If you’re fond of buying second hand cars, then you’ll know the importance of owning a pressure washer. Not only do these speed up car cleaning immeasurably by powering through dirt and grime, but they can be used to apply products such as snow foam.
Plus, regular use can actually help extend the life of your car, especially in winter where salt and corrosive road slime needs to be cleaned off before it can have a negative effect.
That’s before we even get on to the multitude of alternate, non-motoring uses for a pressure washer. You can wash garden furniture, spritz down your patio, or even clean windows.
If you’re looking for a decent pressure washer but your budget is limited, then not to fear – there are some really brilliant options available at the lower end of the market.
We’ve rounded up some of the best below.
Best budget pressure washers
Bosch EasyAquatak 120
Price: Around £110
This may not be the cheapest pressure washer here, but it’s still a good price and for the money, it ticks an awful lot of boxes. It’s powerful, compact and light, which can be gold for a cheap pressure washer. We also love the accessories it comes with – including a patio cleaner, a wash brush and a high-pressure nozzle for dispensing detergent. The adjustable nozzle allows you to choose anything from a gentle rinse to a razor-sharp blaster for removing stubborn dirt. It doesn’t have any wheels but it’s so light that moving it around is easy.
Karcher Pressure Washer K2
Price: Around £72
A useful cost-saving option over our winning Bosch makes this dinky machine great value. It’s slightly less powerful, but still delivers impressive performance for such a small machine. Weighing in at just 3.7kg and with ergonomic handles, it’s a doddle to move it around while working and even easier to store. You don’t get many bells and whistles for the price, but you do get a variable spray lance and dirt blaster which provide a fair degree of versatility.
Ryobi RY120PWA Pressure Washer
Price: Around £115
This beast has a powerful 1600W motor, providing 120 bar of pressure and a maximum flow rate of 420 litres per hour. This means it’s well equipped to tackle the very filthiest vehicles as well as tough tasks around the home and garden. The included 0.9-litre detergent tank can be accessed from the spray wand and makes dispensing product really easy. Though it’s not a very light machine, it does come on wheels so manoeuvring is easy, and the flexible steel-braided hose is hardwearing and kink-resistant.
Nilfisk C 110 bar Pressure Washer
Price: Around £95
This requires some assembly when it’s delivered but it shouldn’t be too onerous a process. This powerful Nilfisk has a maximum pressure of 110 bar and an impressive flow rate of 440 litres per hour. Combined with the included spray lance, two nozzles and detergent bottle attachment it should give even the toughest grime a run for its money. And usefully, you can store all the accessories on the body when they’re not in use.
