Best Electric Pressure Washers: Under Pressure

Top 8 Best Electric Pressure Washers

It’s totally not a filled-with-soap myth that a clean car runs better, right? Except for off-road rigs. They run best when caked with a thick layer of sticky mud and dirt.

It’s never a bad idea to test your pressure washer on an inconspicuous area of the surface you plan to clean before attacking the thing with vigor. This will ensure it doesn’t harm the surface you’re washing. A good pressure washer can strip away flaking paint from a rusting car, for example. And, as always, RTFM before turning the thing on.

Measuring just a foot tall and weighing 20 pounds, this cube is a great option for those who don't have a lot of storage space yet still want to keep their ride spic and span. Rated at 1,700 psi, this bundle includes a trio of nozzles for varying levels of cleaning intensity.

Karcher receives its share of internet flack, thanks to the sheer number of products they sell, but your author has had no complaints with the pressure washers he's used and owned from this brand over the years. Reviews for this particular unit are positive, so long as people keep their expectations in check and didn't try to power wash an entire tractor-trailer in 52 seconds.

Good for light-duty jobs, this pressure washer from Ryobi is suitable for occasional car washing duties and cleaning off the likes of patio furniture or bikes. Its dimensions are similar to the Karcher unit listed above. Note that it cranks out just 1,600 psi.

Despite this, plenty of customers report being pleased with its operation showing real-world pictures of them cleaning various household surfaces. Just don't follow the lead of the person who used it to obliterate hornet nests, ok?

An electric pressure washer for under a hundred bucks? Ok, then. As you might expect for that price, its *ahem* 25-foot hose isn't very long but the 35-foot power cord makes up for some of that deficiency. It includes two cleaning nozzles that are listed at 25- and 40 degrees. In case you're wondering, smaller-degree nozzles result in a more forceful clean.

Reviews and ratings are about what you'd expect for a budget machine, with some customers choosing to pair this pressure washer with wands or hoses from other sources. Compliments on the unit reveal it is light, compact, and simple to use.

Here's a pressure washer that features a more traditional upright design, complete with an axle of wheels to permit rolling the thing around during use. A series of interchangeable nozzles include 0º, 15º, 25º, and 40º. This is great for a ton of applications; just watch it with that zero degree nozzle. A dedicated soap nozzle is a rarity in this price bracket.

The seller says users can choose high- or low-pressure operation to wash various surfaces, which is an advantage over the all-or-nothing operation of other units. Its motor is more powerful as well, cranking up the wick to a very handy 3,000 psi of water pressure.

This is the first power washer on our list that includes a high-pressure foamer. Commonly called a 'foam cannon' (which sounds like a lot more fun), these things are specially designed detergent bottles capable of getting out tough stuff loose or removing deep-down stains.

Its water connection points are advertised as being leakproof, an assertion your author would very much like to test. The hose is only 25 feet long but there are a quartet of nozzles and the aforementioned foam cannon/detergent tank. It's rated as being able to deliver a maximum of 2,150 psi of water pressure.

Despite bearing a mix-n-match brand name and deploying a wildly rounded-up number in its model name (3,000 doesn't mean that much PSI in this instance), this machine is one of the most widely reviewed units of its type on Amazon, garnering over ten-thousand reviews for an aggregate 4.3/5 rating.

Maximum pressure is just north of 2000psi with a typical working load of about 500 psi south of that figure. Dual detergent tanks are a handy feature - twin 0.9 L onboard, removable tanks can carry and store different types of detergent to simultaneously tackle different cleaning projects. The ad says there are five different nozzles included but fails to mention their degree size.

Bereft of any and all capital letters in its brand name, this washer comes with several common attachments includes a handy reel with which to collect the pressure hose when you're finished up the cleaning duties. Also on board are a scrub brush and four angle nozzles.

Fill the soap tank up with your detergent of choice to give this pressure washer a little extra cleaning power. Like most others on this list, it features a safety automatic total stop system that automatically shuts off the pump when the trigger is not engaged to save energy and prolong pump life.

Your author will freely admit he thought the Westinghouse brand went out with the Reagan administration, at least insofar as making household appliances. It turns out that they, or at least the name, are still very much a going concern, with this pressure washer being but one of the products.

Sitting the thing on four casters instead of two wheels is a smart decision, permitting the user to move it around the driveway with less hassle. The hose is short but nylon braided, drawing praise for its ease of use compared to cheaper options. There is a soap tank onboard as well.

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(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)

[Main photo credit: Krasula / Shutterstock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]