8 Best Pressure Washer for Car Detailing

The best pressure washer for car detailing is one of the most important tools that you will need as a car detailing business, as this machine is what will clean the paint of the car.

Other pressure washers might not give you the level of cleaning that you need for car detailing. As car parts are made from special materials, they will be able to withstand a lot of pressure and still not get damaged.

The pressure washer for car detailing is a must if you want to do a good job, and it makes it easier to do the detailing on the car. So, let us discuss it.

ImageProductFeaturePrice
Pressure Washer
Sun Joe SPX3001 Electric Pressure Washer
2030 PSI
14. 5-amp/1800-Watt motor
5 Quick-Connect spray tips
Check On Amazon
Pressure Washer
Portland Electric Pressure Washer
1.3 GPM
1750 PSI
21.85 Pounds
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Pressure Washer
Karcher K1700 Electric Power Pressure Washer
1700 PSI
Removable storage bin
15-degree portable nozzle
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Pressure Washer
AR Blue Clean AR383SS 1900 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
30-foot hose
28 oz. detergent tank
25 Pounds weight
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Pressure Washer
Stanley SHP1600 Electric Pressure Washer
variable-Spray Nozzle
1600 PSI
20-foot hose
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Pressure Washer
Generac 7899 GPW Power Washer
50% faster
2900 PSI
25 feet high-pressure flex hose
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Pressure Washer
Sun Joe SPX3000-XT1 XTREAM
2200 PSI
20 Feet hose length
33.8 fl oz foam cannon
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Pressure Washer
RYOBI Electric Pressure Washer
1,800 PSI
1.2 GPM
20 feet hose length
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Reviews on Best Pressure Washer for Car Detailing

Sun Joe SPX3001 Electric Pressure Washer

Features

  • 2030 PSI
  • 14. 5-amp/1800-Watt motor
  • 5 Quick-Connect spray tips
  • 32-pound weight
  • Best Cleanup

If you’re looking for a professional-grade pressure washer, Sun Joe has many to choose from.

Sun Joe’s SPX3001 Electric Pressure Washer is high quality and economical and the best electric pressure washer for homeowners who want one to wash their cars and driveway or patio, as well as parts of their home.

It’s also ideal for other tasks such as cleaning gutters and patios, washing the siding on homes, and clearing debris from driveways. This model has almost 10,000 reviews at 4 ½ stars.

The 5 quick-connect nozzles give you a variety of pressure settings to suit tough jobs and wider spray patterns for gentler tasks such as washing your car.

It should be noted that the 15-degree nozzle should never be used on cars because it could damage the paint finish, especially if there is already a scratch or other, unseen imperfection!

It has a 35-foot power cord and 20-foot hose, there are over 50 feet of range from the nearest outlet, and GFCI protection means you won’t cause a short circuit when you plugin.

Related Post: The 8 Best Sun Joe Pressure Washer

What We Like

  • Affordable
  • User friendly
  • Smart cleanup
  • Auto shut off feature
  • Great warranty

What We Don’t

  • Defective units

Portland Electric Pressure Washer

Features

  • 1.3 GPM
  • 1750 PSI
  • 21.8 Pounds
  • 1.3 gallons per minute

If you are looking for a quality pressure washing device that will make cleaning your deck or fence easier, this is the ideal device for you.

This is because of its lightweight making it easy to use on almost any surface. The power of the nozzle cannot be adjusted, but you can easily change how wide or narrow of an area you are trying to clean.

If you are looking for something that has the ability to reach even the tiniest corners of your house, this would not be the best fit.

Though it does include everything you need to start out with your pressure washer cleaning routine. At just 1.3 gallons per minute, the Portland Washer is one of the most affordable electric pressure washers on the market.

The new model also happens to be one of the most popular, with 4.5 out of 5 stars in over 270 reviews at Amazon.

Included with purchase are a thirty-five-foot power cord, twenty-foot-high pressure hose, safety goggles, and detergent tank adapter. If you’re still unsure if this small electric model is right for you.

What We Like

  • Long life
  • Auto shut off feature
  • User friendly
  • Lightweight

What We Don’t

  • Less powerful

Karcher K1700 Electric Power Pressure Washer

Features

  • 1700 PSI
  • Removable storage bin
  • 15-degree portable nozzle
  • Easy to operate
  • Comes with 3 nozzles

Another good option for those looking to use an electric pressure washer for the middle range of cleaning power is the Karcher K1700.

As one would expect from a product called “the Karcher,” it does produce a pressure of 1,700 PSI and is considered a convenient model with its two generously sized wheels that make it easy to move around made even handier by a removable bucket that doubles as storage for the soap solutions along with a built-in soap tank.

Although it only has three nozzles, the three that it does come with are easily the most useful ones that you’ll need to tackle jobs around the house.

The turbo nozzle offers high-powered cleaning capabilities, the 15-degree all-purpose nozzle is perfect for spraying areas like your car windscreen wipers during the winter, and one for soap application to ensure water stays clean as well as useable.

Not all brands offer warranty protection like this – but Karcher gives its consumer peace of mind with a 3-years limited warranty with an advanced exchange program should any issues covered by the warranty arise.

What We Like

  • Quick cleanup
  • Easy to use
  • Comes with accessories
  • Affordable

What We Don’t

  • less powerful

AR Blue Clean AR383SS 1900 PSI Electric Pressure Washer

Features

  • 30-foot hose
  • 28 oz. detergent tank
  • 25 Pounds weight
  • quick cleaning

You might never have heard of Italian company Annovi Reverberi, but they’re a 58-year-old business specializing in commercial/home electric pressure washers.

Their AR Blue Clean consistently sneakily appears on lists of the best pressure washers, especially for car cleaning. This pressure washer has a 1.5hp motor with 1900 PSI for effective cleaning.

AR Blue Clean is noted for its cleaning ability, particularly on its powered pet tool. This unit is large and offers an adjustable nozzle with four different settings.

Two convenient onboard tanks hold shampoo or soap, so you will not need to take a trip back to civilization to re-up on your rinse water every five minutes.

There are wheels for easy transportation and a 35-foot power cord. One simple dial control both handle height and steering level, so depending on the terrain you can be up off the ground (or grass).

What We Like

  • Easy to operate
  • Quick cleanup
  • User friendly
  • Affordable
  • 1900 PSI

What We Don’t

  • Leakage issue

Stanley SHP1600 Electric Pressure Washer

Features

  • variable-Spray Nozzle
  • 1600 PSI
  • 20-foot hose
  • 14 oz. Detergent tank
  • 2-years warranty

When deciding which pressure washer to purchase for car washing, the consensus among professionals is that your machine should not be set at over 1600 PSI.

The Stanley SHP1600 comes with an electric motor and has a GFCI plug, plus a 35-foot power cord, giving it over 50 feet of reach.

With this machine, you also get an effective nozzle tip at 1.6 inches for cleaning tight corners and other areas you need to reach but do not want to spray high-pressure water on.

Rather than tips, this model comes with an adjustable nozzle. This enables you to start with a nice wide-angle spray for the pre-soak, move into dispensing either soap or more water depending on your needs.

From there you can narrow the stream for high-pressure rinsing similar to how it works during coin-operated carwashes inconvenience of your driveway.

As a smaller model, this machine has a limited soaping capacity of 14 ounces. Being a lower pressure model, it’s convenient weighing in at only 15.21 pounds.

Even without wheels, one will still be capable of moving their unit around because even though it doesn’t have them – one will not find that too challenging.

What We Like

  • Easy to operate
  • Great warranty
  • Easy to carry
  • Comes with manual
  • Affordable

What We Don’t

  • Short cord

Generac 7899 GPW Power Washer

Features

  • 50% faster
  • 2900 PSI
  • 25 feet high-pressure flex hose
  • 196cc OHV engine
  • Maximum cleaning performance

For household chores, pressure washers need only be powerful enough to blast away stubborn stains.

For example, one can use a gas power model for remodeling jobs during the home renovation but it is wise to invest in two separate machines for your cleaning needs.

GENERAC is a well-known manufacturer of all-purpose pressure washers which are especially known for their six-cylinder motor which can produce 2.9 gallons per minute at 2,900 psi of cleaning power.

Our pressure washer has a variable pressure wand and can be adjusted up to its maximum which is around 2900 PSI.

It includes four assorted nozzles- a soap sprayer, a 25′ hose with a spray nozzle, and a half-gallon soap tank as well as a broad tool nozzle that also doubles as a rotating wet Turbo Broom for deep cleaning walkways and other surfaces.

The typical electric garden hose mechanics don’t apply to this product so you can use it without having to worry about whether or not you have access to electricity – one of the benefits of owning a gas-powered pressure washer.

When you’re ready to start washing your car, please do not go out and buy the harshest 10,000 PSI industrial pressure washer available.

The professional detailers recommend that you stay well under 2900 PSI for washing your vehicle. You can damage other areas besides your paint when using tremendous amounts of power like wheels or rubber.

To wash these areas with a pressure washer, make sure to use a nozzle that distributes the pressure more widely and take at least two feet back from these parts of your car while moving the wand in an arc motion.

What We Like

  • Easy cleanup
  • Ergonomic design
  • Comes with a spray gun
  • Quick nozzles
  • Affordable

What We Don’t

  • Require complete maintenance

Sun Joe SPX3000-XT1 XTREAM

Features

  • 2200 PSI
  • 20 Feet hose length
  • 33.8 fl oz foam cannon
  • 4 connect nozzles
  • Total Stop System

The Sun Joe SPX3001 XT is one of the best-known and most beloved electric pressure washers; it’s easy to use and has a long hose and quick-connect wand.

If you’ve never owned or operated an electric pressure washer, this is a top choice: it offers 5 quick-release nozzles for flexibility, as well as a 20 ft. hose, to give you more cleaning range.

You get extra accessories like screwdriver heads for changing out attachments or otherwise moving the machine around if it gets hung up on something.

The model also comes with a foam cannon. This handheld spray gun is really easy for beginners to use because it simply works with the same formula of foam cleaners (you will need to buy that separately) that you would normally just use by hand.

Even though this foam cannon won’t give you professional results, it can definitely ease your transition into using one of these polishers if you’re just getting started with them.

The SPX3001 XT1 Xtreme is a gas-powered GW20012 pressure washer. This unit has an integrated turbocharger that delivers 2200 PSI and a flow rate of 1.65 GPM.

It has the same 34-inch wand length, 20 feet high-pressure hose, and 35-foot power cord as our previous Sun Joe model. The retail price of the SPX3001 XT1 Xtreme gas-powered product is $239.99.

What We Like

  • Quick Cleanup
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Comes with accessories
  • Best performance

What We Don’t

  • Leakage issue

RYOBI Electric Pressure Washer

Features

  • 1,800 PSI
  • 1.2 GPM
  • 20 feet hose length
  • 16 Pounds weight
  • Quick cleanup

The Ryobi RY141820 is another great choice for a starter-style pressure washer for auto detailers, but this model has its own benefits so you’ll have to weigh your options.

The Ryobi RY141820 is a high-quality washer able to handle any job. It is lightweight at only 16 pounds, so it is easy to carry around.

There are 3 quick-connect nozzles include 15-degree, soap, and turbo. The great thing about this model is that it lacks the distracting “bells and whistles” those other washers come with, allowing one to focus on getting the job done quickly.

The Ryobi may not come in with the most power, but it is cheap at $130. It also comes with many great features to make sure you are getting the most out of your money if you aren’t looking for something too fancy.

What We Like

  • Compact
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable
  • Powerful electric motor

What We Don’t

  • Less performance

Buyers Guide of Car Detailing Pressure Washers

Power

Does the pump’s power source have an outlet close enough that it won’t be a hassle to connect? For car pressure washers, electric motors are by far the most practical with being able to locate outlets rather easily.

If you’re looking for a pressure washer that can strip old paint from your car, then you might consider one with an engine as opposed to one that runs on electricity.

This is just another thing to consider based on what it is that you’re planning to use your power washing equipment for – largely because different products will work better for certain situations than others.

With an electric car washer, you’ll gain access to a high amperage motor that delivers about 2,000 PSI which is an ideal amount for washing cars effectively.

Nozzle

The type of nozzle that your pressure washer has will affect how much water comes out. There are times when you want wider cleaning or rinsing fluid, and other times you’d rather have a narrow stream for delicate jobs.

Whether you want to wash dishes by hand or remove tough dirt stains from your car’s front grill, the right kind of nozzle will be important.

The best sprayers allow you to change nozzles quickly so that you can easily adapt to different tasks throughout the day.

Hose length

The appropriate length of the hose for a pressure washer is about 25 feet long. If it is too short, you’ll be tripping over it whenever you move around the pressure washer.

However, if it is too long, that too could pose problems when you want to move around because it might disrupt your job or end up getting entangled in obstacles.

Soap/Detergent Tank

Instead of relying on water and soap to get rid of all stains, you could also use mechanical stain removers.

Be sure to mix your mechanical and chemical stain removers though and remember: don’t forget to start with a test spot.

Related Post: How to Fix Pressure Washer Soap Injector?

Tips while using a Pressure Washer

  1. When it comes to choosing between gas or electric power washers, be sure to put your safety first. Although many of them are designed to be waterproof, machines do get old and/or faulty, potentially creating electrical hazards. Be sure to place the washer in an area that is free of water splashes or puddles at all times.
  2. When cleaning your house, it is very important to have all of the proper safety equipment on hand before getting into the task. Make sure you put on a good pair of protective goggles that will protect your eyes from the high-pressure water flow. To keep in mind, when operating pressure washers in conjunction with an electric motor, noise levels can reach up to 115 decibels which can really damage your hearing when exposed for prolonged periods, so make sure you are wearing earmuffs while operating the pressure washer.
  3. Always hold the spray wand at a distance from the nozzle that is noted in the owner’s manual so you do not risk getting sprayed in the face with any pressure coming off of it.
  4. It’s dangerous to stand too close to the pressure washer. The pressure applied by the washer nozzle may knock you off balance into an open septic tank or another man-made water source that could prove fatal. These precautions should always be observed when using your pressure washer; never direct it towards anyone or anything living where there is even the slightest chance of causing harm.

FAQs Related to the Topic

While a clog in your pressure cleaner’s nozzle can usually be cleared, you should use caution when attempting to do so.
The spray hose could get damaged if you aren’t careful. This damage may require an investment in a whole new spray hose assembly at a cost of hundreds of dollars.
Avoid the risk of destroying your spray hose and nozzle by carefully clearing any blockages due to mineral buildup or debris from inside the pressure washer instead.

When the pressure of the water permeates through the hose, it can cause it to crack or weaken in areas that may later create worse problems.
It’s recommended that when this occurs you purchase a new spray hose instead of relying on temporary fixes – because sometimes temporary changes can lead to additional problems in unexpected areas.

Conclusion

Car detailing is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience. There are steps that are involved during the detailing process that not only take time but also require a lot of effort.

Finishing the detailing process with high-pressure water is very important. High-pressure water is used for cleaning the car’s exterior and interior.

A pressure washer comes in handy while cleaning all sorts of things in and around your house. It helps in cleaning everything from your car to your garage.

For people who are conscious of their cars, having a pressure washer will help them get rid of the grime and gunk that sticks to their prized possession.

A pressure washer helps in cleaning not only your car but also helps in cleaning every nook and every corner of your garage.

According to Amazon rating, Generac 7899 GPW Power Washer is the best pressure washer for car detailing. I hope that you will understand.

For further information about pressure washers visit our website.

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