

Some top loaders have a hybrid mechanism where the motor reverses direction every few seconds to perform agitation. A clutch locks the engine’s rotation to the wash basket for a spin cycle. This type of machine is prevalent in compact apartment-sized washers.

Chemicals

House-washing chemicals include bleach, detergents, and other chemical cleaners that break down organic stains, oils, grease, dirt, and grime. They also remove rust, salts, metal particles, and other surface impurities. Some are biodegradable, which can help protect your landscaping and grass. You can find these chemicals in your local home improvement or hardware store.

Sodium hypochlorite can disinfect surfaces to kill bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. They are typically used for characters stained by food, alcohol, coffee, wine, and other familiar sources of odor and stains. You can get this chemical in a spray or powder form. Before using, make sure to read the directions and safety warnings. If you use this chemical, wear protective clothing and gloves to avoid inhaling the fumes. This will ensure that you’re safe from any potential harm and will increase the effectiveness of the process.

Temperature

If you have yet to do a lot of house washing, the idea of using a pressure washer might seem like a scary idea. However, the truth is that a power washer can be used to safely and effectively clean a home’s exterior. This is especially true if you follow the proper safety tips. For starters, it is essential to use the correct type of pressure washer for the job at hand. This will allow you to avoid damaging the cladding of your home and causing costly repairs down the road. Similarly, read the instructions carefully and understand what is expected of you from start to finish. If you need the right equipment and experience, call a professional for a safe and efficient home washing experience.

The temperature of the water can also make a difference in how the machine operates. This is because it will affect the speed of the detergent, how long the nozzle lasts, and whether or not the wash is adequate. For example, a higher temperature will increase the strength of the chemical used to kill algae and mold.