You're not coming into my house like that!" I still wake up sweating from that sentence today. Every weekend there was the same nagging. When mum had freshly cleaned the hallway and my son wanted to push his filthy bike across the violet-scented tiled floor into the cellar after the Saturday mud fight, there was trouble in the air. The mediator was called Kärcher and blew all the stones off the bike with a good 120 bar.
Mobile pressure washers: an alternative to pressure washers at the petrol station
Today I have a problem: my girlfriend insists on cleanliness in the flat like a spit on a clean parlour. But I don't have a water connection to feed the peacemaker with cleaning arguments. A mobile pressure washer with a built-in water tank could be my saviour. In the test, three appliances have to prove their cleaning qualities. The pressure washers from Aqua2Go and Nomad are supplied with sufficient working pressure either via a built-in rechargeable battery or the supplied plug for the car's cigarette lighter. With model number three, you have to do it yourself. Similar to a floor pump, pressure is built up in the cylinder via a piston. After 25 strokes, the fun can begin. Cleaning is more convenient with the electric-powered competitors. Flip the toggle switch and pull the trigger of the spray gun and you can tackle the mud-covered bike with three to six bar of water pressure. As with a garden hose, you can control the spread of the jet using a rotating nozzle attachment. At the lowest pressure, the Nomad's 13.25-litre tank is sufficient for a good ten minutes of continuous operation. The Aqua2Go uses its 17 litres within 7:30 minutes. At the highest setting, both models clean for around seven minutes. Two really dirty bikes can easily be cleaned in this time. After three tank fillings, however, the two cleaners run out of juice and have to be plugged in. With the enclosed cigarette plug, the operating time can of course be extended as required. At least until the car battery dies.
How does the cleaner from the DIY store perform?
You can work more independently with the hand-operated appliance from the DIY store. The three bar is at least enough to remove fresh dirt. However, the small tank can only handle a bike at best. The long nozzle is also nowhere near as easy to use as the spray guns from Nomad and Aqua2Go. The two more expensive devices also score highly in terms of features. Aqua2Go supplies an additional brush head and a shower attachment in addition to the cleaning gun. The Nomad model has a removable battery that can be conveniently charged in the enclosed charging station. Thanks to a filter in the filling opening, the Nomad can also be refuelled with water from rivers or lakes. This means that you never run out of water when travelling.
You can find the pressure washers in the test:
Aqua2Go - Battery pressure washer
The low price of the Aqua2Go is only slightly noticeable in the workmanship. The plastic looks a little cheap, the nozzle does not fit perfectly in the hand and the carrying strap is not firmly anchored. In terms of cleaning, however, it can easily keep up with the Nomad and also removes coarser dirt properly. The nozzle can be adjusted and used with both a brush and a shower attachment. The large 17-litre tank empties just as quickly as the Nomad, but is sufficient for at least two bikes. The compressor works very loudly, but builds up the pressure constantly and reliably. The Aqua2Go is charged via a mains plug. However, it can also be operated via the cigarette plug in the car. The accessories are stored in a small mesh bag at the back.
Nomad - 18 Volt Portable Power Cleaner
The expensive Nomad is easy to fill through the large opening. Thanks to a filter, water from rivers can also be used. The workmanship is high quality. There are no edges. The handle and tank cap are rubberised and non-slip. The hose, nozzle and charger can be safely stored in the neoprene compartment. The gun nozzle sits very comfortably in the hand. The jet has a large adjustment range and removes even coarse dirt at the highest setting. The Nomad is powered by an 18-volt battery or via the 12-volt plug of the cigarette lighter. The compressor builds up the operating pressure quickly and works extremely quietly. The only drawback is the wobbly hose connection on the tank.
Gloria Primex5 - Hand pump
A pressure sprayer like the Primex5 is actually intended for plant care. However, it can be found in various forums as a cheap alternative to the high-priced, mobile pressure washers. We wanted to see how the low-cost product would perform and were at least not negatively surprised. Pump the handy cylinder 25 times to reach the three bar operating pressure. A safety valve allows excess pressure to escape. The jet at the spray nozzle can be adjusted. The nozzle itself is somewhat angular and does not sit comfortably in the hand. The pressure remains relatively constant for around three to four minutes, after which you should top up the pressure. A compressor can also be connected. Unfortunately, the five litres in the tank are only enough for one bike. However, cleaning agent can be poured directly into the tank. Dried-on dirt is very difficult to remove as the pressure is too low. The device is more suitable for cleaning directly after the tour. This means that you are not spared a main cleaning at home.
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Stefan Frey
Editor
