So, I finally got around to tackling the grime on my patio this weekend. It was looking pretty sad, honestly. Been meaning to do it for ages, but you know how it is, life gets in the way.

Anyway, I hauled out my Karcher power washer. It’s one of those yellow ones, not the biggest, not the smallest, but it’s been pretty reliable. I’d used it a couple of times before, mostly on the car, so I sort of remembered how to get it going.

First thing, I had to untangle the hoses. That’s always a bit of a wrestle, isn't it? Got the water hose connected to the tap and then to the machine. Then the high-pressure hose clicked onto the machine and the trigger gun. Found the power cord, plugged that in. Double-checked everything. Didn't want any surprise showers.

I decided to start with the fan spray nozzle. Figured it was a good all-rounder. Turned on the water tap first, let it run through the machine a bit, then flicked the power switch. Vwooom! The motor kicked in. It's got a decent bit of oomph, that thing.

I pointed it at the dirtiest paving slab. Pulled the trigger. Wow. It’s always so satisfying seeing that dirt just peel away. Like magic, almost. Years of green stuff and general muck just vanished, leaving clean stone behind. I got into a rhythm, sweeping the spray back and forth.

It’s not all smooth sailing, mind you. You gotta be a bit careful. Get too close or use the wrong nozzle, and you can chew up wood or leave streaks on softer stone. I learned that the hard way on an old garden bench once. This time, I kept a steady distance.

I spent a good hour out there. Did the whole patio, then moved on to the garden path. Even gave the lower part of the fence a quick once-over where it was looking a bit green. You do get a bit wet, splashed with dirty water, but it’s kind of fun, in a messy way.

The machine itself is pretty straightforward. Point, shoot, clean. It’s a bit noisy, yeah, so probably best not to do it super early on a Sunday morning. My neighbors are pretty chill, but still.

After I was done, the difference was amazing. The patio looked like new. The stones were back to their original color. It actually made the whole garden look brighter.

Then came the packing up part. Drained the water out, disconnected all the hoses, wiped the machine down. Coiled up the cords and hoses again – still a pain. But gotta do it, otherwise it’s a mess next time.

So yeah, that Karcher. It does what it says on the tin. A bit of effort to set up and pack away, but the results? Definitely worth it. Makes a horrible job a lot quicker and, dare I say, a little bit enjoyable.