**The Best Pressure Washers for a Sparkling Clean Patio and Garden**
The great outdoors can be a wonderful place to spend time, but it can also be a bit of a mess. Your lawnmower might do a great job of keeping your garden tidy, but cleaning your patio, decking, and outdoor furniture can be a real challenge. That’s where the pressure washer comes in.
These handy tools connect to your hose pipe and squirt water at any cleaning problem, making quick work of stubborn stains and dirt. With the right attachments, you can even use your pressure washer to hose down cars, bikes, and boats.
Table of Contents
At a Glance
| Pressure Washer | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ava Go P40 | £149.90 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles |
| Kärcher K 2 Classic | £72 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles |
| Stihl Rea 60 Plus | £224.99 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles, away from home |
| Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 | £135 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, drains/guttering, vehicles |
| Ryobi 18V One+ 22bar cordless power washer kit | £149.99 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles, away from home |
| Bosch UniversalAquatak 36V-100 | £391 (including battery and charger) | Affordable cordless pressure washer |
| Kärcher K 3 Classic | £130 | Patio, decking, garden tools, garden furniture, vehicles |
| Titan TTB1800PRW | £79.99 | Affordable power |
How I Tested the Pressure Washers
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.
The Best Pressure Washers
After testing all the pressure washers, I’m happy to recommend the following as the best options for different budgets and needs:
Bosch UniversalAquatak 135
The Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 is a corded pressure washer that offers a good balance between high pressure, reasonable price, and usable design. It quickly lifts dirt from every surface I pointed it at, and it comes with a single nozzle that can be rotated to select one of three jet settings – fan, rotary, and pencil.
Stihl Rea 60 Plus
The Stihl Rea 60 Plus is a cordless pressure washer that offers high pressure and a long battery life. It’s ideal for heavier-duty cleaning tasks, and it comes with a handy 3-in-1 nozzle that can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks.
Ava Go P40
The Ava Go P40 is an entry-level pressure washer that offers a great balance between price and performance. It’s clear that the design focused on how the product would be used, and it feels better built than similarly priced rivals.
What to Look for in a Pressure Washer
When shopping for a pressure washer, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Pressure: Look for a pressure washer that can produce at least 100 bar (1,450 PSI) for heavy-duty cleaning tasks.
- Flow rate: A higher flow rate means more water can be delivered to the cleaning area in a given amount of time.
- Attachments: Consider what types of attachments you’ll need, such as a patio cleaning brush tool or a foam cannon.
- Warranty: Look for a pressure washer with a good warranty that covers repairs and replacements for a reasonable amount of time.
- Build quality: A well-built pressure washer will last longer and perform better over time.
Safety Precautions
When using a pressure washer, it’s essential to take safety precautions to avoid injury:
Wear safety glasses, long trousers, and proper shoes to protect yourself from dirt and debris that may fly around when the pressure washer is in use.
Use gloves to protect your hands from cold water and any cleaning solutions that may be used.
Wear waterproof clothing to keep yourself dry and comfortable during cleaning tasks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the right pressure washer can make all the difference in keeping your patio and garden clean and tidy.