My Messy Backyard Testing Day

Alright, so I decided I really needed to figure out which Simpson pressure washer actually cuts through the grime this season. Mine died last fall, and my patio looked like a crime scene after winter. Went straight to the store and grabbed three different Simpson models they had sitting there: that popular PS3228 one, the MegaShot something-or-other, and that smaller Honda-powered one folks rave about, the 30920 I think. Hauled 'em all home in the back of my rusty truck.

First thing I did was park them all next to my disgusting driveway. Seriously, oil stains, moss patches, just a general gunk-fest. Wanted a real test, you know? Plugged in the PS3228 first, hooked up the hose, pulled that starter cord... felt heavy, took a couple yanks. Water finally shot out, felt decent pushing back against me. Aimed it at a nasty oil spot – whoosh! Took maybe 20 seconds, but bam, gone. Pretty impressed. But then I moved to the moss... needed to get real close, and it felt like it was working harder, kinda slowing down, took more passes.

• The PS3228: Solid punch on greasy stuff. Felt like it ran out of steam quicker on tougher, spread-out gunk. Hose felt stiff too, kept wanting to kink.
• The MegaShot MSH3125: Heavier beast. Started easier actually. Shot water like crazy, seriously powerful blast! Cleared the moss way faster, didn't need to hover. BUT... holy cow was it thirsty. Felt like I was constantly checking the little gas tank. Loud? Yeah, real loud.
• The Honda 30920: Smoothest start, just a gentle pull. Quieter for sure, ran nice. Felt good holding it. Pressure? Okay, yeah. But cleaning that same driveway section... oh man. Took forever. Gentle compared to the others. Okay for my dusty truck maybe, but the baked-on grime? Nah, needed way more time.

Busted Hose Blues & Final Thoughts

Midway through testing the MegaShot, right when I'm feeling that sweet power washing bliss, SNAP! One of the cheapo quick-connect fittings on the wand just popped off! Water spraying everywhere like a fountain! Soaked my jeans instantly. Had to rush and shut the whole thing down. Yeah, gotta remember accessories sometimes suck out of the box. Swapped it with the PS3228's fitting to keep going. Frustrating.

So what cleans best? Honestly, kinda depends on what you're hitting. That MegaShot? Absolute monster for heavy-duty stuff like sidewalks or thick mold. Be prepared for the noise and gas runs. The PS3228? Good reliable punch for typical driveway mess, car washing, house siding – balanced workhorse. The Honda? Sweet for light jobs around the deck or patio furniture, gentle on surfaces, quieter, but forget thick grime without serious patience.

Me? My patio needed serious firepower. Got oil stains baked in like concrete. So, I ended up sweating over that loud MegaShot beast, filled it up twice, annoyed the neighbors probably, but got everything cleaned fastest. Would I like it for every day? Heck no, my arm's tired. But for this year's deep clean? Yeah, that's the washer that cut through the mess quickest for my needs. Just... maybe buy better fittings first.