Don’t Let the Size Fool You — Our Tester Loved This Small-but-Mighty Pressure Washer

For years, I’ve relied on gas-powered pressure washers for outdoor cleaning. They’re powerful and effective, but the added maintenance with gas and oil turned small projects into bigger ordeals. Sometimes you just want to plug in and go, you know? So when I was asked to test the Karcher K1800PS Cube — a compact electric model with 1800 PSI working pressure — I was excited to see how it compared.

Priced at just $189.99, I think many homeowners would find that this plug-in model is fully capable and meets their needs. As part of the test, I used it across a range of outdoor chores to evaluate how it performs in real-world scenarios.

What's Included in the Box + Setup

I rarely find a tool that comes right out of the box ready to use, so this was a great surprise. If you’re ready to clean, you can unbox it and attach the hose in minutes. The unit included the washer itself, a turbo nozzle, a 15-degree nozzle, a soap nozzle, a soap tank, a 20-foot hose that runs from the machine to the nozzle and a 35-foot power cord.

After connecting it to a garden hose and power outlet, I was able to start cleaning immediately. I tested with and without a multi-purpose power wash concentrate in the detergent tank, first without, just to see how the water pressure alone performed against my dusty vinyl siding, driveway and car windshield. While it doesn’t match the force of the gas-powered unit I own, its performance is nothing to complain about. It handled most light-to-medium-duty tasks without an issue.

The two nozzles made it possible to adjust the intensity of the spray based on the surface. For example, I used the wider-angle nozzle on my flagstone sidewalk but didn’t hesitate to use a higher-pressure spray against the bugs stuck to my car windshield.

How Well It Worked on Different Surfaces

I tested the K1800PS Cube on a wide variety of outdoor surfaces, including a car, driveway, siding, windows and more.

• Vehicle exterior. It removed dirt and mud from the body and wheel wells really well. Some bug splatter on the windshield needed manual scrubbing.
• Floor mats. Excellent results; the salt and winter grime lifted away cleanly!
• Vinyl siding. While it cleaned surface dirt, areas with buildup benefited from extra scrubbing. That said, I don’t wash the siding often. If I made spraying it down part of my monthly cleaning routine, I think the pressure washer with soap would do a great job with upkeep.
• Windows. With the right nozzle, it cleaned them well. I used the Karcher vacuum squeegee to remove the moisture to avoid streaks.

• Basketball Hoop Backboard. Yes, this is a niche surface, but our hand-me-down backboard hadn’t been cleaned in years. Blasting it with the pressure washer with soap was transformative. Fast, too.
• Gutters. We have lots of trees in our yard, so gutter maintenance is high on our list. On a ladder with the pressure washer on the ground, I used the tool to clean dirt and sediment so it flowed down the downspouts. Then, from the ground, I also washed the front of the gutters to help them look clean.
• Driveway. The pressure washer was good for loose debris and dust, though the narrowness of the spray made it hard to clear wide areas in one pass.

What I Didn't Like About the Cube

The only issue I encountered was related to reach. The combined length of the hose and power cord is approximately 55 feet. For many homes, this may be sufficient; however, for homes with longer driveways, larger patios or want to use the tool in areas farther from outlets, it could be a challenge. The manufacturer recommends not using an extension cord, which limits flexibility unless you have multiple exterior power sources.

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Emily has been a contributing writer to HGTV.com for over 12 years, helping homeowners with home improvement, cleaning, gardening, crafts and more. She's an expert on a variety of topics, including how to get oil out of clothes, the best way to clean an electric blanket and how to make DIY dishwasher detergent.

Why You Should Trust HGTV Shopping Experts

HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.