6 of the best pressure washers
As the weather starts to shift, many of us are looking for easy and affordable solutions to spruce up our homes.
For many people, that solution is the pressure washer — an underrated little magician that flash-cleans everything from bicycles to driveways, with next to no effort.
With the power to get your car, patio, barbecue, stone walls and more looking spick and span, the best pressure washers to buy for home use are not only better than they've ever been, but more affordable than you might expect. But before choosing the best one for you, it's important to understand the basics.
What is a good PSI for a pressure washer?
When shopping for a pressure washer, you're going to hear a lot about each model's PSI (pounds of pressure per square inch). Without overcomplicating it, PSI marks the energy with which water will hit your target areas. Typically, you'll want a minimum of 2000 PSI to power wash most surfaces effectively, and 3000 PSI to clean more stubborn surfaces like concrete.
Sometimes PSI is referred to as the 'bar pressure', though it measures the same thing. For UK customers, it may be easier to follow bar pressure measurements — after all, we rarely measure anything in pounds. With the same demands in mind, 120-130 bar pressure will be more than enough for most tasks, while heavy-duty concrete cleaning may require upwards of 200.
Can you damage concrete with a power washer?
You can definitely damage concrete with a power washer. Like any material, it will be vulnerable to general wear and tear, so it needs to be treated as such.
Largely, damage comes down to holding the nozzle too close to the surface and keeping it concentrated in one area. It is best to stand about ten feet from the area you're washing to gauge its power, and move closer if needed. Move the nozzle around as you wash to make sure the pressure is dispersed, and use less powerful pressure on any area of damaged concrete.
If your concrete has been laid recently, hold off on power washing for now. Most concretes require a year to settle properly and intense pressure could disrupt its bonding process. After that, you should be safe to proceed as advised.
Here is our ultimate guide to help you find the best pressure washer to get your patios, cars, bikes, and garden furniture looking brand new:
1. Kärcher K2 Premium Home Pressure Washer
This advanced pressure washer from Kärcher offers great value for money and is perfect for cleaning all around the home — including barbecues, patios, decking, garden furniture, stone walls and cars. It comes with an automatic stop/start motor release, giving you complete cleaning control, and water inlet filters which stop dirt particles from damaging the pump.
It's lighter than some of the other pressure washers on the list, which can make it feel flimsy, but it washes as powerfully as the rest. Ideal for those looking for something like a portable jet wash, as the smooth wheels and ergonomically-designed handle help you transport the pressure washer with ease.
2. Worx Hydroshot Cordless Pressure Washer
The battery-powered WORX Hydroshot WG629 is unique among the electric pressure washers we tested, as almost every one of its features maximises its portability. Rather than using a bulky body unit, this cordless pressure washer draws fresh water from anywhere (buckets, ponds, rivers, etc) making it a veritable dream for on-the-go applications.
Though it's not the most powerful on the list, the Hydroshot washes with three to four times more pressure than a garden hose and nozzle, and features adjustable pressure settings (0°, 25°, 40°, shower, and mist — ideal for gardening). It might not whip an oil stain off a driveway, but it will remove dirt and grime in a flash.
3. Nilfisk C 135 Bar High Pressure Washer with Induction Motor
The first thing you'll notice about this powerful little pressure washer is its build quality — the Nilfish C 135 is sturdy, made with aluminium, and boasts a wide selection of custom nozzles that simply click into (and quick release from) the lance with ease.
Its supercharged induction motor does mean it's heavier than the others, but it feels like a fair trade-off for performance. Its high quality metal jetwash pump delivers 135 bar max and 115 bar operating pressures, making it the best pressure washer on the list for deep cleans. Two-year warranty included.
4. Bosch EasyAquatak 120 High Pressure Washer
If you're looking for a budget pressure washer, Bosch's EasyAquatic 120 is going to be a welcome discovery. To put it simply, the pressure washer makes light work of heavy tasks. The body itself is compact and portable, yet manages to pump out 120 bar pressure washing performance that couldn't be easier to use.
For procrastination-worthy tasks like cleaning vehicles and bins, the 120's high pressure detergent nozzle deep cleans with the minimum effort. We believe it's the best pressure washer for under £100 currently on the market.
5. Spear & Jackson S1810PW Pressure Washer
With a whopping 150 bar max pressure at hand, this Spear & Jackson pressure washer is no friend to dirt and grime. In fact, it is also one of the most innovative pressure washers we've come across; the S1810PW's accessories include a patio cleaner, variable lance, turbo lance and a fixed brush (handy for car wheels and conservatories), plus a few extra wheels on its side so you can pull it around like a vacuum cleaner when desired.
As it's not particularly designed for small tasks, it would be best suited to those who need it to pressure wash things like cars and patios. Particularly as its built-in detergent tank helps you switch between foam or water, without the need for a separate detergent bottle, effortlessly.
6. Paxcess Electric Pressure Washer
Versatile and easy to manoeuvre, this pressure washer from Paxcess is particularly useful when it comes to pressure washing large properties and hard-to-reach areas, thanks to a 26-foot hose and a 36-foot cord.
Unlike most of the pressure washers on the list, it also doesn't come with tonnes of additional nozzles or instructions. Instead, its adjustable nozzle can switch between high pressure, low pressure, and foam pattern modes in seconds. All things considered, it is as powerful as it is user-friendly, making it a solid investment for any household.
