For a standard car, a mid-range pressure washer should do the job. 4x4s that see a lot of heavy duty use, caravans or commercial vehicles may need a higher end model. All the pressure cleaners we tested are designed to clean cars and camper vans, as well as bikes when you’re out and about. You will need to keep in mind the run time and possibly charge more than once for larger vehicles. A pressure washer can be used for a whole host of cleaning tasks and this will affect which attachments and settings you use. There are lots of different models for different tasks as well as a range of attachments and optional extras available. These include: Does the brass washer and white washer at the nut end need to be removed first? I can't seem to get these off.

Cleaning Head– With a substantial width, the Aquasurf 250 produces time saving results, and is able to efficiently clean 1m² per minute. Specific car cleaning attachments are also available, including angled tools for reaching beneath the body of the car and brushes to softly clean the bodywork.The higher the power, the harder the machine will be able to work on tough areas, but some surfaces may require a lighter touch. Pivoting Joint– This patio cleaner features a pivoting joint for effortless manoeuvring around your space, and all round ease of use.

I'm trying to removed this part from the spinning head as it won't spin any more. I can't seem to remove it and it seems jammed. If you’ve got a large or commercial area to clean or some seriously built up grime, you’ll be looking for a high powered pressure washer. These pressure washers should be able to clean large areas of paving as well as vehicles, such as 4x4s and caravans. Finally, consider how water will drain away when you’re working and remember not to use a pressure washer in freezing temperatures. These pressure washers are ideal for most households. Machines in this range should be able to cope with cleaning paving and garden furniture as well as cars.There are a number of things to consider before buying your washer. The tougher the job, the more power you’ll want from your machine. The smaller or more delicate the area, the less power you’ll need. I solved this when mine stopped spinning. I unscrewed and tapped out the illustrated part using a wooden mallet. I removed the washers. I observed a dirty wear line. I polished both washers and the brass bushes with a mild polishing compound. I used G4 which is for car paintwork. I am sure bathroom cleaner, jeweler polish or any other mild abrasive would also work. I used 1200 wet and dry, a cloth and an old bit of mdf to rub both washers until the dirty wear was absent. I cleaned all the parts thoroughly, including the washer jets. I remounted it and tightened until the washers span but the centre remained fixed. Spins perfectly. Brush Skirt– Acting as a splash guard, the brush skirt enables splash-free cleaning so that your surrounding areas are kept perfectly dry.

Some models come with attachments included while others will be available to buy as add-ons. Make sure you consider which attachments you’ll need to suit the surface you’re cleaning. Adjustable settings are also useful to tailor the cleaning power to different areas. Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a safety button, the runtime, and noise. In our video guide, we outline all of the above points and demonstrate how to use a pressure washer on both vulnerable, easily damaged surfaces and larger areas, such as paths and patios. While budget brands are more likely to fit this price-tag, some mid-range manufacturers also offer a basic model:

Back in stock alert

We tested a range of pressure washers and pressure cleaners, putting them through their paces on a range of surfaces. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each: