Pressure washers vary a LOT in price and specifications. If you want to spend 8 hours trying to clean your patio then choose a super cheap, super low pressure washer and just smile when your neighbours keep looking at you (even when the sun starts to set and you’re wet and tired).
If you are looking for an electric OR petrol jet wash for sale at a good price then this review will effectively weed out the rubbish machines, saving you embarrassment and frustration.
Before you read on, if you’re in a rush, here is a quick sumamry of what we think are the VERY BEST.
Typically clean between 25 square metres and 35 square metres an hour
Pros
Fairly powerful machines
May get gadgets
Great for home use and some bigger jobs
Cons
While some may have the power for big commercial jobs be aware that a lot of these state “only for DIY use”, so going against that would invalidate your warranty
How to pressure wash your whole house. This interesting article over at Bobvila.com gives handy hints on how to take the right care washing your whole house using a pressure washer. Some good pointers!
Before you continue… a few things to consider:
Do you need petrol, or is electric just fine? Do you need the ability to suck from any water source (ie a large water butt) or is it just fine to work on a standard home “outside tap” ?
Does this sound like you?
Imagine you’ve just told your partner you’ll get the patio cleaned ready for summer…
You venture out into your local B&Q or Wickes and with a smug smile you buy what appears to be a “superb” pressure washer.
“Nice… only £45 and it’s sure to impress the wife!”
“leave it to me Doris, I’ll have things cleaned up in no time”.
She smiles at you, happy to know the patio is going to be shipshape by the end of the day.
Back home you assemble your pressure washer, feeling confident and ready to blast dirt into oblivion.
Hosepipe connected check!
Power plugged in… check!
Lance connected (turbo nozzle of course)… check!
You look at your partner and shout out:
“Doris, please turn the tap!”
She turns on the tap and you begin to “do your thing”.
Adopting your tough and rugged pose… wellies on, and you fire up the start button.
A blast of water comes out and you point it towards your next victim (the dirtiest corner of your patio known to man).
10 minutes later you’ve managed to clean a size about the same as a baby’s arm, and you’re covered in moss and dirt.
Not so good.
£100 spent and you feel a bit disappointed.
You had hoped to have cleaned things up in a few hours but at this rate you’re looking at a full day. Forget about watching the football, as you now have a lengthy cleaning regime to contend with.
So what is a pressure washer?
Simple. A machine that forces water from your tap, through a machine and out through a small narrow pipe in a lance that you hold. The water comes out at such a high pressure that it literally blasts dirt and grime away from chairs, decking, walls, floors etc.
If you want to clean faster you need a more powerful machine.
If you are happy with occasional use and aren’t in any rush then value for money budget models would be your best option.
If you have a large area to clean, or are hoping to use the pressure washer for a business then you will need something that is very powerful, very reliable and can clean large areas day in day out with no hints of getting tired.
At the high end, for industrial pro machines anywhere from £1000 to £17,000 – clearly not the thing for once a year at home.
At the budget end of things, you can choose as little as about £60 to £150, most are from well known household names such as Karcher or Nilfisk
In the mid range there are a good number of very powerful machines in the £300 or so region, such as Karcher Nilfisk and then other names come in who usually cater to more professional pressure washers such as Kiam or Hyundai .
So, this write up has been extensively researched to find out the good from the bad, and where you should be putting your money.
This review is aimed at mainly the home user and smaller business user, so typically in the range of £80 to £500, although as a business user if you look at models around the £1000 mark (and up) you suddenly get greeted with a wide range of models like the Hyundai 14hp unit that can push as much as 15 litres a minute through the hose.
Nilfisk are not as widely known as the Karcher brand which seems to dominate TV, magazines etc. however they are what many of us feel as being superior.
Tough metal internal components and superb build quality (not to mention they do a great job of shifting muck and built up grime.
Sure it’s not a £60 unit, but it is “superb”.
Powerful to shift muck. Not powerful enough for some of those pesky dead flies off your car bodywork.
(yet comparably better than similar rated machines)
We feel this is the best electric pressure washer within our “budget” price range (and deservedly so, too).
Draper are a long standing tool brand. They started out in life in 1919 when the founder Bert Draper sold surplus government goods in and around London (Kingston Upon Thames). Since they began over 9 decades ago, they have come a very long way and now import and brand some of the world’s finest home tools.
3 generations of investment and family values make Draper products “real genuine good value products”.
The 31562 pressure washer from Draper is super cheap at a touch under £70, and also very much a great machine.
While it’s never going to clear 3 car parks a day, for the price, you get a machine that will happily remove dirt and grime from your garden area – patio’s decking, pavers etc.
Box Contains
1x Pressure Washer
1x 3M of hose and gun
1x Turbo nozzle
1x Fixed jet nozzle
1x Detergent spray bottle
1x Instruction Manual
Pro’s
Light weight
Very affordable
Draper trusted brand
Features an automatic total stop system when not being used.
Con’s
We cannot find any faults with this machine. Super value for money
The K2 from Karcher is one of their entry level machines that provides plenty of thrust. Remember all the washers in this top 10 list are GOOD. We have already weeded out the poor ones to leave the top 10 best pressure washers so much of what you buy boils down to budget and needs.
So let’s look at the Karcher K2 compact.
Features the following:
Power, beauty and everything you need to sort out your outside spaces.
Protection for the motor from devris and dirt coming in.
It also features storage for the lance, cable etc so it can be stored nice and neat when not in use.
You get a detergent suction tube, so you can mix in your favourite cleanser.
2 year warranty comes as standard.
Dirtblaster lance cleans 50% better than standard lances!
Remember every single Karcher is individually tested before leaving the factory.
All Karcher K2 Pressure Washers can also be used from a gravity fed harvested water source such as a water butt tap
The pumps are their own design – a corrosion-free “N-COR” material which is a combination of polyamide and glass fibre.
This standalone unit measures 32.2 x 21.2 x 40 cm – compact is the name!
We can’t decide if the modern X shape design resembles a womanly physique, or “X marks the spot” or even that it perhaps has the “X factor”.
Putting aside our initial talking points, we had to give this unit a good run for it’s money. After all, Karcher products do have some of the best brand awareness currently.
With strong roots going back top 1935, Karcher has earned it’s reputation and indeed it’s crown as one of the best there is around for the average home user.
The DS 350 in 1950 was their first foray into pressure washer design, and this led the company into the cleaning market for professional and domestic use.
So what’s it like?
Good. We really like it. For under £160 it’s a SUPERB piece of kit.
Pressure wise, looking at 110 bar which isn’t too bad for a machine like this.
It looks good too.
Pro’s
German engineering
Air cooled 110 bar pressure washer with quality craftsmanship behind every single component.
Comes with the standard Vario lance, the T150 patio cleaner (rotary component), the dirtblaster lance and detergents for patios and decking.
Con’s
Hose is a touch on the small size
Can fall over (not like it’s the end of the world, but just saying)
With this improved “water cooled” model we have stepped up in price. We have also stepped up in a number of areas. The power is now 145 bar pressure (whereas the K2 is just 110 bar).
Blast through muck with the aid of 500 litres of water per hour and get the job done fast.
Use the included upgraded T350 and get the job done as much as 5 times faster. The added cost of this improved machine means your cleaning jobs are accomplished in a far shorter time.
The video below introduces you to the power of Karcher pressure washing – well worth a minute of your time.
Measuring 46.8 x 39.7 x 59.1 cm it has a powerful 2100 Watt motor.
The water cooled patented motor ensures reliable performance that lasts longer than ever before.
This unit is one of oour favourites within this list. price wise it sits at a fairly good price under £250, but the performance is what makes it stand out.
The patio cleaner makes it feel like you are hoovering the patio, so say goodbye to backache!
Highly rated!
Features:
Patented water-cooled motor for more power and longer life
Quick connect system for the high-pressure hose
Telescopic handle for comfortable use & compact storage
Detergent suction hose for chemical injection
Automatic motor stop
Pro’s:
Our favourite by far. If you can go the extra mile then this comes highly recommended
Everything you need to QUICKLY deal with dirt and grime
We feel this is close to being the best electric pressure washer.
Feel the force of a rock solid pressure washer. This Nilfisk pressure washer review will help clear the path right before your eyes.
This unit BLASTS muck away. You can REALLY feel the extra pressure when using this. Be aware when using near stones in case they flick upwards into eyes.
Before we used this, we had high expectations.
Nilfisk after all are a strong contender. Plenty of power. Good long heritage and solid reliability.
The E140.3-9 X-Tra pressure washer is powerful.
2100 watt motor
Metal pump – for strong reliability
A simple “Click” of each lance to pop it into the hose and it locks into place. A click on the quick release button then enables removal.
Motor-saving automatic stop-start feature (the motor turns off when you are not pressing the trigger)
Long 9 metre hose that will not twist or kink
Long 9 metre electric cable so you can reach 18+ metres away!
Hose that winds back onto it’s own built in wheel
Can be used with a water butt tap
Does not come with patio cleaner attachment unless you go for the “complete” package (below) for a little more money.
For a Solvakian company, we are mightily impressed. The Waspper brand is ticking all the right boxes. These petrol pressure washer reviews are based on testing and thorough research.
Petrol jet wash for sale:
Petrol power – oh yes!
Powerful – oh yes!
Great customer service!
Need we say more?
Our machine performed flawlessly. Was easy to start and use and blasted away muck from a patio table and chairs in under 10 minutes. Nice.
Here is the assembly video:
What’s good about ?
Wash and clean anywhere, no electrical supply is needed.
Light and portable. 4 feet keep it stable. A carry handle lends itself to easy movement.
Weighs just over 19kg
The High Pressure and Great Flow is Created By a Full Aluminium Axial Pump Which Has a Much Greater Lifespan Than Electric Pressure Washers (4-5 years longer).
PERFECT for domestic use and for smaller business use.
What we didn’t like:
No immediate offerings in the way of circular patio cleaners however I’m sure they will do this at some point. Although it is possible to use 3rd party rotary cleaners when you have the right 3/4 inch quick release couplings.
Like many people, I thought Vax were a hoover manufacturer. Seems I was quite wrong. They have products in a few different areas that also include irons and of course pressure washers.
As things turn out, VAX pressure washers are not bad… IF you are lucky
The P86-P3-T features a high power wattage and high water flow rate that helps you complete the job far quicker.
This washer come with:
A patio cleaning rotary cleaner
A car wash kit
A jet nozzle and a turbo nozzle
It will handle the cleaning of 28 square metres per hour with ease.
Pro’s:
For an entry level product it delivers ok (but not excellent) power!
If you get one that doesn’t break it will do an adequate job.
Con’s:
Some units had poor fitting plastic casings.
The power dos not seem to be strong enough for seriously heavy duty work such as cleaning brickwork or moss removal
One of our units had a snapped inlet nozzle. A replacement nozzle then snapped again
Sadly, it seems that cheap parts may be used, meaning it’s hit and miss if you get a good one or a poor one.
This is a commercial grade pressure washer so comes with plenty of punch, features and high end build quality. It’s a mid to high 3 figure priced unit but you certainly get what you pay for.
If you need a quality unit for your own home or for a business then this is definitely very highly rated.
If a Karcher can be likened to a Toyota (reliable and well bult) then a Kranzle can be likened to a Bentley. Premium, class, exemplorary build quality. The Kränzle Hochdruckreiniger K 1152 TS T is quality through and through.
Let’s see what’s included:
15 metre (HUGE!) hose length.
Dirtkiller spray wand
Turbo spray wand
10 year pump manufacturer guarantee
2 year jet washer guarantee
Pro’s:
Outstanding capabilities
Long lifetime expectency
Blasts through 10 litres of water every minute so super powerful.
Con’s:
Comes with a German/European plug so will need a travel adaptor
High end commercial grade petrol powered machine here.
Is this the best petrol pressure washer?
It’s a high “3 figure” priced pressure washer, but one that will work hard by your side, day in, day out.
It delivers a huge 3000psi and forces through 10 litres of water per minute.
Featuring:
Heavy-duty Annovi Reverberi (AR) pump for professional use
Powerful 7 0hp Hyundai 4-stroke engine helping to produce a maximum output of 3000psi
Turbo nozzle for high-powered cleaning and quality finish
Thermal relief valve to help regulate the temperature of the pump
With it’s variety of standard 3/4 inch threaded connectors, you can happily interchange a variety of nozzles you may already have, as well as rotary patio cleaners to enable far faster cleaning.
We like the power of this unit and would recommend it for business use, or for those who simply want “high end quality”.
Pro’s:
Heavy duty construction with tough wheels for maneuverability
Hyundai quality
Con’s:
Does not come with a patio cleaner, although can can attach 3rd party cleaners to enable faster cleaning of larger areas.
Draper are a long standing tool brand. They started out in life in 1919 when the founder Bert Draper sold surplus government goods in and around London (Kingston Upon Thames). Since they began over 9 decades ago, they have come a very long way and now import and brand some of the world’s finest home tools.
We can’t decide if the modern X shape design resembles a womanly physique, or “X marks the spot” or even that it perhaps has the “X factor”.
With this improved “water cooled” model we have stepped up in price. We have also stepped up in a number of areas. The power is now 145 bar pressure (whereas the K2 is just 110 bar).
Feel the force of a rock solid pressure washer. This Nilfisk pressure washer review will help clear the path right before your eyes.
For a Solvakian company, we are mightily impressed. The Waspper brand is ticking all the right boxes. These petrol pressure washer reviews are based on testing and thorough research.
Like many people, I thought Vax were a hoover manufacturer. Seems I was quite wrong. They have products in a few different areas that also include irons and of course pressure washers.
High end commercial grade petrol powered machine here.