5 Best Pressure Washers for 2024 | Australian Buying Guide

What is a Pressure Washer?

A pressure washer is a water pump that connects to your hosepipe, allowing you to shoot water out of the wand at very high pressure, using about 5 litres of water per minute.

The best models have a pressure gauge so that you can adjust the output to make it more gentle or more powerful, allowing you to clean away different types of stains and dirt without damaging the surface you’re cleaning. 

Electric or Petrol Pressure Washer?

Both options have their pros and cons, but the main difference is in power. Petrol models have the most power, so they are generally preferred for commercial use. However, electric models have plenty of power for everyday household use.

They’re also simple to use, maintenance-free, quieter to operate, and lightweight. If you’re using a corded model, you can extend the range using an outdoor rated extension cord (be careful to keep the connections out of water).

Petrol options are unlimited in their range, but are noisy, emit fumes, and require more maintenance.

What Can You Clean with a High-Pressure Washer?

The main benefit of a pressure washer is the ability to remove stains and grime that soap, water, and elbow grease can’t remove. Here are some of the jobs that a high-pressure washer can be used for.

• Decking, patios, and external walls – Clean moss, dirt, leaves, mould and spills off your decking, balcony garden, exterior walls, and patios. This is especially important if you are preparing your home for painting.
• Driveways, garage floors, pathways, and paving – Oil stains, leaves and dirt can be cleaned off easily, making your driveways and paving look new.
• The barbie – It’s the easiest way to clean oil and residue off your grill, leaving it looking pristine and preventing rust.
• Outdoor furniture – Quickly wash down outdoor furniture to remove dust and spills.
• Cars and boats – Use it for giving your car a professional wash, as well as cleaning trailers, boats, and bicycles. Remember to turn the pressure down when you use it to clean out engines.
• Gutters – Clear away leaves, mould, and dirt out of your home’s gutters and downpipes, making home maintenance easy.

Refer to our guide for more on gutter cleaning and see our reviews of the best gutter cleaners in 2024.

What to Consider When Buying a Pressure Washer

If you’re looking to buy a high-pressure washer, here are some features to consider.

• Pressure – This depends on what you want to use the washer for, although the general rule is that one offering a range of 103-137 bar is sufficient for all household jobs.
  
  For example, if you want to wash cars and boats, 94-137 bar is ideal. For cleaning driveways, concrete, or paving, you’ll want a more powerful 150-190 bar unit. 
  
  
• Hot or cold water– Cold water-only pressure washers don’t have a heating element and draw water straight from your hose. More advanced models can heat the water to around 150 degrees, which can be useful for specific types of stains.
  
  However, most homeowners find that this feature is unnecessary for home use, and it adds the risk of avoiding burning yourself or your plants with the pressure washer. 
  
  
• Pump drive – If you are planning to use your power washer for light to medium household cleaning, it’s best to choose a direct drive unit, as they’re effective and affordable.
  
  For hard cleaning and commercial use, a belt drive model may be better because it’s more durable and longer lasting.
  
  
• Soap dispenser – We recommend that you get a pressure washer with a soap dispenser, as this really does make a big difference with stubborn stains. Just remember to use an environmentally friendly soap when you’re working in the garden so that it doesn’t harm plants and wildlife.

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1. Bosch High Pressure Washer EasyAquatak 120

This 1500W Bosch electric corded pressure washer is a best-seller for good reason. It offers 120 bars of pressure, which is plenty for everyday home use, and weighs just 5.2kgs, so it’s easy to carry or transport.

It comes with a 5-metre cord, a detergent nozzle, and variable power, so you can easily adjust the pressure for different surfaces and cleaning needs.

Made by a leading brand, the base is wide to offer more stability than other models, and the self-priming pump means you’re ready to go as soon as your detergent is loaded, and your machine is plugged in.

2. Karcher K7 2600PSI Compact High Pressure Washer

I love these little K7 pressure washers from Karcher. Like all Karcher pressure washers, the strength is implied by their titles. K7 is more powerful than K6, etc. etc. 

For such a small machine, the 2600 psi is a bit shocking at first and will push you off balance if you’re not expecting it. It’s more than enough to remove algae, mould, moss or mildew from tiles and concrete, and makes light work of washing the car.

In case you can’t tell, we have this exact model at home, and have always had similar Karcher models in the past, so can 100% vouch for the durability, longevity, and performance of these incredible little pressure washers from Karcher.

3. Jet-USA RX470 3100PSI Electric High Pressure Washer Cleaner

This corded electric pressure washer offers a good amount of cleaning power at 214 bar, making it a good option if you want an alternative to a petrol power washer for home or business use.

It can handle very tough dirt and grime easily, including peeling paint and oil. It comes with a variable nozzle that you can adjust for different streams and sprays, and it has a detergent bottle too.

The commercial grade hose means you use about 50% less water than competitors, making it a good water-wise option.

4. WORX Hydroshot Portable Power Cleaner

320 PSI might seem like a low output for a pressure washer, but wait until you see the size of this thing! The WORX Hydroshot is the smaller pressure washer on the market and is entirely powered by batteries. 

It works from buckets, or mains water, so there’s the option to work with no trailing hoses, wires, or pipe at all. If I was on the market for a new pressure washer today, for the car, driveway, or light cleaning, this is 100% the pressure washer I’d go for.

The only downside? The price, as it’s twice the price of pressure washers with at least twice the power. But, let’s be honest, this isn’t about power, it is about convenience and the WORX Hydroshot has that in abundance.

5. Bosch UniversalAquatak 135 High Pressure Washer

Another good option for home use is this corded electric model from Bosch. Featuring the new 3-in-1 nozzle, this power washer has spray, fan, and pencil jet cleaning options along with a high-pressure detergent dispenser for fast cleaning of stubborn dirt.

It has a 135-bar pump, which is plenty of pressure for most home uses, including washing fences and walls, cleaning cars and boats, and washing down patios.

The big wheels provide good stability, and it needs no assembly – just plug it in, load your soap and start cleaning.

Our pick as the best pressure washer for home use is the Bosch High Pressure Washer EasyAquatak 120! It’s corded electric, so it’s quiet, eco-friendly, and maintenance-free.

The wide base keeps it stable and easy to store, and it has plenty of storage for all the accessories that come with it. Supplying 120 bar, this model is ideal for home cleaning, from washing cars and boats to cleaning walls, flooring, and patio furniture.

Bosch is a well-known brand for quality and performance, so it’s built to last – and it isn’t too heavy to move around either!

The Karcher K7 2600PSI Compact High Pressure Washer is a truly wonderful tool. As one of the world’s best-selling pressure washers, you don’t even need to trust me, you can probably ask a neighbour or friend what they think because chances are, you already know someone with a tool from the Karcher K7 range.

Karcher is, and has always, been the world’s leading brand for DIY pressure washing, but recent years have seen them dramatically improve the pressure ratings in their standard machines, so even these smaller tools outcompete most petrol pressure washers from a decade ago.

If you’ve not used a pressure washer for a while, K7 is a great way to return to this surprisingly fun way of washing your home and garden without completely breaking the bank.

We trust Kärcher so much, we made a review of Karcher pressure washers solely made by them.

Safety Tips for Using Your Pressure Washer

Always wear safety gear while using your pressure washer. This includes safety goggles, ear protection (for petrol engines) and closed shoes with a good grip. 

The jet of water is highly pressurised and can easily injure a person or pet, so keep them out of your work area and never point it at anyone under any circumstances. As fun as they are to use, they can also cause serious injury.

If your job at hand is too big or dangerous, like cleaning the outside of your whole housse you can always hire an expert cleaner who can do the job quickly and effectively. 

Pressure Washer Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best pressure washer to buy?

Any pressure washer that can boast of being compact, and powerful, is worth investing in. Karcher is the best-known manufacturer of budget-friendly pressure washers, and the best one you can find right now is the Karcher K2-K7 range.

What’s the best pressure washer PSI for home use?

Any pressure washer worth buying should have an absolute minimum of 1600psi, but for concrete and stone with any porous properties, 2000psi or more is a must for effective cleaning.

For cleaning cars and windows, aim for lower psi machines, or turn down the pressure on high-powered machines to between 1600 and 1900 psi.

What kind of pressure washer do I need to start a business?

Most domestic pressure washers range from 300 psi to 3000 psi, so if you’re thinking of starting a cleaning business, you’ll need something with a bit more oomph, like the 3600psi Simpsons Cleaning pressure washer, fitted out with a high-powered Honda engine.

What’s the best psi pressure washer for a car?

Pressure washers make cleaning cars and vehicles incredibly easy, but it’s important not to over-stretch with high-pressure machines which can remove paint, and even dent car bodywork.

Anything over 2000psi is too much for cars, and anything below 1600psi is unlikely to shift the worst of the dirt.

Can you use pressure washers without soap?

Most pressure washers work perfectly well without soap, even if they have detergent compartments built in. That said, soap does help to remove oily dirt much more effectively, and prevents recurrence.

Can pressure washing damage concrete?

Old concrete can be damaged by pressure washing, so be careful with any pressure washers over 2000psi when cleaning driveways.

Newly laid concrete or uncracked flooring should be fine with most pressures, but if cracks are appearing or any substrate has become loose, pressure washers can exacerbate the problem.

Is it worth getting a pressure washer?

Pressure washers are well worth investing in. They are designed for convenience, and considering the costs of having your patios professionally cleaned, it's often much cheaper to invest in your own pressure washer, so you can clean up the garden, car, or house anytime you need to.

What is a good PSI to clean a driveway?

Seriously worked in dirt and grime will need a pressure washer with 2500 or 3000 psi (or more) to really shift that gritty mess. Any pressure washer over 600 psi will clean a driveway, but it will take longer and more passes to get the perfect finish.

What is the most common problem with pressure washers?

Pressure washers all tend to suffer from the same problem, and it’s really cheap to fix. If you’ve noticed dropping pressure, or leaks at the end or the start of the hose, take the nozzles apart and unscrew the hose to check the o-ring for cracks or general wear and tear.

For literal pennies, you can pick up a new o-ring from any DIY store and your pressure washer will be as good as new.

What should you not do with a pressure washer?

Pressure washers are great multipurpose cleaning tools, but there are a few things not to do, to save yourself big headaches! Never wash asphalt shingles or asphalt roofs, as the pressure can damage the grains that bind together to protect the roof.

Pressure washers can also remove wood stain, lead paint, old mortar, and damaged vehicles and windows with high pressures.