Anyone Got One Of Those Cheapo Steam Or Jet Cleaners?

[kingboyk 2]

So, the local garage has replaced their jet wash with a man in a shed I'm not really in to sitting around waiting for someone else to clean the car when I could it do myself, and I can't find any other reasonably priced jet wash in the area.

 

Bucket and sponge doesn't really cut it as I live on a farm and pick up a lot of mud and dust.

 

Thinking about buying an el cheapo jet or steam washer but have no idea if they're any good, which one to get etc. so was wondering if anyone here has one and can give me some advice?

 

I'd ask on Detailing World but I'd be given a list of 500 quid's worth of lotions and potions to buy and wouldn't understand half of it

[Andy_C 50]

Pressure washer - Nilfisk are always on offer at Screwfix; got mine for £50-ish and it's OK - does what I need. I will be replacing with a Karcher however as the Nilfisk feels a bit flimsy. Ebay's your friend there - my last Grade A Karcher was about £70, induction motor so plenty powerful enough and lasted 4 years with weekly use (because I have OCD...)

 

Steam cleaner - I got a £50 one from B&Q and have hardly used it as it's OK for interiors, not too bad on wheels but a complete ballache for anything else frankly. I'd stick with a decent pressure washer.

 

Hopefully those well-under-£500 ideas will assist!!

 

I'd only add that a decent foam lance (£50) and some foam will make a huge difference on mud and stuff - well worth it IMO.

[kingboyk 2]

Thanks Andy. The DW comment was friendly banter btw

 

So the Karcher ones are half decent then? I see them on eBay and also Tesco have them I think. I'll check me some prices!

 

No great rush for now as I had the car washed at a while-you-wait place this afternoon (and to be fair to them they did a great job for seven quid).

[feb 47]

Andy, if you plan to replace your Nilfisk can I buy it from you when I come round if that's OK and provided you don't need it

Edited November 23, 2011 by feb

[nickaliath 22]

NILFISK Is easily a better manufacturer of pressure washers! Yeah they do cheaper ones, but on a whole are better than karcher.

 

Apparently Karcher pumps fail quite often.

 

I was guided to buy a Nilfisk by a local profesional valeter, cost around £180.00 but worth it.

[omega 82]

i bought one from aldi its got a 2000 watt moter and has worked fine for the 2 years that i have had it

got a mate who sells lots of karacher stuff so if you now what model you want migh tbe able to save you a bit of cash.

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

I have an RAC branded thing that I don't use very often and a small petrol one that I use a little more often.

 

I can tell you that we had a big (very very big) Karsher at work. It was a heap of scrap. Soon binned it and went back to Graham's Power Washers

[Andy_C 50]

Feb, no worries. Just prefer Karcher myself and never had any issues with them.

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

B&Q have deal on Hozeock 150 power washer @ £125 - 150 bar and looks a well built machine - tempted myself after my Karcher developed a leaking pump. A foam lance for it is £35 plus postage from Ebay.

[Henry Yorke 269 3 Cars]

I have had 2 tiddly Karchers and whilst both work, they tended to lose holding their pressure and leaked

[kingboyk 2]

Would a 120 bar be enough? Amazon have a Nilfisk C120 with car pack for £90 delivered.

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

120 bar is fine for most tasks.

[kingboyk 2]

Thanks everyone. The B&Q offer seems to have ended so I've taken a punt on the Nilfisk C120 from Amazon.

[welshpug 1,657]

I wouldn't bother with any hot pressure washer tbh, just pop to a local haulage/bus company and ask them to wave their £1500 Karcher diesel fired thing around

 

A cold household one will do to clean the mud and crap off but will always struggle with oil.

Edited December 2, 2011 by welshpug