Last updated on June 10th, 2021
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Pressure washers are amazing machines and can be used for cleaning just about anything outside your home. Whether you are giving your patio or driveway a new lease of life, or simply want to clean your bikes, garden furniture or your car, then a good reliable jet wash will make light work of cleaning them.
With lots of pressure washers on the market, ranging from £90 for entry models to well over £500 for more advanced models, it can be difficult to decide which model is right for you.
Our full buyer’s guide has been designed to help you decide which model is right for you, as well as what to look out for in a good pressure washer.
Below is the winner of our ‘Top Pick Award’, the Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer which is the best pressure washer for most homeowners as it’s perfect for both smaller and larger cleaning jobs and can be used for everything from cleaning a large patio to cleaning the garden furniture.
BEST PICK
The Best Pressure Washers which have been included in our review
1. Karcher K4 Pressure Washer – BEST PICK
2. Karcher K7 Pressure Washer – PREMIUM PICK
3. Nilfisk E140 Pressure Washer
4. Bosch 37-13 Pressure Washer
5. Karcher K2 Pressure Washer – BEST BUDGET MODEL
6. Nilfisk C120 6-6 Pressure Washer – BEST VALUE PICK
Be sure to read our full guide after the reviews to learn more about the features available and how to decide which pressure washer would be suitable for your own needs.
Which pressure washer is right for you?
Many people think that the best pressure washers are those that have the best pressure and in general, are the most expensive.
This can be an expensive mistake and is simply not always the case. In reality, it all depends on what you actually want to clean, how often you intend to use it and of course, your budget.
A good example of this is, if you just want to clean a small car, some garden furniture, maybe a small patio or path, then a small compact, an entry-level model such as the Karcher K2 would be up to the job and stand you at just over £100.
However, if you have a large drive, garden walls and patio areas to clean, then a more robust model such as the Nilfisk E140 3-9 Xtra which has more pressure and a longer hose, would be a much better option.
PRESSURE WASHER REVIEWS
1. Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer
BEST PICK
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer is designed with home cleaning in mind. Karcher manufactures several different models of pressure washer, all varying slightly and this model sits right in the middle in terms of both performance and price.
It has all the great features of the more expensive jet washers and still has enough power for cleaning even the dirtiest patio areas or cars. All this while still offering excellent value for money for the standard set which includes everything you need to clean around the home.
- Perfect for cleaning all around the home from dirty weathered patio areas to keeping your car clean and even cleaning garage doors.
- Patented full control vario lance with 3 pressure setting plus soap setting and separate dirt blaster lance for removing stubborn dirt.
- Features a LED display on the lance so you can easily check that the correct power setting is selected for the job at hand.
- Unique Karcher ‘Plug n Clean Detergent System’ ensures the detergent can be replaced quickly with little effort.
- Onboard storage for hose, lances and accessories.
- A stable design with high impact wheels and telescopic handle for easy mobility and storage.
- Choose the ‘Optional Premium K4’ (At an extra cost) which has an integrated hose reel. (More on this on the review below)
- 3 Years warranty for full peace of mind should anything go wrong.
K4 Home Pressure Washer VS K4 Premium
Before I go over all features of the K4 Pressure Washer, it IS important to note that there are two versions of the ‘K4 Pressure washer’ available. There is the standard K4 model which we are reviewing directly here. However, there is also a more expensive version called the ‘K4 Premium’. This premium model looks the same, the only difference between the two versions is that the more expensive ‘K4 Premium’ has an integrated hose reel whereas the standard model has a hook for you manually loop the hose around.
You can expect to pay a premium price for the integrated hose reel model. We think that it is a fantastic additional feature that makes organising the hose much easier, however, the hose reel is not essential for the use of the pressure washer. It really depends on whether this is a feature you want and whether you consider it worth the extra investment.
The Karcher K4 Home Pressure Washer is very made from quality materials (as you would expect from a manufacturer such as Karcher) and it is extremely stable thanks to the upgraded stability foot plate at the base of the pressure washer. This means you will be unlikely to accidentally pull the pressure washer over. This can be a problem with some models so its nice to see this model has overcome the problem and put some thought into it.
Designed for home use, it comes with two lance types. Firstly, there is a dirt busting lance that produces a rotating point jet to remove stubborn dirt with ease and secondly, it includes a standard vario lance which means that by simply twisting the barrel, you can set it to your desired pressure, ranging from a light spray to a powerful jet making it ideal for whichever job you have planned.
The full control spray gun has an innovative LED display (2 x AAA batteries required which are included) which instantly tells you what pressure you have it set to. This is a nice feature but I rather think it’s more of a gimmick and offers no real advantage, however it is a nice little feature.
Another unique feature not seen on most other models from other manufacturers is what Karcher call the ‘Plug n Clean Detergent System’. This is a nice idea and turns out to be a great feature.
You can buy a Karcher 1L detergent from Amazon, of which there are a few different types available depending on what type of surface your cleaning. They come in a nice little bottle and you simply insert, twist and it is ready to use. The containers can be refilled which makes it fairly inexpensive as larger containers of the cleaning detergent can be purchased at very good prices.
When it comes to moving the K4 pressure washer around, this has also been thought about carefully within the design.
It has two larger impact wheels and an aluminium telescopic handle. Moving it around is super easy thanks to the telescopic handle. This also folds down to make it more compact for storage. The onboard storage holds all the lances, hoses and accessories and this ensures they are all easily accessible as well as making it easy to store.
What we also like, is the way the lance and hose can all be stored neatly on the pressure washer during breaks, keeping the area neat and tidy. On smaller models you often have to leave the lance on the floor with trailing hose behind making it a trip possible hazard..
The optional T350 T-Racer Surface Cleaner also worth considering
The Karcher K4 Pressure Washer can be purchased with or without the T350 T-Racer Surface Cleaner. This is a fantastic attachment that makes cleaning exterior surfaces quick, efficient and what is probably, the best advantage, spray free. It’s perfect for cleaning everything from patio areas to wooden decking. However, where it really comes into its own is when it is used to clean vertical surfaces such as garage doors and walls. This has been made easier due to the integrated handle.
For the extra few pounds we think it really is worth investing in this extra attachment.
Another feature this model does have is water suction. This means it can be connected to a water butt instead of the usual garden tap as it does not need pressure unlike most other cheaper models such as the K2. This could be a useful feature for homeowners who collect water and have water butts.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 130 bar (20 bar more than the smaller K2)
- Motor: 1800 watt
- Max Flow Rate: 420 l/hr
- Square meters per hour cleaned: 30 (Extra 10 meters more than the K2)
- Hose Length: 6 meters
- Cord Length: 5 meters
- Motor Type: Water-cooled
- Water suction: Yes (This means it can be connected to water butts etc with no pressure)
- Weight: 11kg
Negative points – Overall, I could not really find any real negative points that affect the direct performance of the jet wash. One negative point which I feel could be improved is the length of the hose which the K4 comes with. At 6 meters, if you are cleaning a normal-sized car or smaller patio areas it will be adequate. However, if you’re cleaning a larger patio area you will find yourself moving the pressure washer unit around more often than you would like. It would be much better fitted with an 8 or 10-meter hose like the larger K5 and K7 models come with. However, this would obviously make it more expensive.
Our recommendation
The Karcher K4 Pressure Washer is one of the best pressure washers we have ever reviewed and it is one of the most popular models on Amazon.co.uk within its price range.
We really like the vario lance which the cheaper models do not come with and this, combined with the high 130 bar pressure means it’s perfect for most home jobs.
Although the K4 is nearly double the price of the cheaper K2 model (reviewed below) it is also half the price of the more expensive K7 model. For this reason, it still offers excellent value for money. It’s also good to see a lengthy 3-year warranty included for extra peace of mind.
After looking into lots of different models we feel the Karcher K4 is the best pressure washer for most homeowners as it’s big enough for larger jobs with plenty of power while still be compact enough to store easily.
If you want the T350 T-Racer Surface Cleaner (Amazon link) which we really like, it’s worth noting that if you purchase it with the pressure washer as a set it is much cheaper than purchasing it separately at a later date. We found it costs nearly three times more if you purchase it separately.
2. Karcher K7 Premium Full Control Pressure Washer
PREMIUM PICK
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Karcher K7 Premium Pressure Washer is the largest electric home pressure washer from the Karcher range. It has all the cleaning power you need and will clean a very impressive 60 square meters per hour, double that of our ‘Best Pick’ the Karcher K4.
Everything about the K7 is bigger and better! A higher max bar rating means more pressure, a very impressive max flow rate of 600 litres an hour, the longest hose of any model at a very generous 10 meters and an integrated hose reel as standard.
As you would expect, it is perfect for cleaning everything from large patios areas and driveways to stone and brick garden walls. Despite its power, it is also still perfect for cleaning garden furniture, bikes and cars. Whatever you want to clean, the K7 is the perfect candidate and will get the job done.
- Comes ready to use straight out of the box, no assembly required.
- Full control vario lance means you simply twist the nozzle to select the correct pressure for the surface being cleaned.
- The LED display on the handle trigger means you can easily check what pressure setting has been selected and can be used as a guide of what setting to choose depending on what is being cleaned using the symbols on the display.
- Plug n Clean Detergent System ensures detergent can be replaced quickly with little effort.
- The redesigned hose guide and integrated hose reel make using the hose effortless and much easier to put away.
- All lances and accessories are stored on the unit so everything is always to hand.
- A low centre of gravity and larger footplate increases stability and the high impact wheels and a telescopic handle ensure it is easy to move around and store.
- Comes with a T450 T Racer Surface Cleaner which makes cleaning patios up to five times faster.
- Market-leading 5 year warranty for full peace of mind.
Like all Karcher models, the K7 is extremely stable thanks to its redesigned hose guide, low centre of gravity and larger footplate. This helps prevent it from being accidentally pulled over during use.
The K7 comes with Karcher’s patented lance technology. This includes two lance types, firstly, there is a dirt busting lance that produces a powerful rotating point jet that removes stubborn dirt with ease and is also fantastic for using on weathered floors. The second lance included is the adjustable Vario lance. Simply twist the barrel and you can set the pressure you desire, ranging from a fine spray to a powerful jet depending on the job at hand.
The full control spray gun has an innovative LED display that requires 2 x AAA batteries which Karcher have kindly included. The LED display instantly tells you what pressure you have it set to and can be used to help you choose what setting to select for the job at hand.
Another unique feature not often seen on different models from other manufacturers is what Karcher call the ‘Plug n Clean Detergent System’. This is a nice idea and turns out to be a great feature.
You can buy a Karcher 1L detergent from Amazon. There are different types of detergent available to choose from depending on what you are cleaning. They come in a nice little bottle and you simply insert, twist and it is ready to use. They can be refilled which makes it fairly inexpensive as larger containers of the cleaning detergent can be purchased at good prices when you need a top up.
When it comes to moving the larger and of course, naturally heavier, K7 pressure washer around, it has been made much easier thanks to its trolley style featuring a two-wheeled design and a telescopic aluminium handle.
The telescopic handle folds down and the onboard storage holds the lance on the front of the unit and the hose winds onto the built-in hose reel. All the accessories and nozzles also fit neatly onto the unit. This ensures everything you need is easily accessible, as well as making it easy to store.
Includes the T450 T-Racer Surface Cleaner
The Karcher K7 also comes with the T450 T-Racer Surface Cleaner, this is designed for cleaning a wide range of outdoor surfaces quickly, efficiently and spray free. Thanks to the built-in handles it can also be used for cleaning vertical surfaces such as garage doors.
The K7 can also be connected to a water butt instead of a water tap as it does have suction. This feature could be useful for homeowners who collect and recycle water.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 160 bar
- Motor: 2800 watt
- Max Flow Rate: 600 l/hr
- Square meters per hour cleaned: 60
- Hose Length: 10 meters (Integrated Hose Reel)
- Cord Length: 5 meters
- Motor Type: Water-cooled
- Water suction: Yes (This means it can be connected to water butts etc with no pressure)
- Weight: 18kg
Our recommendation
The Karcher K7 Pressure Washer is an amazing machine and for those who have a larger budget and are in need of a more powerful machine, the K7 is a match made in heaven.
When you consider the performance of the K7 and its excellent features, as well as the 450 T-Racer Patio Cleaner attachment it comes with we feel that it still offers good value for money. It comes with an impressive 5-year warranty which is much longer than most other models on the market as most only come with 3 years warranty.
Another big advantage is the built-in hose reel and longer 10-meter hose which is long enough for even the biggest of driveways.
If the K7 is within your budget, you are sure to be very impressed with the K7 Pressure Washer and will not be disappointed with your purchase.
3. Nilfisk E 140.3-9 X-Tra Pressure Washer
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Nilfisk has come a long way since launching the first domestic jet washer in 1985. They probably have more experience in manufacturing pressure washers than any other company and are used by professionals around the world.
The Nilfisk E140 3-9 Xtra pressure washer has been designed for cleaning large areas and heavy-duty cleaning jobs. It’s perfect for cleaning everything from patios to drives, garden furniture, bikes, paths, as well as cars. Anything you want to clean this pressure washer is simply up to the job.
It is manufactured from recycled robust plastic that protects the inner workings from dirt as well as protecting it from getting damaged under heavy use.
- Robust construction – Ideal for large areas and heavy-duty use.
- Perfect for cleaning everything from patios to walls, garden furniture and your car.
- Comes with two nozzles (Tornado with pressure regulator & Powerspeed nozzle) as well as a foam bottle for applying detergent.
- A Long 9-meter anti-kink hose is stored on the easy wind storage reel.
- Onboard storage for hose, lances and all accessories means everything is always to hand.
- A stable design with large wheels and telescopic handle for easy mobility and storage.
- 2 years warranty for full peace of mind.
The powerful 2100 watt air-cooled induction motor ensures it has all the power needed and the lightweight aluminium pump ensure reliable high performance when cleaning.
Being designed for larger areas, it features a long high-quality 9-meter (soft feel and anti-kink) hose that can be stored on an easy wind storage reel located at the top of the pressure washer unit. It also features quick coupling fixing and this means the hose connections simply click into the ergonomic spray handle and can be disconnected at the click of a button. The anti-twist swivel function on the connections also ensures the hose is easy to deal with and helps to avoid twisting when in use.
As well as having a bayonet connection in the spray lance handle which has a 360° rotation, the lance also features a low-pressure nozzle for flushing away dirt and debris.
To ensure it is easy to change between nozzles, they simply click into the end of the lance and can be quickly and easily released at the click of a button. The two nozzles included are the tornado nozzle with a pressure regulator (which produces a fan jet for general cleaning and rinsing) and the power speed nozzle that has been designed for cleaning stains and dirt.
Finally, it also comes with a foam bottle to which you can add detergent that connects to the end of the lance.
To ensure it is safe and easy to move around, the Nilfisk E140 X-tra has two large wheels and a telescopic handle of which you can also adjust the height to suit you.
It also has a long 9-meter power cord which is fitted with a fused 3 pin plug and can be hooked around the specially designed hook. The lance, nozzles and foam bottle all fit onto the main unit securely for easy storage and to keep everything within easy reach.
Another feature this model does have is water suction. This means it can be connected to a water butt, this could be a useful feature for homeowners who collect and recycle water. Please note that the tap outlet needs to be is 0.5 metres above the washer feed.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 140 bar (10 bar more than our ‘BEST PICK’ the K4)
- Motor: 2100 watt
- Max Flow Rate: 500 l/hr
- Hose Length: 9 meters
- Cord Length: 9 meters
- Dimensions: 345 x 395 x 900mm
- Motor Type: Air-cooled induction motor
- Water suction: Yes (This means it can be connected to a water butt)
- Weight: 18.6kg
Negative points – The only feature this pressure washer does lack is a built-in detergent tank, it does come with the foam bottle which does a similar job but we feel an integrated detergent tank would be a good edition although this is probably a personal preference.
Our recommendation
The Nilfisk E140 3-9 Xtra pressure washer is an amazing pressure washer for home use and is incredibly powerful. By this, I suspect it could strip paint so be very careful if you are planning on using it to clean your car near any weak spots of rust or paint chips as it could strip the paint off.
If you do plan on using it for cleaning your car or anything else which is painted, I would strongly recommend also purchasing the Nilfisk Auto Nozzle as it is a specially designed nozzle that reduces pressure to protect paintwork.
Overall the build quality and performance are very impressive and having a long 9 meter power cable and a 9-meter hose means it is perfect for anyone cleaning larger areas.
It is noticeably more powerful than our ‘Best Pick’ the Karcher K4 but is also more expensive. This pressure washer is also one of the best rated pressure washers on Amazon.co.uk with fantastic customer reviews.
4. Karcher K2 Premium Pressure Washer
BEST BUDGET MODEL
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The new Karcher K2 Premium Home Pressure Washer is a small, compact and lightweight pressure washer. Thanks to its powerful 1400 watt air-cooled motor it produces a pressure bar of 110 (only 10 bar less than the K4).
It is perfect for all of those cleaning tasks outside the home, for example, cleaning patios, walls, plastic and wooden garden furniture, bikes, decking and of course cars.
Unlike most other budget pressure washers, the Karcher K2 Premium comes with two wheels and a tall handle that makes moving it around easy.
It also features a pressure switch control that stops and starts the motor. This means it is not powered and drawing water through the system until the trigger is pressed and this helps to protect the motor and pump life.
- Small, lightweight compact design, perfect for cleaning patios, decking, bikes and cars.
- Features a vario lance so you can alter the pressure from low to high to suit the job at hand.
- Dirtblaster lance which provides up to 50% more cleaning power, perfect for removing stubborn dirt and algae.
- An automatic motor only runs when the trigger is pressed.
- The built-in detergent tank makes cleaning with detergent easy.
- Onboard storage for hose, lances and accessories.
- Fitted wheels and tall handle for easy mobility.
- 2 Years warranty for full peace of mind.
The K2 pressure washer comes with two different lance types included. The first is a vario lance where you can change the pressure setting by simply twisting the barrel on the lance from a low-pressure setting, (which is perfect for applying detergent when needed for extra cleaning power) to a high-pressure setting for power washing. Also included is the dirt busting lance which is perfect for cleaning stone and patio areas. The dirt busting nozzle produces a rotating pencil jet which removes stubborn dirt with ease and has proved to have 50% greater cleaning power.
The K2 Premium (unlike most other budget models) comes with a built-in detergent tank as opposed to having a suction tube which you usually insert into a separate container. Simply fill the detergent tank, located on the back of the unit, with your chosen detergent. When you use the pressure washer on a low setting, it automatically draws in the detergent so you can apply detergent through the lance onto your chosen surface.
To ensure all the lances and cables can be stored neatly and together, they can all be stored directly on the unit which makes storing that little bit easier.
T150 Patio Cleaner which makes cleaning patios easy
The Karcher K2 Home Package Pressure Washer which we reviewed here, also comes with a T150 Patio Cleaner. This makes cleaning exterior surfaces such as patios and decking spray free. It has an increased cleaning power thanks to its two rotating flat jet nozzles.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 110 bar
- Max Flow Rate: 360 l/hr
- Square meters per hour cleaned: 20
- Hoze Length: 4 meters
- Motor Type: Air Cooled
- Water suction: No
- Weight: 8kg
Negative points – As a small jet wash for cleaning around the home the K2 is perfect, however, it does lack the power of the larger models and the 4-meter cable could do with being longer as you find yourself constantly moving the unit if cleaning a larger patio area, van or larger car.
Our recommendation
As a budget or entry-level pressure washer, we really like the Karcher K2. It is extremely lightweight, compact, easy to store as well as having plenty of power for most domestic cleaning tasks around the home.
If you have a small patio area to clean or want to clean the garden furniture, bikes or small cars, than the K2 will do the job just fine.
5. Nilfisk C120 6-6 PCAD X-Tra Pressure Washer
BEST VALUE PICK
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Nilfisk C120 6-6 PCAD pressure washer has been specially designed for the home user who is looking for an affordable jet wash for tackling a range of cleaning jobs that range from cleaning the patio or driveway, refreshing garden furniture, washing the car to even cleaning drains.
Just like all Nilfisk pressure washers, it’s manufactured from recycled robust plastic which protects the inner working from dirt, as well as protecting it from getting damaged.
- Ideal for home use and includes lots of accessories such as a patio cleaner, brush attachment, two nozzles, foam bottle and an 8-meter drain and tube cleaner.
- Comes with a ‘Tornado nozzle’ which you can twist and change pressure and a ‘Powerspeed nozzle’ for cleaning stubborn stains.
- A long 6-meter high-pressure hose and 6-meter power cable ensure you have plenty of reach.
- Onboard storage for hose, lances and accessories.
- Lightweight, compact stable design with wheels and handle for easy mobility and storage.
- 2 Years warranty for full peace of mind.
The lightweight and compact design ensure this pressure washer is easy to move around when cleaning as well as being easy to store.
Powered by a 1400 watt universal air-cooled motor ensures it has all the power needed and just like the more expensive and professional models, it has a lightweight aluminium pump which ensures it is reliable and delivers an outstanding performance.
Perfect for small and medium-sized areas, it features a 6-meter anti-kink hose that has quick coupling fixing and this means that the hose connections simply click into the spray handle and can be disconnected at the click of a button.
Changing the nozzles is super easy. Simply click into the end of the lance and release by pressing the quick release button. The two nozzles included are a tornado nozzle which produces a fan jet for general cleaning and rinsing, the pressure can also be changed. The second Powerspeed nozzle is designed for cleaning stubborn stains and dirt.
Finally, it also comes with a foaming bottle to which you can add detergent that connects to the end of the lance, it is perfecting for covering patio surfaces and cars with detergent.
It features two wheels and a fixed handle which makes moving the unit around very easy, especially when it is compared to models without wheels.
The lance, nozzles and foam bottle all securely fit onto the main unit for easy storage and to keep everything within easy reach. The power cable and hose also wrap around the unit for easy storage.
Another feature this model does have is water suction. This means it can be connected to a water butt. This could be a useful feature for homeowners who collect and recycle water and like to do their part in helping protect the environment. Please note the tap outlet needs to be is 0.5 metres above the washer feed.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 120 bar
- Working Bar pressure: 85 bar
- Motor: 1800 watt
- Max Flow Rate: 440 l/hr
- Hose Length: 6 meters
- Cord Length: 6 meters
- Dimensions: 251 x 306 x 710mm
- Motor Type: Universal Air-cooled motor
- Water suction: Yes (This means it can be connected to a water butt)
- Weight: 6.7kg
Negative points – It is a nice little pressure washer, however the way the power cord and hose wrap around the top of the unit is a little untidy and could be better designed. The pressure may be a little low for some people depending on what you want to use it for.
Our recommendation
The Nilfisk C120 6-6 PCAD Pressure Washer is comparable to the K2 Pressure Washer by Karcher. Both models are excellent for anyone looking for a budget model.
This Nilfisk model is probably the slightly better option as it comes with more accessories including the brush attachment which most people would probably use, whereas the patio cleaner and the drain cleaner most people probably wouldn’t use.
The hose is 2 meters longer and seems better quality than the Karcher hose (more flexible) However the Karcher adjustable nozzles seem better.
The Nilfisk pressure washer will cost you slightly more but if you want a longer hose the Nilfisk is probably the better option between the two pressure washers. If you’re cleaning a small patio or your car, I’d recommend the Karcher K2 which is slightly cheaper.
6. Bosch AQT 37-13 Plus Pressure Washer
Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Bosch AQT 37-13 Plus Pressure Washer is probably one of the most popular pressure washers that Bosch manufacture and it is perfect for cleaning everything from patios, driveways and garden furniture to bikes and cars. It’s designed to be ‘ready to use’, straight out of the box with no assembly required. Simply connect the hose, fold the handle, click the lance into place and you are ready to go. It really is so easy to set up that it can be done in under 26 seconds.
If however, you do need to move it around when cleaning, this is made much easier with the fold-down handle and large wheels. The fold-down handle combined with the compact and lightweight design ensures that this pressure washer is easy to store in smaller spaces.
- Ideal for home use and includes lots of accessories such as a patio cleaner, brush attachment, two nozzles, foam bottle and 8-meter drain and tube cleaner.
- Comes with a Tornado nozzle which you can twist and change pressure setting and a Powerspeed nozzle for cleaning stubborn stains.
- A long 6-meter high-pressure hose and 6-meter power cable ensure you have plenty of reach.
- Onboard storage for hose, lances and accessories.
- Lightweight and compact, stable design with fixed wheels and fold down handle for better mobility and storage.
- 2 Years warranty for full peace of mind.
The Bosch AQT 37/13 is powered by a powerful 1700 watt motor which gives an impressive water output of 370 litres per hour and a max pressure rating of 130 bar, this ensures it has all the cleaning power needed for jobs around the home.
It is perfect for smaller and medium-sized gardens and the generous 6 meters, anti-kink hose (with its quick-connect SDS fittings) means the hose connections simply click into the spray handle and pressure washer and can be disconnected when you’ve finished by simply clicking the release button.
This model comes with a nice selection of accessories. It has a 3 in 1 spray nozzle which produces a powerful spray fan, a detergent setting for the application of detergent to a range of surfaces and it also comes with a brush attachment that is perfect for cleaning the car.
Another useful attachment included with the Bosch pressure washer is the 90-degree nozzle, this makes cleaning awkward places such as under wheel arches much easier.
An additional great accessory that is included with this pressure washer is the patio cleaner attachment. This makes cleaning patios and the driveway a much faster and easier job.
All these brilliant attachments mean that this model is a true all-in-one pressure washer that is ready for tackling any cleaning jobs around the outside of your home.
Important specifications
- Max Bar Pressure: 130 bar
- Working Bar pressure: 85 bar
- Motor: 1700 watt
- Max Flow Rate: 370 l/hr
- Hose Length: 6 meters
- Water suction: Yes (This means it can be connected to a water butt)
- Weight: 6.5kg
Negative points – Overall it is fairly well built with no major problems. However, the plastic connections don’t seem as good quality as used on other models from other manufacturers. I did notice that customers on the internet who have highlighted these issues have commented on the quality of the anti-kink hose which is included. We do agree that there are much better hoses on the market, however we also think that the hose supplied with it is more than suitable.
Our recommendation
The Bosch AQT 37-13 Plus Pressure Washer is comparable to the K2 Pressure Washer by Karcher and the Nilfisk C120 6-6 PCAD Pressure Washer.
We think that Bosch could do much better with this jet wash, if we were to recommend a model in the same price range the Nilfisk C120 6-6 PCAD Pressure Washer would come out on top every time, it is more powerful and the hose seems to be of better quality.
The Bosch model is not too bad, it just isn’t up there with the best. One plus side it does have is that it comes with a 2 years warranty which is extended to 3 years by registering it online. The Nilfisk and Karcher only come with 2 years warranty.
The Pressure Washer Guide
What you need to know and what to take into consideration when buying a pressure washer
Many modern pressure washers now have lots of brilliant features such as integrated detergent tanks, multi-change nozzles, built-in hose reels, anti-twist coupling, auto stop/start pumps and even LED displays, the list goes on and on. Different models also have different specifications such as different bar pressures, flow rates, different motor wattages etc.
Below we go over what all these features and specifications are for, and what to look out for when purchasing a brand new jet wash.
- Pressure rating (bar) – The pressure of which the water comes out of the lance is perhaps the most important point to take into consideration. Entry-level pressure washers tend to be between 110 bar and 120 bar. This is is fine for jetting down bikes, cleaning off the BBQ, cleaning garden furniture and even cleaning the car and a small patio. However, if you plan on cleaning larger patios and driveways, you would be better going a step up and looking at models that have a bar rating of at least 130-140. The biggest electric models have a pressure rating of around 160 bar for heavy-duty cleaning jobs and larger gardens.
- Max Flow Rate measured in l/hr – All pressure washers have a max flow rate that is measured in litres per hour. This is simply the amount of water that passes through the lance each hour. In general, the higher the flow rate, the more quickly you can clean something.
- Motor size and type – The motor size is measured in watts, the higher the wattage, the more powerful the pressure washer is. Entry-level models tend to be around 1400 watt with larger models being between 1700 watts and 2800 watts. There are two types of models, air-cooled and water-cooled. Water-cooled engines are generally better engines but are usually only fitted to more expensive models.
- Detergent application type – All the models that have made it onto our guide can be used with detergent. However, some are easier you use than overs when applying detergent. Most entry-level models have a simple tube you insert into a separate container with the detergent in. The problem with this, when you move the pressure washer during cleaning, you also need to move the container with the detergent in at the same time. This means the container can get knocked over by the hose if you aren’t careful which is very frustrating. To overcome this problem, some models have an integrated detergent tank that you fill with detergent. When you use the lance on a low setting, it applies the detergent. Some models including most Nilfisk ones have a spray bottle you connect to the lance and fill with detergent. Integrated detergent tanks seem to be the best option such as them fitted to most Karcher models.
- Hose Length & Integrated Reels – In general, entry-level models have smaller hoses of around 4 meters long. Mid-range to higher-end models have hoses anywhere from 6 meters up to around 10 meters. The longer the hose, the better, as you don’t need to move the pressure washer unit around as much. The quality of the hose is also a major concern, quality hoses are kink resistant and have good quality quick connect fixing.
- Nozzles and other Accessories – Some models come with a set nozzle of which the spray cannot be changed. However, some models, such as Karcher ones come with a vario nozzle which has the ability to change the pressure setting directly on the nozzle by twisting a barrel. Some pressure washers also come with a patio cleaner attachment which means you can clean patios and driveways up to 5 times faster as well as reducing spray. Some models can even be used to clean vertical areas such as garage doors which is a handy feature. There are also lots of other accessories which some models come with, these include brushes, 90-degree nozzles for spraying under car arches, and some even come with drainer cleaners. It is worth noting that it is often much cheaper to buy pressure washers that include lots of accessories as they are often much cheaper purchased as a set than to buy them separately afterwards.
- Warranty Length – This of course needs to be considered, most entry-level models come with a 2-year warranty and some models, (such as those by Bosch) will extend it to 3 years just for registering your pressure washer online. Most mid-range models come with a 3-year warranty and top spec models such as the Karcher K7 come with a 5-year warranty.
Final Conclusion
Deciding which is the best pressure washer is no easy task, even after many hours of research, we really did struggle to find a clear winner.
As we have previously mentioned, it really does depend on what you intend to use your pressure washer to clean and how often you intend to use it.
If there is one model we think would be suitable for nearly every situation it would have to be either the Karcher K4 Pressure Washer or Nilfisk E140 3-9 Washer.
The Karcher K4 is the winner of our ‘Best Pick’ and it is a real home designed machine. Very easy to use, a powerful, patented vario lance, an easy plug-in detergent system and all from a brand that homeowners have come to know and trust. Also included is a 3 year warranty.
The Nilfisk E140 3-9 Pressure Washer is more of a professional design, comes with a much longer hose, an integrated reel and is slightly more powerful. However, you do pay more for the extra power and extra hose length. It comes with 2 years warranty and not 3 like the Karcher model.
If you are looking for a cheaper model for cleaning smaller patios or driveways, bikes and your car, then the Karcher K2 is fantastic.
In truth, we are happy with all the models we have reviewed as they each have their own unique advantages.
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Last update on 2024-10-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
