How Can I Pressure Wash My Car Safely?

{Host} Welcome back to Ask divergent. You know, we get a ton of questions about pressure washers and how to use them safely on cars.

{Guest} Yeah,

{Host}  and I get it right. You don’t want to accidentally turn your car into a convertible. Yeah,

{Guest} a pressure washer is definitely powerful enough to do some damage if you’re not careful.

{Host} So let’s say I’m a listener, and I’ve never used a pressure washer on my car before,

[Guest} okay,

{Host} what’s the most important thing I should know about safety?

{Guest} The biggest thing is to respect the power, honestly,

{Host} okay,

{Guest} like, I mean that stream of water, it’s really strong,

{Host} way stronger than people realize.

{Guest} Oh yeah, way stronger than you think. Like, you can easily damage the paint or strip away those seals and gaskets and stuff.

{Host} Oh yeah.

{Guest} And these days, with electronics everywhere. You know, you could even force water into places where it shouldn’t be,

{Host} especially with all the sensors
and cameras cars have these days, those can be super expensive to replace.

{Guest} Oh yeah, for sure.

{Host} So how do we make sure we’re not causing that kind of damage? Where do we even start?

{Guest} Okay, so the first thing is distance. Keep that nozzle at least 12 to 24 inches away from the car. That’s like the golden rule.

{Host} 12 to 24 inches, got it?

{Guest} Yeah. And this is super important, never point it directly at seals, gaskets, or any of those electronic components we were just talking about. Like, treat those areas like they’re made of, I don’t know, Spun Sugar or something,

{Host} right? Super delicate.

{Guest} Yeah, exactly.

{Host} Okay, so distance check vulnerable spots were being extra cautious.

{Guest} Yeah.

{Host} Now, what about the type of nozzle? Does that make a difference?

{Guest} Oh, yeah, huge difference.

{Host} Okay,

{Guest} the best one to use is a wide angle nozzle, or a fan paddle.

{Host} Okay.

 {Guest} What that does is it spreads the water out so it’s not all hitting one tiny spot,

{Host} so it’s more like a gentle shower than like a fire hose, right?

{Guest} Exactly. You just want to rinse the dirt away, not blast it off,

{Host} right, right?

{Guest} And also keep that nozzle moving. Don’t let it linger in one spot too long. You’re aiming for clean. Not like carved,

{Host} not carved. I like that. Okay, so
safe distance the right nozzle. Keep it moving. Got it. Now, let’s talk about PSI. I think this is where a lot of people get confused. They just assume that a higher psi means a better clean a car,

{Guest} right?

{Host} Is that true when it comes to washing a
car?

{Guest} It’s a common misconception for sure. It might be true for some other cleaning jobs, like if you’re stripping a deck or something,

{Host} yeah,

{Guest} but for our cars, it’s really not the case.

{Host} So what is the ideal psi range for car washing?

{Guest}  okay,
so for most vehicles, you’re gonna be looking at a range between 12 119 100 psi.

{Host} Okay,

{Guest} that’s gonna give you enough power to get rid of the dirt and grime, but not so much that you’re gonna damage the paint or clear coat.

{Host} So somewhere in that sweet Okay, that’s really helpful. Now, what about people with pressure washers that have adjustable psi settings?

{Guest} Okay, yeah,

{Host} any tips for finding the right level?

{Guest} I always say start low and go slow.

{Host} Okay,

{Guest} so, you know, start at the lower end of that range, maybe around 1200 and then slowly increase the pressure until you find what works for your car.

{Host} Got it

without feeling like you’re taking the paint off,

{Host} like you’re
sandblasting it.

Yeah, exactly.

{Host} Start low and go slow. I like that.

Yeah.

{Host} All right, so we’ve covered safety, we’ve talked about distance and psi, right? Let’s dive a little deeper into nozzle selection and technique.

Okay,

{Host} you already mentioned that wide angle nozzle,

yep.

{Host} Are there any other types of nozzles that we should avoid using on our cars.

Definitely stay away from the pencil jet nozzles or the zero degree ones.

{Host} Okay,

those concentrate the water into like a tiny, super powerful stream,

{Host} yeah,

which might be good for something like stripping cane off a fence,

{Host} uh huh,

but it’s definitely not what you want for washing your car.

{Host} Definitely
not,

yeah.

{Host} Okay, so pencil jet nozzles are a no go for our cars.

Yeah.

{Host} What about technique besides using the right nozzle and keeping the pressure in check? Are there any other tips that can help us get a really good clean without
damaging anything?

Absolutely,
one of the best things you can do is use a pre wash treatment. Yeah? And that could be something as simple as a pH neutral foam, or like a pre wash solution that’s made specifically for cars.

{Host} Okay, so what’s the advantage of using a pre wash

well, it
helps loosen up the dirt and grime before you even touch the pressure washer.

{Host} Oh, okay,

so that means you can use less pressure overall,

{Host} right? Which is better for the paint,

exactly. It’s
all about being gentle.

{Host} So it’s like prepping the canvas before you start painting.

Yes, perfect analogy.

{Host} Okay, so pre wash less pressure makes sense.

Uh huh.

{Host} Now I know we have some listeners out there who have cars with ceramic coatings or paint protection film,

yep.

{Host} Is there anything specific they need to keep in mind when it comes to pressure washing?

Yeah, actually, it’s even more important for them to follow these guidelines,

{Host} really,

yeah, because high pressure can actually shorten the lifespan of those protective coatings.

{Host} Oh,
well. So even with the extra protection, we still need to be careful

Absolutely. You know, those
coatings are an investment, and you want to make sure they last as long as possible.

{Host} That’s a good point. And what about those cars with. Matte or satin finishes, or the ones that are vinyl wrapped.

Oh, yeah. Good question.

{Host} Is it safe to use a pressure washer on those it can be but you really want to be careful.

Okay,  I would always recommend checking with the detailer or the wrap manufacturer first to see what they recommend.

{Host} Yeah.

And you know when in doubt, less pressure, more distance, those are always your safest bets.

{Host} Got it.

Yeah.

{Host} So
the main takeaway here is that pressure washing can be a fantastic way to keep your car clean.

Oh
yeah, for sure,

{Host} but only if it’s done correctly, exactly

right psi, right nozzle, safe distance, proper technique. It all matters.

{Host} You’ve given us so much to think about already. This is incredibly helpful.

Glad to hear it.

{Host}  But before we wrap up this part of Ask Divergent, I want to touch on one more thing.

Okay,

{Host} we were talking about how pre washing can really make a difference when it comes to pressure washing your car safely and effectively.

Oh, yeah, it’s a game changer. So many people skip that step,

{Host} I know right.

 Like, why
it’s like trying to paint a masterpiece on a dirty canvas? Exactly? You need that clean slate.

You need that clean slate,

yeah, to really get the best results.

{Host} Okay, so pre wash is a must.

Uh huh,

{Host} what else can we do to make sure we’re pressure washing effectively and safely?

You know what’s interesting? The order of your steps actually matters a lot.

{Host} Okay,

before you even think about the pressure washer,

{Host} yeah,

give your car a good rinse with just a regular garden
hose,

{Host} really, just a plain old hose down

exactly. That’s
gonna help knock off any loose dirt or debris,

{Host} okay,

which is super important, because you don’t want to be grinding those particles into the paint with the pressure washer later.

{Host} That makes
sense. So you’re basically getting rid of the big stuff. First, exactly. So pre rinse with the hose, then pre wash, and then finally, the pressure washer.
You got it, okay, got it.

And even during the pressure washing stage, think of it more like a final touch up.

{Host} Okay,

you’re not trying to blast away every single speck of dirt. At that point.

{Host} You’ve already done most of the work,

right? Let the pre wash and the initial rinse, do the heavy lifting.

{Host} Okay,
so the pressure washer is the finishing touch, not the main event,

exactly.
It’s there to give you that like sparkling clean look, not to strip your car down to bare metal.

{Host} I love that analogy.

Yeah,

{Host} all right. So we’ve covered safety precautions, the right psi nozzle selection, pre wash treatments, even the order of our wash steps,

yep.

{Host} What else
should our listener, keep in mind,

oh, don’t forget to work in sections.

{Host} Okay, don’t try to tackle the whole car at once,

yeah, focus on one area at a time. Make sure each section is thoroughly rinsed before moving
on.

{Host} Okay. So why is working in sections so important?

It helps prevent the
soap or cleaning solutions from drying on the paint.

{Host} Okay?

If that happens, you’re gonna end up with streaks and water spots. And nobody wants that.

{Host} Nobody wants that. That’s a good point. Working in sections. Great tip.

Yeah.

{Host} Now for our listener who might be feeling a little overwhelmed with all this info, sure is there like a simple mantra they can keep in mind when they’re pressure washing

absolutely when in doubt, less is more?

{Host} Okay,

less pressure, more distance. Start low and slow with the psi.

{Host} Got it,

and don’t be afraid to step back and reassess if something doesn’t feel right.

{Host} Less is more. I love that.

It’s a good one. 

{Host} That’s a great reminder that power doesn’t always equal better results exactly, especially when it comes to car care,

yep.

{Host} So what does all of this mean for our listeners today.

Okay,

{Host} what’s the big takeaway from this? Ask? Divergent,

well, the main thing is that using a pressure washer at home can be a really safe and effective way to keep your car looking great,

{Host} yeah.

But like any tool, it requires knowledge, the right technique, and a healthy dose of respect for its power.

{Host} Absolutely.

You know 

{Host}  it’s about working smarter, not harder,

exactly,

{Host} and by following the tips and techniques we’ve talked about today, our listener can feel good about using a pressure washer on their car for sure, without worrying about damaging it.

Yep.

{Host} Now here’s a thought. Let’s say you’ve followed all the advice and you’re feeling pretty confident with your pressure washing skills.

Okay, what are some signs that you might still be using too much pressure?

{Host} Hmm, that’s a good question, even if you think you’re being careful, yeah, what should our listener look out for?

So one of the first things you want to look for is something called spider webbing.

{Host} Spider webbing,

yeah, it’s basically these tiny little cracks in the paint.

{Host} Okay,

they can be hard to spot at first, but if you see them, it’s a definite sign that the pressure was too high.

{Host} So like tiny cracks, like a spider web pattern,

exactly,

okay. Got it.

Another thing to watch out for is any peeling or lifting,

okay,

especially around the edges of things like decals or stickers, or even those clear protective films,

right,
like the ones you put on the front of the hood

exactly, or like the door edges, those areas are a little more delicate, right?

Yeah, for sure.

And and, you know, if you start noticing any fading or discoloration of the paint, especially on darker colored cars, that could also be a sign that you’re using the pressure water too much.

So we’re watching for spider webbing, peeling, any kind of fading. Those are all signs that we might need to ease up on the pressure a bit

exactly,

even if you think you’re being careful, even if we think we’re being careful.

Yeah, it’s all about being observant and really paying attention to how your car is responding to the pressure washer.

Makes sense.

And you know, if you’re ever unsure, it’s always best to talk to a professional detailer.

Yeah,

they can assess your car’s specific needs and give you the best advice on how to keep it clean and protected. That’s a
great point.

Yeah,

now for our listener who’s feeling inspired and ready to tackle their own pressure washing projects at home,

awesome. Where can they go to find more info or maybe even connect with a professional detailer in their area.

There are so many great resources online. You can find detailed guides, videos, even forums, where you can chat with other car enthusiasts, right and share tips and tricks. And
we’ll be sure to include some helpful links in the show notes for this episode of Ask a divergent

Yeah, definitely. And for those looking for professional help, just searching online for mobile detailing or car detailing in your area, should turn up a bunch of reputable businesses,

yeah,
and a lot of detailers offer free consultations too.

Oh, that’s a good point,

yeah. So you can talk to them about your specific needs and get some personalized advice.

Awesome.

All right, so we’ve covered the what, the how, and even the warning signs when it comes to pressure washing, we get it any final thoughts for our listener before we wrap things up.

You know, one thing to remember is that keeping your car clean isn’t just about esthetics,

right?

It’s also about protecting your investment,

yeah,

and making sure it lasts a long time.

That’s a good point regular washing, whether you’re using a pressure washer or traditional methods, it helps remove those harmful contaminants that can damage your paint over time. It’s all
about preventative maintenance, right?

Exactly?

Taking care of your car today can save you from headaches and costly repairs down the road. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

So to our listener, thanks for joining us for this edition of Ask Divergent. Thanks for listening. We hope you’ve learned some valuable tips and techniques that will help you keep your car looking its best.

Yeah, and remember, a clean car is a happy car until next time,

 happy detailing you.