Monthly Archives: November 2022

Shot of a pressure washer with a man in the background

How to Look After Your Power Washer

Whether you own, or hire, a power washer from Britclean, we recommend that you read the instructions carefully and always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when operating the machinery. It’s common for people to store away their power washers after use without doing any necessary maintenance. With any piece of machinery, it’s important to make time and effort to ensure problems do not occur later down the line. We recommend incorporating a maintenance routine every time you use your washer.

Every power washer requires maintenance now and again, so we have put together this helpful guide about how to look after your washer. By following these steps, you’ll be sure to achieve the best results and prolong the life of it.

Before Using:

  • Regularly check all parts for wear and tear particularly the nozzle, extension hoses, fluid levels, and detergent system. 
  • Always check the oil levels before use. If the pressure washer is low on oil then don’t use it and have it serviced.
  • Replace your O-Rings when necessary. Your washer is equipped with multiple O-Rings which are placed under huge pressure. If these rings begin to degrade, they can eventually lead to unexpected leaking and pump failure. 
  • Never run your washer without the correct amount of water. Not having enough water can cause the pressure to rise too high.

After Using:

  • If you have a petrol or diesel washer, you might want to consider adding stabilisers to your tank when not in use for a longer period of time. If you don’t, gasoline can build up deposits that can clog up and lead to overheating.
  • Store your washer in a dry place and use a washer cover which will not hold moisture. 
  • During the winter, use antifreeze or pump lubricants on the pistons and seals to prevent freezing and damage from mineral deposits. 

Pressure Washer Servicing and Repairs at Britclean

Even pressure washers which are well looked after can encounter problems from time to time. In this case, you might need your power washer to be repaired or serviced by a professional.

At Britclean, we offer high-quality pressure washer repairs and servicing in Staffordshire and surrounding areas. Whether your washer is from our own range or any other manufacturer, we 

would be happy to service or repair your washer to keep it in top condition. We also supply a wide range of high pressure washers, commercial vacuums, and accessories. 

Contact us at Britclean or visit our workshop in Stoke-on-Trent for all your power washing needs!

Carpet Cleaned With A Pressure Washer

Top Tips to Keep Your Carpets Clean of Pests

In the UK, we’re fairly lucky when it comes to pests. We don’t have massive spiders or wasps that sound like attack helicopters. You never have to worry about stepping on a scorpion in the United Kingdom, and you’re never kept up all night because of Cicadas. What we do have though, is summer and autumn – the time of year when slugs and spiders make their way from the garden and invade our homes. 

At Britclean, we understand that you want to keep your carpet clear of these beasties. We also have some great tips to keep your home clear of insects and other unwanted intruders. So we’ve put together this article with some great, easy-to-accomplish tips to keep your carpet and home safe from slugs and spiders. 

Keeping Spiders Away From Your Carpet

Spiders are a common sight in our homes this time of year as they make their way in from the autumn cold. There are a few ways that you can keep spiders away from your carpet. Let’s go over some of them…

Close All Entry Points

Our first piece of advice is the simplest. Make sure you’ve closed off your windows, doors, and cat doors whenever possible. By keeping your physical points of entry blocked, spiders physically can’t enter your home. While they may still get in through small holes in your drywall and the space between your taps, this will drastically reduce the number of spiders in your home. 

Play Music

Generally speaking, spiders don’t have great eyesight. They rely on vibrations to tell their direction. As such, you can use music to defer spiders from entering your home, as spiders will actively avoid most loud sounds. This means that playing anything from Bruce Springsteen to Lil Nas X in your home will help to ward away most pesky arachnids. 

Clean Your Home

Spiders will generally feed on anything they can get their hands on – including crumbs which have been left on the floor. As such, if you want to keep spiders and other pests out of your home, we thoroughly recommend that you clean your home thoroughly. Not only will this defer spiders from staying in your home, but it will also give you a feeling of accomplishment. 

Keeping Slugs Away From Your Carpet

Salt

If you’re not particular about whether or not your pesky slug invaders survive, salt is a great way of keeping your home free from slugs. Salt is poisonous to slugs and snails, as (through the process of osmosis) it removes water from within slug cells. This dehydrates slugs, which ultimately kills them.

The best way of deploying salt is to pour it in lines outside your entrance and exits, forming a barrier. This should stop most slugs and snails from getting into your home, long before they can come into contact with your carpet. 

Copper Tape

No one is quite sure why slugs don’t like copper. For some people, it’s because the copper and the positive charge of the slug slime create a primitive, organic solenoid. Others argue that it’s due to the salt that naturally builds up on copper. Regardless of the specific reason why most slugs tend to avoid copper wherever possible.

So, how do you use copper tape? Easy, simply lay it in front of your doorstep and within the frame of your doors and windows. This should stop slugs from attempting to make their way into your home. 

Silicon Dioxide 

One great option for deferring slugs from entering your home is using a material like diatomaceous earth on the boundary of your garden. This material, derived from silicon dioxide (also known as quartz) is heavily abrasive. This means that slugs will do everything they can to avoid it if they feel it – making this a great option if you’re looking for a slug repellent that will defer slugs instead of killing them. 

To use silicon dioxide, all you have to do is create a barrier of diatomaceous earth at the edge of your garden. This will keep all your slugs and snails contained.  

Cleaning Supplies in Staffordshire

With these handy tips, you should feel confident that your carpet and home are safe from pests. However, if you’re looking for a more thorough cleaning solution, we’ve got everything you need here at Britclean. Whether you’re looking for carpet cleaners, industrial vacuum cleaners, or industrial pressure washers, you’ll find them here. 

For more information about our products and services, please browse our catalogue today. Alternatively, please get in touch with us. Our experienced staff will be happy to help you with your enquiries.