The Science of Pressure Washing

Pressure washing wouldn't even exist without science, and science has evolved pressure washing into a more safe and efficient cleaning method for exterior surfaces. In fact, a number of scientific disciplines figure importantly into the development and improvement of the industry including:

• Engineering
• Chemistry
• Archaeology

Engineering genius bridged the gap from the old thumb-over-the-garden-hose trick to the commercial-grade, heavy-duty, hot or cold water, gas or electric, pressure washing powerhouses of today.

The modern pressure washer can trace itself back to the early 20th century. While working for a company that made gas-fired water heaters and boilers, Frank W. Ofeldt II invented the first steam pressure washer in the United States in 1926.

He first had the idea for what would become pressure washing while experimenting with his design for a portable whiskey distiller in his Pennsylvania garage. He noticed that when his design's steam outlet was directed downward, wet steam would hit his dirty garage floor and the built-up grease would shift and move. He knew that steam was a gasified liquid without mass or body, and therefore it could only move the grease and not remove it. He then set out to create a machine that could remove it, and pressure washing was born.

The Chemistry Of Soft Washing

The PSI power of pressure washing reached its peak with gas-powered commercial-grade machines capable of up to 50,000 pounds per square inch (psi). That kind of power ultimately had some drawbacks in certain applications like house washing and roof cleaning, where more fragile building materials were damaged by the high pressure.

Enter the chemists who experimented with bleach, detergents, and mineral acids to concoct the most effective cleansing solutions for use in pre-soaking. Their solutions could dissolve contaminants and kill organic growth on exterior surfaces, which could then be removed using low-pressure and no-pressure washing. Thus, soft washing was born.

We may not be engineers or chemists, but the pros at Moore Power Washing are experts at employing the science of pressure washing and soft washing to amazing effect.

Archaeology and Pressure Washing

Pressure washing also has a lot in common with the science of archaeology. Consider that archaeologists take great pains to restore historical artifacts to their original appearance without damaging them. Our pressure washing experts take the utmost care in removing years of built-up dirt and grime from your exterior surfaces, restoring them to their original appearance. Both sciences require a careful, precise, focused attention-to-detail, and both produce an end product that is a huge source of pride to the cleaner. You can trust the professionals at Moore Power Washing to treat your home or business with the same TLC as archaeologists did uncovering King Tut's tomb.