Face it, washing things is dull.
No matter how you dress it, even if you were to soundtrack the task with something that would be at home in an exciting 80s movie montage, the long, slow process of manually slopping water over stuff is never going to be an event that gives you goosebumps, inspires an impromptu TikTok, or finds you breathlessly describing it to pals down the pub. Unless, of course, you add that one thing that can instantly transform the mundane into the fun-dane: POWER!
Naturally, because you’re reading the intro to a review of pressure washers one presumes not by accident, you’ll probably know that by ‘power’ I actually mean ‘bar’, the metric unit of measurement by which we rate the force of pressure produced when the selected washers here assembled empty their tanks.
But the question is: is more bar better? Or is there some subtlety to the process of pressure washing your car, patio, drive, house and dishes (I’m kidding, do not – I repeat, do not – attempt to wash your dishes with any of these bad boys) that requires considered control and not inconsiderable skill? Well, no, not really. Too be fair, it’s basically little more than a ‘point and purify’ procedure.
But that said, too much bar pressure could easily ruin your car’s paint job, whilst too little pressure will make no headway in a badly weather-worn patio or driveway giving you essentially a dribble of mild machine incontinence. So, if you’re going to invest your hard-earned pennies in a pressure washer, know your needs first and ensure that the one you plump for is the best bar none for you.
Laboured pun now mercifully put aside, I’ve spent the last week or so putting various variable pressure washers through their paces, reviving my drive, cleaning my car, cutting through the winter-laid crud plaguing my patio and working my way through the thick layer of surprise Saharan sand that engulfed my house the week before, to select the absolute best of the water blasting beasts for all domestic demands.
Is washing things dull? It doesn’t have to be…
Best pressure washers at a glance:
- Best for a cordless pressure washer: Flymo EasiClean Plus Li Cordless Pressure Washer - £94.70, Amazon
- Best for home and trade use: Draper Tools 98679 - £322.55, Amazon
- Best for an eco-pressure washer: Coopers of Stortford 5L Pressure Sprayer Set - £35.99, Coopers of Stortford
- Best for light-weight all-round cleaning: Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer - £147.99, Robert Dyas
- Best for heavy duty, super-smart cleaning: Kärcher K 7 Smart Control - £509, B&Q
- Best for a compact pressure washer for cars: STIHL RE 90 - £194.10, Amazon
- Best for small to medium sized outdoor areas: Nilfisk Core 130-6 PowerControl - £164.99, Robert Dyas
- Best for patios: Husqvarna PW 350 - £299, Husqvarna
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Flymo EasiClean Plus Li Cordless Pressure Washer
Best for: a cordless pressure washer
Electricity cords are good for many things: cleaning longer without fear of power cutting out halfway through, whipping out straight like some suburban Indiana Jones in a manner both cool and guaranteed to impress nosy neighbours, and of course getting tangled up in, in a manner both clumsy and guaranteed to amuse the aforementioned nosy neighbours no-end. However, for those who either don’t have a conveniently positioned plug socket or just want the lightweight freedom from cords to clean cars and windows alike, the EasiClean Plus Li cordless pressure washer from Flymo offers the world.
Fully charged in 180-minutes and featuring a 20-litre container, foam dispenser and hose length of 5-metres, that full battery gives you up to 24-minutes of wash time, which may seem a bit miserly, but with a maximum 25 bar pressure, a shade under half an hour should be ample to spray your drive-clogging car sparkling again while you wait for petrol to become affordable again or give the windows a good once-over as we cycle through all the myriad seasons of spring.
Weighing very little at just 3.7kg, simply hook your Flymo up via the hose to the accompanying, collapsible tank or a tap, add lance to gun and you’re away and free to pressure clean pretty much anything, pretty much anywhere, thanks to the battery-based portability.
Literally child’s play to use, I let my 10-year-old son loose with it, encouraging him – if encouragement were needed – to have as much ‘fun’ as possible cleaning down all the outdoor furniture free of autumn/winter acquired mud, leaves and Saharan sand like some kind of garden-sorting Ghostbuster.
With a nicely balanced trigger, a 200l/hour flow rate, three nozzle heads for full cleaning flexibility, plus a safety catch for those kind of ‘better’ parents who don’t let their kids run amok with potentially dangerous equipment, the Flymo EasiClean Plus Li Cordless is the hot favourite for anyone seeking pro pressure washing that can wander.
Buy now £113.90, Amazon
Draper Tools 98679
Best for: home and trade use
Okay, here’s the scenario: like so many others since the country came out of the last lockdown, you’ve been planning to set-up – what keeps being referred to as – a ‘side-hustle’ to help boost your take-home. Your specific plan involves offering a high-powered, all-house-exterior portable cleaning service, but money is an issue and, as such, you are unsure as to which pressure washer to plump for. Well, consider your decision made.
Yes, the Draper Tools 98679 has been built for battle, with a brushless motor designed to increase longevity even through very frequent use and an 8-metre steel-armoured hose and stainless steel lance ensuing the Draper can stand its own ground on even the busiest, roughest of sites.
With a maximum pressure of 195 bar, the ruggedly durable Draper comes fully armed with an integrated detergent bottle, a fixed brush, some six quick nozzles and even a special patio cleaning attachment with a pivoting joint that lets it push pressurised water at both horizontal and vertical surfaces, making the Draper all the kit you need around your own home or, indeed, anybody else’s.
Simple to set-up and fool-proof to use, if you’re looking for a robust, reliable pressure washer workhorse designed with longevity in mind, the Draper is the conclusive choice.
Buy now £285.39, Amazon
Coopers of Stortford 5L Pressure Sprayer Set
Best for: an eco-pressure washer
So, your name is something like Sebastian or Minty, but you choose to go by the moniker of ‘Moon Child’ and, if you could, you’d live in a tree, but sadly your family riches means you’re forced to live in the lap of luxury somewhere in Chelsea? Well, fear not, for you can still do your bit to both ‘muck-in’ in a manual work kind of way and help save the Earth at the same time. Behold the 5L Pressure Sprayer Set from Coopers of Stortford, a means to dowsing down the patio without the need for power (other than that of the elbow) or, indeed, planet-killing chemicals.
A very different affair to all the other contenders for your cash compiled here, the Coopers requires no power lead due to the fact that this old-skool Pressure Sprayer utilises a hand-operated pump handle to create the pressure required and an adjustable, trigger-activated spray nozzle with which to hose down patios and decking with Coopers of Stortfords very own organic cleaner solution.
Yes, simply dilute the cleaning fluid, pump to form pressure, sling the 5-litre tank strap over your shoulder and wander wire-free, spraying as you go to coat up to 160sq/m per fill of garden goods with the highly effective lichen and algae remover (visible results within 24-hours), all the while smug in the knowledge that the mix is both eco-friendly and harmless to pets, wildlife and ponds alike.
Okay, it may lack all the drama (power) of other options of its patio-cleaning ilk, but to keep your patio clear of unwanted fungus, alga and other assorted dirt, while ensuring your garden remains green in both literal and eco senses, the Coopers is the obvious answer.
Buy now £35.99, Coopers of Stortford
Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer
Best for: light-weight all-round cleaning
A far more compact pressure cleaning solution, at just H 42 x W 33.3 x D 76.1cm (HxWxD) and barely pushing 8kg in weight, the Universal Aquatak 135 from Bosch nevertheless still packs all the pressure punch you could possibly need to quickly clean the car, blast your patios free from filth and get your guttering gleaming again.
With a max pressure of 135 bar, an adjustable handle, 7-metre long hose and sizeable wheels for easy, unrestricted movement of the Bosch unit to exactly where you require it, a 3-in-1 nozzle featuring a broad fixed fan for rinsing, a high-speed rotary for removing tough dirt, and a pencil jet for really focusing in on smaller areas of particularly stubborn scuz, lets you move from task to task without having to fiddle about changing accessories.
A handy in-use holster for the gun keeps Health and Safety happy and stops you from accidentally drenching your sunbathing next door neighbours by going off ‘half-cocked’, while a high-pressure detergent nozzle lets you get stuff all soapy via the lance, making for a colossal amount of convenience on both sides of the garden fence.
But the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 is not just a world of pressure washing contentment, it’s also not going to clean out your bank account either; available on offer now, down from £185 to £130, at Robert Dyas, for ample power and precision at less than half the heft of other options, bag yourself a bargain.
Buy now £11316847.99, Amazon
Kärcher K7 Smart Control
Best for: heavy duty, super-smart cleaning
It’s big, it’s bold, it’s bright and it is without a shadow of a doubt the smartest pressure washer currently in filth expunging existence. Backed by a hefty 180 bar pressure, the K7 is Kärcher’s most powerful pressure washer ever, however it has also been graced with the fine dexterity to turn its metaphorical hand to any water-thrusting task no matter how ticklishly gentle or gruntingly heavy duty.
It achieves this by switching seamlessly between surface types and the water pressure required. How? By either the touch of a button on the gun or via a tap of your smartphone. Wait? What now? Did I just say ‘smartphone’? You betcha I did. Blurring the lines between the functional and the fantastic, Kärcher has only gone and imbued the K7 with both Bluetooth and its own Smart Control App for your smartphone that not only allows automated control over the K 7’s functions but also offers up hints and tips on how to get the most of – what I’m now going to call – your Special K.
It’s also reasonably chunky, weighing in at the best part of 26kg and measuring a devilish 459 x 330 x 666mm (LxWxH), making it a heavy weight that makes light work of even the most stubborn stains.
Featuring a three-in-one lance that lets you add detergent with the utmost efficiency and a 10m hose, nothing needing cleaning will be beyond your reach and, coming complete with a Home Kit including a T 7 patio surface cleaner and Stone & Facade detergent you’re ready to get your wash on from the instance of unboxing.
Is the K7 the king of the pressure washers? Well, it’s certainly impressive in the manner it combines pure power with precision smart control, so it’s one hell of contender for the crown, but then there’s an equally eminent outlay attached…
Buy now £489.00, Trade Point
STIHL RE 90
Best for: a compact pressure washer for cars
At the other end of the scale, far from the Bluetooth-boasting teched-up antics of the Kärcher K7 comes the back-to-basics bargain that is the STIHL RE 90, because sometimes it’s better to keep it simple, stupid. A lovely light-weight washer that will only trouble you to the tune of 9.8kg, this petite water pressure bringer is extremely easy to manoeuvre around, while its 6-metre long mesh hose and 5-metre power cable help you bring your pressure washer business to all areas.
With a maximum pressure of 100 bar, there’s ample oomph to regain control over very overgrown areas of patio or pathway, while the lower bar pressure settings allow it to excel at more delicate tasks.
Featuring a built-in accessory holder for the accompanying variable pressure-delivering fan jet nozzle, powerful rotary jet nozzle and the spray lance-attachable detergent bottle, the STIHL RE 90 may not be bulging with all the bells and whistles of many other models looked at here, but for a solid super-soaker solution that’s more than equipped to handle most household requirements, at a size and price that sure to please, it’s all you need.
Buy now £204.99, Amazon
Nilfisk Core 130-6 PowerControl
Best for: small to medium sized outdoor areas
Nilfisk is a Danish company and, without wishing to sound painfully predictable, the Danes just ooze design elegance in everything they do, even – incredibly – pressure washers. And without wishing to sound ridiculously repetitive on top of already sounding painfully predictable, but if that Nilfisk Core 130-6 doesn’t remind you in no small way of a reconfigured Ghostbusters’ proton pack, then, well, you’re wrong.
So, stylish, compact and packing a maximum bar pressure of 130, the Core 130 also seeks to simplify your pressure washing pursuits with an automatic start/stop system, Click&Clean connectivity (it just slots together) and pressure power adjustment available at the turn of a front facing switch. The rest is down to you to just point and purge.
Weighing in at just 6.6kg, blessed with big wheels to allow for ease of mobility and coming equipped with a 6-metre hose, patio cleaning fitting, brush head, foam sprayer and two nozzle types, the Nilfisk is good to go all around most small to moderately sized gardens and is also a dab-hand at dealing with the dirt on your car.
And when you’re done, simply slot the spray gun into the holster, wind up the hose and stash away until next time, no mess, no fuss, just quick and convenient cleaning.
Currently enjoying £30 off the usual asking price at Robert Dyas, if all you want is pressurised water spraying simplicity (with an oddly random side serving of dashing Danish design and spooky Ghostbusters vibe), consider the Nilfisk Core 130-6 money well spent.
Buy now £149.99, Robert Dyas
Husqvarna PW 350
Best for: patios
I think I should start by stating an important fact for those uninitiated into the world of blasting things with high-pressure water: most pressure washers are big. I mean BIG. The Husqvarna PW 350, for handy example, measures 325 x 350 x 710mm (LxWxH) and weighs a not-insubstantial 18.8kg, so before rushing to press your cash into the palm of a pressure washer manufacturer, make sure you have suitable space in your shed or garage to store it.
If, like mine, your patio area has seen not a single kiss of kindness since last summer finally capitulated to the onslaught of autumn-proper, then the PW 350 is the absolute A-1 tool you need to strip away all the algae, lichen and moss that clings barnacle-like to the face of your slabs with utter ease. Producing a maximum pressure output of 150 bar and with a flow rate of 500l/hour, slicing through unwanted growth like a hot knife slicing through butter, cutting cleaning time considerably. Plus – top tip – add a little detergent directly to affected surfaces and the Husqvarna cuts through stubborn oil stains too.
A fully flexible option featuring a 9-metre hose, a 5-metre cable, a long spray lance, on-board accessory storage, chunky wheels and an aluminium handle, despite the PW 350’s size, it’s still very manoeuvrable and surprisingly quick to get up and running, whether you’re making light work of crud on the car, hosing down the house or giving everything in the garden (furniture included) a good seeing to.
Coming complete with two spray nozzles, a foam sprayer and available until the end of June at the reduced price of £299 (normally £349), the Husqvarna PW 350 is the domestic pressure washer of dreams.
Buy now £419.00, Husqvarna
Verdict
As with all review rounds-up where the question ‘What is the overall best?’ is posed, the answer, as ever, always comes out in the wash. As indeed do poor quality puns. However, while I have had a literal blast testing out the various review models sent in, while also getting my garden and auto better-weather-ready, there has to be a victor.
Not just because it’s the only one of its ilk in this round-up, but because it really does allow for full pressure washing flexibility anywhere with access to water, the Flymo EasiClean Plus Li Cordless really is a breeze to cobble together in the configuration required and get cleaning without the need for a power socket. Efficient and exceptionally adaptable, if you need an access-all-areas cleaning agent, look no further.
Or, for pure, unadulterated pressure washing power, ease of mobility and full-on functionality at a price that isn’t over-inflated, I heartily recommend the Husqvarna PW 350. Delivering the perfect punch my poorly treated patio was pleading for, whilst also being gentle enough to caress my car with something akin to the cleansing tears of an electric angel, currently at a quid under £300, it’s also more than a bit of a bargain.
