Pressure Washers - Do You Own One? Are They Worth It?

Flying-High_2

Decent Nilfisks at Cleanstore for smidge over £70 delivered.... Will last twice as long at least as some generic rubbish....

GJ_WRX

Just bought a Karcher K4 from B&Q 4 hours ago!

I was debating which one to get for a while and decided on the higher pressure one. Bit more than I wanted to spend at £200 but seems good. I'v already cleaned a patio that had 5 years worth or grime, the window plinths which were going green and 2 cars!

Previously I had to fill a bucket up out the back, walk round the house to clean the cars meaning it would take almost an hour to do them both with average results. Or pay about £10 for each of them a month.

I'd say go for it!

Richard53

I'm on my second Karcher in about 15 years. I wouldn't like to be without it. As others have said, economical on water and does a great job on a mucky car. I always pressure blast the worst off, then go over it with a sponge and soapy water (which is easy work as there is only the traffic film to remove) and then blast it again to rinse. It is possible just to use the pressure washer, but there's always bits that don't get totally clean. Also great for driveways, bins, buckets and motorcycle waterproofs with care (well, someone did mention caving gear). I clean my bikes with it as well, but that needs a lot more care.

The Karcher has survived being run over by the car and soldiers on. Highly recommended.

Stooby2

They are very useful, but use on a very wide fan spray on a car and well away from brakes, steering joints, oil seals etc as the pressure can push water past them and their seals if you're not careful. And they can remove loose trim pretty easily if you get too close!

Robisere

This week I have used mine to:
Clean out my water butts ( years of absolutely crusty crud, the washer destroyed it in minutes)
Clean the car
Clean off the green mould on the rear garden slabs.

I would not be without it, the family bought it for me Christmas 2011. I am 68, have medical prob's, but find it easy to use. Worst bit is putting the hose away!

I live near the East Coast, visit local resorts. I have seen windsufers and Jet-skiers using them to clean of salt and sand. The number of uses is almost endless.

savemoney

I have a nilfisk for around 15 months I clean car around once a week with it, gets a lot of brake dust on civic wheels known problem so I coat them with a wheel cleaner and it washes off with pw. I have a special pw attachment so it fans out I also have a attachment for under car. I also use a pro snow foam adaptor use it a couple of times a year. Then dong block paving with another attachment that sweeps the paving, I also do water butts and garage door and occasional window and facias

onejontwo

Another fan of Nilfisk, bought this a few months ago, cleaned the patio a treat, cleaned the car once a weak with the foam sprayer, cleaned all sorts with it and such a cracking deal. Read the reviews first.

http://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=7506

anotherbaldrick

One thing , if you do the car with it keep the nozzle at spray not jet and DO NOT PUT END OF LANCE WITHIN 8" OF TYRE SIDE WAll. Blasting the tyre wall can blow the body out of the wall and leave the fabric weak.

patman99

I bought a 'Workzone' p/w from Aldi last year. Cleaned the crud off my van which a Sealy failed to remove.
Mine has a bottle for shampoo.

Don't use one on decking though as it opens-up the grain on the wood.

Richard53

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

One thing , if you do the car with it keep the nozzle at spray not jet and DO NOT PUT END OF LANCE WITHIN 8" OF TYRE SIDE WAll. Blasting the tyre wall can blow the body out of the wall and leave the fabric weak.

I have been cleaning the sidewalls of the tyres of my car for probably 15 years, using full jet power from about an inch away. It cleans them nicely.

No ill effects so far. Can you post any evidence that this might be harmful, as I would be interested?