Seven pressure-washing mistakes I see homeowners make

Pressure washing looks simple. It's not — mostly because the machine gives you no feedback when you're doing damage. Here are the top mistakes I get called to fix.

Standard beginner mistake. 4 inches from vinyl siding = warping. Keep the wand 12–24 inches away and use a wider fan tip.

Wide fan tip only, and always with the grain. A zero-degree tip on cedar boards will carve grooves in seconds.

Pressure alone doesn't kill mildew. You'll blast the surface layer off and it'll be back in 90 days. Use the right chemistry.

Streaks form when dirty water runs down clean surfaces. Rinse top down, always. Even if you wash bottom-up for coverage.

Windows crack from pressure blasts. Remove screens before washing siding — the pressure destroys them.

Outdoor outlets and fixtures need to be avoided. Cover them or spray around them at low pressure.

Cleaning solutions dry too fast and leave streaks. Cloudy day, or start on the shaded side of the house.

If any of these already happened to you, or you're staring at a rental machine wondering where to start — that's a good moment to text me. A pro job is often cheaper than a DIY disaster.