Pressure washer best way to get rid of winter dirt/grime etc?

4460 Views 22 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Ger, Jan 30, 2011

Mattgeezer

Discussion Starter · Jan 3, 2011

normally just use the normal hose but think that now it may be time to invest in a pressure washer afterall, are they the best bet for getting rid of all the winter dirt/grime/salt etc?

and also these "detergant" bottles, what are they all about? or is there no point using them?

Cheers.

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mattthomas18

· #2 · Jan 3, 2011

dont think a pressure washer is all that... you can point it closer for to long as u risk stripping the paint if it loose etc chips...take off all heavy dirt ie bird poo before main wash.. and i tend to just use a two bucket approach when washing car to save on swirl marks

THMK

· #3 · Jan 3, 2011

i got a cheeapy one from halfrauds...its was about 40quid, it just enables you to get the grime out from under the arches and push the soap off a bit quicker but i guess the better more expensive ones get the dirt off better and stuff

thebambam

· #4 · Jan 3, 2011

well beats a car wash from say likes of morrisons. Silver wash didnt clean my car at all!

Mattgeezer

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 3, 2011

i got a cheeapy one from halfrauds...its was about 40quid, it just enables you to get the grime out from under the arches and push the soap off a bit quicker but i guess the better more expensive ones get the dirt off better and stuff

Thats what i'm looking for something to get under the arches etc, i saw that one in halfords at the weekend,
Is it ok pressure wise?

might get one tomorrow.

Washer

· #6 · Jan 3, 2011

It would come in handy for cleaning the flags but id keep it away from the motor.

Have no science to back it up but id prefer salt to stick to the crap under the car rarther than the car.

cenobytez

· #7 · Jan 4, 2011

time for the snow foam lance to really prove itself....

old_n07

· #8 · Jan 4, 2011

I wouldn't be without one, when a car is really dirty you can't get it clean with a hose and wash mit even using the two bucket method without scratching.

An extreme example but

Even after a blast with a hose you will be left with loads of dirt on the car which in effect becomes sand paper when you use the mitt [

]

But soak with foam to "wet" the dirt for 5 to 10 mins

then blast of with the PW and you get this

Which is then ready for the two bucket method [y]

Also if you are getting paint off with the PW then you are getting it too close, there is no need to get it less than 12" to the car and then it is always at an angle and never square on.

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vwgtiking

· #9 · Jan 4, 2011

N07, what foam did you use to get it that clean?

What powerwashers do you lot use? as they range in price and power etc...

old_n07

· #10 · Jan 4, 2011

I have the Autobrite snow foam lance together with their own snow foam, I mix a little shampoo in with the foam too [y]

The p\w I have is a Nilfisk similar to this

The car looks cleaner than it actually was, the dirt comes off well if the car is waxed but you still need to wash with a mitt, as I said earlier it is great for loosening the heavy soiling to prevent swirling when washing after

vwgtiking

· #11 · Jan 4, 2011

woah will the cheaper karcher ones work as well?

Mattgeezer

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 4, 2011

Ended up getting the halfords one in the end, pretty impressed with it for the price, and even got a fair amount of studs from the shampoo bottle!

old_n07

· #13 · Jan 4, 2011

Not heard good things about the cheaper Karchers, the name isn't as good as it once was. There are cheaper Nilfisks though also the Halfrauds ones don't seem to bad just a tad noisy

Neil

davemk

· #14 · Jan 4, 2011

Neil, will the Karcher hose fit onto the Nilfisk units? My Karcher has been killed by the frost.

richwig83

· #15 · Jan 4, 2011

Dave.... my dads bosch got K.O'd too! The frozen water split on of the hi pressure lines. Tried to plastic weld it but it didnt work!

old_n07

· #16 · Jan 4, 2011

Not sure Dave but you can get a different adapter for the SF lance. There may be a Karcher to nilfisk adapter too.

If the pressure lance is a screw fitting to the washer then it maight fit the Nilfisk as that is a screw fitting too.

Someone on DW might know for sure [

]

old_n07

· #17 · Jan 4, 2011

Adapters [y]

Nilfisk machine to Karcher lance

davemk

· #18 · Jan 4, 2011

Cheers Neil. I thought it sounded too easy to just use the karcher hose on a Nilfisk.

Mattgeezer

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 4, 2011

This is what i get just using cheapo halfords detergent in the detergent bottle.

And after a wash with turtlewax and the mitt

not bad considering it's not been washed in about 3 months/4000 miles.

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old_n07

· #20 · Jan 4, 2011

Cheers Neil. I thought it sounded too easy to just use the karcher hose on a Nilfisk.

Looks like there is 1mm difference in the connectors from the adapter size.

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

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