Muc-Off, the pink detergent invented specifically for bikes (the salt in other detergents can corrode their moving parts), turned out to be such a massive money spinner for its makers that they sponsor Team Sky and have now launched the world’s first pressure washer for bikes, deliberately set to output just 70 bar pressure. Since not all manufacturers state the working pressure and this is often only stated for higher-quality pressure washers, we have decided to show only the maximum pressure in our tables. Otherwise, the professional devices would perform superficially worse in comparison to the cheaper models. Pressure regulation, the most important feature in a powerful pressure washer A lot of the most popular pressure washers have a set PSI but come with different attachments for different jobs, multiplying their effectiveness, Ljudmil says. “I recommend using the attachments if you’re worried about causing damage. I have a Kärcher at home and I love using the patio attachment, which spins round in a circle. It’s such a satisfying job. A lot of people post videos of their pressure washer wins on YouTube.” Can you use detergent in pressure washers?

Connect the app, and you can tell the K5 what you’re trying to clean. It will then set the required pressure and tell you how to adjust the lance for every stage, so that, as you clean the car or power-wash the driveway, you’re using the right spray pattern and setting for every step. Buy the Home version and Kärcher also bundles in the T5 Surface cleaner for a thorough clean of any hard surfaces in your garden. You pay a lot for the smart features, and we’re not sure that using the app to control the lance is really all that convenient. Still, if you want the ultimate in high-tech pressure washers, nothing else comes close. Entry-level cleaners are those with a maximum of 100 bar of pressure. These models are good for cleaning small items such as bicycles and garden furniture. You get a lot for your money: an extendable lance with two nozzles for gentle and high-pressure cleaning, a foam sprayer, a soft brush attachment and a small patio cleaner attachment. Other accessories sold separately include a roof cleaner, multi-brush kit for cars and garden furniture and a long, flexible tube for cleaning drains and pipes. Made in Germany for over 70 years, Kärcher pressure washers are ten times more searched-for than the next most popular brand. They range from the portable K2 Compact (reviewed below) to this big, heavy and very powerful K7, which must be regarded as the big daddy of domestic pressure washers – although it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone. Mainly the big manufacturers (Kärcher, Bosch, etc.) offer a variety of tools that make high-pressure cleaning easier.

It should be noted that the heavy-duty models are going to be noisier, and there is a possibility that some of them might do damage to some of the surfaces that they clean if the person who is using them does not know how to wield them. People who have less experience with pressure washers should choose the light-duty ones. What is your budget? The power and specifications of domestic and industrial use pressure washers are usually very different.

The K5 Premium Smart Control is a little bigger and more powerful than the K4, and comes with the bonus of a built-in, wind-up hose reel to keep its longer 10m high-pressure pipe under control. Yet the real advantage is its Smart Control system, comprising a new trigger gun with a built-in LCD panel and Bluetooth connectivity that hooks into a smartphone app. On its own, the trigger gun allows you to turn the pressure up and down, with six levels and a boost setting to deal with the most persistent grime. Meanwhile, Kärcher’s 3-in-1 multi jet lance can switch spray patterns, so that you can change from a wider spray to a focused, rotating jet within seconds. You’ll have gathered by now that I don’t like all the messing about with plugs, wires, taps and hoses. I can’t be the only one and that’s why Bosch’s cordless, genuinely portable unit has its own niche.In addition, the higher the maximum pressure of the device, the more difficult and therefore more expensive this becomes. However, the delivery rate should always be in proportion to the maximum pressure, otherwise only spray mist will come out of the nozzle after a short distance. As you have read above, this would exactly counteract the sensible effect of a pressure washer with more pressure (bar). Variable pressure: having a pressure washer with variable water pressure means you can use one machine for different tasks. You simply adjust the water pressure to suit the needs of the job. Auto start/stop: pressure washers with this function use the trigger on the gun to turn the water flow off and on rather than using the main on/off switch. This saves water and detergent. Bonuses include a 18V Power For All battery (sold separately) which is interchangeable with other power tools In all honesty, a less powerful Kärcher like their 145 bar K5 or 130 bar K4 is enough for most household jobs and some come bundled with soft car-cleaning attachments, which this doesn’t. But I had to make it the overall winner because, for anyone asking “what is the best pressure washer?” this is it.