Pressure washing: The best way to clean your car

DO your house and garden need sprucing up in time for summer? Is your driveway or patio looking dull and dirty? What you need is a pressure washer.

This piece of kit will make light work of those big cleaning jobs and will have your home's exterior all set for barbecue season in an instant!

Powerfully blasting out water to remove dirt and paint from ironwork, usually in preparation for re-painting, pressure washers are available to buy in DIY stores and online. Tired of foam washing your car by hand? A pressure washer will do the hard work for you in less than half the time.

There are range of different models available to buy at varying prices, so how do you go about choosing the right one for you? The first thing to do is to have a look at online reviews, written by fellow homeowners. These will not only help you judge how good each washer is, they will also give you handy hints and tips on how best to use your new gadget.

Next, decide what you're going to be using your pressure washer for before you make that all-important purchase. Are you blasting dirt off your driveway or simply cleaning gardening tools and equipment?

Another thing to consider is how portable you will need your pressure washer to be. Again, this will depend on what you're using it for. For instance, if you're planning to use it to wash the car, it needs to be able to stretch around the vehicle with ease. Most models come with built-in handles, which means transporting them around is simple. You could even look out for a pressure washer that comes with wheels attached.

Pressure washers are extremely powerful tools and care should be taken when using them. Ensure you wear the correct safety gear when using yours, and bear in mind you're likely to get wet.

A light duty pressure washer is best for simple tasks like washing garden furniture, barbecues, rubbish bins, motorbikes and garden tools. If, however, you're looking to clean a car (or bigger vehicle such as a boat or lorry), or clean wooden fences, spa pools or hot tubs, you'll need to purchase a medium duty model.

A medium to heavy duty washer is most suited to larger tasks like cleaning patios, concrete driveways, farm equipment and brickwork. Take a good look online before rushing into a purchase. Pressure washers can be a big buy and offer fantastic value for money if chosen correctly.

Don't put off those niggling household tasks like cleaning up the driveway or guttering. The pressure washer could become your new best friend. What's more, this piece of equipment is also great for handymen and will quickly pay for itself.

Still not sure a pressure washer is for you? Simply browse online to see how much use you could get out of this convenient piece of equipment.