How To Reduce Pressure Washer Overspray

Whether you're a DIY'er cleaning up the exterior of your home, or a professional bringing the sparkle back to a client's property, we should all be mindful of what we're spraying.

Just as important — is being aware of the things we aren't spraying. Pressure washer overspray can have unintended concequences, but we can avoid these issues with a little preparation.

What is Overspray?

Pressure washers are designed to operate at high enough pressures to atomize the water upon contact with the surface. Tiny droplets are scattered and spread from the place of contact, and these droplets are easily carried with the breeze to splash and splatter beyond where we are focused. When pressure washing is combined with cleaning chemicals, overspray can damage paint, kill plants, or even be inhaled to our detriment. The amount of damage inflicted will depend on the type of chemical solution used and how much overspray landed on the unintended surface. To keep plants, people, and surfaces from experiencing the harmful effects of overspray, we will explain how to prevent it in the first place.

Assess Your Project

The first and most critical step in any project is to assess your specific needs. There are no one-size fits all recommendations to eliminate overspray, so an initial evaluation helps you to make preparations according to your needs. Start by asking yourself, do I have any plants I want to protect? Is the neighbor's car nearby? Do I have patio furniture that's too heavy to be moved? What are the wind conditions like?

Invest In Drop Cloths

If you answered yes to having plants, furniture, or larger items that need protection, a plastic dropcloth or tarp should be considered to cover these things. This is a relatively cheap solution that you can find at most major stores in a pinch or for a great deal online. Be sure to take your time and carefully block off the area you don't want to be affected by overspray. Be mindful that while the transparent polyethylene sheets provide a great barrier, they can create a greenhouse-like effect for the plants you're trying to protect and may cause harm to them from overheating. More opaque colors can mitigate this issue while you work.

Wet Surrounding Areas

Without a dropcloth to cover and protect plants, many adopt a routine of wetting the plants and shrubbery before and after spraying. This lets the plants absorb fresh, clean water before being splashed with potentially harmful chemicals. This will slow the absorption and give you time to wet the area after rinsing the chemicals away.

What About Wind?

Wind is also an important factor when trying to minimize pressure washing overspray. If you're working outside and it's excessively windy, it's best to postpone and work again later when you can control your work more efficiently. If you must complete the project in windy conditions, know that the area you'll need to protect is going to be a lot larger, and minimizing overspray will be difficult. To gauge how far your overspray may travel, it's best to test your pressure washer prior to introducing any chemicals. Pay critical attention to areas downwind from the area you are spraying.

Overspray and Pedestrians

While you can't control the wind, you can control pedestrian traffic. If you're at home this may not be a major concern, but if you are a commercial pressure washer or are pressure washing in populated areas its best to consider using barriers such as cones or caution tape. This helps define the area as a workspace that people should avoid. Be aware that depending on your city, you may need to apply for a short-term permit to block the sidewalk or bicycle lanes when needed. Barriers aren't absolute and not everyone will respect them, so be cautious and know that you may have to stop spraying from time to time.

Pressure Wash Responsibly

In the world of pressure washing, mindfulness is key. Whether you're a do-it-yourself enthusiast rejuvenating your home's exterior or a seasoned professional restoring a client's property, the impact of pressure washer overspray should not be underestimated. If you follow our steps to reducing overspray, you'll be able to pressure wash responsibly and effectively protect surrounding surfaces, plants, or people.