Looking for a new way to finish cleaning your bathroom faster than ever? Consider power washing your shower! If you’ve never used a power washer, you’re in for a treat! This is one of the most amazing cleaning tools you can have. It’s a great tool to keep around the house.
Power washing bathroom tiles is safe and harmless. It can effectively reduce your bathroom cleaning time from an hour to just under 10 minutes. Don’t believe me? Get ready for a bathroom miracle!
The AR Blue Clean offers 1,900 PSI. Available from Home Depot for $189.00.
Power Washing Bathroom Tiles
Scrubbing grout lines in your bathtub can be one of the most hated chores, next to cleaning the toilet of course. According to the NAHB, shower enclosures should last 50 years while shower doors last for 20 years. This means that no matter what condition your bathroom is in, there’s still hope; for most of us.
If you’re in the 50+ range, you can consider replacing your standard shower with a steam shower. There are models available that fit directly into the same space as a standard shower enclosure!
Things to Avoid When Pressure Washing the Bathroom
1. Gas vs. Electric
Lee Wallender from Home Renovations.About.com made an excellent point; you can’t run gas-powered washers indoor. They are prone to leaky water connections so your best bet is to stick with an electric power washer. These can be found at your local hardware store for under $100.
Delicate Surfaces
A power washer WILL REMOVE any refinished tub surfaces. This includes refinished tubs that have been coated with an fresh layer of paint. Anything other than what it originally came with will be stripped by a power washer.
Easy on the Caulking
Caulking can be very delicate, especially on older tubs. Pull the nozzle further away when you spray these areas. This is what Lee did and he had no problems. Just widen the nozzle and be very careful and presto, your caulking will come out white as snow!
Power washing has amazing Before and After results! (CC) (CC)
3 Easy Steps to Power Washing Your Bathroom
- Empty out the entire shower. This means everything! Shower, soap, shavers, kids toys, shampoo, etc. Pressure washers use a very powerful stream of water that will dislodge and send any loose items flying. This can create a safety hazard so be sure you remove everything.
- Make sure you flip on the extractor fan. Power washers create a very fine mist that can add moisture and humidity to the bathroom. If you’re not sure what size extractor fan you need, you can read this.(LINK)
- 3, 2, 1…blast off! Use the pressure washer to spray the entire surface of you shower tub enclosure. Start by going over the entire area with a 45 degree fan tip to kick off any light dirt. This will allow you to see which areas will need the most attention. Later you can go over problematic areas with a narrow 15 degree fan tip. I’d suggest staying away from a straight tip because it could dislodge any loose areas of grout. Do not underestimate the power of the straight tip!
*Be careful at all times and never let a child play with a power washer. It can cause serious damage if sprayed directly into the eyes!
Getting Rid of Dirty Grout Lines
Grout is notorious for being one of the most hard to clean areas of the home; especially in the bathroom where we rinse our bodies daily. Not to worry, a power washer will remove any dirt and leave your shower with an all original sparkling shine.
Spray some soap or multi-surface cleaner with bleach for the worst areas. Let the cleaners soak in and eat away at the dirt and grime and then go over it with a 15 degree fan tip. For mold, I recommend treating your shower with special antimicrobials that kill mold instantly. How to Remove Shower Mold.
More Bathroom Cleaning Tips:
- 5 Tips to Clean Your Bathroom, Fast!
- 5 DIY Tricks for a Brilliantly Clean Bathroom
About the Author
Cheryl Khan is a designer and writer at Tradewinds Imports, an online specialty site dedicated to retailing fine bathroom furnishings. She has extensive knowledge about all the finer details that go into planning the perfect bath renovation project and is an expert on all things bathroom! Send her your bathroom Q’s on twitter @SuperInteriors!
