Protect yourself and your belongings

Injuries involving pressure washers recently rose from 2,000 to 3,000 per year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Typical mishaps include chemical burns to the eyes and skin abrasions. You can also be injured by material shot back at you. To protect yourself and what you're cleaning:
Wear safety glasses or goggles, shoes, and, with gas models, hearing protection.
Start with the nozzle 2 feet away from the cleaning surface and move closer as needed, but no closer than 6 inches.
Set the nozzle to the widest spray angle that removes the stain.
Practice first by cleaning a hidden area.
Point the nozzle away from legs, feet, people, and pets, as well as lights, air conditioners, and other electrical devices.
Be wary of using solid-stream nozzles and settings, which can cause the most harm.