The safety stuff nobody talks about in pressure washing videos

Pressure washers are one of the more dangerous tools sold to homeowners. Here's what most YouTube tutorials skip.

3,000 PSI at 3 feet range can inject water through skin. This isn't a scrape — it's a medical emergency requiring surgery. Keep the wand pointed away from any body part, always.

Ladders + wet surfaces + wand kickback = the most common serious injury. Most homeowners underestimate wand kickback. Never use a pressure washer wand above chest height on a ladder.

Water into outlets, junction boxes, or landscape lights = shock risk. Cover or avoid.

Concentrated cleaning solutions burn skin and eyes. PPE — gloves, goggles — is not optional. I wear both on every job.

Gas pressure washers running for hours = hearing damage over time. Earplugs on every gas job.

Chemical-treated surfaces need to fully dry before pets or kids walk on them. Typically 30 minutes minimum, longer for treated wood decks.

• Never wand above chest level on a ladder (use a longer wand or hire it out)
• Always work with a partner on roof or two-story work
• Always carry a first-aid kit and phone with signal
• Always have a written safety plan for the job

If you're renting a pressure washer for the weekend, respect it like a chainsaw. If any of the above sounds like too much, that's a valid reason to hire out.