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The 5 Best Pressure Washers for a Deeper Clean
We blasted away dirt, grime, and mildew to find gas and electric models are worth considering.
When it comes to heavy-duty cleaning projects, nothing beats the efficiency and productivity of a pressure washer. These powerful machines transform the water from your garden hose into a high-pressure stream, capable of blasting away dirt, grime, and mold from practically any surface. On-board soap dispensers and a variety of nozzle tips add even more cleaning functionality, so you can tackle a wide variety of light- and heavy-duty tasks.
We tested more than a dozen models—gas-powered and electric—with a goal of finding the best pressure washer for the average homeowner. So whether you’re washing your car or blasting decades-old grime off the driveway, our recommendations have you covered. If you’re new to pressure washing, scroll to the end of this buying guide for a primer on how pressure washers work and pressure washer safety tips.
Best Pressure Washers
- Best Overall: Simpson Cleaning PS3228 PowerShot
- Best Value: Sun Joe SPX 3000XTI Xtream Pressure Washer
- Most Powerful Electric: DeWalt DWPW3000 3000-PSI Compact Pressure Washer
- Best Overall Electric: Greenworks Pro GPW2700 Pressure Washer
- Best Mobility: Craftsman CMEPW2100 Pressure Washer
What to Consider
Gas Engine vs. Electric Motor
The pump that provides the high-velocity jet of water out of a pressure washer is driven by a gas engine or an electric motor. One is not necessarily better than the other, but it’s important to understand their differences in regards to your cleaning needs, budget, and the type of maintenance you’re comfortable with.
Electric
Best suited for lighter-duty cleaning sessions, electric pressure washers run off your home’s power supply, and their convenient “plug-and-play” design starts up at the push of a button.
Although they’re slightly underpowered compared to beefier gas-powered options, electric models have enough power to handle the majority of surfaces including wood and synthetic decks that need only gentle cleaning, outdoor furniture, and all types of exterior siding. As long as you use the correct nozzle tip, they’re also safe for washing cars.
Electric pressure washers are also quieter than gas-engine pressure washers, and they need hardly any maintenance. As a bonus, they’re easy to store indoors during the winter.
Gas
Gas-powered models are almost always more expensive, but are better suited to heavy-duty cleaning than electric versions. The power afforded by a gas engine can drive a large and powerful pump, enabling these machines to shoot water to higher surfaces, clean heavier deposits of mold and dirt, and even slice thick deposits of mud from equipment such as farm machinery, trucks, and off-road vehicles.
A gas engine is louder than an electric motor, plus requires maintenance in the form of oil changes, replacement air filters, and a yearly check or change of the spark plug. Not to mention you have to be careful about fuel degradation. Today’s ethanol-containing gasoline quickly degrades and can damage fuel-system parts like carburetors and gas lines. Also, gas engine pressure washers are best stored over the winter in the garage or an outbuilding.
Output
In order to select the best pressure washer for your needs, it’s important to understand their capabilities regarding pressure and water output.
PSI
The force that the water exits the nozzle is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). Machines capable of generating fewer than 2000 PSI are suitable for light-duty tasks like cleaning vehicles, muddy driveways, and smaller items like grills and trash cans. Those with output of 2000 to 2700 PSI can cover most medium-duty residential cleaning projects like home siding, decks, and grimy patio furniture, and anything higher is powerful enough to tackle heavy-duty jobs like heavy mildew, tree sap, or grease stains.
GPM
The volume of water that comes out of the pressure washer is measured in GPM (gallons per minute). The higher the max GPM–which ranges from ½ to 3 for non-commercial models–the more effective the pressure washer is at rinsing away loose debris, grime, and soap.
The combination of both PSI and GPM indicate the overall effectiveness of any pressure washer. When considering more than one unit, make sure to take both of these numbers into consideration.
How We Tested
Testing pressure washers is the proverbial dirty job. We washed concrete and brick pavements, vinyl and cement board siding, aluminum trim and gutters, faux stone, vertical brick, and wood trim. Vinyl fences and outdoor furniture, too. We even very carefully washed some cars (using the white nozzle). One of the toughest tests was blasting clean three large commercial trash cans with bottoms awash in a nauseating soup of summer stink. They looked and smelled like new cans when we were done with them.
Aside from cleaning ability, we looked at ease of use. Would the washer tip over if you tugged on its hose? How easy is it to get the thing up a set of ramps and into the back of a pickup truck? Was the hose easy to tighten onto the pump fitting? And how stiff is the hose that takes the water from the pump to the gun? Read on for our evaluations.
Pros
- Powerful and durable Honda engine
- High PSI and GPM
- Siphon tube for detergent containers
- 10-inch wheels for bumpy and uneven terrain
Cons
- Heavier than most pressure washers
Although we don’t have hands-on experience with this exact model, Roy Behrendsen did run a very similar version, the Simpson MegaShot MSH3125 Pressure Washer through a rigorous testing process, and was seriously impressed with the brand’s combination of quality and power.
A Honda engine is essential for any high-quality gas-powered pressure washer, and this model’s GX200 engine has enough power to generate 3300 psi and 2.5 GPM. This engine also automatically shuts down if the oil level gets too low—preventing serious damage–and also comes with a three-year warranty.
The non-marring hose is abrasion-resistant, which helps extend its lifespan, but we did find Simpson hoses to be especially stiff, and take some time to break in.
| Engine | 196 CC |
|---|---|
| Weight | 82 lb |
| Cleaning Power | 3300 psi |
| Max Flow | 2.5 gpm |
Pros
- Includes two cleaning brushes
- Foam cannon blasts detergent up to 15 feet
- Ergonomic handle is comfortable to use
Cons
- Lacks durability for extended use in hot weather
- Easy to tip over on uneven surfaces
Light-duty washing doesn’t get much more inexpensive or portable than this compact pressure washer. For your money, you get a foaming soap dispenser and two cleaning brushes–one for general use and the other designed to clean automotive wheels. Plus, you get a full set of four nozzles, with user-friendly, quick-connect capability.
The machine’s ergonomics are also solid; the hose outlets, on/off switch, and carrying handle are well-shaped and located to make this little machine easy to use. But it tips over easily on grass or other uneven surfaces due its small wheels and vertical configuration, so it’s best confined to working on pavement.
We worked the SPX 3000 hard (harder than a homeowner probably would) and found its cord and GFCI were quite warm when we were done. There’s only so much these small machines can withstand when you run them relentlessly on a summer day, with temperatures hovering between 80 and 90 degrees.
Key Specs
| Motor | 30 amps |
|---|---|
| Weight | 26.2 lb |
| Cleaning Power | 2200 psi |
| Max Flow | 1.2 gpm |
DeWalt DWPW3000 3000-PSI Compact Pressure Washer
Pros
- High PSI for heavy-duty stain removal
- User-friendly onboard storage
- Telescoping handle, rolling wheels, and multiple grab handles
Cons
- Low GPM compared to other electric pressure washers
This DeWalt pressure washer provides nearly as much PSI as our top gas-powered pick, without the noisy and high-maintenance engine. Its suitcase-style design features 2 wheels, a telescoping handle, and multiple grab handles for convenient transport.
Roy Behrendsen also appreciated how easy the hose was to store on the unit itself, and there are helpful storage areas for the spray gun, nozzle tips, and a molded compartment for the included foam cannon. While the high PSI is well-suited for blasting off stubborn grit and grime, the relatively low GPM means it’s not as practical for heavy rinsing jobs.
| Motor | 15 amps |
|---|---|
| Weight | 41.9 lb |
| Cleaning Power | 3000 psi |
| Max Flow | 1.1 gpm |
We tested the power washers below on the exterior siding of a house. Electric models work well on wood and synthetic decks that need only gentle cleaning, plus all types of outdoor furniture.
Pros
- Useful combination of high PSI and GPM
- Includes five spray nozzles
- Easy to transport and store
Cons
- Inconvenient hose outlet placement
The GPW2700 sailed to an easy victory among the electric pressure washers, not surprising given that this is an expensive and well-made piece of equipment.
Its high pressure and volume output enable faster and more thorough cleaning. And those come courtesy of the constant-run motor, which is always turning, not just when you pull the spray wand trigger. This improves trigger response and reduces priming, since the pump is held under constant pressure. Also, the machine has a pressure and flow sensor so that the pump output adjusts to suit the nozzle you insert in the spray wand. All of this adds up to better wash performance. And this model comes with a pressure washer foam cannon.
Although the pressure washer stands for storage or when you need to wheel it for transport, it operates horizontally. Thus, it can’t tip over. And a pivoting hook eases access to wrapping of the 35-foot cord. Our complaint: The hose outlets (both for the spray wand and the garden hose hookup) are close to each other, reducing access to them.
Key Specs
| Motor | 14 amps |
|---|---|
| Weight | 47.4 lbs. |
| Cleaning Power | 2,700 psi |
| Max Flow | 2.3 gpm |
Pros
- 10-inch wheels and large handle for maximum mobility
- Wand securely attaches to frame during transport
- Long power cord
- Sturdy, wide base less likely to tip over
Cons
- Low GPM
This is a light, easy-to-handle machine with adequate power for mid-duty jobs. We particularly appreciated the whopper of a power cord, which measures 35 feet long (that’s about 10 feet longer than average). Combined with the large 10-inch wheels and wide top-mounted handle, these features make the Craftsman especially mobile. The large, easy-access detergent tank on top of the machine is removable for easy cleaning when you’re finished.
Of all the nozzles we tried on this model, we had the best results with the turbo (rotating blast). It proved particularly adept at cleaning concrete. A final design detail that we really like is its slide-on spray wand mount. This prevents the gun from being knocked off during transport–an annoying issue with lower-quality machines.
Key Specs
| Motor | 13 amps |
|---|---|
| Weight | 32 lb |
| Cleaning Power | 2100 psi |
| Max Flow | 1.2 gsm |
We’ve tested these power washers to clean the undercarriage of a pickup truck and (very carefully) wash some cars. If you do so, be sure to use the white nozzle.
How a Pressure Washer Works
Water enters the pressure washer via a garden hose (a) and moves through a pump, which consists of a series of two or three plungers (b) arranged in a line or a circle. The plungers are powered by an output shaft on the engine or from a motor. Each plunger boosts the water pressure sequentially, one feeding higher pressure water to the plunger next in line.
The last pulse of high-pressure water exits the pump. The water then moves through a component called the unloader (c). This component unloads water if it gets too hot because the gun’s trigger is off. Next, the water travels down the hose to the gun (d). When you pull the gun’s trigger, you send a series of high-pressure pulses of water out the nozzle.
“It’s important to understand that the pump produces cleaning and rinsing efficiencies with high-velocity water pulsations,” says Vince Morabit, a mechanical engineer who’s designed and developed outdoor power equipment from pumps to chainsaws since the early 1960s. “Think of it this way: The kinetic energy in that pulse of water is like a chisel being struck repeatedly by a hammer.”
And since residential pressure washers also dispense cleaner, either out of a built-in tank (e) or by siphoning it out of a bucket, they clean via mechanical and chemical means. You apply the cleaner and then rinse the surface. The cycle is always the same: clean, rinse, repeat.
“The cleaning agent you use is as important as the pressure washer itself,” says Morabit. By selecting the right one, you rely less on the pressure washer’s force and more on the gentle removal of grime by the chemical action of the cleaner.
Pressure Washer Safety Tips
All the machines we tested were safe to use, and we encountered nothing in them that caused us any concern. However, pressure washers by their nature demand careful and deliberate handling, both for your sake and that of whatever you’re cleaning.
Both electric and gas pressure washers can damage surfaces. Of the two, the risk is higher with gas-engine machines owing to the fact that they’re generally more powerful. In order to clean safely and effectively, keep these key tips in mind.
- Use a green or a white nozzle for most jobs: the broad spray angle is less likely to damage surfaces. Reserve red and yellow nozzles only for the toughest cleaning. Their narrow spray angle provides more cutting action but is more likely to damage a surface.
- Avoid spraying electrical components: Don’t wash outdoor light fixtures, outlet receptacles covers, transformer boxes, doorbells, security cameras, or backup generator cabinets. These objects are easily damaged by high pressure water. Also, pressure washing them can, in the worst case, send water inside their electrical box, leading to corrosion-induced electrical failure.
- Watch your distance, and keep moving: The longer you keep the pressure washer’s stream focused in one place, and the closer it is to the surface, the more likely you are to cause damage.
- Avoid or proceed with caution around delicate surfaces such as shade sails, insulated-glass windows, and outdoor furnishings built from soft materials like cedar or redwood.
- To protect yourself from flying debris and the stream itself, always wear eye protection and closed-toe shoes. Even at relatively low pressure, debris can easily dislodge and fly towards your face, especially when working on vertical surfaces. You also don’t want to be wearing sandals or flip flops if you inadvertently pass the nozzle stream across your toes.
Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.
Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he’s not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.
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