| How to Pressure Wash Windows Posted: 02 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST When it's time to clean your windows, look no further than the power washer you might already have at home. Using a power washer to clean off your windows can speed up the process immensely, so you won't have to spend all day on this chore! Pressure washing your windows the wrong way can lead to damage or cracks in the glass, so it's important to take a few safety precautions before you start. Read through this article for step by step instructions on how to use a pressure washer to safely clean your windows in a single afternoon.
This article is based off an interview with our professional window cleaning specialist, Ben Barlow, owner of Barlow Window Bros. Check out the full interview here. [Edit]Cover up anything outside you don't want to get wet. - That includes electrical outlets and any outdoor furniture. Do a quick walk around your home and put electrical tape over exposed outlets. Move furniture or patio decorations out of the way, since pressure washing can cause some splashback.[1]
- Be sure you have a clear pathway to walk around in, too. If your hose gets caught on something sharp, it could puncture it.
[Edit]Close your windows and make sure they're water tight. - If your windows have any cracks or leaks, the inside of your home could get wet. Before you start pressure washing, take a look at your windows and the window fittings—is the glass uncracked and the fittings tight without any bubbles? If you notice any issues, fix those before you pressure wash your windows to avoid any water damage.[2]
- In general, wooden window fittings are more susceptible to damage than acrylic or vinyl ones.
[Edit]Remove any screens from the windows. - Pressure washers can rip through screens, so take them off first. If you have a two-story house, you might need to grab a ladder and climb on up. Pop the screens out carefully, then set them aside to put them back on later.[3]
[Edit]Fill your pressure washer tank with window cleaner. - Check your instruction manual to see what kind of cleaner you need. For a lot of pressure washers, you can buy a specific soap and water mixture that's made for windows. If yours doesn't have that (or you can use anything), simply fill up your pressure washer tank with water, then mix in a few drops of regular dish soap. Then, unscrew the cap on the water tank, and use a funnel to pour your mixture in up to the fill line.[4]
- If your windows have any hard water spots, try using a commercial window cleaner instead.[5]
[Edit]Attach the widest nozzle you have to the pressure washer. - Usually, that's the 40-degree nozzle. Too small of a nozzle, and you run the risk of cracking the glass in your windows. Pick out the widest nozzle you have, then screw it onto the end of your pressure washer hose.[6]
- If you haven't used your pressure washer before, practice using it on concrete before you start using it on your windows.[7]
[Edit]Set your pressure washer to the lowest pressure setting. - Usually, this is 1300 to 1700 PSI and 1.5 GPM. Too high of a pressure setting, and you run the risk of cracking the glass in your windows. Find the dial on your pressure washer and turn it all the way down to set it to the lowest setting. Keep the pressure down low the whole time you're washing your windows to avoid any damage.[8]
[Edit]Wear eye protection. - Pressure washers are power tools, so use caution with yours. Put on eye goggles, and don't point your pressure washer at anyone if it's plugged in. Using a pressure washer incorrectly can result in injury, so it's very important to be cautious.[9]
- Always wear close-toed shoes, just in case the spray goes anywhere near your feet.
[Edit]Stand at least away from the windows. - Standing too close can damage your windows. When you first start out, back up until you're at least away from your windows. If you need to, you can walk a little closer, but stay at least away the entire time you're washing your windows.[10]
- The closer you are to your windows, the stronger the spray is. A super strong spray has the potential to crack glass.
[Edit]Spray the windows at a 40- to 60-degree angle. - Stand off to the side, not directly in front of your windows. When you're ready to start washing, stand a little bit off to the side to lessen the pressure from your nozzle even more. Turn on the pressure washer using the power button on the side and move the nozzle from side to side, covering your entire window. When you're done with one window, walk to the next one to keep cleaning.[11]
- Use caution around wooden window trimmings, as pressure washers can damage or chip the wood.
- It's important to do this step quickly—since you're spraying soap and water onto the windows, letting the mixture dry can lead to streaking.
- Try to start early in the morning, especially during the summer. That way, you can beat the sun, and your soap and water mixture won't dry before you can rinse it.[12]
[Edit]Use a turbo nozzle to reach the second story. - It's too dangerous to take a pressure washer onto a ladder. If you have a multi-story home, take off your normal nozzle and attach a turbo nozzle to the end of your pressure washer. Stand underneath the upper story windows, then use the far-reaching nozzle to cover them in soapy water.[13]
- A turbo nozzle sends the water out in a spiral, which can make it spray further away from the pressure washer. That's why a turbo nozzle is so helpful for reaching the second story.
- Pressure washers have a little bit of kickback, which is why it's dangerous to take them on a ladder.
[Edit]Rinse the windows off with plain water. - Rinsing your windows off well will help prevent any streaks. When you've covered all your windows in soapy water, use a regular garden hose (or your pressure washer filled with regular water) and give all your windows a good rinse. If you are using your pressure washer, empty the water tank and rinse it out using a hose before filling it up with plain water. Use the same wide nozzle and keep the pressure on the lowest setting. Once your windows are rinsed, you can leave them to dry in the sun![14]
- If you're really worried about streaks, use a squeegee and a microfiber cloth to wipe the clean water off before your windows dry.
- If you know you have hard water (water full of minerals that can leave deposits on surfaces), attach a water softener to your garden hose before rinsing.[15] That way, you won't leave any hard water spots, and your windows will look shiny and clean.
[Edit]Warnings - Using the wrong nozzle or pressure settings on your pressure washer can crack or damage your windows. Use extreme caution, especially if you live in an older home.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make the First Move on a Guy Online Posted: 02 Dec 2021 12:00 AM PST Chatting with a cute guy online is super fun, but moving from an online convo to an in-person date can feel like it takes forever. If you want to make the first move on a guy but you aren't sure how, you're not alone! With these helpful tips, you can maintain your confidence and gather the courage to make the first move on a guy and (hopefully) land a date.
This article is based off an interview with our professional dating coach, Collette Gee. Check out the full interview here. [Edit]Get a conversation going first. - Asking someone out right away can be a little off-putting. Instead, try chatting with this guy back and forth for at least a couple of hours (or even a couple of days) before you make your move. There's no rush to ask someone out, and talking to him online let's you get to know them a little more before you ask them out.[1]
- There's no magic number of messages you should go for, but in general, 5 to 10 messages back and forth is the minimum.
[Edit]Respond to something he posted. - This is a great way to start a conversation on social media. If you're scrolling through Instagram and he posts a funny story, send him a message telling him that you just laughed out loud. If you're on Twitter and he drops a hot selfie, DM him and tell him how good he looks. Social media posts are a great way to grab easy conversation starters without a ton of effort.[2]
- For instance, after he posts a meme you might say, "LOL, where the heck did you find this??"
- In response to a cute selfie, you might say, "Wow, you're a sight for sore eyes. You look great!"
[Edit]Give him a few compliments. - This is a subtle way to let him know you're interested. Keep your compliments relatively tame, and don't say anything specific about his body or physique (since that can be a little weird to hear online). If this is your first time chatting, tell him he has a nice smile or that he takes great pictures. Try something like:[3]
- "That picture you took of the mountain is so nice! I feel like I'm actually there."
- "You have such a nice smile!"
[Edit]Ask him questions about himself. - Show him that you're interested in his life. Ask him a few open-ended questions to learn more about him and what he likes to do. You could chat about his hobbies, his friends, or even his pets if he has them. This is a great way to get to know each other a little more before you dive into asking him out. Try things like:[4]
- "What do you get up to on the weekends?"
- "Who have you been hanging out with lately?"
- "Do you have any pets?"
[Edit]Chat about your common interests. - There's probably something you two have in common to talk about. If you don't know him at all, take a quick look at his profile to see if anything lines up. This is a really good casual, non-creepy way to start chatting with a guy online.[5]
- For instance, if you both like rock climbing, you might say, "Heading to the climb center this weekend?"
- If you checked out his profile and realized that you both love going hiking, you might say, "I just saw that pic you posted on your hike! That's such a beautiful view, where is it?"
[Edit]Tease him a little bit. - This is a subtle way to let him know that you're interested. People usually only tease each other when they're into them, so try poking fun at something he likes or something he did. Keep it super playful, and throw in an "lol" or a few emojis so he knows you're not being serious. You could say something like:[6]
- "Wow, you've never been to Disneyland? Idk if I can keep talking to you, lol."
- "You got that project done early! Trying to get on the boss's good side, huh? 😉"
[Edit]Flirt with him. - Flirting a little will prepare him for when you make the first move. As you two chat, keep giving him compliments and reminding him that you're single to send the signal that you like him. Throw in some flirty emojis, like kissy faces or hearts, and see how he responds. If he flirts back, then you know you're in the clear to make the first move! Try messages like:[7]
- "Missed you at work today! ❤️"
- "Your hair looked really nice today 😘"
[Edit]Ask him if he has plans later to be subtle. - If you can't quite tell if he likes you, try this. Ask him if he has plans this weekend or sometime after work, just to see what he says. If he doesn't have plans, then you know he might be open to you asking him out. If he says he's busy (and he doesn't offer up an alternative), then it might be a sign that he's just not into you. You could say something like:[8]
- "Any big plans this weekend?"
- "Are you free at all next week?"
[Edit]Be direct about asking him out. - It can be confusing if you don't make specific plans. A lot of guys aren't great at taking hints, so if you aren't direct, he probably won't get the message. When it comes to asking him out, make sure you tell him that it's a date thing (not just a friend thing). That way, he'll get the message that you like him![9]
- Plus, a lot of guys aren't used to getting asked out, so you might have to make it really obvious.
[Edit]Suggest a specific date activity. - Try doing something related to your common interests. When you're crafting the perfect message to send this guy, try to think of a potential date idea instead of just asking him to hang out. This will show him that you've put a lot of thought into asking him out, and he'll probably be more likely to say yes! Try something like:[10]
- "Do you wanna go frisbee golfing with me on Saturday? We could grab drinks afterward."
- "There's a new coffee shop downtown I wanted to try. Want to meet me there after work on Tuesday?"
[Edit]Set a time and a date if he says yes. - If he's open to going on a date, that's great! Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and then confirm the date and the time before signing off. If you're on a dating app or social media, consider giving this guy your number before you stop messaging each other just in case he needs to get ahold of you. Then, you can wait patiently for your date to get to know this guy even more.[11]
- You could say something like, "Awesome! So Friday at 2:00 then?"
[Edit]Don't take rejection personally. - Not everyone you ask out is going to say yes, and that's okay. Putting yourself out there isn't easy, and you still made the first move, which is super inspiring! If the guy you're chatting with doesn't want to go on a date with you, it's probably best to move on. Remind yourself that it's not your fault—you two probably just weren't a good match.[12]
- Rejection is rarely ever about you as a person. More often than not, someone saying no to a date is doing it because they're dealing with their own problems.
[Edit]References |
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário