Washing the car is a regular and necessary action that every car owner is obliged to perform from time to time. It is a routine activity that can weigh on a person and be disliked by them. Wet rags, hoses, detergent… All these things can irritate you. Some people find a way out of this situation – they simply take their car to a professional car wash. There, specially trained people will wash your car completely, and for an extra fee they can even polish it! But the fact is that you will have to pay a lot of money for each wash. Yes, it’s a convenient way to take care of your car, but you won’t be able to pay for a regular wash unless you have extra money.
In this case, many people decide to wash their car by themselves – in their garage or in the backyard of the house. It’s worth noting that it’s much more convenient to do this with special products. Car pressure washer is exactly what these devices are. You get rid of a lot of unnecessary items, while speeding up and optimizing the process itself. How can you avoid wasting money? This is a question that torments all those who have ever faced such a question. We’ve decided to help you with this and have selected the top 10 handheld and portable washing stations for your car.
You may also like: 8 Best car vacuum cleaners
Other great pressure washers
Sun Joe SPX300
Looking for an effective and efficient way to clean your car, van or tile near your home, Sun Joe SPX300 is the perfect solution for you.
One of the good features is the fact that the device has two tanks for washing, so you can work with two types of detergents at the same time without any inconvenience. Each of the tanks is just under a liter in volume and switching between them is easy and quick – you just need to correctly determine what kind of detergent you need to remove a certain type of mud.
With wheels you can easily move your washer around the backyard or garage, and a 34-inch long extension cord will allow you to reach even the most inaccessible places.
You can also use a garden hose to supply water, only if you have a clutch in place. Depending on the type of dirt and the complexity of cleaning, you can replace the nozzles with one of the five available ones. Each of them is designed to handle liquids at a certain temperature.
It is worth noting that if you do not hold the trigger, the system automatically turns off the engine. This is done in order to prolong the life of the equipment and reduce the load on the engine device. But for some reason, if the hose is suddenly under pressure, the engine will also shut down. The maximum pressure that this pressure washer can produce is 2030 PSI, and the average pressure during operation is about 1000 PSI.
Manufacturer Sun Joe gives a guarantee when buying. Buying their equipment, you get free warranty service for 2 years from the date of purchase. But it is worth noting one detail: the parts rust very quickly, so if you plan some time not to use Sun Joe Electric Pressure Washer, it is worth to lubricate all metal parts to avoid corrosion and rust.
You may also like: 10 Best portable air compressors
Karcher K5 Premium
Karcher is a German company producing machinery, which has a good reputation and produces excellent equipment, but not at low prices. Such devices will not be affordable for every person – but when you buy them you can be sure that the device will serve you longer and will not break down in the first half an hour of use.
The power of Karcher K5 Premium is 2000 PSI, which provides high cleaning speed and, accordingly, saves your time. The Ni-COR pump is powerful and maintenance-free, yet adaptable to all conditions of today’s environment.
You can rest assured that the hardness of the water will not cause damage. Since the motors tend to heat up during operation, Karcher decided to organize water circulation during operation, thereby lowering the Ni-COR temperature. It is necessary to note the convenient way of storage – the hose has its own compartment in the device and is stored directly in it, despite the fact that its length is 25 inches.
The only difficulty you may encounter is the assembly of the entire structure. No, you don’t need to assemble the engine yourself, but you’ll have to fit the hose tightly, which isn’t easy. Karcher K5 Premium is also unstable during operation. That is, it can not constantly maintain pressure in 2000 PSI, which brings inconvenience.
If you buy it exclusively for home use – washing the car and tiles, roof or other surfaces, it is a great option for a fairly high price. If you are looking for a pressure washer for professional use, your expectations may not be met.
AR Blue Clean AR383
In case your budget is very limited but you really need to buy a pressure washer, AR Blue Clean will be a real rescue for you. This is a very inexpensive and cute option, the purchase of which won’t hit your pocket and you won’t get a broken device.
Of course, the cost is also reflected in the functionality. The maximum pressure that this washer is capable of creating is 1900 – it would seem that it is almost as much as the rest of the devices. In practice, the average is lower, but it is still effective.
It’s complete, with extensions, high-pressure hose, spray nozzles, garden hose adapter and even detergent. All you need to do to get started is insert the garden hose, plug in the hose and run it.
If you’re worried about the amount of water used for washing, be cool. AR Blue Clean saves you 80% of your water compared to a garden hose, but consumes energy. The pointer has a tip on it that you can use to adjust the spraying power of the water yourself. The pressure washer itself is light, so even the weakest and frail can control it.
But not everything is so perfect. The main problems can cause the hose that you will use for washing. It is made of a sufficiently rigid material, so bending it and handling it, in general, is not very convenient. The fact that the hose will start leaking can be a major drawback. Usually, it happens in the middle or at the connection. To avoid leaks, you may need to buy an adapter or hose clamp. Of course, this will cause additional costs, but in general, it will still be less expensive than buying a more expensive car pressure washer.
Simpson MSH3125 by Honda
Everybody’s heard of a company like Honda. Have you ever imagined that they also produce car washers? This is really true. The company actively distributes and manufactures one of the most powerful and modern washers – Simpson MSH3125. At first glance, it looks quite specific – large wheels relative to the body itself, a steel frame, a water supply hose with a nozzle on the handle.
In total there are 5 nozzles in the kit – for certain water temperatures and for detergent. This unit has a special fuel tank, which you will need to refill periodically for efficient operation. It is recommended that you keep the level at least halfway through – this is guaranteed to prevent a sudden shutdown, for example.
The steel welded frame “surrounds” the engine and fuel tank, which protects them from damage or other troubles. The hose is fixed there – it is simply wrapped around, and the nozzle is fixed on a special stand. Most importantly, there are no plastic parts in the pressure washer housing – everything is made of metal and can’t be broken down. The engine is very powerful – it is not surprising, because Honda is famous for them.
PSI is about the same as many other models of this price category – 2000 units. At the same time, it has a sound silencer, which is protected by a screen, and access to tanks with fuel and water is much easier than in other devices. The hardness of materials can survive any weather conditions. The only inconvenience you may encounter is the smell.
The new device can smell like machine oil, because all the devices in the factory are tested for defects and, accordingly, are put into operation. The smell will pass soon after the beginning of use, and the excellent unit will remain with you forever.
mrliance 3500PSI
Are you looking for an incredibly powerful pressure washer? Then you will like the mrliance. It has a powerful engine of almost 2,000 watts and a maximum water pressure of 3500 PSI. If you need to flush a fence, a car, truck wheels after off-road and many other contaminated objects, you can be sure that mrliance Electric Pressure Washer will clean everything you need in a matter of seconds.
Like other car washers, this model comes with 4 water spray nozzles – each for a specific temperature. You fill the tank with the detergent of your choice, and the tool does the rest for you. Despite the fact that the device motor is very powerful, the manufacturer has implemented a system of saving its resources. If you do not hold the trigger, the engine will automatically stop working. This reduces wear and tear while extending the life of the engine.
It also comes with a fixed cleaning brush. It can be used to clean surfaces right when water is in contact with dirt, and if you are also using detergent, you can improve your car wash with this soft brush. The construction itself cannot be overlooked. Firstly, the 26-foot hose is stored in a special compartment, and its length is long enough for complete cleaning and washing. Secondly, the large enough wheels allow you to easily move the mrliance. Surprisingly, this good device is worth not much, so it will be a great choice for a powerful car washer.
Greenworks GPW1702
It’s not the most powerful, but it’s a pretty good model of car wash. Greenworks has a maximum power of 1,700 PSI and can do all the things that are required of it. It’s electric, so you don’t have to deal with gas, fuel, or any other way of powering and starting. All you need to do is access electricity.
Greenworks GPW1702 is very light, so it’s a great option for women. You can effortlessly carry it with you or move it around. However, the manufacturer does not recommend the use of extension cords – this can have an impact on efficiency.
In fact, because the power cord is not very long, it is much more convenient to use additional tools, and in practice, the use of extension cords does not impair the performance of the car washer. It can also be used in different positions – both horizontal and vertical. Greenworks Pressure Washer produces several times less noise than gas models due to its work on electricity. You won’t have to worry about interfering with your cleaning process anymore.
The kit comes with just 2 water nozzles – 25 degrees and 45 degrees. It’s more like a drawback, because you often need to use a harder 0-degree sink, but in general, it’s enough to sink the decking, the fences and, of course, the cars. You get an excellent product that fully meets the criteria of value for money. Not very expensive, but at the same time functional and high-quality car washer – a great offer.
Karcher K1700
We have already considered one Karcher product in the article. We think you have not forgotten that this is a company with an excellent reputation in the world market. Karcher K1700 is a more budget model, of course, with simpler characteristics, but also corresponding to the standards of the company. This car washer works from the electric network, and the length of the cord is sufficient for work.
The kit includes several accessories, a high-pressure cord and a removable basket for storing small items. You can store your belongings in it during washing or put in the parts of Karcher K1700 after use. It also has large wheels that are able to drive almost everywhere and metal parts of the construction, and all together it gives you the opportunity to work almost everywhere. The detergent compartment is only 0.5 liters, but you can easily switch between it and the water supply.
It is important for any customer to have a warranty. The manufacturer Karcher declares that Karcher K1700 is covered by a 3-year warranty. In fact, this is a lie and all those who tried to ask for help in the service center were refused. So if you are going to order this model, be ready for such a turn. But in fact, you don’t have to use the warranty – the quality of the device is excellent and it will be hard to break it.
You also may like: 10 Best lawnmowers for your garage
Titans 3800 PSI
The cost of a device usually indicates its power, performance and build quality. Titans Electric Pressure Washer has excellent technical characteristics – the maximum pressure created by the device is 3800 PSI, which allows it to be used professionally or in production. This allows you to easily remove dirt, dust and even rust from metal objects and machines.
The good news is that all hose connections are sealed. They are tested at the factory. The kit includes two hoses – one 20 ft long (high pressure) and one 35 ft long – it already has a plug.
Tightness prevents leaks during washing and does not inconvenience you. The entire system operates in ECO mode and spends less water and resources than other models of similar power. The Titans Electric Pressure Washer also features a light yet rugged body, so you can carry it easily without worrying about breaking or damaging the body.
It is worth noting that you can also clean up moss, rust and concrete residues after construction work. The 3800 PSI power allows you to do it in minutes without having to work manually. Titans Washer is not the most economical variant of car washer, but it works perfectly for its price.
Stanley SHP2150
Typically, washing machines are done with detergents, foams and sponges. Stanley SHP2150 comes with a special foaming agent that produces foam from the detergent it contains using high pressure. Simply pour the detergent into a special tank and start the device up. This way, your car will be not just clean, but crystal clear. All you have to do after applying the foam is just rinse it off, because the foam will clean all the surfaces for you!
Depending on what surface you need to clean, you can use Stanley SHP2150 as an assistant. More than 2000 PSI of power gives you comfort and relaxation when washing your car and your home. The washing hose is long enough to be comfortable to use. However, there are also some disadvantages in this design.
The hose connections to the Stanley SHP2150 are made of plastic. This means it’s hard to achieve a tight seal at the connection points, so you’ll either need to buy special adapters or clamps or clips for a tighter fit to the car washer. Otherwise, even the dirtiest surfaces of your car can be washed off easily by using a foaming agent.
Briggs & Stratton 20680
The first impression you may have is that the device is a special trolley or some kind of device on wheels. The rear wheels are large and there are metal posts in front of them that hold the car washer vertically during operation or storage. Since the case is surrounded by a steel frame, you don’t have to worry about damaging the device or other problems.
The Briggs & Stratton 20680 engine is versatile in operation and can easily run at maximum power and in normal operation. As a car manufacturer, Briggs & Stratton know exactly what the customer needs to do to wash their cars quickly and independently. The high-pressure hose is 25 inches long and one of the three sprayers is attached to the end of the hose. Each is designed for its own type of washing, and the use of detergent.
You can fill the detergent in a special tank, which is built into the construction. Its volume is half a gallon, which is more than enough to remove dirt. If you use a turbo nozzle, the dirt will be cleaned much faster, but the water and detergent consumption will also be higher.
The car washer kit includes all the necessary parts and tools. Once the assembly is complete, you will need to lubricate the ends of the hoses, but you will need to purchase the grease yourself. Otherwise, this electric washing is effective for home use – removal of moss and dirt, minor deposits of rust and concrete lumps.
For those of you who still doubt whether you should make such a large enough purchase, we can assure you that it will be a profitable investment of your money. Buying a car pressure washer, you will be able to recoup its costs for the first few washes of your car!
Now you don’t need to go to remote washes, compare and remember prices. You can take care of your car right in your yard, spending just a few minutes on such a necessary procedure. Rest assured – now your car will always look clean and well-groomed, depending on where you drove it yesterday.
You also may like: 10 Best garage heaters
FAQ for pressure washer buyers
1. Can I damage my car when I wash it?
Despite the fact that any washing of the car is done under pressure, water will not be able to deform the metal. Normally, the pressure of a standard device ranges from 1000 to 3000 PSI. Your car will not be affected in any way by this pressure.
Of course, such pressure can harm a person and leave marks on your body in the form of bruises. If you use an electric device, it is the best choice – because the pressure will be kept stable throughout the whole time.
2. Can I wash spare parts with the car pressure washer?
A car pressure washer is suitable for many metal tools and parts. Many people use the car pressure washer even to wash exterior doors, house walls and garden pathways. You can really clean your car parts with a device, but we would not recommend doing this with electrical equipment.
For example, the engine can easily be damaged by water pressure, or you can leave liquid inside. When connected to a battery, you might simply break the engine, as the interior parts and wires will be wet.
3. Can I use hot water to wash my car?
Only cold water is used for good reason when working with the car pressure washer. You may feel that the detergent will not work well or that it will be much worse to foam with cold water. In fact, its effectiveness does not depend in any way on the water temperature.
Hot water can cause serious damage to the paint, as well as wash away all the protective coating from the surface. The paint of the car will be unprotected, which will make the metal more susceptible to damage.
For example, a short time after such washing the car may get rust. It will be more difficult to restore the car body material after the rust has appeared.
4. How often should the car be washed? Can I do it daily?
The frequency of washing your car will not affect the quality of your car if you do it correctly. It is usually worth taking your car to the car wash once every 1-2 weeks. This also depends on the area you live in.
If salt or other materials that can cause corrosion get on the surface of your car, you should wash it more often. It is also worth applying wax after each car wash – it will enhance the protective properties of materials and reduce the need for cleaning.
5. How much water does one car wash consume?
There are not many car pressure washers on the market that need to be filled with water. Usually, you just need to connect a hose with a water supply to the device, and it will determine the right amount of water for the right pressure. The amount of water depends on how dirty the car is and how long the process takes.