Best Pressure Washer Soap and Detergent
Pressure washer soap can really speed up your cleaning and help your power cleaner work even more efficiently. Find out how to use soap and which type to buy.
When you’re getting ready to power wash and you’re out on your dirty, moldy deck in the hot sun looking at the job ahead of you, you can’t help but think that there must be a better way to get this thing cleaned. Well, of course you can hire someone, but that’s going to cost you an arm and a leg. Besides you already have an awesome high pressure cleaning machine ready to go. One tip that I’ve learned that will make your cleaning job go so much easier is to prep the surface with soap or detergent before you start blasting it. There are a number of advantages to using the right cleaning solution.
Best Pressure Washer Detergents
Benefits of Using Pressure Washer Detergents
Your high intensity cleaning device alone can handle most jobs very well, however adding detergent can speed along the process. And for tougher jobs like greasy surfaces, a good high pressure washer soap is a must have. Specialized soap designed specifically for max psi cleaning mechanisms has quite a few advantages when compared to regular washing detergent. With this soap, the oldest and most stubborn stains can be cleaned with relative ease. While with regular detergent, you will have to apply more pressure and scrub for a longer duration. Power cleaning soap loosens dirt, and after cleaning with a high pressure device, the area will be left sparkling clean.
High intensity cleaner soap can also help clean difficult to access areas; areas that you would normally need a ladder to access. Just by pointing and activating the pressure washer, you can get an area completely clean often with just the soap and the spray nozzle on a lower setting. In a short time, large outdoor surfaces like walls and fences can be cleaned effortlessly. Oil stains on concrete are usually there for life but with specialized washer soap and the high pressure spray from your washer, you can get rid of those stains for good.
Pressure Washer Soap and Detergents
Karcher Universal Garden Patio Cleaner Detergent K2 - K7 1 Litre x 2
This versatile patio cleaner detergent from Karcher is designed to work with pressure washers ranging from K2 to K7 models. With a capacity of 1 litre, it effectively removes dirt, grime, and stains from various outdoor surfaces, leaving your garden and patio spotlessly clean.
Autoglym Polar Wash, 2.5L - Snow Foam Car Shampoo
Autoglym’s Polar Wash is a high-quality snow foam car shampoo that comes in a convenient 2.5-litre container. Designed to be used with a pressure washer, this product generates thick foam to lift and remove stubborn dirt and road grime from your vehicle, leaving a glossy and streak-free finish.
Kärcher 1 L Ultra Foam Cleaner, Pressure Washer Detergent
Specifically formulated for pressure washers, the Kärcher Ultra Foam Cleaner is perfect for tackling tough cleaning tasks. The 1-litre bottle contains a powerful cleaning agent that creates rich foam, making it easier to clean cars, bikes, and other outdoor equipment effectively.
Karcher 3in1 Wood Decking Pressure Washer Detergent
Specially crafted for wood decking, this Karcher pressure washer detergent offers a 3-in-1 cleaning solution. It efficiently cleans, cares, and protects your wooden surfaces from dirt and weathering. Compatible with Karcher pressure washers, it helps restore the natural beauty of your deck.
Kärcher basic cleaner for hard surfaces RM 533
The Kärcher RM 533 is a reliable basic cleaner designed for hard surfaces. Whether it’s stone, tiles, or concrete, this cleaner effectively removes tough stains, oil, and grease, leaving your hard surfaces looking fresh and revitalized. It’s a powerful solution for maintaining the cleanliness of various indoor and outdoor areas.
Adding Soap To Your Washer
Some high psi cleaning contraptions have built-in storage tanks where you can just fill them up with soap and start spraying. Usually these will mix the soap in proper proportions with water so you don’t have to worry about this yourself. However with some models you may need to mix the solution, especially if it’s in concentrate form. The owner’s manual for your machine will tell you if that’s the case or not.
Other models will use an injection system to apply the soap. This means you’ll need to get a bucket and fill it up with soap. If the soap is in concentrate form them you’ll need to mix it with the appropriate amount of water according to the instructions on the soap container. After getting the soap properly mixed in the bucket you just put the injection tube down into the solution and connect it to your washer. The washer will then pull the soap out of the bucket and fire it out onto the surface you are cleaning.
Using the Correct Nozzle To Apply Your Soap
Most high psi scrubbing mechanisms will come with a soap nozzle that attaches to the end of the wand. This nozzle has a very wide spread and will apply the soap over a broad surface area. Don’t use a high pressure nozzle tip to apply soap. The soap won’t stay on the surface long enough to do its job and you can even damage the surface you are trying to clean.
Certain washers don’t come with removable tips but instead have an adjustable wand that you turn to change the spread settings. Many of these nozzles will be marked with a line that you turn to for detergent. If your washer doesn’t have that mark, then just turn the adjustable nozzle to the widest spread setting for adding soap.
Applying The Soap The Right Way
If your washer has an onboard cleaning solution tank built in, then you’ll need to switch the shut off valve to the on position before you start applying soap.
Now that you’ve got everything set up you can start applying the solution. A great attachment for your washer that really speeds up and enhances your cleaning, especially for cars and trucks, is a soap brush. These will usually have spinning brushes on the end that really make it easy to get a dirty surface clean. They are great to use on car tire wheels and hub cabs.
Kärcher 2643-233.0 Soft Washing Brush - Pressure Washer Accessory
6 used from £19.62Free shipping
One brush that I recommend is the Kärcher 2643-233.0 Soft Washing Brush – Pressure Washer Accessory. This device has feathered bristles so that you won’t have to worry about scratching the paint on your car.
If you’re power washing a fence or other vertical surface then you should always apply pressure washer soap from the bottom up. This help to prevent streaks from forming. For a flat surface try to maintain a smooth back and forth pattern while keeping the washer nozzle at an even distance from the surface.
To get the maximum effectiveness you’ll need to let the solution soak in for 5 or 10 minutes before rinsing it off. Then you can clean the area completely with your washer. Just remember that the detergent for power scrubber apparatus should not be left on any surface for more than 10 minutes. And don’t let it dry on the surface.
Ready To Power Clean With Higher Pressure
You are now ready to start cleaning the area with higher pressure if it needs it. If you’re lucky and the surface is not too dirty, then the soap alone may just be enough to get the area squeaky clean. If not then you’ll need to switch to a high pressure nozzle tip or turn the wand to a higher pressure position. When you switch to a high pressure nozzle be sure to turn off the connection to the soap container if your unit has a built in soap dispenser.
Give the washer a quick blast for a few seconds to the surface you’re working on to clear out any soap that is still in the system. Then you are ready to start power washing at a higher pressure setting. If you’re cleaning a vertical surface start from the top down to reduce the chance of streaking. For more information on power cleaning you can read a very helpful article I have on this site – A Few Tips On How To Use Your Power Cleaner Safely and Effectively.
Finally be sure to flush all of the surrounding area with clean fresh water to clear out any solution that may have gotten onto any plants or other areas. Most pressure washer soaps that you buy today are biodegradable, but it’s always good to be sure and flush everything out.
Which High Intensity Cleaning Soaps To Choose
There are many different brands of soaps out on the market. Some are specific to the task at hand, like soaps for cleaning cars, boats, decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, patios, walls or houses. Pick one specifically for your cleaning job. There are also many general purpose cleaners out there that will do a good job on a variety of surfaces as well.
Just make sure that you buy soap or detergent that is designed specifically for pressure washers. It should say so on the label. Don’t try to use any other type of soap as it can damage your washer. And never use bleach or bleach based cleaners. Not only will bleach damage your washer’s pump but it will also damage the surface you’re trying to clean and the surrounding areas including killing plants and shrubs.
As far as determining the best brands of cleaning solution, there is one brand that I highly recommend. The Karcher brand of soap seems to be very effective and is reasonable priced. Karcher is a highly rated pressure washer manufacturer as well, but their soaps can be used in any washer. They have four cleaners targeting different uses; an all purpose cleaner, one designed for the exterior of homes, one targeting decks and patios, and one for vehicles which includes a waxing solution. The soap is biodegradable and not harmful to plants or animals. Click here to check for the best price for the Kärcher 1 L, Universal Cleaner Plug and Clean, Pressure Washer Detergent.
Conclusion
By using pressure washer soap with your high intensity wash down tool you can remove dirt, dust and even bird residue from your walls and other parts of your home, such as gutters, swimming pools and more. High pressure cleaning solution also makes cleaning dirt from surfaces, such as granite, asphalt, wood, aluminum and bricks easy.
If you follow these simple rules and guidelines for using soap with your pressurized cleaning device, you will have a clean home in no time at all.
