A pressure washer isn’t a must-have for cleaning your bike, but it can certainly help, especially if your bike is covered in mud or dirt. Most pressure washers are powerful and versatile, and can help you with other tasks around the house, from washing your car to cleaning your patio and backyard.
When it comes to cleaning your bike, my standard answer for a long time has been to avoid using a pressure washer, at least when it comes to cleaning your road bike. For me, the best way to really test whether this advice is correct is to try it out for myself.
I’ve been testing Karcher’s entry-level pressure washer, the K2 Classic, to see how it performs when it comes to washing a bike. The K2 Classic is one of Karcher’s more affordable pressure washers, with an RRP of £100, but you can shop around and find cheaper models. Karcher says it’s ideal for “occasional use on garden furniture, gardening tools, bicycles and light dirt around the home”. The K2 Classic is a UK-only model; for US users, the K1 looks to be the equivalent model, priced at $139.99.
Related topics: