Recommend me a power washer??

thirdmantackle

With cars needing to be clean to look good in the fine weather and the cost of car washes in garages I'm going to invest in a power washer for the parents (who have two cars) and myself (the odd time i'm home to use it)

Can anyone recommend a power washer? I'm really unfamiliar with the brands, reliability and the pressure required for cars but also could be used for patios/walls etc
Product guarantees?
Where to buy?
Cheers for any info or feedback

The Express

I'm fed up with garage lads doing rushjob carwashes. The lads at my local carwash spend ages properly cleaning taxi drivers' cars 'cause they pay them cash in hand as oppossed to paying at the counter and giving the cleaner the receipt:mad:

Everybody else gets a rush job and the muppets NEVER do the wing mirrors.

Anyway, rant over - I'm going to check out Aldi's 2KW pressure washer for 69.99 - on sale next thurs I think. Don't know if they've sold them before (anyone???) but will check B&Q tomorrow to see if there's any specials before deciding to buy.

dave1982

Got this last week great little thing.Currently half price at 50 euro.I use it power washing the back yard after the dogs.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_372861_categoryId_212517_langId_-1?cm_vc=IOV4PDPZ1

■Compact and Lightweight pressure washer for easy storage
■Ideal for smaller cleaning jobs, including outdoor furniture, BBQ's & bikes
■Includes 5 metre high pressure hose giving the user plenty of room to use the pressure washer effectively
■5 metre mains supply cable
■Autostop motor meaning motor only runs when trigger is pulled, prolonging life and conserving electricity
■1400 watt motor
■340 litres per hour flow rate
■70 bar rated pressure

shawnee

Make sure you check the flexibility and quality of the hoses on these powerwashers. I bought one from Lidl a few years back , washer works great but hose is impossible to wind as it is stiff and has frayed a few times

vectra

shawnee wrote: »

Make sure you check the flexibility and quality of the hoses on these powerwashers. I bought one from Lidl a few years back , washer works great but hose is impossible to wind as it is stiff and has frayed a few times

+1
Found the same thing

stimpson

I picked up a Lidl one last week - 99 quid and 150 bar with lots of accessories. The new Aldi on doesn't look as powerful, but for washing a car you really don't need lots of power.

Before I decided on the Lidl one I was looking at a Nilfisk one - detailingworld.co.uk swear by them over Karcher. 150 bar ones (model E150) go for 250 - 300 notes.

As for the hose - plastic hoses are very stiff, but they usually are standard BSP threads so you can replace with a steel reinforced rubber hose. I'm planning to pick up a 10 meter rubber one when finances allow.

As for general car washing, use the 2 bucket method. Get 2 buckets, put car shampoo in one (diluted as per instructions). Fill the other with clean water. Get a microfibre or lambswool wash mitt (NOT a sponge) dunk in shampoo and start to wash car. Start at the top of the car and use long straight strokes down the side of the car - never circular motions. Don't scrub - let the shampoo do the work. Once the mitt starts to dry out rinse in the clean bucket. Ring out the mitt and back into the shampoo. All the crap stuck in the mitt gets rinsed off in the clean bucket and your shampoo stays clean. When your finished you can powerhose the shampoo off and dry. Don't forget to polish and wax!

JHMEG

If you want to save money on car washes you won't beat a bucket and sponge.

Home power washers are useless for washing the car as they are spraying freezing cold water onto the car. Bit like washing your clothes at 4 degrees - the dirt will still be there, it'll just look different.

Speaking from experience as I've had a top of the range Karcher (it burst and oil came out of it ) and one from Lidl which is slightly better.

thirdmantackle

JHMEG wrote: »

If you want to save money on car washes you won't beat a bucket and sponge.

Home power washers are useless for washing the car as they are spraying freezing cold water onto the car. Bit like washing your clothes at 4 degrees - the dirt will still be there, it'll just look different.

Speaking from experience as I've had a top of the range Karcher (it burst and oil came out of it ) and one from Lidl which is slightly better.

if you drove on country roads/lanes you would understand the need for a power washer to remove dirt (****e) and grit before the car can be washed. and to do the wheel arches and alloys.

michael999999

if the aldi power washers are like the electric sanders i got there a few weeks back they should be a great job

MidlandsM

Cheap ressure washers are a false economy - they all go tits up.

challengemaster

thirdmantackle wrote: »

if you drove on country roads/lanes you would understand the need for a power washer to remove dirt (****e) and grit before the car can be washed. and to do the wheel arches and alloys.

If you need to get rid of tar, holts tar remover or tardis are good, petrol/wd40 if it's all that's at hand will do the job.

IMO If you want to wash the car properly, the last thing you want to use is a power washer. Use that on grit and you're going to blast it INTO the paintwork. Hold it too close, and you'll only damage the paintwork/remove loose paint...Use a hose, just a gentle spray of water, you don't need to blast it with a power washer like. Then get two buckets, one for shampoo, the other for rinsing. Use a microfibre wash mitten and get to work on it.

Polish/wax after and it'll be a million times better than a powerwash job.

Use the money on decent cleaning products instead.

TskTsk

thirdmantackle wrote: »

Product guarantees?
Where to buy?
Cheers for any info or feedback

I bought a SIP model from McQuillans. They were well-built machines with brass pumps, which apparently a lot of cheaper brands don't have. It's been great so far, no complaints at all. There's a standard one year warranty from McQuillans and it's easy enough to get replacement parts.

I'd agree with one of the previous posters though... pressure washers aren't always the answer for washing cars. They do tend to push dirt around the surface rather than off the car, but they're good for cleaning wheels and arches all right.

One thing I'd recommend is that you get a wider guage hose to connect it to your tap. I find that a standard garden hose is too narrow and doesn't feed enough water through to the pump.

WestWicklow1

Halfords change their models frequently and cannot supply parts for older models. I wanted a replacement trigger gun for a 12 month old Halfrauds washer and they couldn't supply!!

Nephilim Wolf

stimpson wrote: »

As for general car washing, use the 2 bucket method. Get 2 buckets, put car shampoo in one (diluted as per instructions). Fill the other with clean water. Get a microfibre or lambswool wash mitt (NOT a sponge) dunk in shampoo and start to wash car. Start at the top of the car and use long straight strokes down the side of the car - never circular motions. Don't scrub - let the shampoo do the work. Once the mitt starts to dry out rinse in the clean bucket. Ring out the mitt and back into the shampoo. All the crap stuck in the mitt gets rinsed off in the clean bucket and your shampoo stays clean. When your finished you can powerhose the shampoo off and dry. Don't forget to polish and wax!

I agree, you can't beat doing it the old fashioned way, because it is more satisfactory in the end. Also with these crap water charges coming in soon, it would seem best to it the tried and trusted way instead.

dave1982

WestWicklow1 wrote: »

Halfords change their models frequently and cannot supply parts for older models. I wanted a replacement trigger gun for a 12 month old Halfrauds washer and they couldn't supply!!

Thats why they are half price new models on the way:rolleyes:

Pique

The pressure washers in Aldi/Lidl (forget the name) are kick-ass. They're the Eurpoean standard (like Karcher, but Karcher are the only ones you hear about over here!).

Can anyone think of the name ? 'Cos I can't (damn wine !!) :-)

Edit: Just remembered...Lavor ! :-)

In your face, vino ! :-)

Mandzhalas

nilfisk powerwashers are the best

thirdmantackle

Nephilim Wolf wrote: »

I agree, you can't beat doing it the old fashioned way, because it is more satisfactory in the end. Also with these crap water charges coming in soon, it would seem best to it the tried and trusted way instead.

thats why lots of country houses run the downpipes from the roof into a few big plastic barrels - can be used for watering garden and washing cars

have you ever tried to get cow ****e off a car???

vectra

thirdmantackle wrote: »

have you ever tried to get cow ****e off a car???

Yes
Wet it .. give it a good wetting and leave it soak..repeat a few times and it will come off.

DUBLINHITMAN

Mandzhalas wrote: »

nilfisk powerwashers are the best

yeah rumour has it they are

all the models have brass motors unlike some of the karcher series
some are plastic /alu/ and the higher end series are brass

im using a karcher 5series and its not going to last much longer
so a nilfisk is on the shoppin list

stimpson

JHMEG wrote: »

If you want to save money on car washes you won't beat a bucket and sponge.

Noooooo....not a sponge. Unless you likes swirls all over your paintwork. A sponge traps grit between it an the paint - when you move it over the body work it will scratch. Get yourself a mitt!! And a second bucket

DUBLINHITMAN

stimpson wrote: »

Noooooo....not a sponge. Unless you likes swirls all over your paintwork. A sponge traps grit between it an the paint - when you move it over the body work it will scratch. Get yourself a mitt!! And a second bucket

pointless to many trolls will just tell you its fine to use a brillo pad
you cant argue with idiots you'll always loose

stimpson

I don't think JHMEG is a troll - he usually talks sense

Andrew33

Karcher,Karcher,Karcher. expensive but damn good quality and last forever. I've owned the same one for 10yrs and apart from a slight leak around handle it's still as powerful as ever.

vectra

DUBLINHITMAN wrote: »

pointless to many trolls will just tell you its fine to use a brillo pad
you cant argue with idiots you'll always loose

stimpson wrote: »

Noooooo....not a sponge. Unless you likes swirls all over your paintwork. A sponge traps grit between it an the paint - when you move it over the body work it will scratch. Get yourself a mitt!! And a second bucket

Here we go again
Along comes the "DONT USE A SPONGE" Brigade :rolleyes:

Absolute nonsence.
jhmeg is 100% correct

keithclancy

Andrew33 wrote: »

Karcher,Karcher,Karcher. expensive but damn good quality and last forever. I've owned the same one for 10yrs and apart from a slight leak around handle it's still as powerful as ever.

I bought a Karcher in Den Haag for 180 euros .. really good ... wouldn't use it to wash my car with though, I'd be afraid it would take off the paint

Fantastic for doing the patio though !

I'm a bucket + sponge person myself.

Gumbo

anybody have any opinions on this washer?

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_12763.htm

stimpson

vectra wrote: »

Here we go again
Along comes the "DONT USE A SPONGE" Brigade :rolleyes:

Absolute nonsence.
jhmeg is 100% correct

Yeah, it's probably a conspiracy by the washmitt industy.Guess if you drive a Vectra you have bigger issues than crappy paint

vectra

stimpson wrote: »

.Guess if you drive a Vectra you have bigger issues than crappy paint

Oh how wrong you are

I havent driven an Opel in over 10 years, Never mind a Vectra,

As for your conspiricy

I have had this discussion here previously regarding the obsessive behaviour of how some people wash their cars.
Would you care to post a few pics of your "Properly" washed and cared for car?

Here are some of my car which is over 2 years old and has been washed from day one with the faithful B&Q bucket and car sponge
Remember
Any fool can grab a sponge and bucket of water and not be careful how you go.
But if you keep a watchful eye on your sponge then...!!

Well
Have a look yourself and tell me I am destroying my paintwork
These pics were taken 3 weeks ago for the other thread on a similar discussion






]


>> Other Thread.<<



C'mon.
Let see your pics

stimpson

I don't intend to get into a mickey measuring contest, but if you like I'll get some snaps later, not that itr will prove anything, because:

a) that car has obvioulsy been polished within an inch of it's life. Show me a snap with the polish taken off

b) I had a 20 year old honda with seriously crappy paint. Autoglym paint renovator and Super Resin Polish would work miracles on it. The swirls and scratches would still be there but you couldn't see them

c) you'd never see swirls on a photo with resolution that small

vectra

stimpson wrote: »

I don't intend to get into a mickey measuring contest, but if you like I'll get some snaps later, not that itr will prove anything, because:

a) that car has obvioulsy been polished within an inch of it's life. Show me a snap with the polish taken off

b) I had a 20 year old honda with seriously crappy paint. Autoglym paint renovator and Super Resin Polish would work miracles on it. The swirls and scratches would still be there but you couldn't see them

c) you'd never see swirls on a photo with resolution that small

Larger pic sir?
http://pix.ie/vectra/1606800/size/1200

Car is NOT polished within an inch of its life
Just carefully washed and waxed occasionaly

Seperate

This is what that colour black would look like if it were in top condition;















Not this...



PS - I'm not getting into another discussion with you over washing etc.

vectra

Seperate wrote: »

This is what that colour black would look like if it were in top condition;


Not this...



PS - I'm not getting into another discussion with you over washing etc.

There is a difference between Solid Balck ( as you are showing )
And Metallic Black ( As my car is )

On top of that
There is ALWAYS going to be a difference between a Normally maintained car and a "Freshly" detailed one.

I witnessed a BRAND NEW black out of the showrooms Subaru Legacy
Before and after detail

2 different cars
so your comparison is worthless to be honest.

stimpson

vectra wrote: »

Larger pic sir?
http://pix.ie/vectra/1606800/size/1200

Car is NOT polished within an inch of its life
Just carefully washed and waxed occasionaly

You said in the thread you posted that it was regularly polished. Like I said, polish hides a multitude of sins and you would need to show me a pic (in focus) without polish to show there are aren't any swirl marks, and even then they would be hard to photograph.

I'm confused as to why you would "carefully" wash your car with a sponge and one bucket when you could get a second bucket and microfibre mitt for a fiver in B&Q and you wouldn't have to be so careful. For the sake of a fiver I'd rather have the piece of mind that the grit is staying in the bucket rather than eating into my paintwork.

And as regards Seperate's post - surely that's the point - if you do it properly the difference is day and night. You can have all the beading you like, but you can be sure there are bonded contaminants on your paintwork that are preventing you having a mirror like shine. They wouldn't be there if you washed (and clayed) the car properly before polishing. But it's "good enough" right?

vectra

stimpson wrote: »

You said in the thread you posted that it was regularly polished. Like I said, polish hides a multitude of sins and you would need to show me a pic (in focus) without polish to show there are aren't any swirl marks, and even then they would be hard to photograph.

I'm confused as to why you would "carefully" wash your car with a sponge and one bucket when you could get a second bucket and microfibre mitt for a fiver in B&Q and you wouldn't have to be so careful. For the sake of a fiver I'd rather have the piece of mind that the grit is staying in the bucket rather than eating into my paintwork.

And as regards Seperate's post - surely that's the point - if you do it properly the difference is day and night. You can have all the beading you like, but you can be sure there are bonded contaminants on your paintwork that are preventing you having a mirror like shine. They wouldn't be there if you washed (and clayed) the car properly before polishing.

First off you will NEVER see my car not polished/waxed... it is cared for
( NOT Detailed )
Detailing a car was never the objective of this thread .. Or am I missing something??

As for Seperate's post
of course it looks perfect
After all
If it werent perfect then he would be out of business wouldnt he?

If I haded in my car to him and got it detailed of course it would look better than it does now. I never disputed that.
But can you assure me that it would look as good after 2 years EVEN if I washed it with a Mitt?
I can assure you not.
Thus defeating the objective of perfection.

BUT
Who asked about Detailing a car in this thread??
Nobody as far as my memory serves me.
As far as detailing is concerned.. it is an Overrated Obsession that not everyone wants.
I would say 95% pf car owners couldnt give a damn about it .
and out of that 95% .. how many would you say keep their car in the condition my one is in?

*EDIT*
Oh yeas
The Clay
I did actually clay my car once
Slight difference in finish but virtually nothing on the clay bar once i had finished
To me it was really not anything better than a good wash/polish/wax
But hey
You are welcome to come and examine my car anyday bud
I am sure you would be surprised with what you would see

stimpson

vectra wrote: »

First off you will NEVER see my car not polished/waxed... it is cared for
( NOT Detailed )
Detailing a car was never the objective of this thread .. Or am I missing something??

And like I say, it's the polish that's masking the swirls - you even admit on the other thread that there are some swirls there - but it's good enough for you. I'm not talking about detailing, I'm talking about the best way (well actually a good way) to wash your car.

But can you assure me that it would look as good after 2 years EVEN if I washed it with a Mitt?
I can assure you not.
Thus defeating the objective of perfection.

The point is that using the two bucket method rather than a sponge your car will have LESS swirls and will look BETTER for it. For perfection you'd need to use a decent polish, wax and sealant. You'd need to use them quite regularly and you'd have to use them properly.

BUT
Who asked about Detailing a car in this thread??
Nobody as far as my memory serves me.
As far as detailing is concerned.. it is an Overrated Obsession that not everyone wants.
I would say 95% pf car owners couldnt give a damn about it .
and out of that 95% .. how many would you say keep their car in the condition my one is in?

I never brought up detailing. I don't consider TBM to be detailing - I consider it to be a better way of washing my car. I don't see it as any more effort than using one bucket. I consider the method to be far less damaging to the paintwork than using a sponge. In the other thread you can see the mank in the second bucket used to wash the 350Z. You can actually SEE it.

*EDIT*
Oh yeas
The Clay
I did actually clay my car once
Slight difference in finish but virtually nothing on the clay bar once i had finished

Maybe you weren't using it right.

thirdmantackle

bloody trolls

viking

kceire wrote: »

anybody have any opinions on this washer?

http://www.aldi.ie/ie/html/offers/special_buys3_12763.htm

Bought two in Aldi (one for a friend), his is fine apparently but mine is leaking where the hose joins the gun and the rotating nozzle at the end of the gun doesn't rotate.

Called the helpline and they've had other reports of this occurring. They advised me to return it for replacement/refund