So I got this micro jet washer last week – basically a pocket-sized power washer – and honestly thought it'd just be for patio chairs or bikes. Wrong. Got bored today and decided to see what weird stuff it could actually clean. Spoiler: way more than expected, and some fails too. Here’s how it went down.

The Setup & Equipment

First things first: gotta be safe. Those tiny jets pack a punch! Dug out my safety glasses – the cheap plastic ones from the toolbox. Filled the washer's tiny reservoir with plain tap water. No fancy cleaners today, keeping it simple. Grabbed the fine tip nozzle, 'cause the wide one sprays like a fire hose. Plugged it in near the backyard sink, ready for cleanup. Needed a test subject, so just grabbed random grubby stuff kicking around.

The Cleaning Experiments

The Mud-Caked Shoes:

My old sneakers were basically dirt sculptures after last week's trail hike. Flipped 'em upside down on the concrete. Held the washer about 6 inches back, gave a quick squeeze on the trigger. Whoooosh! That mud literally melted off the rubber soles and deep treads. Like magic. Aimed at the mesh upper – held my breath expecting tears, but nope, just blasted the embedded dust right out. One pass, done. Only regret? Didn't hold the laces taut – got 'em soaked and frayed a tiny bit. Lesson learned!

The Disgusting Keyboard:

Oh boy, the home office keyboard. Crumbs, coffee drips, who knows what else between the keys. Unplugged it, hauled it outside. Went for a cautious approach: held the washer WAY back, maybe 18 inches. Did short, quick bursts between the keys at a slight angle. Watched like a hawk for flying keys! Grime and crumbs shot out like little projectiles. Felt satisfying. Took longer than the shoes, but after drying overnight? Looked factory-fresh, no damage. Seriously impressed this worked.

The Grill Grates (The Fail):

Our rusty barbecue grates were next. Stupidly optimistic moment. Fired up the jet washer point-blank at the rust… Big mistake. Didn't touch the rust at all. Instead, it just blew water everywhere, soaked my pants leg, and splattered greasy black gunk all over the patio. Total mess. Ended up scraping them with a wire brush anyway. Micro jets lose to baked-on BBQ gunk every time. Won’t try that again.

The Grimy Car Mats:

Rubber floor mats were covered in sandy dirt and dried leaves. Took them out, leaned 'em against the fence. Short, controlled bursts across the rubber surface. Worked perfectly! The texture just shed the mud and sand instantly. Even cleaned the deep ridges where junk collects. Dried fast in the sun. Way faster and more thorough than shaking or vacuuming. Winner!

Thoughts & Who Should Try This

Overall? This little tool rocks for surprising stuff besides just decks or bikes. Saves time and elbow grease. But gotta be SMART about it:

• Start gentle: Too close = potential damage (RIP shoelace tips). Back off first!
• Mind the pressure: Fine tip, low setting usually safer for weird surfaces.
• Water-sensitive stuff is risky: Definitely skip electronics like phones!
• Expect mess: Do it outside! Got soaked cleaning the grill.

If you're the kinda person who hates scrubbing small, textured stuff – shoes, toys, tool grips, rubber mats – this gadget is golden. Saves your back and time. Grill grates? Hard pass. Still need steel wool for that battle.

Got weird stuff you cleaned with yours? Hit the comments! Still wondering if it can revive old gardening pots next week...