Okay, so I finally got around to testing out some pressure washers for cleaning my car. Been meaning to do this for ages, figured I’d share what I found.

First off, I borrowed three different pressure washers from my buddies. One was a super cheap electric one from who-knows-where, the second was a mid-range electric one from a well-known brand, and the third was a gas-powered beast. My goal? To find something that's powerful enough to get the job done without stripping the paint off my ride. I also considered ease of use because time is money.

Started with the cheap electric one. Set it up, hooked it to the hose, plugged it in. The pressure was... underwhelming. It was okay for rinsing off loose dirt, but it couldn't touch any of the grime that was actually stuck on there. Basically, it was like using a slightly more powerful garden hose. Total waste of time for serious car cleaning.

Next up, the mid-range electric one. This was noticeably better. The pressure was decent, and it came with a few different nozzles. I used the wider nozzle for general cleaning and a narrower one for the wheels. It did a pretty good job of blasting away most of the dirt and road salt. The foam cannon was OK, but it didn't produce super thick suds, so I used my own soap.

Now, for the gas-powered monster. Fired it up – loud as hell, but man, the power! This thing could strip paint if you weren't careful. I kept a good distance from the car and used the widest nozzle possible. Blasted away everything, even the stubborn bug guts on the front. Rinse? Easy peasy. Downside? The noise, the fumes, and the fact that it's a pain in the butt to store and maintain. Also, the water pressure this thing outputs made me nervous about accidentally damaging something. Maybe overkill for just washing the car.

Here's the breakdown:

• Cheap electric: Don't bother. Seriously.
• Mid-range electric: Solid choice for most people. Good balance of power and convenience.
• Gas-powered: Powerful, but overkill for most car-washing scenarios. Only consider if you have other heavy-duty cleaning tasks.

My personal pick? I'm leaning towards the mid-range electric one. It's easy to use, powerful enough for what I need, and doesn't require me to wrestle with a gas engine. Plus, my neighbors won't hate me for the noise.

Pro tip: Always test the pressure on a small, inconspicuous area first to avoid damaging your paint! And use a proper car wash soap, not just any old detergent.

That's my experience! Hope it helps someone else out there trying to keep their car clean.