Weighing a little over 20 pounds and sporting a top handle, it’s compact enough for you to carry it as you would a duffel bag. It has wheels and an extending handle, like a piece of luggage, but the wheels are small and have trouble managing an uneven lawn . This pressure washer has the same long hose as our main pick, too, but it lacks that model’s high-end induction motor and some of the other, finer details. Despite our team being relatively mechanically inclined, gas pressure washers, in general, were not as straightforward to us as electric models were. We spent much more time reading their manuals to ensure we didn’t damage it with the first use. You have to deal with adding engine oil and finding a way to get gasoline to fuel it.
There’s noticeable kickback when pulling the trigger which can be more tiring to use. Since you’ll spend about a quarter of the time cleaning compared to using an electric pressure washer, we feel the extra physical effort is worth it. Which is why I always prioritize efficiency and user-friendliness over performance while recommending pressure washers to home users. Anything between 1500 to 2000 psi is more than enough to clean your car or driveway. And 1.5 to 1.8GPM of flow rate is plenty unless you’ve got a really large deck or boat to clean.
Dan brings more than 20 years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like This Old House and Consumer Reports. He has personally tested pressure washers from more than a dozen leading brands. And, of course, he routinely westinghouse pressure washers pulls out the pressure washer at his home to clean the wood deck, brick patio, outdoor furniture and other exterior surfaces. The Ryobi pumps out a respectable 1.2 gallons per minute, which punches above its weight when combined with the superb 2,300 pounds per square inch of pressure.
It cleaned all the same things, but we had to hold the nozzle closer to the object and spend a little more time doing that. When it comes to just getting things clean, we preferred the bigger Ryobi, but this one will still get the job done. The SPX3000 has two detergent tanks, which is a notable convenience . Some detergents are specific for what you need to clean, so this tank design lets you store two at a time and not have to deal with emptying and filling a tank between projects. We preferred Sun Joe’s detergent-tank design over Ryobi’s, as Sun Joe’s tanks are a snap to remove and translucent so you can see what you have left at a glance.
Otherwise you end up having to drain the excess before you can resume regular cleaning. The Kärcher K5 operates at a higher pressure than the K4 but at a lower flow rate in gallons per minute, which evens out its cleaning-units score. We didn’t think the added cost made it a good value, given the closeness in performance. The downside is that the body of the Greenworks has the handle orientation of a wheelbarrow.
This electric pressure washer offers a nice combination of value and performance. With a modest 1,900 PSI and 1.2 GPM, the machine is best for smaller jobs, like clearing dirt and mildew from your deck. The telescoping handle and lightweight, 22.7-pound construction make for easy handling. We also liked the compact design and vertical storage, during our testing. Both power washers and pressure washers use pressurized water to remove dirt and other grime from hard surfaces. However, power washers have a heating element that heats the water, which helps it remove tougher grime.