Car lovers always want their car to be as clean, and shiny as they can. For their cars to have this state, regular maintenance, and detailing is necessary. One of the most important parts of detailing is cleaning it properly. And, pressure washers work well in this regard. That is what this article will be all about. Here, we will discuss the best pressure washer for car detailing that we recommend. There will be a total of seven recommendations from us. We believe that if you get any of those products, you will be more than happy with how well it performs. So, without any further ado, let us get started with the list.
Top 7 Best Pressure Washers for Car Detailing
Let us get started with our recommendations for the 7 best pressure washers. All of these washers are of good quality and would not let you down with their respective performance. If you are confused about which one to get, you can not go wrong by going with any of the pressure washers that we are going to recommend below.Â
1. Stanley SHP2150 Portable Electric Pressure Washer
The first product on our list is the Stanley SHP2150. This pressure washer is capable of producing up to 2150 PS, 1.4 GPM, and up to 13 Amp of power. It comes with a two-wheel trolley along with an adjustable telescoping handle which allows users to handle it easily. It comes included with a high-pressure foamer that allows you to clean your car even better. It has leakproof connections which ensure that leakage is never a concern. It also has 4 quick connect nozzles to ensure that it can be used for multiple tasks. This is a great overall package with the perfect blend of performance, and usability.
2. Sun Joe SPX3000
Moving on to the second recommendation, it is the SPX3000 from the house of Sun Joe. This is an electric pressure washer that comes with a powerful 14.5 amp, 1800 Watt motor. This motor is capable of generating up to 2030 PSI, and 1.76 GPM of water flow. This makes it great for cleaning and detailing your car. And, why just stop at a car? It is versatile enough to be used for various household cleaning tasks as well. It also comes with the TSS (Total Stop System) which automatically shuts off the pump when it is not being used for better efficiency and longer pump life. It also includes multiple quick connect nozzles (0º, 15º, 25º, 40º + Soap) for better versatility.
3. Karcher K1700
 The Karcher K1700 is capable of delivering up to 1700 PSI and 1.2 GPM of water flow to get an amazing cleaning experience. The On/Off foot switch makes it easy to control the power. The quick-connect nozzles allow it to be used for cleaning various objects. Be it your car, household objects, pavements, anything. The onboard 0.5-gallon detergent tank makes it easy to carry detergent and ensures a better, and cleaner wash. The three years limited warranty ensures that the buyers always have peace of mind.
4. Karcher K 5 Premium
 The fourth recommendation that we have on our list is another product from Karcher. This time it is the Karcher K 5 Premium. This has an even more powerful motor than the K1700 and is capable of delivering up to 2000 PSI, or 1.2 GPM of water flow. The Karcher K 5 Premium provides versatile cleaning options via a pressure-regulating power spray and a uniquely designed Dirt blaster spray. The patented hydro-cooled induction motor is designed to increase the life expectancy of the washer by up to five times. It is a top-of-the-range electric washer made for those who want the best.
5. WORX 20V WG630.2
 The WORX WG630.2 is a cordless, yet powerful pressure washer that is capable of producing up to 350 PSI of water flow. Being cordless, you do not need to worry about the cables as it is with other electric pressure washers. And, there is also less noise, and zero exhaust, unlike the gas-powered washers. It can produce multiple spray patterns thanks to the unique 5-in-1 nozzle attached to it. This makes it great for use in a wide variety of tasks. It comes with the WORX 20V PowerShare battery that is compatible with all WORX 20V cordless products. Overall, if you are after a cordless option, this is a good pick.
6. Greenworks 2000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer
Up next, we have the Greenworks 2000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer. This comes with a powerful 13 Amp motor that produces up to 1.1 GPM, or 2000 PSI of water flow. You can adjust the amount of pressure with the two different nozzles (25 degrees, and 40 degrees). The soap nozzle also helps in an easier application. Since it is electric, there is no need to worry about gas, fuel, or emissions.
7. Generac 7899 GPW
This is the first and the only gas-powered pressure washer on our list. It produces up to 2900 PSI of water flow. The pressure can be adjusted using the power dial. If you are looking for a very powerful pressure washer, and you are fine with the drawbacks of a gas-powered washer, then this is great for you.
What type of pressure washer is good for cars?
This is quite a frequently asked question when it comes to choosing a pressure washer for cars. There are primarily two types of pressure washers, one is gas-powered, and the other is electric-powered. Other than the source of power, is there any difference between the two? Well, the answer is yes. There are a number of differences between both of these types of washers. We would be discussing these below.
Should you buy a gas or electric pressure washer?
As we mentioned above there are two types of washers. Now, let us discuss which one you should be getting. Let us talk about some of the differences between these two types of washers using some important parameters.
Power: In terms of power, the gas pressure washers are better. The gas-powered options can produce higher pressure compared to electric washers. For example, most electric washers have a pressure rated anywhere between 1500 and 3000 PSI. Whereas, the gas pressure washers start from around 2000 PSI. These options can go even higher than 4000 PSI. So, it might seem that gas-powered is better than electric washers right? Well, yes, but for domestic uses only. For cars, anything above 1900 PSI can end up damaging the paint. So, it is better that you go for electric washers. That does not mean you cannot use any gas washer, as those with such high pressure are still usable, but you need to be very careful, use a proper nozzle, and maintain a proper amount of distance.
Noise: In terms of power, the gas-powered options are better. But, gas washers also produce a lot more noise when compared to electric washers. So, it is a better idea to opt for electric washers if you easily get disturbed, or annoyed by loud noises.
Maintenance: When it comes to maintaining these washers, the maintenance of an electric washer is better than the gas washer by leaps and bounds. With gas pressure washers, you need to check the oil level of the motor, the motor produces exhaust, and also needs gasoline. Not to mention, you also need to clean the filters would need to be changed annually as well. Although the electric options still need maintenance, that is the lubrication of the pump, cleaning filters, etc. This is far less than what is needed for gas washers. For this reason, most users will benefit much more from an electric pressure washer.
Starting Process: Electric pressure washers just need to be connected to a power socket, and then can be started by simply pushing on a button on the cleaner. But, for gas washers, you have to pull the cord to get it started.
Cable: Electric washers need to be connected to a power socket, thus you cannot use them in a place where it is not possible to get a power socket. But, there are certain battery-powered, cordless options. On the other hand, gas-powered require gasoline to run and thus can be used anywhere, as all you need to do is pull the cord to turn it on. Just, do not do it in a closed space as then you would suffer from the exhaust coming out of your washer.
Price: Gas pressure washers are generally more expensive than electric washers. Although there are several options for both types of pressure washers, gas-powered options are more powerful, and also more expensive.
As it might be clear now, both of these types have their own share of pros and cons. You should be making a decision on which one to get depending on which aspects you care about more. But, for most people, an electric pressure washer will be a better choice That is why most of our recommendations are of this type. Let us get into some frequently asked questions now.
What PSI will damage car paint?
Above we stated that too much pressure can end up damaging your car paint. But, what do we mean by too much? By too much, we mean anything above 1900 PSI. If you are using a pressure car washer that is producing over 1900 PSI, then you will very likely end up damaging your car’s paint. That is not something that you would want, right?
How much PSI do you need for detailing?
For proper car detailing the pressure should neither be too high, nor too low. When the PSI is around 1600, you would get the best results for car cleaning, and detailing. If you are planning on using a much higher PSI on your washer, then be warned, that you risk damaging your car’s paint.
Conclusion
With all of those questions answered, we are finally reaching the end of this article. Pressure washers are quite an amazing tool overall. Not only can these be used for washing various objects, but can also be used for cleaning, and detailing cars. In this article, firstly we gave the recommendations for the best pressure washer for car detailing out there. Then, we answered a number of frequently asked questions regarding the proper pressure, and also the types of washers. Hopefully, with this, all of your doubts have been cleared regarding a pressure washer for your car.
