siesta key condo with a screened lanai full of pollen and grit, should i pressure wash the floor before the inside deep clean or after
Exterior first, almost always!
When we pressure washed our Venice townhouse lanai, the mist and runoff tracked straight through the slider if we were not careful. I close the sliders tight, lock them, and lay towels along the inside track before anyone pulls the trigger outside. Screens come out or get covered if your cage setup allows it, because high pressure can stretch older mesh.
Wash from the house outward so you are not pushing dirty water toward the door. A quick rinse of the threshold after the lanai dries saves your interior crew from redoing the entry tile. If you have potted plants on the lanai, move them before washing so grit does not splash back onto a clean floor the next day.
For the screen frame itself, lighter pressure and a wider fan beat blasting one spot, which is how we dented a corner once. After the lanai is dry, then book the inside deep clean so you are not paying someone to wipe the same entry twice.
Do the lanai first. Obviously.
What people ignore is the water that runs under the slider and pools on the living room tile. Pressure washing is not “outside only” if your track seals are tired. I live on a canal lot in Fruitville with a screen cage, and overspray finds every gap.
Tape a towel dam inside the track if your building allows it. Check your association rules on pressure washing and drainage. Some condos restrict when you can run water off the slab. Let the lanai bake in the sun until it is actually dry, not just “looks dry.” Water under outdoor mats will wick inside when you walk on them.
If you interior clean first, you will get grit and mildew smell when furniture sits back on a damp lanai mat. Mildew behind the sofa is a fun surprise nobody wants. Dry exterior, then indoor deep clean, then move furniture back. Not the other way around unless you enjoy doing things twice.