If you want to have a successful car valeting business, having the right tools is very crucial. And one of the major tools for car valeting is the pressure washer. Some people prefer using a bucket of mild soapy water and soft wash sponge, while others use a garden hose to clean cars.
Even though these tools work well, they are not as effective as a quality pressure washer.
A quality car valeting pressure washer will easily get rid of the dirt, dust, tree bark sap, and bird droppings on your car or that of your clients. For this reason, picking the best pressure washer for car valeting with the right PSI and GPM is vital.
Besides cleaning your car, a powerful pressure washer can as well as be utilized for cleaning outdoor furniture, driveway, deck, patio, and sidewalk.
In this review and guide, we’ve done thorough research and brought you the best pressure washers for car valeting. But before that, our guide below should help you select a pressure washer that meets your needs and demands.
What to consider when buying a pressure washer
For you to land a quality and ideal pressure washer for your car valeting business, you need to know what features to look for. Here are some of the factors to consider before buying one:
Gas or electric
The first thing to consider is whether you want an electric or gas-powered pressure washer. Electric pressure washers are normally compact and easy to maintain. They are also easy to operate and slightly cheaper than their gas counterpart.
On the other hand, gas pressure washers are very powerful and more suited for heavy-duty jobs like removing graffiti and stripping of paint. However, these are difficult to maintain and quite expensive.
Hose length
Different pressure washer brands offer different hose length. Nevertheless, a longer hose is better than a shorter one. So, consider picking a high-pressure hose that is long enough to clean the cars that you deal with daily.
Most entry-level pressure washers feature a 4m hose while some high-end units have a hose length of 20m or longer than this. If you’re cleaning cars, a 4m or 5m hose is just okay but for a larger vehicle such as a 4×4, van or truck, then you will need a longer hose than this.
Pressure
Another vital feature to consider when picking a pressure washer is its pressure. The pressure is measured in pound per square inch (PSI) or bar. Pick the right one for your vehicles as a very powerful machine may end up damaging the paint.
In most cases, a bar of 110 to 130 is okay for cars. Avoid heavy-duty pressure washers that produce more than 170 bars.
Waterflow
Besides looking at pressure, you also need to check out the water flow rate. Waterflow is measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Waterflow rate should match with pressure to deliver great cleaning power.
Accessories
Not all pressure washers come with additional accessories for cleaning. So, if you want a pressure washer for car valeting, then you must pick one with extra accessories to use on cars.
Some of the common accessories that some brands offer include soft car brush, wheel brush, and car cleaning detergent.
Portability
You don’t want to keep carrying the pressure washer from one area of your car valeting business to another. As a result, it is important to acquire a unit that is very portable and easy to manoeuvre.
Besides picking an electric one that is compact and lightweight, you should also consider choosing a jet wash with wheels. Most pressure washers come with two wheels and a nice handle.
Versatility
After cleaning cars, you will definitely want to keep your floor clean and get rid of the grime and oils left behind after car valeting. That’s why having a versatile pressure washer is vital as you can use it to clean both your car and driveway or even other surfaces.
Price
The more powerful the pressure washer is the more expensive it will be. For car valeting, a light-duty or medium-duty pressure washer is just fine.
The pressure washers in this category are not very expensive but still, you need to find a quality and powerful pressure washer that can handle all types of vehicles.
Warranty
Not all jet wash brands can be relied on. Therefore, do some research and find out which pressure washer brands standout. The pressure washers on our list are from reliable brands.
Most of them have warranties and provide support to users of their products. Ensure to pick your unit from a brand that stands behind their product.
Here are the best 4 pressure washers for car valeting:
Silver line 1400W Electric Pressure Washer
Silverline is a trusted European brand with several pressure washers on offer. The Silverline 834832 jet wash model is a wonderful budget pressure washer. So, if you are on a tight budget but want a reliable and powerful unit for washing cars, patios, driveway, garage floor, and outdoor furniture, then this is the perfect tool for you.
The Silverline electric pressure washer has a maximum pressure of 105 bar and 408ltr/hr flow rate that are well suited for light-duty cleaning tasks and not for removing graffiti or stripping of paint. It is also compactly constructed for easy handling and storage.
So, you can easily move it around your garage floor or car valeting area.
Additionally, this corded electric pressure washer features a state-of-the-art air-cooled induction motor for outstanding performance. The engine is also durable and will serve the user for many years to come.
Besides, it also has a self-priming pump that allows the user to utilize water butts and other low-pressure water sources. As a result, you are not only limited to water from the tap or a large tank with high pressure.
Moreover, the jet wash is very portable and convenient to use. This is thanks to the 5m high-pressure hose and 5m power cord. These enable the user to cover a larger area without having to constantly lift the machine.
Also, it has two large wheels for easy manoeuvrability on different surfaces and a nice handle for easy pulling and pushing of the pressure washer. Weighing 7 kgs, this pressure washer won’t be a burden to use even for portable car valeting businesses that have to frequently lift it to and from their van.
Apart from the amazing features that it comes with, this is an easy to use pressure washer machine. This is because it has an automatic start/stop function. It is also versatile as it has the lance feature that offers variable low/high-pressure nozzle and detergent dispenser nozzle.
This feature helps you to select the right pressure for washing your car and for cleaning the driveway. For the car, low-pressure is needed while high pressure is good for the driveway or hard surfaces.
Overall, the Silverline electric pressure washer is nice and affordable. On top of that, the manufacturer offers a 3-year warranty upon registration.
Pros:
- Powerful air-cooled induction motor
- Simple to use with the auto start/stop feature
- Versatile unit with 2 nozzles and lance
- 5m hose for easy cleaning of the entire car
- Easy to manoeuvre with two wheels
- Compact design for easy storage
- Lightweight and portable
- Reliable performance
- Affordable price
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- The pressure is not strong enough for heavy-duty use
See Reviews & Check Current Price
Karcher K2 Full Control Home Pressure Washer
What pressure washer is best for car cleaning? This Karcher K2 full control is in my opinion.
If you’re just getting started with the car valeting business and want an affordable pressure washer from a notable brand, then you will love the Karcher K2 full control home pressure washer.
The Karcher K2 electric pressure washer is entry-level that is best suited for cleaning cars, patios, outdoor furniture, and much more. It has an air-cooled 1400 watt motor that produces a maximum pressure of 110 bar and a water flow rate of 360ltr/hr.
The durable motor has an air cooling system that supplies it with fresh cool air for continued exceptional performance.
Despite its compact design, it delivers powerful cleaning power that will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Also, it weighs 6kgs, which means that it is lightweight and easy to lift or transport from one place to another.
In addition, it has a telescoping handle and two wheels that make manoeuvring easy and fun. You don’t have to weigh yourself down as you clean a 4×4 vehicle but just push it as you change sides.
The unit is also ergonomically designed for easy use. To add on, it has a 4m high-pressure hose that can withstand a maximum pressure of up to 160 bar. The hose is also long enough for cleaning around most cars.
When connected, this pressure washer can cover an area of up to 20meters without changing the power cord. The electric pressure washer also has an automatic start/stop motor, which implies that the machine will turn off the motor when it’s ideal.
The Karcher K2 full control home electric pressure washer comes with a variety of accessories for versatile cleaning. Simply attach the right accessory for the right job.
It has a full control Vario lance that allows the user to choose one of the 4 settings. The mix is for the detergent, the soft for fragile surfaces like wood, the medium is suitable for washing cars, and hard is for washing hard surfaces like driveway or sidewalk. Other accessories are the dirt blaster lance, T150 patio cleaner, and detergent.
A unique feature of the Karcher K2 full control power is the water filter that traps debris and prevents it from spoiling the pump. With a 2-year warranty from Karcher, this is a good investment if you’re just getting started with pressure washers.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight unit
- Powerful motor for superior cleaning power
- Easy to use
- Easy to manoeuvre as it has wheels and a telescopic handle
- Onboard storage for safekeeping of accessories
- Wide range of accessories for versatile cleaning
- Easy to assemble
- Covers a wider area of up to 20m
- Ergonomic design for ease of use
- 2-year warranty
Cons:
- It doesn’t come with an onboard detergent tank thus quite cumbersome to use detergent
- Not enough pressure to handle heavy-duty tasks
See Reviews & Check Current Price
Karcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer
Among the various pressure washer brands that sell their units in the UK, Karcher is one of the bestselling. They boast of a range of high-end pressure washers such as the Karcher K4 full control electric pressure washer.
The Karcher K4 full control electric pressure washer is a powerful yet quiet pressure washer. It is more suited for cleaning cars, bikes, patios, garage floors, outdoor furniture, and deck.
The unit is equipped with a water-cooled motor that delivers a pressure of up to 130 bar and a maximum water flow rate of 420ltr/hr. This is enough power to tackle most home cleaning jobs and different kinds of vehicles. So, it’s is a great tool for home cleaning needs or a small car valeting business.
Additionally, the Karcher K4 full control pressure washer comes with a range of accessories that allow you to carry out different cleaning tasks if needed. All you need to do is to choose the right accessory for the right job.
It has an LED display on the full control trigger gun that allows you to see which setting you are on. As a result, you won’t confuse using a high-pressure nozzle on a fragile surface or vice-versa.
Besides offering great power and being quite heavy, this is still a compact and portable unit. It is equipped with two wheels that make manoeuvring simple.
Moreover, it has an extendable aluminium handle that makes pushing and pulling of the unit easy. With the 6m hose and 5m power cord, you will be able to cover at least 30m without any problem.
Other notable features of the Karcher K4 full control pressure washer includes an integrated water filter, high-pressure gun, plug and clean detergent, and 3-year warranty by the manufacturer.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Powerful motor for excellent cleaning power
- Quiet operation
- Compact for easy storage
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Convenient to use with the extendable aluminium handle
- Lightweight and portable for easy transportation
- Long 6m hose for covering a larger area
- Additional accessories for versatile use
- Onboard storage for safekeeping of accessories
- 3-years manufacturer’s warranty
Cons:
- Some users complain that the storage places for accessories are poorly made
- It is slightly heavier than similar units in the same category
See Reviews & Check Current Price
Wilks-USA RX550i High Powered Electric Pressure Washer
Last but not least, the Wilks-USA RX550i is another quality and powerful pressure washer. Delivering a maximum pressure of 262 bar and a maximum water flow rate of 510ltr/hr, this is the most powerful unit on this list.
It is also best suited for most medium-duty and a few heavy-duty cleaning tasks.
The Wilks-USA RX550i electric pressure washer is ergonomically designed for ease of use. The wheels make manoeuvring easy as you clean. Apart from that, it has a nice handle for easy control and handling of the unit.
You won’t have to frequently change the power cord as it comes with a long 26m high-pressure hose (8m + 18m) and a 5m power cable that covers up to 70 meters.
On top of that, this corded pressure washer features an onboard detergent tank for convenient use as you don’t have to carry the soap bottle when moving around.
Additionally, it has an onboard hose reel that makes storing and cleaning of the high-pressure hose simple. Built with the user in mind, the Wilks-USA RX550i has onboard storage for the lance, power cord, and other accessories.
All-in-all, this is a powerful and reliable pressure washer that will clean different cars and complete the job in almost half the time of other units. It is also easy to use and safe with the automatic start/stop motor.
Aside from this, the inlet filter prevents debris from entering the pump for smooth operation.
With the durable air-cooled 3000 watt motor that delivers massive power and a 1-year warranty by the manufacturer, this is a great investment for homeowners or car valeting business.
Pros:
- Powerful motor for great cleaning power
- Ergonomic design for ease of use
- Simple to manoeuvre
- Long hose and cord for covering a larger area
- Onboard hose reel for ease of storage
- Convenient onboard detergent tank
- Extra accessories for versatile cleaning
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- Quite expensive when compared to other units on this list
- Cannot take water from the butt
- The pressure washer is heavy
See Reviews & Check Current Price
Conclusion
If you’re into car valeting business, getting a quality and reliable pressure washer is vital. A quality pressure washer will ensure that you clean cars easily and efficiently.
Most of them come with different settings which also allow you to perform a wider range of functions. Pick a portable unit which you can move around with ease and it should have a long hose for easy access of both small and larger vehicles.
Furthermore, consider selecting one with a warranty so that you don’t have to worry about anything.
If your just starting your car valeting business check out our other post: How to start a mobile car wash business