Why climb the side of your home to scrape off old exterior paint when you can pressure-wash your troubles away. Today, in Part III of our winter-survivor series, we deal with surface preparation with a pressure washer. Even if your home shows no signs of cracking or peeling, it still needs a good cleaning before you paint. While a solution of TSP and a scrub brush will work, it's hard work and time consuming. Cleaning and loose-paint removal is most easily accomplished with a pressure washer -- rented (for about $50 a day) or purchased (for between $200 and $600). We suggest the latter as a pressure washer has many uses around the home. Take care and exercise a gentle touch to avoid damaging siding or the wood below the old paint that you'll be blasting away. Afterward, touch things up by sanding and feathering edges where paint meets exposed wood. Tomorrow, in Part IV of winter survivor, you'll learn how to outfit, outwit, outlast and survive when it's time to paint. And that's the On The House tip for today.