Never, Ever Use Your Ladder Like This

Photo: Courtesy of American Society of Home Inspectors

This window washer is making the most of a ladder that’s too short. But if his luck runs out, he’ll pay a hefty price for ignoring basic ladder safety rules. Two rules are being broken here. Can you guess what they are?

The Right Way

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First, work with three points of contact with the ladder at all times: two feet and a hand or two hands and a foot. And second, never work from the top three rungs of an extension ladder. The painter shown below is maintain-ing three points of contact and is standing on the fourth and fifth rungs down. The wide ladder standoff provides extra stability and the support to safely reach the top of the window. Do you believe these 10 common tool myths?

Plus: Check out these 11 things you should never pressure wash

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Wood Siding

While it's possible to pressure wash wood siding correctly, you can also force water up and under the exterior surface if you use high pressure. From there, water can damage insulation and electrical wiring and even spur mold growth. A high-powered pressure wash can also dent aluminum and vinyl siding. We'll walk you through how to safely use a pressure washer to clean your home's exterior.

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Electrical Panels and Meters

Even on the exterior of your home or in your yard, do not pressure wash fixtures housing electricity. Though built to withstand a rainstorm, pressure washing can force water into cracks and crevices, leading to damage and costly repairs. Plus, avoid these top 10 electrical mistakes by DIYers.

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Asphalt Shingles

Never pressure wash your roof if you have asphalt shingles. The water pressure strips away the granules that protect your roof. Not to mention, using a pressure washer in a high place is dangerous. Once you squeeze the trigger, the powerful recoil on the spray wand can throw you off balance and off a ladder. Plus: 15 silent signs that your roof is failing.

Air Conditioners

For cleaning your air conditioning unit, don't reach for a pressure washer. The intense flow of water can bend or crush the delicate fins and restrict air flow, which shortens the life of the unit. Instead, use a vacuum and much gentler water flow to rinse away debris. Straighten cooling fins using this tool.

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Lead Paint

Never remove lead paint with a pressure washer. Lead paint should be carefully contained when removed, not blasted into the air and surrounding surfaces. Learn how to remove lead paint safely yourself. Protect yourself during lead paint removal using this respirator.

Old Mortar

A pressure wash damages weathered brick houses and other landscaping surfaces with mortar. Any loose material, especially on older structures, will be blasted away by pressure washing on a high setting. Here, we'll show you how to correctly clean hard water stains off brick.

Living Things

This one is a no-brainer (hopefully!). Never pressure wash humans, pets or plants. The force of water coming from a pressure washer can cause physical harm — even penetrate skin—and will most certainly destroy your plants. When you pressure wash appropriate surfaces, always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris. Check out the other safety gear every DIYer should own.

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Painted Surfaces That You Want to Stay Painted

A pressure wash easily chips paint off most surfaces, so only use a low-pressure flow of water to wash painted items such as a porch floor or painted outdoor furniture. Plus: Learn how to give your pressure washer a tune-up.

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Windows

Don’t pressure wash windows! The high pressure can break them, causing you a major headache (and expense) to replace. Instead, wash your windows better with these tried-and-true tips from professionals.

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Vehicles

Using a high pressure wash to clean your vehicle can actually cause small dents and even chip the paint, leaving it vulnerable to rust. If you do use a pressure washer to clean your car, always set it to a low-pressure setting. And never attempt to pressure wash under the hood! It could force water into cracks and crevices and cause serious damage. Home mechanics will appreciate this list of 100 car maintenance tasks you can do yourself.

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Outdoor Light Fixtures

Though outdoor lighting can withstand rain and other weather elements, you should not pressure wash these fixtures. You'll risk forcing water into cracks and causing damage. Learn how to install low-voltage outdoor lighting yourself.

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Gutters

Though tempting, you should never clean out the inside of your gutters with a pressure washer. It's best to remove debris by hand (or use this trick), and then rinse the inside clean with a less intense flow of water. Gutters can withstand rainstorms, but not the extreme power of a pressure washer. Choose this gutter cleaning tool instead of a pressure washer.

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Stained Wood

A pressure wash pulls stain right off wood surfaces. Maybe that's your goal, but if you intend to keep stain on wood, don't use a pressure washer to clean it.