Pressure Washer

[daniel_owen_uk]

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wc...01&langId=-1&catalogId=10101&productId=609010

Tired of cleaning the car with mer shampoo (plain useless), I have decided on a pressure washer and some snow foam.

Any good reason not to buy that one from homebase? Don't want to blow too much (pun fully intended) but I could stretch to a little more if I must.

 

[jetsetjimbo]

I think most people have had sucess with the cheap pressure washerers and snow foam.

Mine was about £20 from Woolworths and works fine.

 

[andih98uk]

How does this snow foam work, do you just chuck it in the pressure washer reservoir??

Do you then use shampoo or does this replace it?

Finally, Is it any good?

I got a pressure washer from Argos which was quite good actually but i've nothing to compare it to. The only downside you've got to switch it off at the back of the unit if you're not using it for a few minutes...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7506569.htm

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

Pressume you just put it in the detergent bottle.

Just ordered the pressure washer and some foam.

Hopefully all arrive for the weekend and i can have a play.

 

[andih98uk]

nice one, can you let me know how you get on, i'd be quite interested to see if it's worth it...

Cheers

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

Will do, I will try and grab some pictures too.

Anyone ordered from autobrightdirect before? How quick are they?

 

[TallFella]

I bought a Karcher one a few years ago (the cheapest one they do), and all I use it for now is cleaning the drive/patio. Too much agro to use it on the car.

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

See I think I will be ok, hose is kept in shed anyway, so have to go there, we have an outdoor tap, we have an outdoor plug, and the hose just won't reach from our tap, so worst case scenario is a slightly expensive hose extension.

BTW I usually use the neighbours tap as that reaches.

 

[TallFella]

See I think I will be ok, hose is kept in shed anyway, so have to go there, we have an outdoor tap, we have an outdoor plug, and the hose just won't reach from our tap, so worst case scenario is a slightly expensive hose extension.

BTW I usually use the neighbours tap as that reaches.

See I'm just uber lazy. I have both outside tap and power, it's just the hassle of connecting it up, drgging it round as you clean the car. Far easier to just pull the hose with "jet" setting selected. Then, all I do when finished is simply turn off the tap and wind the hose.

Otherwise, I have to turn off the tap, drain the pressure washer, fight with the pressure washer hose because it never rolls back up easily, unscrew it (to hang the hose up to dry properly, unplug it, wind the cable up (making sure it doesn't get wet, then put it back in the shed (minding not to break my neck in the process), then wind the hose. That doesn't even include if I've used the detergent bottle attachment thingy...

Man I'm lazy!

 

[Tallpaul]

I got my pressure washer from Homebase, it was £24.99 instore (reduced from £29.99). It looks similar to the one you've ordered but it's black rather than green.

Anyhoo, it's kick ass. The detergent bottle thingy works a treat and gives a lovely foam with Megs Gold Class Shampoo - should be even better with snow foam?

I find it takes exactly the same amount of time to wash with the pressure washer as it does with the hose but it's easier on my back. All in all washing the car with the pressure washer is actually kinda relaxing.

- Blast bugs/wheel/arches with Lance on full power
- Generally soak whole car
- Cover whole and arches car in thick white foam
- Wash with wash mitt and warm water (2 buckets)
- Scrub arches with brush
- Clean Alloys with Megs Alloy stuff and brush
- Rinse off with pressure washer
- Dry with huge MF
- Dress Tyres with Poorboys Bold n Bright

Total start to finish all stuff out and cleared away, less than 45mins

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

You don't vac the inside and wash the windows, yah lazy bleeder

I went instore in homebase today (bought it online because I am too lazy to go back), I bet any money they are identical, the one's they had instore were black.

My time at moment is about 1:30 which is crazy, but I think it's because I have an MF cloth about the size of a glasses cleaning cloth.

Got two big mofos on order with the snow foam though so should be good.

 

[Tallpaul]

lol, I wash the car once a week. In that week i typically drive 30 miles, mostly wearing a suit and shoes. The inside doesn't get dirty so i only need to do it once a month

That time also doesn't include waxing, that adds another 30 - 40mins.

I'm soon to be resurrecting my Footie career after a lengthy string of injuries so it'll be filthy all the time again as i'll have no free time to clean it and it'll be full of muddy kit

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

See that's why I need to vac the bloody thing, I am same as you 30 miles a week in suit and shoes, it's those bloody 5 minute trips to footy on thursday and sunday then it's a disgrace again.

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

Anyone ordered from autobrightdirect before? How quick are they?

Bloody quick is the answer to that, states 2-5 days on the site, came next day

If homebase don't let me down tomorrow, I might be able to have a play friday, I have the day off too, ahhhh my plan is coming together nicely..... Soon the world will be mine.... MINEEEE!!!!!!

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

Right, don't know if it's faulty or just incredibly badly designed, but just tested it.

Assembled it all and plug it all in, switch on with only the spray lance on, does next to bugger all, about hose pipe pressure, attach detergent bottle, same deal.

Now then, if you attach the spray lance extension, it's a whole different animal, nearly took my fecking hand off.

Problem is that's not a lot of use, obviously you want that sort of pressure whilst using the detergent bottle too.

I am right in assuming that's how it should be right?

(just to be clear you can't use the detergent attachment and the spray lance extension together)

 

[Grizzle]

i dont thinkso u should see pressure whatever lance u use

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

From the manual

"NOTE: Only use mild diluted household detergent, use with any other chemicals or undiluted detergent can damage this product and cause serious injury. NO Detergent will be dispensed in High Pressure Mode"

Well that was a waste of my ****ing time, it's a pressure washer than only rinses in high pressure rather than washing, isn't that a pressure rinser?

It's getting sent back.

 

[Tallpaul]

yup that's right.

Ignore the line about what detergent to use, mine works fine!

It does spray at fairly low pressure with the detergent attachment, but that's what you want. You want the detergent to cover the car so you can then use your mitt or whatever to actually clean the dirt off. If it sprayed the detergent at high pressure then it would blast it straight off the car and you'd have no suds to work with.

With the lance attachment you then get the high pressure for blasting bugs, cleaning arches and generally rinsing off.

 

[daniel_owen_uk]

Nah I am not having that, the pressure that it creates without the bottle on is pathetic, no more than a garden hose, garden hose pressure won't get snow foam working enough.

Anyway I was typing and talking at same time (women take note of man multitasking ) I have already returned it.

Gonna go an pick up a K235DB Karcher tomorrow.

 

[Tallpaul]

Even Karcher's only deliver the detergent in low pressure mode.

It's how all pressure washer work!

http://www.karcher.co.uk/product.php?pr=107