The trouble with the great outdoors is that it gets a bit untidy. Your lawnmower might do a good job of keeping your garden in check, but keeping your patio, decking and outdoor furniture spick and span can take hours, especially if you rely on a bucket of soapy water and a scrubbing brush.
That’s where the pressure washer comes in. These handy tools connect to your hose pipe and squirt water at any cleaning problem. Stubborn and unpleasant stains, from bird dirt to years of neglect, can be lifted from your garden’s hard-wearing surfaces in seconds. With the right attachments, you can also use your pressure washer to hose down cars, bikes and boats.
Best pressure washer overall:Ava Go P40£149.90 at Ava
Best budget pressure washer:Kärcher K 2 Classic£72 at Argos
Best cordless pressure washer:Stihl Rea 60 Plus£224.99 at Charlies
Best for high-power deep cleaning:Bosch UniversalAquatak 135£135 at B&Q
I’ve been testing all sorts of cleaning gadgets for years. I’ve testedvacuum cleaners, mops, hard-floor cleaners, carpet cleaners,window vacsand various robots designed to do jobs automatically, from internal cleaning to lawn mowing. I’ve got a keen nose for a labour-saving device, and I live in a busy household that never seems short of a dirty surface to test things on, including an extensive patio area and a filthy car. There was a perfect alignment of dirty jobs crying out to test these pressure washers on.
I gathered eight pressure washers of various types and prices from a range of manufacturers, and put each through the same tests. First, I used each washer to clean one of the dirty paving slabs at the side of my house. This is where the dog gets washed after walks and it’s a well-trodden thoroughfare, making it a dark and grimy corridor.
Next, I wanted to test the washers on decking. Unfortunately, I don’t have a deck of my own, so I had to find someone else’s to clean. Fortunately, a shoutout on our neighbourhood WhatsApp group found a neighbour with a deck that hadn’t had a deep clean for a few years, so it was primed and ready to challenge the washers. This was by far the wettest job of the lot – but my neighbour was delighted with the extreme hose down I gave it.
I then washed the wheels of my car. As with most cars, it has only four, so I washed half of each wheel with each washer, so I could compare their work.
Where appropriate, I tried the various attachments and settings that I hadn’t used previously on other jobs. It included cleaning out empty water butts, clearing a few years of built-up algae off my whirligig and testing the supplied foam cannon on the rest of my car.
All of the pressure washers were supplied by their manufacturers, most of whom will pick them up when I’ve finished. Any that don’t get collected will be given toWorkaid, a Chesham-based charity that refurbishes tools of all kinds. It donates them to training centres and self-help organisations in Africa and the UK, to help young people develop new skills or start their own businesses.
£149.90 at Ava£149.90 at Amazon
Ava may not be a household name in the UK but the Norwegian pressure washer manufacturer has entered the market with affordable products that are designed to last. The P40 is a great entry-level device that should last for years, with a 10-year warranty to back it up.
Why we love itIt’s clear that the design focused on how the product would be used. It feels better built than similarly priced rivals, from the kink-free steel-lined pressure hose to robust but easy-to-release clips that hold all the parts together.
My favourite feature is the extendable lance. At the push of a button, the lance can extend from 84cm to 116cm. If you’re working on cleaning a floor, there’s no question this will reduce the amount of bending you have to do.
The kit I reviewed came with two nozzles (one variable for adjusting the width and pressure of the cleaning area, and another turbo nozzle for particularly tough jobs) and a foam cannon. Matching this with Ava’s detergents made car cleaning a breeze, and it performed well in all my tests.
It’s a shame that …it’s not as powerful as the most powerful products we’ve tested here, so it can be bettered for stubborn dirt on the hardest surfaces.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehiclesPressure hose length:6mWeight:4.5kgCorded or cordless:cordedCleaning power:11,313 cleaning units (6.5 litres a minute x 1,740PSI)Attachments included:zoom lance, turbo nozzle, vario nozzle, foam cannonWarranty:10 years
£72 at Argos
Kärcher sells more pressure washers than any other manufacturer, with the low price of the K 2 indicating why. None of the other washers we tested were as affordable as this compact unit.
Why we love itIts affordability makes it ideal if you want something quick for occasional use. Considering the low price you’re still getting a surprisingly effective cleaner. It doesn’t have the clever design and high build quality of corded rivals from Ava and Bosch, but there’s been no skimping on raw cleaning power.
It’s a lesser specification but still comes with two nozzles, which are pre-attached to their own lances. One produces a lighter spray at a fixed angle, while the other is a turbo nozzle that sends out a powerful rotating jet. The turbo nozzle was good at cleaning paving slabs and the lighter nozzle did good work on my car wheels.
It’s a shame that …you get what you pay for in build quality: the pressure hose wants to stay curled up, no matter what you do with it, and the unit is so light that it’s prone to falling over.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehiclesPressure hose length:3mWeight:3.2kgCorded or cordless:cordedCleaning power:9,573 cleaning units (6 litres a minute x 1,595PSI)Attachments included:single spray lance, dirt blaster lanceWarranty:five years
£219 at Just Lawnmowers£224.99 at Charlies
Moving from corded to cordless washers usually incurs an increase in cost and a decrease in pressure. But while the mega battery for Stihl’s Rea 60 Plus is pricey, it can push out water at pressures that rival corded tools.
Why we love itDuring testing, the Rea 60 Plus surprised me with its high pressure, which is closer to corded levels than the other battery-powered washers we tested. Although full-pelt washing diminishes the battery rapidly, Stihl has added a power dial that lets you tame the jet. That means you can wash at a lower pressure for longer, and this lower pressure is useful for more delicate tasks as well. You can also control the flow with the handy nozzle, which lets you choose between three jet types (fan, rotary and cleaning agent, with the latter fed from a hose on the side of the main unit).
What I really admired about the Rea 60 Plus was how neatly it all packs away, largely thanks to its pressure hose reel. When you start you can just pull out what you need, up to its 5m length. The storage clips for the dismantled lance and gun and the lack of a power cord also help keep things neat and tidy.
It’s a shame that …although the Rea 60 Plus is affordable, it doesn’t come with abatteryorcharger, which adds another £197 to the cost.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles, away from homePressure hose length:5mWeight:6.7kgCorded or cordless:cordlessQuoted battery run time:25minsCleaning power:8,485 cleaning units (4.5 litres a minute x 1,885PSI)Attachments included:3-in-1 nozzleWarranty:three years
£135 at B&Q£128.25 at Amazon
The Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 is a corded pressure washer that offers a good balance between high pressure, reasonable price and usable design.
Why we love itWith a high maximum pressure and a high flow rate, the cleaning power of the UniversalAquatak 135 isn’t really in question. In my tests it quickly lifted dirt from every surface I pointed it at.
There’s a little assembly to be done but it’s nothing too arduous and doesn’t require any tools: it’s just a case of clipping the wheels on to the unit and assembling the handle mechanism. Despite having wheels, it’s not particularly large or heavy, so there’s no problem lifting it and carrying it around.
It comes with a single nozzle that can be rotated to select one of three jet settings – fan, rotary and pencil – to provide various pressures to suit your requirements.
It’s a shame that …I found the long 7m pressure hose had a strong desire to stay curled up, and it doesn’t have the extendable lance or extra-long warranty of the Ava P40.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehiclesPressure hose length:7mWeight:6.9kgCorded or cordless:cordedCleaning power:14,685 cleaning units (7.5 litres a minute x 1,958PSI)Attachments included:3-in-1 nozzle, 450ml detergent nozzleWarranty:three years
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£149.99 at Ryobi£199.99 at B&Q
Best for:weight and portability
For lightweight duties, the Ryobi 18V One+ is quick to set up and use. In the garden, you can connect your hose directly to the lance, so there’s no pressure hose to worry about, but you do then have to drag your hose around. I didn’t find this to be any more of a problem than using it for regular watering, though.
It comes with its own hose, too, which you can connect up and dip into any water supply, further enhancing its portability. This would be great for washing down equipment after a boating trip, for example, where there’s a plentiful supply of water. You could also use it with captured rainwater from a water butt or similar.
It didn’t make the final cut because …it doesn’t provide the same kind of pressure as the winners, although it’s certainly the right tool for the right job. The lack of pressure wasn’t particularly apparent in my cleaning tests, but you will notice it when tackling the toughest jobs.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles, bikes, away from home;pressurehose length:N/A;weight:2.7kg;corded or cordless:cordless;quoted battery runtime:24mins;cleaning power:1,091 cleaning units (3 litres a minute x 360PSI);attachments included:3-in-1 nozzle, 6m siphoning hose, 18V battery and charger;warranty:three years
£391 (including battery and charger) at Bosch£177.95 (no battery) at Amazon
Best for:an affordable cordless pressure washer
This battery-powered Bosch sits somewhere between the Stihl and the Ryobi in terms of its cleaning power. It doesn’t have the full-pelt power of the Stihl but it’s more affordable. And while not quite as portable as the Ryobi, it does at least have the option of portability, whether you’re using it around the garden or flinging it in the car to take elsewhere.
It comes with much the same equipment as the mains-powered Bosch, including the handy three-in-one nozzle and a clip-on detergent tank you can use to quickly cover a dirty item in cleaning foam.
It didn’t make the final cut because …it’s not quite as portable as the Ryobi or as neat as the Stihl.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles, away from home;pressurehose length:4m;weight:4.7kg;corded or cordless:cordless;quoted battery run time:45mins;cleaning power:4,496 cleaning units (3.1 litres a minute x 1,450PSI);attachments included:3-in-1 nozzle;warranty:three years
£130 at Argos£129 at Amazon
Best for:a better-built version of the K 2
If you’ve got a little more to spend than the sub-£100 for the K 2, then the K 3 is a level up in build quality. The pressure and flow rate are improved, so you get a more powerful clean, though I didn’t notice a huge difference in my tests. However, the device itself is a definite step up, with a longer pressure hose, wheels for dragging it about and an extendable handle.
Otherwise, it’s largely the same as the K 2, but better balanced and less prone to falling over.
It didn’t make the final cut because …if you’re moving up from the K 2 and can afford it, the Ava P40 and the Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 are better options for only a few pounds more.
Suitable for:patio, decking/fences, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles;pressurehose length:6m;weight:3.8kg;corded or cordless:corded;cleaning power:11,023 cleaning units (6.3 litres a minute x 1,740PSI);attachments included:single spray lance, dirt blaster lance;warranty:five years
£79.99 at Screwfix
Best for:affordable power
The Titan TTB1800PRW from Screwfix is a no-nonsense pressure washer that’s affordable and powerful. In fact, it’s the most powerful washer I tested, yet is available from Screwfix for less than £100, with only the less powerful Kärcher K 2 Classic beating it on price.
Once I’d assembled the washer (see below) it made short work of the cleaning tasks I set it. It comes with two nozzles and I generally preferred the power nozzle over the other, as it did a significantly better job of lifting off dirt. It was also the only model to come with a patio cleaning brush tool, though I found this to be too light to be of much use and preferred the roto nozzle during testing.
It didn’t make the final cut because …it took more assembly than any others, requiring a screwdriver to put together some of the parts. I didn’t like the extendable handle: it doesn’t lock into place and can catch you out when reaching to pick it up.
Suitable for:patio, garden tools, vehicles;pressurehose length:6m;weight:7.1kg;corded or cordless:corded;cleaning power:14,891cleaning units (7.3 litres a minute x 2,031PSI);attachments included:vario fan nozzle, roto nozzle, patio cleaner;warranty:two years
Pressure washers are simple tools that accept water from a water supply, build up the pressure using an electric motor, and then squirt out the water again from a gun attached to a separate hose (called a pressure hose).
All the washers I tested use a universal garden hose attachment that lets them easily hook up to your water supply. My garden hose has a Hozelock connector, which fitted perfectly on to every model, so check yours is compatible. Once the water is connected and the tap is on, you can power up the washer either by connecting it to the mains or charging and slotting in a battery.
Then you simply select an appropriate attachment or setting, depending on the pressure you want, and point it at the dirt. The gun has a trigger so you can start and stop the water as you please without returning to the main unit or closing the tap.
Keep in mind that dirt and debris can fly around when squirted at high pressure. Safety glasses, long trousers and proper shoes should be worn. Gloves are a good idea, and you might want to deck yourself out in some waterproof clothing.
Different jobs require different amounts of pressure. Heavy-duty dirty work, such as blasting a concrete paving slab, is best done with high-pressure washers that can produce pressure in excess of 100 bar (1,450PSI). You can get decent results from lower-pressure washers, too, but it might take a bit longer.
Softer surfaces, such as wooden fencing and decking, shouldn’t be attacked with the highest pressure settings of a powerful washer but can be hosed down with a less powerful spray. Washers with pressure of less than 100 bar can be used for this kind of thing. Try your washer on a small and inconspicuous area first to see how it fares before tackling the whole thing.
Some jobs are best done with the pressure at a minimum, such as washing your car. Although you can still use a pressure washer for this, you should use a rinse setting, or a fan setting from a safe distance – the pressure is most intense at the tip of the nozzle. Pressure washers with foam cannon are good for covering a car with soap, which you can then rinse after it’s lifted off some of the dirt. Don’t mix detergent with your pressure washer’s main water supply, though, as this can damage the device.
None of the pressure washers I’ve reviewed here were particularly noisy. Your nextdoor neighbour will notice when you’re using one, but they’re quieter than lawnmowers and hedge trimmers. There’s no requirement to wear ear defenders.
Andy Shaw is a freelance consumer journalist and technology addict. Having reviewed tech products professionally for more than 30 years, his favoured working environment is a small desk surrounded by big boxes. His greatest weakness is that he never, ever remembers how things came out of their packaging, so they rarely fit back in again when it’s time to return them