Pressure Washers can be the best way to clean your car or get your patio looking like new.
However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which option is best for you.
To take some of the guesswork out of selecting your pressure washer, we’ve rounded up the 6 best products on the market in Australia.
After our pressure washer reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you end up with the best one for your needs.
1. Jet-USA RX525 Electric High Pressure Washer – Best for most people
The Jet-USA RX525 is an excellent wallet-friendly option and is perfect for domestic use. It does a great job on walls, patios and pavement and doesn’t have an extreme blast like some more expensive units.
It can handle most cleaning tasks, but caution should be used with the point attachment as some people have found that it may erode sandstone as close range.
Using it is fairly easy and setup is a breeze. The hose is on the stiff side and may be prone to kinking if you aren’t careful.
Also, the attachment fittings are not universal, which may put some people off. You can only use them with this brand of pressure washer.
Overall it’s a great pressure washer. If you’re looking for something you can use for general tasks around the home than this is a good choice.
What We Like:
- Good value
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Stiff hose
- Attachment fittings are not universal
2. Gerni Classic 130.3PC High Pressure Cleaner – Upgrade Pick
The Gerni Classic 130 is great quality and has a solid amount of pressure for the price. The unit and the attachments are well-constructed and setup is easy. It runs a lot more quietly than you might expect as well.
This is perfect for washing cars or cleaning up around the home. The spray gun has a little bit of a kick when turning it on or off, but otherwise, it operates smoothly and is fairly comfortable to use.
One of the best features is the patio cleaner attachment; it cleans twice as fast as the general spray nozzle.
On the downside, the hose reel is only useful for storage; it doesn’t work like a garden hose. Some people may find this a little awkward.
Overall, it’s a great pressure washer and is well suited for home use.
What We Like:
- Good pressure
- Well-constructed
- Quiet
What We Don’t Like:
- Hose reel is awkward
3. Bosch High Pressure Washer AdvancedAquatak 140
With a 2100 watt motor and pressure of 2030 PSI, the AdvancedAquatak 140 is one of the most powerful units on this list. It’s certainly one of the most powerful options in this price range.
This pressure washer is easy to setup and use and is suitable for a range of jobs around the house and garden. It’s packed with features, including a hose reel, a range of nozzles including a detergent nozzle, telescopic handle, and large wheels for mobility.
While Bosch pressure washers may not be the best option for local servicing and parts, they’re hard to beat in terms of value for money.
Note also that this pressure washer comes with an adapter for Kärcher accessories, which may come in handy if you want to add a new attachment or replace an old one.
What We Like:
- Great power for the price
- Feature packed
- Adapter for Kärcher accessories
What We Don’t Like:
- Servicing and parts may be more difficult than other brands
4. STIHL RE 163 PLUS Pressure Washer Cleaner
This pressure washer from Stihl is good quality and works great. It has ceramic pistons which makes the pump very robust and it is quite solid and well-constructed.
Use this around the house or for cleaning your car; it is perfect for domestic tasks and as long as you take care of it, it will last a long time.
The attachments are easy to remove or replace with a simple twist-lock system.
The hose and cord storage are also very convenient; they are easily wound up after a job with minimal fussing around.
Moving the unit around is simple, as it has a telescoping handle and an aluminium frame. You can just wheel it around as needed.
One point to note is that the Australian model operates at 120 bar while the European model operates at 150 bar. This seems like an odd decision from Stihl, but it is still a good pressure washer.
This pressure washer is easy to use, reliable and does just about everything you could want.
What We Like:
- Solid, reliable unit
- Easy to use
- Easy to move
What We Don’t Like:
- Not as powerful as the European model
5. STIHL RE 119 Compact High Pressure Washer
The Stihl RE 119 works well and has plenty of power. It is easy to use and packs away well, making it a great pressure washer for the home.
It does a good job cleaning cars or the patio, the soap dispenser works well, and it is easy to move around thanks to the collapsible handle.
The cord storage works well, but the hose itself isn’t all that flexible, so it may be a little difficult to roll up.
It may have been better if the cord storage was at the top, so you could have more room to roll up the hose.
The unit is pretty solid, although some may find a tad heavy. For light to medium cleaning tasks, this is an excellent machine that will serve you well.
What We Like:
- Solid buIld
- Easy to use
- Plenty of power
What We Don’t Like:
- Hose storage may be awkward
- A little heavy
6. Karcher K5 Premium Full Control Home High Pressure Washer
The Karcher K5 offers a good balance of power and value. Use it for washing the car, cleaning off the deck, or cleaning the siding. It runs pretty quietly and is comfortable to use.
The high-pressure wand works well and doesn’t feel like you’re using 2000 psi.
Assembly is easy but some people may find the instructions a little confusing. Fortunately, most people won’t need the instructions to get underway.
This will clean tough stains off a driveway, but it’s not intended for heavy-duty use. Keep it for home duties and you’ll have it for a long time.
What We Like:
- Good balance of power and value
- Easy assembly
What We Don’t Like:
- Not for heavy-duty use
Pressure Washer Buyer’s Guide
How does a pressure washer work?
A pressure washer uses a pump to amplify the pressure of the water passing through it.
If you put a spray gun onto a garden hose, the amount of water passing through decreases but the pressure increases.
The same thing happens with a pressure washer, but a motor pushes the water to increase the pressure even more.
RELATED: Gerni Vs Karcher Pressure Washers
Measurements
Understanding the measurements used is simple:
PSI – Pounds per square inch
This is how the water pressure is measured.
Flow – L/min
This is a measure of how many litres of water will pass through in one minute.
CU – Cleaning units
To calculate the cleaning units or the real power of a pressure washer, just multiply the flow by the PSI.
Attachments
Pressure washers may come with an all-in-one variable nozzle, or they may come with interchangeable attachments.
The typical attachments include:
● Rotary nozzle – this makes a circle of high-pressure water. This is the head that hammers or pulses water and is used for heavy-duty cleaning.
● Fan nozzle – this makes a wide spray of water and is suitable for light cleaning.
● Pencil nozzle – this makes a thin beam of water that is very concentrated. It is good for difficult stains.
● Rotary brush – This makes the stream gentler. It is good for cleaning sandstone and patios.
Types of pressure washers
Consumer models are typically electric and range from 1300 to 1800 PSI. These are suitable for most domestic tasks and infrequent use.
Intermediate models are gas-powered and range from 2000 to 3000 PSI. These are suitable for domestic jobs but are often more heavy-duty than electric models.
Professional models are gas-powered and range from 3000 to 4000 PSI. These are built for frequent use and are suitable for industrial-grade cleaning.
