When you think of pressure washing, what comes to mind? In a basic sense, you probably think of a lot of water. But if you’re environmentally conscious, you might be picturing a nightmare scene like a car wash on steroids – detergent-filled, sudsy runoff creating streams of toxic water all around your home.

Luckily, we’re here to tell you that pressure washing isn’t just good for your home’s appearance – it can actually be a more effective, eco-friendly approach to cleaning than any DIY method. Let’s take a look at some of the ways that pressure washing is actually more environmentally friendly than a bucket full of soapy water, a stiff brush, and a sore arm.

Saving The Rainforests – Literally

Wood is a precious resource, and our decks, homes, and fences use a lot of it. In order to avoid having to replace that wood with… well, more wood, pressure washing is a great tool for maintenance. Blasting away contaminants, debris, mold and mildew, and insect eggs can extend the life of your wooden decks, siding, accents, doors, etc. can extend the life of these features by years! That means avoiding replacements that are costly for both you and the environment.

Still skeptical? Here’s an example: let’s be conservative and estimate that pressure washing your deck would extends its lifespan by just three years. If one million American homeowners used proper pressure washing and finishing techniques to maintain their deck, that’s a cumulative three million years of wood that doesn’t need to be replaced – and the water, fossil fuels, and landfill space used to obtain and transport materials, demolish and rebuild a deck, and dispose of waste materials are saved too.

Cut Out The Bucket

When it comes to water usage, think of pressure washing like taking a shower versus taking a bath. The amount of water used in a standard pressure washing operation is actually fairly minimal, especially when compared to the water and detergent required to wash a home by hand – not to mention the aching back.

And on top of that, you’ll wind up with a better clean for less time, energy, and resources. That sounds like a pretty good deal to us – so ditch the bucket and consider a DIY pressure washing project, or hiring a professional company that can do the job easily and efficiently.

Chemicals? What Chemicals?

In general, when we think of big messes, we jump straight to the most powerful cleaning agents available to cut through the grime and make cleanup as easy as possible. After all, when you clean your stove, chances are good that you spray the whole thing down with a grease remover, when a dab of dish soap, some hot water, and a bit of elbow grease could do the same job.

Pressure washing is the same way – because the equipment is designed to maximize the cleaning power of water by concentrating it into a powerful jet or fan, detergents, cleaning solvents, and other chemical treatments are minimized (and in many cases, completely unnecessary). That means that your home will get as clean or cleaner than it would with a scrub brush, with fewer or no chemicals used to cut through the layers of dust, pollen, and debris.