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50 Times People Tried Power Washing Things And The Results Were So Satisfying, They Just Had To Share (New Pics)
There’s something hard-wired into us that fills us with satisfaction when we clean something dirty. Practically every cleaning product ad banks on this by showing their product as it cuts through nasty messes, but few tools do it better in real life than a power washer. That’s probably what makes these before-and-after power washing pics gathered from Reddit so lovely.
For such a relatively mundane and widespread cleaning technology, power washing had a colorful start. Did you know that power washing was invented during, and essentially in response to, the Prohibition era in America? Necessity is the mother of invention!
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#1
Indian Sandstone
RELATED:
#2
Sweet And Sad. My Uncle Lost His Wife A Few Years Ago. Still Misses Her Dearly
#3
A 400m Power-Washing Mural On The Vouglans Dam In France
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago
to learn more (in french) : http://massif-du-jura.developpement-edf.com/l-agence/actualites-de-l-agence/160-une-fresque-sur-le-barrage-de-vouglans.html
First of all, we’ve got to acknowledge just how satisfying – indeed, sometimes even cathartic – a picture of newfound cleanliness can be! The fact that there’s an entire online community created around the sharing of pictures like these speaks for itself. But what does that actually say, other than “ooooh, so nice and clean”?
#4
Quite Happy With How This Deck Cleaned Up
Bored&InSchool 2 years ago
"un-old aging cream for all your items" *is just a power washer* *gets recalled because old women keep spraying on their wrinkles and get hurt.*
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ADDee 2 years ago
I doubt power washing wood will do this. They mayst have used other techniques.
Susan Green 2 years ago
True, I doubt just power washing would have this effect. It must have been stained again.
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Stolas 2 years ago
to be fair the pictures may have been taken during different times of day, and during different weather which does affect water turbidity
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#5
Erasing 25 Years
Anyone-for-tea? 2 years ago
Wow, I’m going to power wash my bench today! I’ll take a photo of before and after!
Vicki Cunningham 2 years ago
I have a pic that looks the same. Took me two whole days with a power washer.
#6
I Restored A Family Heirloom
Insights from a number of different fields seem to indicate that order and cleanliness tend to have a positive impact on our mental health and sense of wellbeing. Spending time in a clean space and even the act of cleaning can reduce stress and have all sorts of cognitive benefits for people suffering from anxiety or depression.
#7
Cathedral-Basilica In León, Nicaragua - Roof Restoration
Donglens 2 years ago
Imagine all these incredible architectural masterpieces at their peak! Gleaming white buildings throughout cities! Would be an incredible site!
Donald Crocker, Jr. 2 years ago
And it would restore a lost energy free cooling method.
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Lyrica Melody 2 years ago
Pretty sure this was NOT power washing, though; old stone needs much more gentle cleaning, especially after so long in urban pollution... old marble or limestone especially can become incredibly fragile from acid rain, and has been known to shatter with high-power sprays. (Happened to some historic mausoleum buildings in a cemetery near me after somebody took their brand new power washer over to "help out" one Decoration Day a few years back. Restoration is going to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so the pieces are still sitting where they were left.)
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Just Shows us How Much Pollution we Breathe in every Day but We Can't Power Wash Our Lungs!!
#8
From Brown To Red
Lucas 2 years ago
Looks great but you have to be so careful when doing this kind of thing... Pressure washing your patio and paving can cause significant damage to the integrity of the paving slabs and damage to the joint sand between each paving slab. Brick (block) paving especially - unless you are extremely careful you just remove the jointing and end up with loose bricks. Neighbour has loosened his, a friend has bricks that wobble whenever she drives over them (she didn't jetwash them). It can be done but remove weeds and press down the joints first to minimise the damage. Then you'll need to replace any jointing sand that's been lost.
#9
Patio Before And After
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 years ago
no, no it doesn't, nothing to see here, just pressure washing my walkway, basement, my doors, my shoes, my shovel, the back of my car...what? they were dirty.
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In one study, college students who received “mindful dish-washing instruction” reported improvements in a number of positive mental state attributes and reductions in negative ones. It’s not entirely clear exactly what those mindful cleaning looked like, but we imagine that staying focused on the positive impact a cleaning session will have on your life might be a good start.
#10
I Bought A Sailing Boat That Had Been Stood Unused For 15 Years. Nothing That A Good Clean Can't Fix
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 years ago
Great job! Vast improvement, time to set sail!
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ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 years ago
Different angles, but check out location of various things. Plus seats were off, coverings were missing from before pic that he put on after cleaning. Think it's the same boat.
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Julian Gerretsen 2 years ago
I am looking at this "after" picture and thinking... "wow, looks strangely familiar..." Holy heck. It's the Ferry Nab marina by the Lake Wardens on Lake Windermere in England. I can almost see my dinghy tender on the racks in the background. Dan's Shack snack bar just out of frame on the right.
Rebecca O’Donnell 2 years ago
I think it’s the same boat. Looking at it from a different angle with the back door open and the seat padding removed.
#11
I Now Have Clean Balls
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 years ago
wrong thread for you maybe, lots of very small living things are going to get blasted by pressure washers here.
Load More Replies... #12
A Quick Walk Clean
TOTK PANDA 2 years ago
how does it get ao dirty in the first place?? it looks almost like soot from a sacrificial fire.
Another poll even suggested that, in response to cleaning, participants experienced a mild adrenaline rush comparable to what one might experience while watching a race.
According to the study: “One hundred percent of study participants agreed that cleaning provides peace of mind and a sense of control over one’s environment, 82 percent liked to admire their work after a good clean, and 81 percent felt a sense of accomplishment when they finished the task. In fact, after cleaning, participants reported feeling more determined, inspired and proud and less jittery, nervous and hostile.”
#13
Before, During, After
#14
My Sister + Power-Washer = Excellent Results
Michelle Carlson 2 years ago
Those are hydrangeas and usually get cut back.
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CHRIS DOMRES 2 years ago
Just need to wash the fence and the rest of the concrete and it will sparkle!
#15
Brick Steps
Darth_JarJar 2 years ago
You should not be getting downvoted for starting your opinion, have an upvote
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So that’s why you feel good when you clean and when you see these lovely power washing before-and-after pics! But what about the colorful history of power washing that we mentioned earlier? Well, read on for some interesting history tidbits!
#16
Stone Cleaning
mSpencer 2 years ago
I want that stone in my kitchen! Countertops, sinks, floor!
Load More Replies... #17
Unearthed My Overgrown Front Path
#18
My First Power-Wash. Loved It
Say No to Downvoting 2 years ago
Me too! I want them for my deck! (Except deck is timber and will probably collapse)
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The first power washer was invented in 1926 by Frank W. Ofeldt II. Frank was an engineer at a boiler manufacturer in West Philadelphia. Frank, not being wholly content with his lot in life, decided to get his hands on a piece of the Prohibition-era pie by spending his evenings engineering stills for local bootleggers.
#19
My Mom Cleaned The Pool
Agfox 2 years ago (edited)
Edit: I don't have a pool but if I did, I'd be embarrassed if I allowed my pool to get to that 'before' state
#20
Bringing A Pond Back To Life
Jennik 2 years ago
Fish now wondering how the heck they'll evolve after some bastard removed their primordial soup.
TOTK PANDA 2 years ago
FISH!!! here: ee all need some hapiness so visit lukesgoldies.com and check out his youtube channel!
#21
My Uncle Owns A Power-Washing Business. So Satisfying
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Wish he Would come & see me!!My Roof is Growing it's very own Lawn in Moss!!
Holly Marley 2 years ago
I'm hoping he has one of the big power washing carts that covers two or three feet at a time
One night, he noticed that steam streaming from a hose he had was pushing a puddle of grease around on the ground. He immediately understood the potential for this application, but also understood that some sort of cleaning agent would need to be added since he was working with grease. Thus began his experimentation and the eventual invention of the “Hypressure Vapor Spray Generator”, which a shrewd marketer later renamed to the “High-Pressure Jenny.”
#22
Adirondack Chairs Before And After
#23
Imperial Castle In Poznan, Poland
Allison B 2 years ago (edited)
That's still one of my absolute favorite scenes in any movie. It's just so pretty and magical. And the music makes it even better! The original animated movie ofc.
Load More Replies... Donkeywheel 2 years ago
You never power wash an old stone wall… it’s harder and more expensive to clean it.
Jaya 2 years ago
I prefer the dirty version, the blackness just gives it this mysterious and slightly evil vibe, very pretty. But the decorative elements do come out more in the clean version, and that's beautiful as well.
Laugh or not 2 years ago
The black is mostly soot from the industrial era. It damages stones and brick in the long term.
Load More Replies... Mav Mav 2 years ago
I think both halves are beautiful, seems a pity to lose the aged character
#24
Before And After
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Imagine all that Grime in the Before is Now in the Drains at the City Streets.
Caroline Nagel 2 years ago
I would prefer it if they took away the tiles and give that space back to grass and flowers and all the creepy crawlers that bring life.
Later, a German engineer named Alfred Kärcher improved on the design and built a power washer brand that became a household name for pressure washers.
#25
Before And After. A Satisfying Few Hours
Jane No Dough 2 years ago
Pretty sure that's wisteria that hasn't flowered yet. Lovely!
Load More Replies... Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Even if it Takes a Few Days to Complete the end Result is so Satisfying it is all worth it!!
Louisa Johnson 2 years ago
The path has not been done yet so it feels unfinished to me. Also that mossy stuff that grows on paths and patio stones is so dangerous. It goes all slimy and is a serious fall hazard. Where we live it gets on paths, steps, driveways ect it's like ice some times. I have photos of my BIL after a fall outside his mums place on the path, half his eyebrow was hanging off his face, it was horrific.
#26
Just Bought My First House And Thought My Shutters Were Green
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
I see You started on the Roof and Carried on down the walls!! It should be Ten Years before you Need to Scrub it Clean again!!
#27
So Rewarding- Hasn’t Been Touched In 30 Years
Robin Schwartz 2 years ago
This might be an issue. I did this with a shingled house and drove tons of water up into the insulation and wall boards and then there was mold. I had to strip the inside.
#28
Got It Done Today. Fountain Was All Cleaned Up
#29
My Dad Power-Washed This Little Alcove On His House
SnackbarKaat 2 years ago
Waw it makes it so much more appealing to do something with that place
#30
First Time The Roof Has Been Cleaned In Years. Maybe Decades
Red_panda 2 years ago
I thought it was different colored tiles all together!
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Tim Douglass 2 years ago
Not recommended for aggregate roofs. Not a problem for tile or slate or metal roofs.
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#31
First Power-Wash After Being Outside For 25 Years
MellonCollie 2 years ago
How is the power washing able to restore the colour of the wood? Genuine question. I get it with tiles, but I don't understand the chairs.
Shorty 2 years ago
Yea I don't think that power washing weak and old wood will make it new again. It would just destroy it
Load More Replies... Boris’ Mom 2 years ago
Actually, teak that isn't oil properly, and a lot of fence woods I've seen (not sure if those are all the same type or not, I just notice how they change in color), weather to a gray. I think that the gray is just dried out oxidized surface, and as the wood that looks so colorful, will dry out and go back to that grayish in a couple weeks without oiling [sealing is the way someone phrased it].
Louisa Johnson 2 years ago
That is a new chair, look at the slats on the seat, the older one has them spaced further apart
#32
Before And After Photos Of Pressure-Washing The Stone Wall In Front Of My House
#33
My Grandmother Needed Her Deck Cleaned, But This Was More Pleasing
Charlotte Stackhouse 2 years ago (edited)
☠️ Robby YOU SHOULD HAVE CLEANED THE DECK!
Load More Replies... Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Keep Going and you will eventually Clean the Deck as Well!! All for Grandma!!
Erin Eubanks 2 years ago
Sorry you slipped and fell on your moldy deck grandma. But check out how clean the underneath of the chair is while you're down there.
#34
Before And After Of Pressure-Washing The Stairs
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Fantastic Job and Probably will Stop Slipping on that Mossy Grossness too!
#35
Before And After
Persephone 2 years ago
Looks like they were stacked up away from the washer in first photo.
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Rebecca O’Donnell 2 years ago
Thank you, Sandella! The backgrounds of some of these houses makes me think the same thing.
Load More Replies... #36
Before And After
#37
Power-Washing Progress Of The Louvre, Paris
pamela nichols 2 years ago
With all the traffic going by I wonder how long it will stay clean.
#38
Old Fire Pit Work In Progress
#39
I Think It’s Safe To Say That This Took A Place In The Top 3 Dirtiest Trucks I’ve Ever Washed. Something A Little Different For Y’all
#40
It’s That Time Of The Year Again
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Perhaps that board attaches to the Fence & hold a Tarpaulin in Place for Shade from the Sun?
#41
Would You Like To Sit On My Deck?
Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 2 years ago
Trimmed the bushes to make them look bigger
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Jorie 2 years ago
Look up the skit about decks with The Blue Collar Comedy Tour on Youtube. Hilarious! BTW, I LOVE the wood. What kind is it?
Ann Coffman 2 years ago
Yeah, I got a real tiny deck. HAAAHAAA, hilarious!
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#42
My Floor Was So Dirty I Was Able To Create A Chessboard Pattern Just By Power-Washing
#43
House Was Built In 1820. Probably It's First Power-Wash Ever
Jennik 2 years ago
It looks as thought it may have been a farmhouse with attached agricultural buildings. They probably needed hard surfaces for heavy machinery coming and going.
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Robert T 2 years ago
You can see the stone wall of the house. Part of it has had render applied, presumably because the stone had started to show signs of wear. The outbuilding with the tin roof is obviously newer.
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#44
Dirty Chair On Sunny Day. Only One Thing For It
#45
A Fun Gradient Of A Pressure-Washed Fence
#46
15 Years Without Being Power-Washed Till Yesterday
rullyman 2 years ago
That effect is probably partially because they are still damp from washing
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Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Beautiful & wasn't too Dirty in Fifteen Years Either!! Little bits of Moss Growth is Less than on my Roof in 8 Years!
#47
There's A Beautiful Deck Hiding Beneath This Ugly, Old Stain
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago
as on old paintings, the varnish spoils while aging but it also protects
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 2 years ago
Might have been painted, check out bottom right corner of top picture.
#48
Deck Steps After A Long Winter
#49
Slowly Making Progress Over Lunch Each Day
Maggie Mae 2 years ago
Spray it with 30 second Cleaner & then Spray it off a Little Each Day & watch the Beauty Reappear!
#50
Did My First Power-Washing Job
#52
“Teak Is No Longer Bleak” (My Boyfriend's Choice Of Words). I Think The Table Was A Little Dirty
#53
Finally Got Round To Cleaning My Brick Driveway
#54
Seeing A Dirty Fence Makes Me Just Want To Clean It
#55
Building On Broadway By Madison Square Partly Into Being Power-Washed. It’s A Fun Watch
#57
After Months Of Nagging, My Boss Finally Let Me Clean The Freezer
#58
Looking For A Wall Base Pun Title
#59
Before And After. The Result Of A Pressure And Soft Wash Combo
Rebecca O’Donnell 2 years ago
Off subject, but I love your name AbbyNormal! One of favorite movies.
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54 Years Of Dirt
#62
Forgot To Get An After Picture Before Putting Carts Back
#64
Hopefully My In-Laws Approve Of My Little Power-Washing Initiative
#66
Early Baroque Epitaph Before And After Power-Washing
#68
I Despise Doing Pressure-Washing Wood But The End Result Is Always Amazing
#69
Don't Leave Your Pool Unlocked, Or I Will Pressure-Wash All Your Rust
#70
It Was Calling My Name
#71
School Cleaning
Mimi La Souris 2 years ago
I am surprised not to see more carpet cleaning, the results are also impressive
#73
Got Dispatched To Correct Some Vegetation Stains On The Concrete. Before And After
#74
Bye Bye Patio Moss
Mir Adwari 2 years ago
Use a sharp tipped shovel or wire broom to scrape off moss - if you jet wash it off bye-bye the stuff that holds your bricks still.
Crazy Meerkat Lady 2 years ago
If you jet wash after the broom, won't it still take out the stuff that holds your bricks still?
Load More Replies... #75
Before vs. After. We’ve Had These Lions For Years! I Never Knew How White They Were
#76
25 Years Of Grime Blasted Away Today
#79
I Battled Through The Sleet And Snow To Get This One Done
Carrie de Luka 2 years ago
Scrape off surface moss and weeds, not power wash them off. Damage to the joints is too easy and a pain to fix if you aren't extremely careful.
#81
More Than 7-Year-Old Fence, Pressure-Washed. Green Square For Reference
#82
Always Fun To Power-Wash The ATV After A Long Ride
#83
Another Day In The Life Of A Pressure-Washer
#85
Washing The Manure Spreader Is Always A Bad Situation
#86
Looking For A Wall Pun. Before And After Shot
#90
A Very Satisfying Driveway I Did For Work Today
#91
Safe To Say Husband Is A Covert And I Now Get To Call Myself A Genius Around The House. It’s Not Perfect, We Rent And There’s No Drainage So We A Have Puddle
#92
The Back Fence Of Our New House In SF Needed A Little Wash
#93
I Made My Husband Promise To Take A Before And After Picture
#96
Bought This Place Last Year, Spent The Last 8 Months Renovating The Backyard By Myself. Borrowing A Friend’s Power-Washer Was One Of The Last Steps
Roan The Demon Kitty 2 years ago
love to see a nice natural backyard/garden with plenty of plant life. I see a lot of "garden renovations" where it's a fake astroturf grass, concrete path and wooden decking with a sun lounger and it just.. ugh I personally hate that. We need plant life, for the bees and butterflies! <3
#100
Told I Should Post This Here
#101
Was Convinced To Buy A Power-Washer. Zero Regrets
#102
Power-Washed My Patio
Roan The Demon Kitty 2 years ago
I wonder how long the poor doggo was hidden under the dirt D:
Load More Replies... #103
Equinox All Cleaned Up
#105
Power-Washed The Hell Out Of These Chairs
#107
Customer Was Actually Mad It Came Out So Clean - "Great, Now I Have To Maintain It"
#110
Before And After Of A Neglected Corner Of The Roof
#111
When The End Of School Pictures Show Me How Funky The Porch Has Become, It’s Time To Break Out The Power-Washer
#112
We Are Looking For A Stair Pun
#113
I Unearthed A Sidewalk Today With My Pressure-Washer
#114
Dirty South Living Up To Its Name
#116
Power-Washed The Pavement In The Front Yard On A Rainy Day. Felt Like A Dad
#117
Outdoor Stairs To Basement Before And After
#119
Hubby Got Me A Power-Washer For Christmas
#124
First Time Power-Washing And Staining
#125
I Wish More Of The Store Fronts Wanted Their Walkway Done. Leaving This Job Made Me Sad
AbbyNormal 2 years ago
Leave your card with them. In a few days you should get a callback because they are embarrassed about their walkway
#126
A Little Prep For My Daughter's Birthday Party
Vanessa Richardson 2 years ago
You guys. I didn’t even see the fence at first! I was like…”why would someone want to power wash a pile of broken bricks?” Lol
Add New Image
What do you think ?
K W 2 years ago
I think I've found my midlife crisis goals. Do you think someone would let me volunteer to power wash things?
Salty Sasquatch 2 years ago
I hope everyone who power-washed those beautiful pieces of wooden furniture ended up resealing them....
Jennik 2 years ago
Last summer I power washed our driveway, which had a lot of lichen growing in the crevices of the cobbles, and ended up wearing a lot of the clumpy bits of lichen. I looked like the Swamp Thing from a B grade horror movie.
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
This is why I hate doing it, think I might need to invest in those waterproof dungarees that fishermen wear
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Pandasizing World Peace 2 years ago
I love any thread that features before and after pictures. Art work, yards, houses, interiors, plants, makeup, you name it!
K W 2 years ago
I think I've found my midlife crisis goals. Do you think someone would let me volunteer to power wash things?
Salty Sasquatch 2 years ago
I hope everyone who power-washed those beautiful pieces of wooden furniture ended up resealing them....
Jennik 2 years ago
Last summer I power washed our driveway, which had a lot of lichen growing in the crevices of the cobbles, and ended up wearing a lot of the clumpy bits of lichen. I looked like the Swamp Thing from a B grade horror movie.
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
This is why I hate doing it, think I might need to invest in those waterproof dungarees that fishermen wear
Load More Replies... Pandasizing World Peace 2 years ago
I love any thread that features before and after pictures. Art work, yards, houses, interiors, plants, makeup, you name it!
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