Hello and welcome to my cleaning blog. Cleaning can bring you a lot of joy. Without it, our homes and businesses would literally be covered in old food, dust, and garbage. My name is Penny, and in this blog, I'm going to cover cleaning techniques and tips for staying organized. Whether you are trying to wash a stain out of a shirt or keep on top of the vacuuming, I hope these posts help. I also plan to write about hiring professional cleaners for your home, office, or even your industrial facility. My hope is that this blog brings you as much joy as a clean space.
The Joy of Cleaning
Should You Pressure Wash A Stone Foundation?
Catherine Edwards
Does your home have a stone foundation that is looking quite dirty? You might be wondering whether you can pressure wash it to clean it. The short answer is that you usually can, but you do need to be careful. Here are some tips to help you determine whether it's safe to pressure wash your stone foundation and a few more tips to help you do so without damaging the stone or grout.
Examine the grout before you start.
If the grout in your stone foundation is in poor condition, it's not a good idea to pressure wash the foundation. Even if you don't aim directly at the grout, the pressure of the water on the stone around the grout may be enough to drive more crumbling grout out of the cracks, weakening the foundation. Arrange for a mason to come replace or repair the grout, and then you should be able to clean it safely.
Use a gentle cleaner made for stone.
If you determine your grout is in decent shape and it's okay to pressure wash your foundation, you will want to look for a gentle cleaner. Avoid all-purpose cleaners which sometimes contain additives that can weaken and break down the grout. Instead, opt for a cleaner that is made specifically for cleaning stone. It will do a better job of releasing the dirt from the stone surface, and it won't erode the grout.
Use a fan tip.
When selecting a tip for your pressure washer, look for one that has a fan-like shape. This water pattern spreads the pressure out a bit instead of concentrating it as a single point. A fan-shaped water pattern is less likely to disrupt the grout, and it will also clean more of the stone at once, allowing you to move through the project a bit faster.
Go over it twice.
Stone can hold onto dirt quite stubbornly. So, you may find that you need to go over the stone twice with the power washer. Let the stone sit after your first washing attempt. Once it is dry, you will be better able to see any dirty spots you missed and tackle those again.
It is not always safe to power wash a stone foundation, but if the grout is in good shape, you can usually go with it. Follow the tips above to get better results, and reach out to a pressure washing company if you have any other questions.
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