Getting a new pressure washer can be exciting, but it can also be dangerous and destructive in the wrong hands. These tips will help you use your Cub Cadet pressure washer to clean effectively and safely.
Staying Safe
Never point the wand at people or pets. Water exits the wand with enough force to penetrate the skin, causing injury and blood poisoning.
Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from water, detergent, and dirt.
Never spray closer than 6 feet to power lines or electrical outlets.
If there is a leak in the wand or the high-pressure hose, shut off the pressure washer immediately. These small leaks can become dangerous in hurry. Replace the leaking parts before using your pressure washer.
Water Supply
Before hooking up a garden hose, be sure to check the inlet on the pump. Remove any debris. If the screen is missing, it needs to be replaced before using the washer.
Increasing the length of the hose or decreasing its diameter will reduce flow rate. If you need to work more than 50 feet from a spigot, use a ½ inch diameter hose.
Always purge air from the pump before starting the engine. Once the hose is connected and the spigot is open, hold down the trigger on the gun to let water flow through the pump and hoses. Keep the trigger held down when starting the engine so you don’t have to fight water resistance inside the pump.
Choosing a Spray Tip
Each tip is designed to spray water at a specific angle: a narrow-angle tip will deliver a concentrated, powerful spray while a wide angle tip will spray a wide area for faster cleanup. Using a tip that’s too narrow for the job can damage the surface you’re cleaning. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and use a wider tip.
The red zero degree tip delivers maximum force. This should only be used to remove caked on material stuck to durable surfaces. The yellow tip has a wider spray that can peel off heavy contamination with less danger of damage.
The green tip is good for general purpose cleaning on unpainted surfaces.
The white tip is the widest cleaning tip. It’s gentle enough to use on cars, boats and other painted surfaces.
The blacktip is the only tip that will draw detergent. It has the widest spray, so it’s not effective at cleaning when using plain water.
Using the Wand
When the gun isn’t being used, the pump will heat up as it tries to redirect pressurized water. To extend the life of the pump, never leave the engine idling for more than three minutes. If you need to take a break, shut off the engine. Keep the safety lock engaged when you’re not using the wand.
The nozzle should be kept between 12 and 18 inches from the surface you’re cleaning for the best results.
Approach surfaces from a 45-degree angle. This lets the water peel away dirt and grime. Spraying head-on can force dirt deeper into the surface, especially when working with porous materials like brick and concrete.
To prevent streaking, start from the bottom and work your way up.
Never spray an engine with your pressure washer. This can force water inside which will mix with the oil, turning it into a sticky emulsion that won’t lubricate the motor.
Using Detergents
Only use cleaning chemicals designed specifically for pressure washers. Other cleaning chemicals can damage the pump.
Check the instructions on the bottle: some are pre-mixed so they can be drawn directly into the detergent system, while others need to be diluted with water.
The end of the detergent hose needs to be fully submerged to draw in cleaning chemicals. If you aren’t getting a soapy solution, make sure the hose hasn’t moved out of place. If it is submerged, check the hose filter for debris build-up.
Most cleaning chemicals have a “dwell time.” This is how long the chemical needs to be left on the surface being cleaned to have the greatest effect. If you’re using a product with a dwell time longer than 5 minutes, try to put the object you’re cleaning in the shade to keep the soap from drying up on the surface.
Before switching back to rinsing, let the wand spray until any remaining soap residue has been flushed from the system.
Check your local drainage regulations. In some areas, you may be required to biodegradable detergents, while other areas will require all wastewater to be directed away from storm drains.
Get the Parts You Need for Your Cub Cadet Pressure Washer
Cubparts.com can ship everything you need to keep your Cub Cadet equipment running. We’re a certified dealer for Cub Cadet and their manufacturing partners, so we stock parts for Cub Cadet as well as the Honda engines and AAA pumps used in some models. We ship across the U.S. and Canada.