Alright, so the other day I was looking at my balcony, and man, it was a mess. Leaves, some grime, you know how it gets. I really wanted to give it a good blast with a power washer, but here’s the kicker: my apartment building doesn't have an outdoor tap. Not a single one I could use. So, a regular power washer needing a hose? No chance.

Figuring Things Out

First, I thought, maybe I just scrub it by hand? But honestly, the thought of being on my knees with a brush just didn’t appeal. I wanted that power wash satisfaction, even if it was a smaller scale. I remembered seeing these portable, battery-operated pressure washer things online. You know, the ones that can suck water from a bucket. So, I figured, why not give that a shot?

I went and picked one up. Seemed simple enough. Battery, a wand, a short hose with a filter on the end to dunk into water, and a couple of nozzles.

Getting Started with the Buckets

So, the day came. I charged up the battery the night before. Didn't want to get halfway through and have it die on me. Then, the water situation. I grabbed a couple of decent-sized buckets. My plan was to fill them up in the kitchen sink and lug them out to the balcony. Not ideal, but hey, no hose, right?

I cleared off the balcony, moved the sad-looking plant pots and that old chair. Then, I started the bucket brigade. Fill, carry, slosh a bit, repeat. Got two buckets ready to go.

The Actual "Washing" Part

I connected the suction hose to the washer, dropped the filter end into the first bucket of water. I made sure it was submerged good. Put the battery in, picked a general-purpose nozzle, and aimed it at a less noticeable spot to test. Pulled the trigger.

It whirred to life and after a second or two, water started spraying out! The pressure was, well, it wasn't like a gas-powered monster, but it was definitely stronger than a regular garden hose nozzle. Good enough for my little balcony, I reckoned.

I started working my way across the concrete. It was actually doing a decent job on the surface dirt and those annoying dried leaf stains. The biggest hassle? That bucket emptied faster than I thought it would. I’d get a section done, and then, "Sputter, sputter," time for a refill. So, back to the kitchen sink I went. I think I refilled those buckets maybe three or four times for my small space.

• The battery held up fine for the whole job, which was a relief.
• It was a bit of a workout, hauling water back and forth.
• I did get a bit wet, mostly from splashback, but nothing too crazy.

For some tougher spots, I had to hold the nozzle a bit closer and go over them a couple of times, but eventually, they came clean. I didn't use any soap this time, just plain water, and it was mostly fine for what I needed.

Was It Worth It?

So, after about an hour, maybe a bit more including all the water hauling, I was done. The balcony looked a whole lot better. Definitely cleaner than it had been in ages.

Cleaning up the washer itself was easy. Just disconnected the hose, emptied any remaining water from it, and wiped down the unit. Stored it back in its box.

So, power washing without a hose? Yeah, it's doable. It’s not as convenient as just hooking up to a tap, that’s for sure. The water supply is the main thing. But for small areas, or places where you just don't have hose access, these little battery-powered bucket washers are a pretty neat solution. It got the job done for me, and I didn't have to break my back scrubbing. I'd do it again, for sure. Just gotta be prepared for those water refills!