Alright, so I finally got around to using that Karcher power washer I’ve had sitting in the garage. The patio was looking a bit grim, you know, green stuff everywhere. Figured it was time.

Getting Started - The Unboxing and Setup dance

First off, getting it out of the box. Lots of bits and pieces, as usual. The main unit, the lance, a couple of nozzles, the hose. Seemed straightforward enough. I laid everything out on the lawn, just to see what I was dealing with. The instructions… well, they were pictures, mostly. I’m more of a "figure it out as I go" kind of guy anyway, but I did glance at them.

The first real step for me was connecting the high-pressure hose to the machine. Clicked in easy enough. Then the other end to the trigger gun. Another click. So far, so good. Then, attaching the garden hose for the water supply. Had to make sure my garden hose connector was decent; you don’t want that popping off mid-blast. Tightened everything up by hand. You don’t want to overtighten and crack the plastic, but snug is important.

Powering Up and First Blasts

Next, plugging it into the power socket. I used an outdoor extension cord, one of those heavy-duty ones. Always a bit nervous mixing water and electricity, but these things are designed for it, right? Made sure the power switch on the Karcher was off before plugging it in.

Okay, moment of truth. Turned on the water tap fully. Squeezed the trigger gun to get the air out of the system. Water dribbled out. Good. Then, I flicked the power switch on the Karcher. It hummed to life. Not too loud, which was nice.

I started with the Vario Power spray lance. It’s the one you can twist to change the pressure. Smart idea. I pointed it at a dirty paving slab and gently squeezed the trigger. Whoosh! A jet of water shot out. I twisted the lance, and you could see the spray pattern change from a pinpoint to a wider fan. Pretty neat.

• Low pressure first: I learned quickly to start with a lower pressure setting, especially on softer surfaces or painted stuff.
• Keep it moving: Don’t just hold the jet in one spot for too long, especially on high. You can etch lines into wood or softer stone if you're not careful. I found a sweeping motion worked best.

Tackling the Grime - The Actual Job

The patio was my main target. It had that slippery green algae and just general dirt. I used the Vario lance on a medium to high setting. It was amazing, actually. Seeing the dirt just peel away was super satisfying. Like one of those cleaning videos you see online. This was real life though!

I worked in sections, overlapping each pass a little. It took a while. My arm got a bit tired from holding the trigger, but seeing the results kept me going. For some really stubborn spots, I twisted the Vario lance to a more concentrated jet, but carefully.

Then there was the Dirt Blaster nozzle. This thing is serious business. It spins the water in a really tight, powerful circle. I tried it on a really grimy bit of concrete, and it just annihilated the dirt. But you gotta be careful with this one. I wouldn't use it on the car or wooden fences, probably too aggressive. It's for the tough stuff.

Using Detergent - The Soapy Bit

My model had a little tank for detergent. The Karcher manual (yes, I looked again) said to use their specific brand, but I had some general-purpose pressure washer soap. I poured some in. To use it, you generally set the Vario lance to its lowest pressure setting. The machine then automatically sucks the detergent through and mixes it with the water. Sprayed the whole patio down with the soapy mix and let it sit for a few minutes, just to loosen things up even more. Then, switched back to a higher pressure clean water setting to rinse it all off. Definitely helped on the really grotty areas.

Wrapping Up and A Bit of Care

Once I was done, and the patio looked about a hundred times better, it was time to pack up.

Turned off the power switch on the Karcher first. Then turned off the water tap. Squeezed the trigger gun again to release all the pressure from the hose and machine. Very important, this. Don’t want to store it under pressure.

Then I disconnected the garden hose, then the high-pressure hose. Drained all the water out of the hoses and the machine itself as best I could. Coiled up the hoses and the power cord. The machine usually has little hooks or spots to store these things, which is handy. Wiped the machine down with an old rag. Stored it away in the shed, ready for the next grime-busting session.

Overall, pretty impressed. It did what it was supposed to do, and did it well. Took a bit of grunt work, but way easier and faster than scrubbing with a brush. That Karcher made a dirty job almost enjoyable. Almost.