Is It Safe To Clean Your Car With a Pressure Washer?

Manually washing and detailing your car takes a lot of time and effort. Whether you own a personal vehicle or run a car dealership, you could save time and money by using a pressure washer. However, many people worry that using a pressure washer will cause severe damage to their vehicles.

So, is it safe to clean your car with a pressure washer? The answer is yes, you can absolutely pressure wash your car without causing any harm. But you should keep the following dos and don’ts in mind before you begin the process.

The Dos of Pressure Washing Your Car

Among the many tips for buying a luxury vehicle or a base model car is that you should always try to maintain the cleanliness of your ride. Pressure washing is a great way to accomplish this task. The following suggestions will help you keep your car damage-free when pressure washing:

• Do leave plenty of space between yourself and the car.
• Do avoid pressure washing your vehicle on loose ground or gravel.
• Do make sure all windows and doors are secure before starting the washing process.
• Do keep the stream of water moving continuously when cleaning your paintwork.

The Don’ts of Pressure Washing Your Car

While pressure washing is a great way to clean your car, you might run the risk of damaging your ride if you don’t exercise caution. There are some actions you should avoid if you want to keep your vehicle looking its best. Here are some tips for what not to do when pressure washing your car:

• Don’t get too close to your car with the nozzle. You should keep the nozzle at least one foot away from the paintwork.
• Don’t leave the pressure washer on one spot for an extended period of time.
• Don’t spray too closely around windows and door seals. You could end up with a wet interior if you are not careful.
• Don’t spray your vehicle’s engine. This may seem like obvious advice, but people do it all the time!
• Don’t pressure wash areas with chipped paint or rust. You will end up making the problem worse.

How PSI and GPM Affect Pressure Washing

When determining whether it’s safe to clean your car with a pressure washer, it is also important to understand the difference between PSI and GPM for cleaning. PSI, or pounds per square inch, refers to the force of water coming from the pressure washer. GPM, or gallons per minute, refers to the flow or amount of water coming from the pressure washer.

In general, an effective pressure washer has between 2,000 and 3,000 PSI and between 2.2 and 10 GPM. When purchasing a pressure washer, you should look for a product that strikes a harmonious balance between these two measurements.

You do not want a pressure washer with strong PSI and below-average GPM, or vice-versa. A substandard pressure washer may not clean your vehicle as efficiently as you want.

If you own a family vehicle or run a major car dealership, following this list of dos and don’ts will help keep your automobile safe and clean as a whistle. Your car is an essential part of your daily life, and you should make every effort to maintain its appearance and appraisal value.

If you prefer washing your car yourself, here are some good reasons and tips for handwashing your car.