Washboy Woes - TilersForums.com

[Flintstone]

got the washboy out today for the first time in a long time to give it another go. Still not having much joy with it. Creates a lot of foaming on the tiles and on the joints! Any ideas ?
I'm ringing it out a lot.

 

[LM]

What make is the washboy, the sponge supplied might be of poor quality and thats why its leaving so much water on the floor,. Also depending on the grout, highly modified grouts will make the water foam up due to the polymer in them and need you to change water more often or use a rinse aid.
Your pic looks like too much water is being left behind by a poor quality sponge

 

[MTiler]

chuck it, never seen the point of them

 

[Italy]

What make is the washboy, the sponge supplied might be of poor quality and thats why its leaving so much water on the floor,. Also depending on the grout, highly modified grouts will make the water foam up due to the polymer in them and need you to change water more often or use a rinse aid.
Your pic looks like too much water is being left behind by a poor quality sponge

same

 

[Spare Tool]

Tried quite a few different washboy sponges, Genesis are good, hold water well..

 

[Flintstone]

My one is a Genesis, with slots in. I hear so much good about them but never have any joy. Tilemaster grout 3000

 

[Spare Tool]

My one is a Genesis, with slots in. I hear so much good about them but never have any joy. Tilemaster grout 3000

Oh well that surprises me, I even use mine on walls, is it brand new, they perform better after a month or so..

 

[stephenoneill]

View attachment 82228 got the washboy out today for the first time in a long time to give it another go. Still not having much joy with it. Creates a lot of foaming on the tiles and on the joints! Any ideas ?
I'm ringing it out a lot.

With a new sponge leave it soak for 2days in water before using it .

 

[Italy]

My one is a Genesis, with slots in. I hear so much good about them but never have any joy. Tilemaster grout 3000

no good for me
with slots in

 

[Ian]

Looks like either the sponge is holding too much water or, the water in the bucket is due a change. I noticed this starts to happen with the darker colours when the water is too mucky, it quite often gets a foam ontop of it.

 

[Flintstone]

No it's not new I've had it ages, it is bedded in! Very strange. I think by design your never gonna get as much water out as you are by ringing a sponge,

 

[Flintstone]

Looks like either the sponge is holding too much water or, the water in the bucket is due a change. I noticed this starts to happen with the darker colours when the water is too mucky, it quite often gets a foam ontop of it.

It was happening after I had washed off about 2 meters worth! And just got worse and worse. I am pretty good at changing water actually it makes a big difference

 

[Ian]

No it's not new I've had it ages, it is bedded in! Very strange. I think by design your never gonna get as much water out as you are by ringing a sponge,

There's a definite technique to running the board over the rollers, it needs an upwards flick at the end to squeeze that last bit of water out that holds in the end of the sponge.

 

[Flintstone]

Yes, I know that manouver ha! Trust me I could not get a drop more out of it

 

[Ian]

Yes, I know that manouver ha! Trust me I could not get a drop more out of it

Sorry I didn't mean to sound like I was teaching you to suck eggs There's definitely something about the darker grouts that makes this happen, in most cases it's excess water in the sponge as when I press too hard it runs down the wall! It's possible that the segmented sponge is the cause, I've never used one so can't be 100% sure, try a solid sponge to see if it makes a difference.