The UK's bestPetrol Pressure Washers2022 Review

The Wilks Genuine USA TX625 Petrol Pressure Washer achieves the sort of results that we all expect to see when using a power washer – we’re talking write-in-the-grime levels of cleaning power.

It’s cheaper than some petrol models, but still has a maximum pressure output of 272 bars which is powerful enough to tackle cars, driveways and those all-important grimy patio slabs.

The pressure doesn’t stay up at 272 bars continuously, after an initial spurt, but it doesn’t drop down too dramatically either.

Running with a 4-stroke 210 cc engine, it uses unleaded petrol and has a separate oil tank which needs to be kept topped up. The recoil pull start is relatively easy to use, generally starting the engine after a couple of pulls.

Where this petrol pressure washer really comes into its own is in the number of functional accessories provided. A straight and curved lance come included, meaning you can unclog gutters without having to use a ladder and clean under car wheel arches too.

There are also five different pressure nozzles to change between, which all work effectively for different purposes – blasting, stripping, cleaning, washing, and detergent application.

As you can see, Wilks have clearly decided not to leave anything to chance, providing a nozzle for almost any purpose.

A particularly interesting attachment, which doesn’t often come included with pressure washers, is the ‘self-propelled drain cleaner’. It connects to the pressure washer’s nozzle with a hose, and has a rounded metal spray head. If you put it into a blocked drain, it will propel itself through the blockage, using the power of the washer to clear the channel.

This washer also offers flexibility in terms of where you can pull the water from – if you’re near a tap, you can simply hook the 12 m hose up to the faucet, but you can also draw water from static water sources like buckets, water butts and ponds.

What this really means is, this is one of the best petrol pressure washers to use just about anywhere, as you aren’t limited by tap proximity.

An additional 8 m hose is also included, which can be connected to the standard 12 m hose, to create a maximum reach of 20 m – more than enough to complete most jobs around the home.

Whilst some pressure washers can hold you back, keeping you tethered to the wall by not offering a decent amount of hose, Wilks’ USA TX750i Petrol pressure washer comes with a 30 m hose that makes it possible to use it almost anywhere in the back or front garden.

Also, if you’re naturally concerned about how to deal with such a long hose when it’s not in use, there is a lot of well-thought-out onboard storage for both the standard 20 m hose, and the 10 m extension. If you’re working down the end of the garden, there’s enough length for that, but if you’re closer to home then you don’t need to worry about tripping over unruly coils of hose.

A hose with a filter system is included as well, which can be used to draw water from a bucket. So, in the unlikely event of working somewhere that simply doesn’t have access to a tap within 30 m, you can still make use of this powerful petrol pressure washer.

Speaking of power, the TX705i can produce 272 bars of pressure which makes it one of the most powerful pressure washers featured here. Considering this combination of power, construction, and price, whilst it may not be the cheapest model available, it still offers good value for everything that’s included.

There can be a few teething problems when it comes to getting used to this machine’s specific personality: it vibrates quite a lot when used on low revs, and requires a spanner to change over the lances and hose. Like other models, it comes with various nozzles for creating different sprays (five, to be precise), but, whilst these are stored on the unit, they can jump out as a result of the vibrations.

There are, however, also a lot of practical features which make this pressure washer easy to use, such as the long cable length and ability to draw from any water source, so it’s really a case of weighing up the pros and cons depending on what jobs you’re hoping to get done.

Petrol machines aren’t exactly renowned for their quiet running, but the Briggs and Stratton Elite petrol pressure washer does a good job of keeping noise down where possible (whilst still providing a powerful clean).

When the engine is running idle, waiting for the next task, the engine drops down to be 40% quieter. This avoids excessive noise being made unnecessarily when the pressure washer isn’t in use, and can make the machine more comfortable to use for extended periods compared to standard petrol motors.

Speaking of comfort, the 190 cc Briggs and Stratton engine comes with an easy-start system which needs no priming or choke. It’s pretty reliable to get going on the first or second pull of the recoil, which can save a lot of time and energy – we’ve all been there, wearing ourselves out trying to persuade a petrol machine to spring to life.

Plus, reliability isn’t the only benefit of this motor. The power also means that the washer is able to deliver a maximum of 220 bars of pressure which sees dirt physically running away from the jet stream.

The four spray nozzles are quick to connect and provide a good amount of variety, ranging from a pin-point jet to a wide fan. The only main thing missing, accessory wise, is a curved lance. Whilst these come included with some other models, only a straight lance is provided with this Briggs & Stratton washer which can make it harder to clean drains and other hard-to-reach areas.

The hose is only 9 m long as well, which, again, can reduce this washer’s ability to be used for more awkward cleaning jobs. The majority of petrol pressure washers come with longer hoses, or even two which can be joined together, so this model can feel a little restrictive.

Given that petrol pressure washers don’t come cheap, you don’t want one that is going to fall apart after a couple of uses. Whilst it’s true that most of these machines are built pretty sturdily, WASPPER’s W3000HA petrol pressure washer has a few extra features that ‘level it up’ in terms of durability.

Given that several components on the body are made from rust-resistant metal, as well as the fact it has a stainless-steel spray gun and aluminium lance, this machine feels sturdy and can deal with a couple of knocks and bumps without immediately showing wear and tear. The interchangeable spray nozzles also have metal bases, which don’t feel like they will degrade over time, and are easy to click in and out of the lance.

There are three spray nozzles in total, a narrow 15° head, a wider 40° option, and one which is specifically designed to be compatible when applying soap. These make it possible to do a really refined jet wash, blasting years of dirt from the driveway, or to cover a slightly wider area – cleaning the decking or patio furniture.

According to the specs, the 196 c Peggas engine is capable of pushing out 8.5 L of water per minute – whilst it’s impossible to measure this to know for sure, it’s certainly noticeable that this powerful 207-bar water pressure washer creates results that aren’t disappointing. In fact, it’s one of those tools that has you looking for something else to clean, even when all the jobs are technically done (warning: you might even find yourself offering to wash your neighbour’s car).

One thing that may slightly displease the neighbours (even more reason to offer that free car wash…) is the sheer volume that comes from this petrol machine. It’s certainly not the best petrol pressure washer to use early in the morning or late at night, and it’s pretty loud even on idle, but then again – rarely are petrol engines particularly quiet.

When a name like Honda starts getting involved with pressure washers, you know you’re in for something good. After all, you only need to head along the M1 for a couple of miles to see examples of their reliable petrol engines at work.

The WASPPER W2900HA Petrol Pressure Washer is powered by a 196 cc Honda engine which is reassuring in terms of quality, and impressive in terms of power. It’s the sort of machine that lifts stains out of concrete paving, instead of just removing the top layer of dirt.

As with most pressure washers, it comes with a variety of spray nozzles that quickly click in and out so that it’s no hassle to change between jobs – whilst the smallest 15° nozzle creates a powerful pin-point jet, the larger 40° option makes a wider spray that is useful for blasting dirt off larger areas like decking. It’s also easy to keep the nozzles all together in one place as they store on the body of the unit, which means they’re always right where you need them next time the petrol pressure washer comes out.

With a spray gun that is more ergonomic than most, it’s also possible to use this pressure washing with one hand, leaving the other hand free to wheel the base unit around when necessary. Whilst the included hose is 7.5 m long, it can feel a little short for some jobs (and it’s shorter than the other hoses of other models featured here); you need to either make sure you’re close to a tap, or buy a self-suction hose separately that will enable this washer to draw water from any static water source.

The maximum pressure of 200 bars cleans deep-seated grub off patios and driveways, and it can also be used to wash the car as well – the 40 cm lance creates a bit of distance which can make it easier to clean in spots like wheel arches without getting soaked.

The primary, most noticeable, downside from using this machine is the noise. It’s pretty loud when it gets going, and doesn’t really die down until the motor is shut off again. Ear protectors are definitely recommended, and so is choosing a time to pressure wash which won’t disturb the neighbours…