Water presure washer for car, recommendations / advise wanted

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Water presure washer for car, recommendations / advise wanted

lNomNoml

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#251388 22-Jun-2019 22:43

So I am keen to buy a water pressure washer, since I am lazy and want to wash my car the quickest way possible (other than taking it to a car wash).

I have tacked down the following 2 options:

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/nilfisk-nilfisk-c105.6-5-pressure-washer---1520-psi/414716.html#q=Nilfisk&lang=en_NZ

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-k-2-basic-car-kit-water-blaster-1600psi/p/304832

also maybe this one: https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/nilfisk-nilfisk-c110-car---boat-pressure-washer---1595-psi/552106.html#q=Nilfisk&lang=en_NZ

The thing is this, I want to have a decent brush and a very decent foam sprayer with this to effectively wash said car, but I can not decide what camp to go to as availability of decent attachments is hit and miss..

I have been looking at the official attachments for these two and they both seem to be dreadful in terms of performance,

Brushes:

Karcher:

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-water-blaster-wide-wash-brush/p/186647

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-water-blaster-power-brush-h-353mm-w-235mm-d-206mm-yellow/p/247032

Nilfisk:

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/nilfisk-click-clean-auto-brush/p/124461

https://consumer.nilfisk.com/en/cases/about-pressure-washers/Pages/Multi-Brush-3-in-1.aspx

Foamers:

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-fj6-foam-nozzle-93-x-230-x-285mm-black/white/p/336707

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/nilfisk-click-clean-superfoam-sprayer/p/307184

I have also looked at this:

https://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/p/meguiars-meguiars-snow-cannon-kit/562924.html#q=snow%2Bcannon&lang=en_NZ

Any help with this? recommendations? My budget is around $200-$250

rogercruse

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#2262756 22-Jun-2019 23:18

I've got a Karcher water blaster https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-k-7-premium-full-control-plus-electric-water-blaster-2600-psi/p/308431 but I wouldn't use it to clean the car as its too powerful.

When I clean the car, I use a ordinary garden hose with standard nozzle to get the car wet and to remove any mud, etc. I then use a soap dispenser water brush http://www.briscoes.co.nz/Product/1002042?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo7foBRD8ARIsAHTy2wkT0C5lGKFKLLHYwvmqViC3yXDiIftFBros_ATF3kMgSHi7pauaLB0aAoacEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds to clean the surface.

Finally, I rinse the car using the the garden hose and nozzle to remove the soap.

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lNomNoml

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#2262757 22-Jun-2019 23:31

rogercruse:

I've got a Karcher water blaster https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-k-7-premium-full-control-plus-electric-water-blaster-2600-psi/p/308431 but I wouldn't use it to clean the car as its too powerful.

When I clean the car, I use a ordinary garden hose with standard nozzle to get the car wet and to remove any mud, etc. I then use a soap dispenser water brush http://www.briscoes.co.nz/Product/1002042?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo7foBRD8ARIsAHTy2wkT0C5lGKFKLLHYwvmqViC3yXDiIftFBros_ATF3kMgSHi7pauaLB0aAoacEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds to clean the surface.

Finally, I rinse the car using the the garden hose and nozzle to remove the soap.

Yeah that K7 goes at 2600psi, the ones I have above only do 1600psi at best :)

Technofreak

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#2262760 22-Jun-2019 23:51

1600 psi is still capable of getting water into places you'd probably not prefer water got into.

In my books using a brush to wash a car is just asking for scratches on the paint finish. So far as I'm concerned, clean water with a good car wash fluid (not dishwashing detergent) and a soft sponge for removing the dirt, then hosing the suds off with a hose is the way to go. If it's really covered in caked dirt then hose this off first before using the sponge. Then dry it with a chamois or similar. This also helps get any small areas you have missed the first time around.

The slow part of washing the car is doing in and around the door edges and door frames and the rims. These are areas a brush does a very poor job. Overall I'd say a device like you're looking at will save very little time and will not make a better job.

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martyyn

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#2262765 23-Jun-2019 06:56

A brush !

Oh my days.

[e] now a sponge !

I need to lie down.

Don't use either, AT ALL, if you don't want scratches all over your car.

Do the wheels first with Dragons Breath if really bad or something less aggressive if a regular wash.
Use the water blaster all over to remove the loose dirt.
Then a lance with a proper snow foam to loosen anything stuck on.
Rinse.
Then decontaminate with a tar remover, iron remover and then car bar.
Rinse.
Use a neutral car shampoo, two buckets (one with shampoo, one to rinse) and a lambswool mitt from top to bottom rinsing the mitt regularly.
Rinse.
Polish.
3 coats of wax.
Seal.

You can skip the polish, wax and seal by using a hydrophobic sealer if you want.

davidcole

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#2262769 23-Jun-2019 07:51

I just use a norwex mitt, and water. No pressure needed, it can take off paint. And no soap cos it’s bad for the stormwater drains

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tdgeek

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#2262783 23-Jun-2019 09:50

lNomNoml:

rogercruse:

I've got a Karcher water blaster https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/karcher-k-7-premium-full-control-plus-electric-water-blaster-2600-psi/p/308431 but I wouldn't use it to clean the car as its too powerful.

When I clean the car, I use a ordinary garden hose with standard nozzle to get the car wet and to remove any mud, etc. I then use a soap dispenser water brush http://www.briscoes.co.nz/Product/1002042?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo7foBRD8ARIsAHTy2wkT0C5lGKFKLLHYwvmqViC3yXDiIftFBros_ATF3kMgSHi7pauaLB0aAoacEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds to clean the surface.

Finally, I rinse the car using the the garden hose and nozzle to remove the soap.

Yeah that K7 goes at 2600psi, the ones I have above only do 1600psi at best :)

I have a K5. The pressure UP TO? I can turn mine down low, so its like a wide garden hose strength spray

timmmay

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#2262865 23-Jun-2019 13:51

I find pressure washers relatively ineffective for cars. I used my Bosch once, it looked ok at a distance but as you got close you could see there was still grime on it. A quick wipe got it off. IMHO you need to actually use a brush / cloth to get a good clean.

I hose the car, throw a bit of car wash concentrate directly on it in a few places, get my car brush out and wet it, spend about 3 minutes washing it, then hose it. Sometimes I wipe it off. Ten or fifteen minutes, done, works well. The brush is the type you can attach a hose to but doesn't have soap inside, but I rarely connect the hose except maybe the middle of summer as it leaks and makes my hand cold.

Occasionally if it's really dirty I put the wash in warm water, and use the things like color restorer, trim darkener, etc.

lNomNoml

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#2262926 23-Jun-2019 14:19

Cool thanks for all the replies I'll get it anyway and see how I go, I've gotten the Maguars foam Canon and Gold wash bottle, got them for cheap at repco, my step dad says he has a water pressure washer for me so will try out. Will let you know the results of anyone else stumbles across this thread.

tdgeek

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#2263011 23-Jun-2019 17:54

timmmay:

I find pressure washers relatively ineffective for cars. I used my Bosch once, it looked ok at a distance but as you got close you could see there was still grime on it. A quick wipe got it off. IMHO you need to actually use a brush / cloth to get a good clean.

I hose the car, throw a bit of car wash concentrate directly on it in a few places, get my car brush out and wet it, spend about 3 minutes washing it, then hose it. Sometimes I wipe it off. Ten or fifteen minutes, done, works well. The brush is the type you can attach a hose to but doesn't have soap inside, but I rarely connect the hose except maybe the middle of summer as it leaks and makes my hand cold.

Occasionally if it's really dirty I put the wash in warm water, and use the things like color restorer, trim darkener, etc.

Our car was filthy. Hosed it off. Used very warm water and turtle wax, over strength. Lightly rinse off with cold water. Great job. Used a micro fibre mitt

tdgeek

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#2263012 23-Jun-2019 18:02

lNomNoml: Cool thanks for all the replies I'll get it anyway and see how I go, I've gotten the Maguars foam Canon and Gold wash bottle, got them for cheap at repco, my step dad says he has a water pressure washer for me so will try out. Will let you know the results of anyone else stumbles across this thread.

Maguars foam Canon ? Too many beers?

A pressure washer is fine, a high pressure water blaster is fine as you can adjust so its not damaging. When I use warm turtle wax I dint want to blast it off. I want to cold rinse it off so that wax is cooled, and it stays there.

lNomNoml

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#2263071 23-Jun-2019 20:52

tdgeek:

lNomNoml: Cool thanks for all the replies I'll get it anyway and see how I go, I've gotten the Maguars foam Canon and Gold wash bottle, got them for cheap at repco, my step dad says he has a water pressure washer for me so will try out. Will let you know the results of anyone else stumbles across this thread.

Maguars foam Canon ? Too many beers?

A pressure washer is fine, a high pressure water blaster is fine as you can adjust so its not damaging. When I use warm turtle wax I dint want to blast it off. I want to cold rinse it off so that wax is cooled, and it stays there.

Haha maybe ;) this one: https://www.repco.co.nz/en/brands/meguiars/meguiars-snow-cannon-snowkit/p/A1308461

I should of meationed on my first post that my car is covered in 3m paint protection so it has a layer of plastic over the paint so this isn't a worry to me.

My current plan is to rinse, blast with foam, let sock for a good 10 minutes, blastoff with the pressure washer, dry, then wax.

scuwp

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#2263085 23-Jun-2019 21:46

martyyn: A brush !

Oh my days.

[e] now a sponge !

I need to lie down.

Don't use either, AT ALL, if you don't want scratches all over your car.

Do the wheels first with Dragons Breath if really bad or something less aggressive if a regular wash.
Use the water blaster all over to remove the loose dirt.
Then a lance with a proper snow foam to loosen anything stuck on.
Rinse.
Then decontaminate with a tar remover, iron remover and then car bar.
Rinse.
Use a neutral car shampoo, two buckets (one with shampoo, one to rinse) and a lambswool mitt from top to bottom rinsing the mitt regularly.
Rinse.
Polish.
3 coats of wax.
Seal.

You can skip the polish, wax and seal by using a hydrophobic sealer if you want.

Gosh....3 days later!

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Dulouz

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#2263132 24-Jun-2019 06:22

I've got the works, pressure washer, foam cannon. Basically, if your car is dirty you will eventually need to touch it to remove the grime. The foam cannon is loads of fun though.

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geoffwnz

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#2263227 24-Jun-2019 09:33

I use my Karcher K3 on the car. The trick is not to get the nozzle up close and personal with the paint. Stand back another step and it's fine. Tend to only use it when either the rally car or ute is fairly covered in dirt or mud though. It removes the caked on mud and is really good for underneath and the wheel arches. Otherwise it's essentially just being a hose.

Then use a wash mitt and some wash and wax type car wash, followed by a hose (or waterblaster if it was already out for the first stage) off then chamois wipe.

Tried the car brush attachment that came with the Karcher and also the car wash liquid in the water blaster tank. Wasn't overly impressed with either.

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afe66

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#2263293 24-Jun-2019 11:47

I use hose, sponge, car cleaner detergent yet still managed to get water into the light housing.

That put me off getting a water blaster. Quicker isn't always better and I find there is a zen like quality of turning dirty car into clean gleaming with my hand touching everywhere.

I've used brushes before and found that were good at retaining stones and scrubbing the paintwork. I make sure my sponge rinsed regularly in bucket and never placed on ground stops the stone/grit remaining on sponge.