A Brief History Of Pressure Washing

Pressure washing is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to extend the lifespan of your surfaces. It's been around longer than you'd probably think - in fact, it was first invented by accident in 1926. Frank Woldert II was working in his garage one day, when he noticed a few grease stains on the floor that must have been there for years. Woldert made gas-fired hot water heaters, so he was already used to working with the materials - and that's when he had the idea to use steam to force hot water through a garden hose. It lifted the stains off the garage floor, easier and better than any method that he'd tried before!

Unfortunately, the credit for inventing the high-pressure washer went to a different man in 1950, almost thirty years after Woldert cleaned the stains in his garage. Alfred Kärcher made the first prototype of what would soon become a popular house tool. Thus, the pressure washer was born.

Different Types Of Pressure Washing Systems

Today, two different types of pressure washing systems are available - cold water pressure washers and hot water pressure washers.

Cold water pressure washers can be operated by gas or by electricity, though you'll want to make sure that you stay safe if you ever use this type. Gas-powered pressure washers are loud and produce fumes, so they should always be used outside, and never indoors or in other semi-closed spaces. Electric-powered pressure washers run, on average, on 120-volt electricity, so you'll need to make sure your home or business is set up to handle that voltage.

Hot water pressure washers clean very efficiently, especially for hard-to-remove stains such as oils and grease. The hot temperature, which is often above 300 Fahrenheit, works well to get rid of a variety of stains.

Soft Washing To Remove Stains From Sensitive Surfaces!

If you have more sensitive surfaces that need to be cleaned, such as glass, vinyl, or wood, our soft wash services are the perfect solution to do just that! Soft washing can clean many of the same stains that traditional pressure washing can clean, including:

• Black algae buildup and stains
• Dirt and grime
• Wildlife debris
• Mold
• Mildew
• Moss and weeds
• And more!

If you're ready to experience the best pressure washing in the Palos Park area, call Stryker Powerwash & Detail today at 708-314-1321. We offer free estimates for all our exterior cleaning services!