Due to the rising demands on people's domestic lives, it is becoming more common for homeowners to hire third-party cleaning contractors to help keep their carpets and homes clean. For prospective or established cleaning contractors wishing to start or upgrade their cleaning arsenal, there are multiple types of pressure washers to choose from; hot water and cold water machines, electric models, mobile units as well as diesel and petrol powered pressure washers.

First of all, what type of business are you? Do you specialise in a niche area, such as graffiti removal or concrete cleaning or do you intend to be a general purpose operation, willing to clean homes, commercial environments and all of the above? Deciding what type of cleaning you will be carrying out will help to determine what type of pressure washer will be suitable for your cleaning needs. Below are just a few things one needs to consider before selecting a pressure washer:

• While there is a long running debate as to whether hot water units are superior to cold water units, for a professional cleaning company, there is no argument. Buy hot water. If you were a professional company cleaning dishes, you wouldn't use cold water would you? And the basic rule applies to cleaning contractors. Hot water pressure washers are more versatile, clean more efficiently and are quicker than cold water machines.

• Perhaps one of the main mistakes companies can make is under sizing their equipment. In this scenario, more is better. For commercial applications, the unit must consist of a powerful engine. Smaller engines will not be able to withstand daily prolonged use. And while businesses are often intimidated by the higher costs of these more powerful machines, remember that this purchase is an investment. Pressure washers with larger and more powerful engines are specifically designed to withstand continual and regular use.

• Cleaning contractors will also need to decide whether or not to use electric units or fuel-powered models. Electric pressure washers are considerably lighter than petrol and diesel units, but there portability is somewhat limited to the length of their extension cords. Fuel-powered machines, on the other hand, can be used in the most inaccessible locations but, due to their fuel tanks, can be quite heavy.

• Cleaning contractors will also need to consider how much noise they wish to generate completing a job. If the answer is "none at all", then a fuel-powered pressure washing machine would not be suitable. Electric versions emit almost no noise, which makes them perfect for cleaning jobs that require a low decibel range.

If you're a cleaning contractor looking to invest in a quality pressure washer, then cheaper machines are invariably not the most suitable for commercial applications. Moreover, businesses are recommended to purchase their pressure washing machines from established cleaning equipment outlets. Not only will businesses profit from professional advice but the majority of machines sold at most home improvements warehouses are not designed for commercial work. Furthermore, make sure that any pressure washing equipment comes with a warranty. This will guarantee that the costs of any future repairs are covered.