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We’ve talked about how we use our stress washer to revive numerous issues round the home – like outside furnishings and even an indoor rug – however we nonetheless hear from individuals who worry that it’s difficult to arrange or costly to purchase or exhausting 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 ft moist (possibly even actually).
Stress washing is a simple, inexpensive, and TOTALLY AWESOME technique to preserve your outside areas trying contemporary. So I’m strolling you thru all the things 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 practically 10 years in the past. The cumbersome gas-powered machine we rented for a day was so large 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 electrical stress washer from Ryobi. Each Sherry and I exploit it frequently – and neither of us have any points controlling it or having sufficient energy to get each single activity on our listing executed. 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 overview is sponsored in any means.
A Newbie’s Video Information To Stress Washing
We’ll cowl all three of these subjects in textual content & photographs 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.
Word: You too can view this video on YouTube.
Setting Up Your Electrical Stress Washer
Once more, we at the moment 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 undoubtedly extra highly effective (and dearer) choices on the market, however this stress washer has at all times met our wants. All the time. Actually, 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 until you’ve gotten a particular want for one thing extra intense, it is a incredible choice.
The field consists of all the things proven above, you simply want to provide 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 sometimes 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 a daily backyard hose. Connect your hose tightly similar to you’d screw it onto your property’s hose bib.
Step 4: Choose & Connect Your Nozzle
This stress washer comes with 3 nozzle choices that supply completely different ranges of stress for various purposes (it’s also possible to 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 type of the Goldilocks of choices, giving us the “good” quantity of stress for cleansing patios, decking, outside materials, and extra. Plus, you possibly can at all times modify 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 every time you possibly can 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 sufficient distance can imply zero removing 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 all the water connections it is advisable 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 circulation attainable from the hose.
You additionally need to examine your hose for any kinks, leaks, or different knots which may forestall 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.
It’s possible you’ll discover that we’re utilizing a type of expandable “pocket hoses” that shrink up when it’s not stuffed 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 situation utilizing ours).
Step 5: Join Your Energy
Along with your water good to go, now you possibly can 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 possibly can at all times use one if essential.
If you happen to are connecting an extension wire, simply you’ll want 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 may even see your high-pressure hose stiffen as pressurized water fills it up. If this doesn’t occur, strive urgent the take a look at & reset buttons on the plug or in your GFI outlet. These could be widespread culprits on your energy not working.
Now your stress washer is about up and prepared to be used!
Earlier than You Begin Cleansing With Your Stress Washer
We cowl a number of suggestions alongside the best way in the course of the video (watching that’s really one of the simplest ways to get a full primer on stress washing), however listed below are a handful of issues to remember earlier than you begin your first stress washing journey.
- Put on close-toed footwear and pants to assist shield your ft and decrease legs from any unintentional pressurized spray. A direct, close-range spray can sting and even break the pores and skin.
- Clear prime to backside. In case your to-do listing consists of a number of surfaces, begin with the upper ones (railings, patio umbrellas, and so on) and work right down to decrease ones (decks, patios).
- Begin gradual and take a look at in an not easily seen spot first. It’s at all times good to start out in a hidden spot (just like the again of a pillow or the world of your deck that’s underneath your outside couch). If it’s your first time stress washing a selected materials or floor, begin with low stress and steadily improve it as wanted (by bringing your wand nearer or altering nozzles) to ensure you’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, tender 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, outside stone or tile, Trex or wooden decking, brick paths or patios, wooden or steel railings, and outside furnishings/pillows in addition to outside 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 ensure you’re not kinking something or creating tripping hazards.
What We Clear With Our Stress Washer
We sometimes escape our stress washer 2-3 instances a yr to maintain our numerous outside areas trying contemporary and clear. Between all of our timber, our clay/sand street, and the salty seashore air, issues can get dirty – so we often do a fairly 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 as we speak:
- Composite Decking
- Painted Railings
- Out of doors Materials
- Stone Patios
Composite Decking
We’ve got 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 number 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 giant upstairs deck was fairly tedious as a result of we needed to be gradual & systematic so we didn’t miss any boards (typically it’s exhausting to see what’s nonetheless soiled as soon as all the things 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’ve gotten really useful for doing bigger “ground” surfaces sooner. Boy was it a game-changer!
It attaches to my spray wand similar to every other nozzle does, however supplies 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 number of sandy footprints and settled sand on them. However they appear a lot more energizing now!
Painted 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 similar to the Trex decking.
These railings are painted wooden, and you must at all times use a little bit of warning when stress washing painted surfaces as a result of the stress may cause the paint to chip or flake. Additionally, if any areas have began to rot beneath the paint, the stress washer could make the state of affairs worse.
We simply at all times 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 largest nightmare is a few flaked paint, I’m additionally right here to guarantee you that just a few paint touch-ups aren’t a giant deal. We’ve executed them and so they’re by no means detectible as soon as it’s dry.
Out of doors Materials
We’ve undoubtedly prolonged the lifetime of quite a lot of outside 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 may 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, needless to say the method might not be good. Some stains might solely get lighter, not disappear completely. So it’s possible you’ll must assault sure spots with an outside cleaner or material cleaner to complete the job. However for us, we discover the stress washer does the majority of the work getting our outside materials prepared for spring. Scorching tip: put them within the solar to dry. That does a fantastic job of evenly bleaching some extra cussed stains than when you 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 wash the stone patio round our pool, which had collected a number of inexperienced scum in a number of the extra shaded areas of the yard (underneath and behind the lounge chairs for instance).
The video reveals how satisfying this actually was, however the earlier than & afters beneath offer you an thought as effectively. It’s a bit exhausting 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 complete space appears to be like completely redeemed.
*All the pieces besides the left nook of the patio was cleaned within the picture above – see that line of darker scum? Such a distinction.
If you’re cleansing patios or different stone surfaces, simply be aware of any polymeric sand (or common sand) that you’ll 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 form of cleaning soap or cleaner to our stress washer. Whereas the machine DOES include a technique to wash with cleaning soap (it features a hose that you could connect and hook up with your bottle of cleaning soap), truthfully, we’ve by no means used it. We simply spray outside cleaners on sure gadgets (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 remember when cleansing outside materials is to ensure you have a sunny spot to allow them to FULLY dry. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll simply encourage extra mildew build-up.
Different Makes use of For Your Stress Washer
Whereas these are the ways in which we at the moment 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 principally 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 can make disconnecting the hoses simpler)
- Disconnect your backyard hose
- Disconnect your high-pressure hose from the stress washer (we depart it connected to our spray wand, however you possibly can disconnect that finish too)
As soon as all the things is disconnected, there’s a helpful velcro strap on the deal with of the machine that will help you wrangle your whole cords and hoses. It’s one in every of 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’ve gotten it. All the information I can presumably consider on the subject of stress washing. I hope it leaves you feeling assured that you could deal with this venture your self (you possibly can!). 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!
Extra Home Cleansing Recommendation
If you happen to’re excited about extra methods to maintain your property clear, try these posts beneath:
*This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, so we might earn a small fee if you make a purchase order by way of hyperlinks on our web site at no extra value to you.
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