But deciding which is the best pressure washer to buy to clean your deck, car, pavers and beyond can be a bit tricky. I tested seven pressure washers and the simple but effective Sun Joe SPX 3000 XT1 won as best pressure washer overall.
For cleaning a wooden deck, you'll be best served by using the lowest pressure setting that's still effective. For soft woods like cedar or pine, this is usually about 500 to 600 psi. For harder woods, it can go up to 1200 to 1500 psi. Choose the right tip to use as well.
A pressure washer is a straightforward machine that can clean very well with only water. However, it can ruin your deck if it's not used properly. This is a tool that is powerful enough to etch brick, but in the right hands, it can be gentle enough to wash siding.
The best deck cleaner is the Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner. It removes tough stains without heavy scrubbing and leaves behind a nonskid surface. For a budget-friendly choice, consider the Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Pressure Washer Cleaner.
Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.
We recommend around 2400 PSI for the average deck. This makes the job easy without damaging most woods. Start by using the standard spray tip to get rid of any loose dirt, leaves, and other easy debris.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
This classification ranges from as low as 2,000 PSI to as high as 2,800 PSI. You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface. They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood.
It's also generally safe to use mild soap, such as Wash Safe Spray and Clean Composite Deck Cleaner or Dawn dish soap and water. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer before trying any chemicals.
Spray the deck lightly with a mixture of oxalic acid and water to brighten the wood. With a 25- or 30-degree tip in the wand of the pressure washer and a psi of 1,000 to 1,200, apply the stripper to the deck, starting with the top rails and working down the balusters (Photo 1).
Power washing your deck, patio, fence, siding, or any other outdoor structure can brighten it up and make it look new again. And while it may be tempting to apply a new coat of stain immediately after pressure washing, most experts recommend waiting at least 48 hours before applying any new products.
Hold the power washer at least two feet off the ground. Use a pressure washer with a fan tip attachment/adjustment and soap dispenser to remove soil, concrete dust, or other types of soil. Spray the deck with soap, then follow by gently scrubbing each deck board with a soft bristle brush. Rinse thoroughly.
Applying Pressure
Although highly effective for cleaning concrete, applying this much pressure to your deck can cause irreversible damage. To clean a deck effectively, about 1,500 pounds of pressure will do the job nicely, without causing permanent damage.
Reach for the 1500 PSI Pressure Washer and use the 40-degree nozzle to clean painted soft-wood surfaces, aluminum siding, and windows. Brick, stone, and vinyl can handle the higher pressure of the 1600 PSI model. For stucco, stick to the gentler cleaning power of the WORX Hydroshot described below.
Most of the time though, average pressure washers use around eight gallons of water per minute (GPM). A pressure washer with around five GPM is already efficient.
If your deck is made from concrete, pavers travertine, brick, stamped concrete or composite decking, you can clean and refresh it for summer using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover.
We highly recommend using a deck cleaner when prepping your deck for a new coat of deck stain. We'd also recommend using a deck brightener before staining your deck, though this step isn't required.
The natural pH of wood is slightly acidic, and bleach is a basic solution. As a result, use of bleach on wood shifts the pH from near neutral pH to a basic pH that will damage the cellular structure. Bleach corrodes metal fasteners, screws and nails. Bleach can cause damage to surrounding plants.
Any acidic cleaning agents (including vinegar) will do no favours for your wooden decking boards. We recommend that you avoid these completely for decking care, so you can enjoy your terrace for a long time to come.
The RYOBI 1800 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer is the perfect powerful yet portable option to get the job done. This pressure washer is ideal for light duty applications like cleaning small driveways, sidewalks, decks, windows, patio furniture, campers, bikes, boats, and many other recreational applications.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
A 4000 PSI pressure washer is ideal for heavy equipment, concrete surfaces, brick walls, construction sites, stripping paint and lifting oil stains. Again, a 4000 PSI pressure washer should not be used on house siding; 4000 PSI is strong enough to cause some serious damage!