We’ve talked about how we use our stress washer to revive numerous issues round the home – like outdoor furniture and even an indoor rug – however we nonetheless hear from individuals who worry that it’s difficult to arrange or costly to purchase or laborious to manage… 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 (possibly even actually).
Strain washing is a straightforward, reasonably priced, and TOTALLY AWESOME solution to preserve your outside areas trying recent. So I’m strolling you thru every little 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 pressure washing almost 10 years in the past. The cumbersome gas-powered machine we rented for a day was so massive it didn’t even slot in our automotive! So I TOTALLY perceive anybody with PWH (stress washing hesitation).
However that every one modified once we discovered a GREAT stress washer that’s tremendous compact and simple to make use of – this $99 Electric Pressure Washer from Ryobi (NOTE: Right here is the current model, which is cheaper and extra highly effective!). Each Sherry and I exploit it often – and neither of us have any points controlling it or having sufficient energy to get each single process on our record performed. 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 manner.
A Newbie’s Video Information To Strain 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 numerous 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 can too view this video on YouTube.
Setting Up Your Electrical Strain Washer
Once more, we presently personal this $99 Electric Pressure Washer from Ryobi (right here is the current model). We purchased it for our seaside home in 2018, and once we moved we opted to carry it with us as an alternative of an older/larger version we had before – 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 at all times met our wants. At all times. In reality, we don’t even apply it to it’s highest setting. That’s how adequately highly effective it’s. Plus it’s just about essentially the most reasonably priced 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, this can be a improbable choice.
The field contains every little thing 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 recent out of the field you’ll have to lock these two items along with a easy twist.
Step 2: Join Your Excessive-Strain Hose
The high-pressure hose is what carries the pressurized water from the machine to the spray wand. Every finish has an equivalent 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 other aspect of the stress washer, there’s a black threaded connection that matches an everyday backyard hose. Connect your hose tightly similar 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 supply totally different ranges of stress for various purposes (you may also buy others as wanted). There’s a helpful information on the highest of the machine 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’ll be able to 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 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 removing of something however filth and dirt – which is SO satisfying, and leaves numerous surfaces outdoors 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’s worthwhile to make, which suggests now you can…
Step 4: Flip On Your Hose
Together 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 certain you’re getting the fullest movement potential from the hose.
You additionally wish to verify your hose for any kinks, leaks, or different knots that 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 ensure the water is popping out steadily earlier than continuing.
Chances are 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 difficulty utilizing ours).
Step 5: Join Your Energy
Together 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 gained’t want an extension wire, however you’ll be able to at all times use one if essential.
Should you are connecting an extension wire, simply you should definitely elevate the connection level of the 2 plugs (like on a desk, chair, or bucket) to stop water from dripping towards the plugs.
Step 6: Flip On Your Strain Washer
Activate the stress washer utilizing the black button on the highest of the machine. You’ll instantly hear the machine interact and you might even see your high-pressure hose stiffen as pressurized water fills it up. If this doesn’t occur, strive urgent the check & reset buttons on the plug or in your GFI outlet. These may be widespread culprits in your energy not working.
Now your stress washer is ready up and prepared to be used!
Earlier than You Begin Cleansing With Your Strain Washer
We cowl plenty of ideas alongside the best way in the course of the video (watching that’s actually the easiest way 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 defend your toes and decrease legs from any unintended 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 record contains a number of surfaces, begin with the upper ones (railings, patio umbrellas, and so forth) and work right down to decrease ones (decks, patios).
- Begin sluggish and check in an not easily seen spot first. It’s at all times good to begin in a hidden spot (just like the again of a pillow or the world of your deck that’s beneath your outside couch). If it’s your first time stress washing a specific materials or floor, begin with low stress and progressively improve it as wanted (by bringing your wand nearer or altering nozzles) to be sure 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, 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, outside stone or tile, Trex or wooden decking, brick paths or patios, wooden or metallic railings, and outside furnishings/pillows in addition to outside AND indoor rugs (more on that 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 keep watch over your energy wire and water hoses as you progress it to be sure you’re not kinking something or creating tripping hazards.
What We Clear With Our Strain Washer
We sometimes get away our stress washer 2-3 instances a 12 months to maintain our numerous outside areas trying recent and clear. Between all of our bushes, our clay/sand highway, and the salty seaside air, issues can get dirty – so we often do a fairly thorough cleansing within the spring to clean 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 quite a lot of surfaces, however listed below are the first ones that we’ll cowl at the moment:
- Composite Decking
- Painted Railings
- Outside Materials
- Stone Patios
Composite Decking
Now we have 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 plenty 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 sluggish & systematic so we didn’t miss any boards (generally it’s laborious to see what’s nonetheless soiled as soon as every little thing has gotten moist). So earlier than doing my downstairs decks I purchased this $40 surface cleaning attachment for electrical stress washers {that a} bunch of you’ve gotten really useful for doing bigger “ground” surfaces quicker. Boy was it a game-changer!
It attaches to my spray wand similar 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 quicker, however I didn’t fear as a lot about leaving “streaks” if I missed a spot or solely cleaned a part of a specific board. You possibly can see beneath that our decks can get plenty 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 similar to the Trex decking.
These railings are painted wooden, and it is best to at all times 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 at all times preserve a detailed eye on the floor as we clear, and reduce the stress (step again!) or skip a specific 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 a number of paint touch-ups aren’t a giant deal. We’ve performed them and so they’re by no means detectible as soon as it’s dry.
Outside Materials
We’ve positively prolonged the lifetime of various outside pillows and cushions because of our stress washer. It’s simply particularly necessary with materials to take it sluggish 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, needless to say the method is probably not good. Some stains might solely get lighter, not disappear completely. So it’s possible you’ll have to assault sure spots with an outdoor cleaner or fabric 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. Sizzling tip: put them within the solar to dry. That does an important job of flippantly bleaching some extra cussed stains than when you set them out to dry within the shade.
Stone Patio
Strain 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 plenty 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 concept as nicely. It’s a bit laborious 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 seems to be completely redeemed.
Whenever you’re cleansing patios or different stone surfaces, simply be conscious 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 have to 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 solution to wash with cleaning soap (it features a hose that you could connect and hook up with your bottle of cleaning soap), actually, we’ve by no means used it. We simply spray outside cleaners on sure gadgets (primarily cussed material stains – for instance, we use this fabric 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 be sure 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 Strain Washer
Whereas these are the ways in which we presently 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 Strain 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’ll make disconnecting the hoses simpler)
- Disconnect your backyard hose
- Disconnect your high-pressure hose from the stress washer (we go away it connected to our spray wand, however you’ll be able to disconnect that finish too)
As soon as every little 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 considered one of our favourite options as a result of it makes storing it a lot simpler! You possibly can 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 mission 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 shop to incorporate plenty of the newer issues we have now been loving – like Sherry’s beloved robotic vacuum, some new favourite household board video games, our tried and true seaside gear, favourite current reads, and so forth – in order that’s all right here.
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