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You are here: Home / Guides / What’s the Best Pressure Washer?

What’s the Best Pressure Washer?

Table of Contents

  • The 5 Best Pressure Washers Compared
    • Do I Need a Pressure Washer?
    • How Do Pressure Washers Work?
    • What Am I Looking For?
  • The Best Pressure Washers – In Detail
    • #5: Wolf 200 BAR Petrol-Driven
    • #4: Nilfisk C110-4-5 X-Tra
    • #3: Bosch AQT-33-11
    • #2: Karcher K2 Compact
    • #1: Karcher K5 Full Control


Pressure washers are typically used for outdoor cleaning jobs, such as washing cars, or hosing down patios (you don’t need a patio cleaner attachment), as well as cleaning garden furniture.

If you want a quick, deep-down clean, then a pressure washer definitely beats a hose and scrubbing brush, and saves hours from your day.

Most modern power washers are compact and lightweight, making them easy to move around, and convenient to store in a shed when they’re not needed.

The 5 Best Pressure Washers Compared

Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and...
Bosch AQT 33-11 High Pressure Washer
Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
Our Pick
Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer
Rank
4
3
2
1
Model
Nilfisk C110
Bosch AQT 33-11
Kärcher K2
Kärcher K5
Pressure
110 bar
110 bar
110 bar
145 bar
Customer Rating
1,306 Ratings
450 Ratings
2,614 Ratings
784 Ratings
Check Today's Price
Check Today's Price
Check Today's Price
Check Today's Price
Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and...
Rank
4
Model
Nilfisk C110
Pressure
110 bar
Customer Rating
1,306 Ratings
Check Today's Price
Bosch AQT 33-11 High Pressure Washer
Rank
3
Model
Bosch AQT 33-11
Pressure
110 bar
Customer Rating
450 Ratings
Check Today's Price
Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
Rank
2
Model
Kärcher K2
Pressure
110 bar
Customer Rating
2,614 Ratings
Check Today's Price
Our Pick
Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer
Rank
1
Model
Kärcher K5
Pressure
145 bar
Customer Rating
784 Ratings
Check Today's Price

Last update on 2023-12-06 at 19:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

Do I Need a Pressure Washer?

If you have a caravan, car, patio or decking area, or even just garden furniture, a pressure washer is almost essential. It not only saves time, it is also easier on your hands and back than doing a thorough manual clean. And, in general, because of the intense, continuous flow of water, a power washer gets better results, faster. Many are sold with a detergent bottle of some sort, but it’s the water that does most of the work.

They can also take the effort out of cleaning the outside of windows, and save you money on getting a window cleaner in!

How Do Pressure Washers Work?

Pressure washers can typically function wherever there is water and electricity within easy reach. For example, if you wanted to clean an indoor wet room, you might plug it into an electrical socket in the hallway, and connect it to a water outlet in the wet room

In the garden, they can often be attached to gravity-fed water harvesting barrels, such as rain butts.

The pressure washer produces a continuous stream of intense water in a jet, which produces a ‘blasting’ action, releasing dried on dirt and tough-to-remove particles to give a deep, all-over clean.

What Am I Looking For?

The most important thing to look for when buying a pressure washer is the hose length. You don’t want to be struggling to reach round your car or caravan if you don’t have to, and, if you can do the whole decking or patio area from just outside the French windows, so much the better!

Beyond hose length, you want to make sure the one you buy offers all the accessories and attachments you might need for your intended cleaning jobs. It will also need to be small enough to be stored safely, in a dry, indoor area (such as a shed or garage) when it is not in use.

The Best Pressure Washers – In Detail

#5: Wolf 200 BAR Petrol-Driven

As the name suggests, this power washer features a petrol motor. This does mean you’ll need to buy petrol, and oil, for it, which is an additional expense. It also makes it heavier than other models.

The Wolf pressure washer features all-terrain wheels, enabling it to cope with uneven gardens, concrete yards, and gravel driveways, and a steel frame for increased durability.

The Wolf does have a few drawbacks, however: the oil filters are awkwardly placed, making them difficult to access, and the washer itself is noisy, and not as powerful as it would appear.

No products found.

Pros

  • Steel frame
  • All-terrain wheels

Cons

  • Noisy
  • Not as powerful as it would appear
  • Awkwardly located oil filters
  • Would benefit from a larger carry handle

What Is It Good For?

The petrol engine would suit those looking to clean areas where an electrical supply isn’t readily accessible – a garden shed or greenhouse, for example, or an area of decking that is a distance from the house.

Value For Money?

This is an expensive machine to purchase, and will have the additional running costs of needing petrol and oil at regular intervals.

No products found.

 

#4: Nilfisk C110-4-5 X-Tra

This pressure washer features an air-cooled motor, which helps prevent overheating, and an impact-resistant casing, meaning you don’t need to worry about bumping into the garden furniture as you’re dragging it around.

However, owing to it being somewhat awkward to manoeuvre, the impact-resistant casing is necessary. Also, the hose is somewhat short – a major frustration when combined with the lack of manoeuvrability.

Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and...

Pros

  • Air-cooled motor
  • Impact-resistant casing

Cons

  • Difficult to manoeuvre
  • Short hose

What Is It Good For?

The short hose and lack of manoeuvrability on this pressure washer are a real let down, especially in combination. It might, therefore, be best suited to someone just looking to clean a small patio or decking area on a regular basis. The air-cooled motor is a bonus during prolonged use.

Value For Money?

There are definitely more functional options available in the same price range.

Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and...
Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer – Electric Power Washer for Household, Outdoor, Car Washing and...
Powerful universal air cooled 1400W motor and long life tough metal pump; 110 bar pressure with 440 litres per hour water flow high cleaning power

Last update on 2023-12-06 at 19:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

 

#3: Bosch AQT-33-11

An affordably-priced power washer for domestic use, the Bosch offers a clear vision water tank, so you can easily check the water level.

It is a little tricky to assemble, despite claiming to be “easy assembly”, and quite noisy in use – although that is to be expected from a pressure washer. However, depending on how well you get on with your neighbours, it may not be all that welcome.

It also has the odd quirk of not enabling the brush attachment to be used with detergent running through it – the detergent needs to be applied first, then brushed through. This isn’t a big niggle, but it does take up more time. If you’ve invested in a pressure washer specifically to save time using a bucket and sponge on the car, this foible of the Bosch could be frustrating.

Bosch AQT 33-11 High Pressure Washer

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Clear vision water tank – easy to check water level

Cons

  • Doesn’t allow for detergent and brush to be used at the same time
  • Not “easy assembly”
  • Noisy

What Is It Good For?

With its low price tag, the Bosch is a good general purpose machine for those looking to give the patio, car, or garden furniture the occasional once over.

Value For Money?

This is a good price, and well within most peoples’ budgets. Definitely worth it if you have a patio or decking area you want to keep clean.

Bosch AQT 33-11 High Pressure Washer
Bosch AQT 33-11 High Pressure Washer
Quick-connect SDS fittings - ready to go straight out of the box, no assembly required; High efficiency pump provides more power and less effort

Last update on 2023-12-06 at 19:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

#2: Karcher K2 Compact

A compact, lightweight product that is ideal for those who need a pressure washer, but don’t have much storage space. The K2 will tuck away neatly in a corner of the shed, until the next time you want to use it.

It is suitable for use with water butts, with the appropriate attachment, and is ergonomically designed. It also features a filter, to prevent small stones, chippings, etc from entering the machine and causing damage.

It is ergonomically designed, and offers a lot more power than its size might suggest.

Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer

Pros

  • Compact, lightweight, yet powerful
  • Particle filter, helps prevent damage from small stones and chippings
  • Can be used with water butts

Cons

  • Poor quality motor

What Is It Good For?

Although the motor does let this pressure washer down, it offers great versatility. It is also modestly priced, with the peace of mind of a quality brand behind it.

Value For Money?

Reasonably priced, from a quality brand.

Sale
Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
Lance, trigger gun and cable storage; Detergent suction tube for the application of detergents

Last update on 2023-12-06 at 19:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

#1: Karcher K5 Full Control

Offering splash-free cleaning and an integrated detergent tank, the K5 is pretty much everything you’d be looking for in a power washer. You could also get a Kärcher K4 Full Control – the models are very similar.

Our reviewer is more than satisfied with his purchase, citing its power, great cleaning results, and flexibility. He’s been cleaning up his old farm house and making it sparkle like it last did in the Downton Abbey era!

Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer

Pros

  • Ergonomic handle
  • Powerful and easy to use
  • Integrated detergent tank

Cons

  • Nothing important

What Is It Good For?

Pretty much all those outdoor jobs that you want to get done quickly and with minimal hassle.

Value For Money?

The K5 definitely offers premium functionality but at a price. Definitely a good buy for those with busy lives who want high-quality, professional results from their pressure washer.

Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer
784 Ratings
Kärcher K5 Premium Full Control Plus Home Pressure Washer
  • Full control plus trigger gun: Control the pressure and detergent flow of the pressure washer using the +/- symbols
  • Located on the back of the high pressure trigger gun
  • 3-in-1 lance makes cleaning fast. The lance includes the: Vario, dirt blaster and detergent settings all in one
Check Today's Price

Last update on 2023-12-06 at 19:24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info

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