Hi all. I was wondering if anyone washes their Fit with a home pressure washer? If so, does anyone have any recommendations? I was just thinking that it would make cleaning the car so much easier and I could use it to wash the exterior of the house as well.

 

Why not just use a regular hose?

 

Well, my thought process was that a pressure washer will have higher pressure than a regular hose and they can also mix soap to wash the car much like a regular car wash. Plus they can come in handy to clean the exterior of the house. Thought that maybe if I got a good one, I could use it for both purposes.

 

You could do that.

If you're really hungry to spend the money, it'll be fine as long as you're careful.

 

Thanks. I'll do some research on them. I hoping that it will speed up the washing process as well

 

I use a power washer. Even use a modded water broom to clean the undercarriage! I use a low setting nozzle, too high a pressure WILL rip the paint right off. Gotta be careful!!

 

Been using a pressure washer for the past three decades and can attest that this tool will help keep your underchassis much cleaner than any garden hose.

With salt water and sand surrounding my current locality, have found that a pressure washer gets into all those tight spots (keep electrical components covered with plastic bags). On the islands, rust is commonplace, but not with any of our vehicles.

Currently have a Karcher 2,600 psi gas powered unit. Its strong enough to do multiple household tasks. This puppy is coming with us to the mainland - it'll be used to rinse off slush and salt!!!! (Electrics will do the job, I just don't like the hassle of lugging around the electric power cord when I do other household areas)

Would'nt get anything over 3,500 psi if its going to be used for cleaning cars. Additionally, for the paint surfaces, to eliminate any risk of stripping, use only the white tip nozzle (40 deg.). For the underchassis, use whatever you feel is applicable.

The bonus in using a pressure washer is up to an additional 50% increase in water conservation!!!

 

Awesome. Thanks for the tips. Looking forward to getting one now.

 

Bonus of a pressure washer, if you're into detailing, helps with simple rinses for when you're simply doing a dust, with a waterless wash wipe. Just for that weekly "cleanse" when a full wash isn't warranted, but you do have a week's worth of dust.

 

One thing about pressure washers is the need for yearly maintenance of the pump. Have never had a pump go bad. Most probably due to my lubing the pump yearly when its use will not be needed for a month or more. Simple enough to go to Home Depot and get a Briggs & Stratton Pressure Washer Pump saver (around $8) and give a spray through the inlet valve.

Prior to this was a Briggs & Stratton 2,050 PSI Cleanshot that was new since 2007. Dependable but wanted something on wheels. Sold on Craigslist to get Karcher (shown below) which has been doing its job for the past 3 yrs.

From the attached pic, note the first generation under chassis cleaning attachment (all SS steel). A perfect tool to clean the wife's new SUV which we'll be using on the mainland's winter weather for sure!!!!

Karcher has had a newer attachment using substantial plastic parts for the past decade.

 

Here is a video of how I made an undercarriage washer from a water broom.


Best tool ever!

 

Lots of good info. Love the water broom for the under carriage.