We’ve talked about how we use our stress washer to revive varied issues round the home – like out of doors furnishings and even an indoor rug – however we nonetheless hear from individuals who concern that it’s difficult to arrange or costly to purchase or arduous to regulate… and the excellent news is that it’s none of these issues. So this put up is a complete start-to-finish information for anybody who’s lastly able to get their stress washing toes moist (perhaps even actually).
Stress washing is a simple, inexpensive, and TOTALLY AWESOME strategy to preserve your out of doors areas trying contemporary. So I’m strolling you thru every thing from setting it up and turning it on, to the place and the way we use ours. It makes such an insane distinction each spring, I’d even name it a DIY VIP.
We had been a bit intimidated the first time we tried stress washing almost 10 years in the past. The cumbersome gas-powered machine we rented for a day was so huge it didn’t even slot in our automotive! So I TOTALLY perceive anybody with PWH (stress washing hesitation).
However that every one modified after we discovered a GREAT stress washer that’s tremendous compact and simple to make use of – this $99 Electrical Stress Washer from Ryobi. Each Sherry and I take advantage of it repeatedly – and neither of us have any points controlling it or having sufficient energy to get each single job on our checklist carried out. It’ll make a stress washing convert out of nearly anybody. We purchased it a few years in the past with our personal cash and adore it – so nothing about this glowing assessment is sponsored in any manner.
A Newbie’s Video Information To Stress Washing
We’ll cowl all three of these matters in textual content & pictures beneath, however if you wish to see ALL of it in motion and in real-time, the video beneath is for you. Oh yeah and there’s a number of that candy candy stress washing footage that everybody’s eyeballs can’t assist however love. And extra importantly, a number of cameos by our canine Penny.
Be aware: You may also view this video on YouTube.
Setting Up Your Electrical Stress Washer
Once more, we at present personal this $99 Electrical Stress Washer from Ryobi. We purchased it for our seashore home in 2018, and after we moved we opted to convey it with us as a substitute of an older/bigger model we had earlier than – simply because this one is so compact and dependable and (most significantly) GOOD AT CLEANING. There are positively extra highly effective (and dearer) choices on the market, however this stress washer has all the time met our wants. All the time. In truth, we don’t even apply it to it’s highest setting. That’s how adequately highly effective it’s. Plus it’s just about probably the most inexpensive choice on the market and we particularly love that it’s compact and simple to make use of. So except you could have a particular want for one thing extra intense, it is a incredible choice.
The field consists of every thing proven above, you simply want to produce water (through a backyard hose) and energy. And, as we present within the video, set-up is just about as straightforward as simply connecting these two issues!
Step 1: Assemble Your Wand
We usually retailer our wand and set off deal with assembled, however coming contemporary out of the field you’ll must lock these two items along with a easy twist.
Step 2: Join Your Excessive-Stress Hose
The high-pressure hose is what carries the pressurized water from the machine to the spray wand. Every finish has an similar black threaded collar. One finish connects to your set off deal with, the opposite to the brass connection on the stress washer. Simply hand tighten till they’re each safe.
Step 3: Join Your Backyard Hose
On the alternative facet of the stress washer, there’s a black threaded connection that matches an everyday backyard hose. Connect your hose tightly identical to you’ll screw it onto your property’s hose bib.
Step 4: Choose & Connect Your Nozzle
This stress washer comes with 3 nozzle choices that provide completely different ranges of stress for various purposes (you too can buy others as wanted). There’s a helpful information on the highest of the system that explains the variations between the three, together with holes to retailer them in.
As we describe within the video, we nearly EXCLUSIVELY use the center (medium stress) orange nozzle. It’s form of the Goldilocks of choices, giving us the “good” quantity of stress for cleansing patios, decking, out of doors materials, and extra. Plus, you’ll be able to all the time regulate the stress you’re making use of by merely holding your wand nearer or farther from the floor you’re cleansing.
The gap issues – so attempt to watch the video above at any time when you’ll be able to to see extra of what we imply. Held too near one thing, even the medium stress nozzle can strip paint or stain off of wooden – however spraying with ample distance can imply zero elimination of something however filth and dirt – which is SO satisfying, and leaves a number of surfaces exterior trying like new.
To connect your chosen nozzle on the finish of the wand, you simply pull down on the brass collar and place the nozzle into the opening. Releasing the collar locks it into place.
This completes the entire water connections that you must make, which suggests now you can…
Step 4: Flip On Your Hose
Along with your water connections safe, now you can activate the water at your hose bib. It’s a good suggestion to open that sucker ALLLLLLLL the best way to make sure you’re getting the fullest stream potential from the hose.
You additionally need to verify your hose for any kinks, leaks, or different knots which may stop the water from flowing freely to your stress washer. It’s additionally a good suggestion to squeeze the set off in your stress washer for a number of seconds to verify the water is popping out steadily earlier than continuing.
You might discover that we’re utilizing a type of expandable “pocket hoses” that shrink up when it’s not filled with water. We love these hoses as a result of they’re much less cumbersome and cumbersome than conventional hoses, however some might dissuade you from utilizing them with sure stress washers (we’ve personally by no means had any problem utilizing ours).
Step 5: Join Your Energy
Along with your water good to go, now you’ll be able to plug in your stress washer. Ours comes with a SUPER lengthy wire, so that you in all probability received’t want an extension wire, however you’ll be able to all the time use one if needed.
In the event you are connecting an extension wire, simply remember to elevate the connection level of the 2 plugs (like on a desk, chair, or bucket) to forestall water from dripping towards the plugs.
Step 6: Flip On Your Stress Washer
Activate the stress washer utilizing the black button on the highest of the machine. You’ll instantly hear the system have interaction and you might even see your high-pressure hose stiffen as pressurized water fills it up. If this doesn’t occur, attempt urgent the take a look at & reset buttons on the plug or in your GFI outlet. These could be frequent culprits on your energy not working.
Now your stress washer is ready up and prepared to be used!
Earlier than You Begin Cleansing With Your Stress Washer
We cowl a whole lot of suggestions alongside the best way through the video (watching that’s actually one of the simplest ways to get a full primer on stress washing), however listed below are a handful of issues to bear in mind earlier than you begin your first stress washing journey.
- Put on close-toed footwear and pants to assist shield your toes and decrease legs from any unintentional pressurized spray. A direct, close-range spray can sting and even break the pores and skin.
- Clear high to backside. In case your to-do checklist consists of a number of surfaces, begin with the upper ones (railings, patio umbrellas, and so forth) and work all the way down to decrease ones (decks, patios).
- Begin gradual and take a look at in an not noticeable spot first. It’s all the time good to begin in a hidden spot (just like the again of a pillow or the realm of your deck that’s beneath your out of doors couch). If it’s your first time stress washing a selected materials or floor, begin with low stress and steadily enhance it as wanted (by bringing your wand nearer or altering nozzles) to be sure to’re not damaging the floor. Don’t begin by blasting one thing with the nozzle mere inches away ever.
- Watch out for delicate supplies like home windows, gentle woods, & vinyl siding that may be simply damaged or broken with an excessive amount of stress. We have a tendency to stay to cleansing concrete, out of doors stone or tile, Trex or wooden decking, brick paths or patios, wooden or metallic railings, and out of doors furnishings/pillows in addition to out of doors AND indoor rugs (extra on that right here). You clearly need the nozzle additional away from material than, say, concrete.
- Thoughts your cords. This stress washer is tremendous gentle and moveable, however control your energy wire and water hoses as you progress it to be sure to’re not kinking something or creating tripping hazards.
What We Clear With Our Stress Washer
We usually get away our stress washer 2-3 occasions a 12 months to maintain our varied out of doors areas trying contemporary and clear. Between all of our bushes, our clay/sand street, and the salty seashore air, issues can get dirty – so we often do a reasonably thorough cleansing within the spring to scrub off the filth, pollen, or mildew that collected on issues over the winter. Then we would do some faster “contact up” cleanings as wanted in the summertime and fall.
We apply it to a wide range of surfaces, however listed below are the first ones that we’ll cowl right this moment:
- Composite Decking
- Painted Railings
- Outside Materials
- Stone Patios
Composite Decking
We’ve Trex decking on our porches and we’ve discovered the stress washer to be an effective way to get filth, mud, and sand build-up off of them. The woodgrain texture on the Trex catches a whole lot of grime and we hadn’t cleaned our upstairs deck shortly, so it had fairly the layer of black tree filth. That made the job tremendous satisfying although…
Doing that enormous upstairs deck was fairly tedious as a result of we needed to be gradual & systematic so we didn’t miss any boards (generally it’s arduous to see what’s nonetheless soiled as soon as every thing has gotten moist). So earlier than doing my downstairs decks I purchased this $40 floor cleansing attachment for electrical stress washers {that a} bunch of you could have advisable for doing bigger “flooring” surfaces sooner. Boy was it a game-changer!
It attaches to my spray wand identical to every other nozzle does, however gives a a lot bigger 12″ cleansing floor, which made stress washing my decks SO. MUCH. FASTER.
Not solely was it sooner, however I didn’t fear as a lot about leaving “streaks” if I missed a spot or solely cleaned a part of a selected board. You may see beneath that our decks can get a whole lot of sandy footprints and settled sand on them. However they give the impression of being a lot more energizing now!
Railings
One other space that we hadn’t cleaned shortly was the upstairs deck railings, which had a build-up of tree filth on them identical to the Trex decking.
These railings are painted wooden, and you need to all the time use a little bit of warning when stress washing painted surfaces as a result of the stress could cause the paint to chip or flake. Additionally, if any areas have began to rot beneath the paint, the stress washer could make the scenario worse.
We simply all the time preserve a detailed eye on the floor as we clear, and reduce the stress (step again!) or skip a selected spot if the paint isn’t holding up. In case your greatest nightmare is a few flaked paint, I’m additionally right here to guarantee you that a couple of paint touch-ups aren’t a giant deal. We’ve carried out them they usually’re by no means detectible as soon as it’s dry.
Outside Materials
We’ve positively prolonged the lifetime of quite a lot of out of doors pillows and cushions because of our stress washer. It’s simply particularly necessary with materials to take it gradual as a result of an excessive amount of stress could cause the material to tear or fray. So begin on the again and with low stress, particularly if it’s the primary time you’re cleansing that materials.
Additionally, understand that the method might not be good. Some stains might solely get lighter, not disappear totally. So you could must assault sure spots with an out of doors cleaner or material cleaner to complete the job. However for us, we discover the stress washer does the majority of the work getting our out of doors materials prepared for spring. Sizzling tip: put them within the solar to dry. That does an important job of calmly bleaching some extra cussed stains than if you happen to set them out to dry within the shade.
Stone Patio
Stress washing is an effective way to get patios, driveways, sidewalks, and even some decking to look new once more. This was the primary season we used it to scrub the stone patio round our pool, which had collected a whole lot of inexperienced scum in among the extra shaded areas of the yard (beneath and behind the lounge chairs for instance).
The video exhibits how satisfying this actually was, however the earlier than & afters beneath provide you with an thought as effectively. It’s a bit arduous to inform as a result of the stone itself has some darker shell “spots” in it (and the floor is moist within the after shot), however this entire space appears completely redeemed.
Such a distinction.
Whenever you’re cleansing patios or different stone surfaces, simply be aware of any polymeric sand (or common sand) that you will have between the cracks. The stress washer might blow that unfastened and also you’ll must refill it.
We additionally get requested fairly often about whether or not or not we add some kind of cleaning soap or cleaner to our stress washer. Whereas the machine DOES include a strategy to wash with cleaning soap (it features a hose that you may connect and hook up with your bottle of cleaning soap), truthfully, we’ve by no means used it. We simply spray out of doors cleaners on sure objects (primarily cussed material stains – for instance, we use this material cleaner) by hand after which stress wash them to maneuver these suds throughout and rinse them away.
The very last thing to bear in mind when cleansing out of doors materials is to be sure to have a sunny spot to allow them to FULLY dry. In any other case, you could simply encourage extra mildew build-up.
Different Makes use of For Your Stress Washer
Whereas these are the ways in which we at present use our stress washer, there a TONS of different methods they are often helpful round the home. Listed here are some earlier posts we’ve written about different stress washing adventures:
Placing Your Stress Washer Away
When you’ve completed your cleansing, disconnecting and storing your stress washer is even simpler than setting it up. You’re mainly reversing the steps:
- Flip it off and unplug it
- Flip off your water
- Spray the wand for a number of seconds to launch the water stress (it is going to make disconnecting the hoses simpler)
- Disconnect your backyard hose
- Disconnect your high-pressure hose from the stress washer (we depart it hooked up to our spray wand, however you’ll be able to disconnect that finish too)
As soon as every thing is disconnected, there’s a helpful velcro strap on the deal with of the machine that will help you wrangle all your cords and hoses. It’s one in all our favourite options as a result of it makes storing it a lot simpler! You may see it in motion within the video 😉
So, there you could have it. All the information I can presumably consider on the subject of stress washing. I hope it leaves you feeling assured that you may sort out this challenge your self (you’ll be able to!). I’m ridiculously glad that we tried one out a few years in the past and have by no means regretted proudly owning one since!
Sidenote: we lastly better-categorized and up to date our Amazon store to incorporate a whole lot of the more moderen issues we’ve got been loving – like Sherry’s beloved robotic vacuum, some new favourite household board video games, our tried and true seashore gear, favourite latest reads, and so forth – in order that’s all proper right here.
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