Sprucing up outdoor areas, cars, and patios may seem like a huge and daunting task, but it can be made so much easier by using the best electric pressure washers. Instead of traditional cleaning methods that involve brushes, soapy water, and a load of scrubbing and elbow grease, an electric pressure washer allows you to pull a trigger and blast away the grime, leaving a much cleaner space. You can tackle jobs that will take hours in minutes. Investing in a pressure washer can be a great way to save water, too as they use much less than a garden hose.
A pressure washer is fairly simple, really, as it is just a water pump powered by an electric motor. The difference between models is that they all vary in size, power, hose length, and the number of attachments available. Most pressure washers work with cold water, whereas a power washer, in comparison, uses very hot water and steam to wash away dirt and grime and is much more expensive.
Best pressure water at a glance
• Best overall: Bosch High Pressure Washer UniversalAquatak 135 - view on Amazon UK
• Best large pressure washer: DEWALT DXPW001ME High Pressure Washer - view on Amazon UK
• Best for deep cleaning: Nilfisk 128471255 Core 140 Bar High Pressure Washer - view on Amazon UK
Compared to its alternative - the petrol pressure washer - electric pressure washers are the best for us regular home users. They have high power, are comfortable to use, and require little maintenance in comparison.
However, there are loads of different pressure washers on the market, from the more heavy-duty ones that tackle the big jobs to cordless pressure washers and smaller, handheld versions. In this guide, we'll round up the best electric pressure washers around and give you all the information you need to find one that suits you and your cleaning needs.
Best electric pressure washers
Best overall
Description
This is a pressure washer for both big jobs and the smaller ones as it has a long hose reach of
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Powerful
- Big wheels
- Lightweight
- Good value
Cons
- Some reviews say it doesn't feel robust
Best large pressure washer
Description
If you're after a pressure washer that is sturdy enough to handle pretty much anything, the DEWALT
Pros
- High pressure
- Sturdy
Cons
- A little bulky and heavy
Best for deep cleaning
Description
The Nilfisk high pressure washer easily handles your deep-cleaning tasks, including auto and car,
Pros
- Powerful
- Hose storage wheel is a handy addition
- Easy to use
Cons
- Hand controls are a little temperamental over time
Best compact pressure washer
www.homebase.co.uk
Description
Small and lightweight, this pressure washer is perfect for most cleaning tasks, giving you
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Turbo nozzle
Cons
- No reviews to reflect on the customer's experience
Best for small jobs
Description
Less than 40cm high and 22cm wide, this tiny Karcher washer weighs only just over 4kg, unfilled
Pros
- Good for beginners
- Lightweight
- Is more powerful than it looks
Cons
- Some reviews say attachments are fiddly
Best heavy-duty washer
www.toolstation.com
Description
This is the one for the big jobs and is probably a little too much for some people. However, if
Pros
- Super powerful
- Works on a variety of surfaces
Cons
- Tricky to assemble
Best cordless electric pressure washer
Description
The WORX Hydroshot is for people who have small areas to clean. The full kit includes a brush,
Pros
- Lightweight
- Portable and cordless
Cons
- Not overly powerful - it can't clean patios, for example
FAQs
Why should I choose an electric pressure washer?
With an electric pressure washer, you'll need to consider these two factors in particular:
Power rating: Given in Watts (W), this will correlate with the pressure and flow rate of your pressure washer. The higher the power, the more energy it has to deliver more powerful cleans.
Power supply: Powered by electric, these types of pressure washers will need access to power to function. They'll either have a cable - for which you should double-check the cable length to your nearest power outlets - or be cordless. Cordless pressure washers give you unrestricted access but rely on battery power, making them only best suited for light cleaning jobs.
Are electric pressure washers any good?
Electric pressure washers are incredibly versatile and will be your right-hand pal for many jobs, including:
• Cleaning your car
• Cleaning exterior walls of your house
• Cleaning decking and patios
• Washing heavy-duty fabrics like rugs
• Cleaning BBQs and grills
• Brightening up outdoor furniture, wooden and plastic
• Removing old paint
• Removing chewing gum from stone floors
What pressure do I need?
The water pressure is measured in bars or PSI (pounds per square inch) - the higher the bar, the more powerful the pressure washer is. For a light clean, up to 100 bars will do the trick, whilst a medium clean will do well with 110 to 130 bars, typically found on pressure washers for patio and car cleaning. However, if you're working on more intense jobs, need to clean large areas or are looking to clean stone, 130 bars and up would be your best choice.
What to read next:
Description
Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic quickly and easily,
Hannah Mellin is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Modern Gardens, A Modern Kitchen, Yours and Take A Break. She has been working in the Journalism industry for over a decade and has written for an array of brands including John Lewis, Daily Mirror and Grazia. When she's not writing, researching or testing products, she's renovating her Victorian terrace and chilling in the garden with her sausage dog Waffle.