We Tried This Ryobi Pressure Washer and Our Patio Has Never Looked So Clean
Updated: May 30, 2023
This all-new Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer will spray away dirt and grime from almost any outdoor surface, and leave your cleaning gene hungry for more.
How often does a tool makes its way into popular culture? There was the sledgehammer wielded by the comedian Gallagher at his watermelons. And horror films, of course, gave us different types of saws. But the tool currently finding a place in pop culture is definitely the pressure washer.
I see videos of people power washing all kinds of items, from clothing to patios, on every social media outlet there is. There’s even a power washing sub-Reddit with well over a million followers! So when I saw Ryobi was coming out with an all new 2700 pounds per square inch (psi) pressure washer, I knew I had to get my hands on one and give it a try.
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What is the Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer?
The Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer delivers up to 2700 psi and 1.1 gallons per minute (gpm) of water to spray away built-up dirt, grime, and other tough stains. It’s great for cleaning off driveways, fences, decks and patios, window screens, outdoor furniture and more.
The machine comes with two nozzles, one for high pressure, the other (“Quick Change”) with 15-, 25-, 40-degree, fan soap and jet soap settings. There’s also a 35 ft. non-marring high-pressure hose and an onboard detergent tank. The hose, nozzles, and sprayer conveniently store onboard the hand truck for easy transport.
The bright colored green-ish-yellow Ryobi pressure washer is hefty, weighing a 50-lbs. It comes in a few pieces; it takes a few minutes and a t30 Torx bit (not included) to assemble.
How We Tested It
I had plenty of things that needed a good washing. A dingy 20×20 concrete patio, a corner of my house spotted with moss and algae, and handful of window awnings that hadn’t been cleaned in 10 years. All seemed like good tests for the Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer.
Around the same time I picked up my pressure washer, Family Handyman deputy editor Glenn Hansen bought one as well. He planned to remove built-up grime and old stain from his wooden deck before refinishing it later this month. I wished him luck as we went our separate pressure-washing ways.
Performance Review
I started with the algae and moss on my home’s foundation, choosing the 40-degree fan pattern so I wouldn’t discolor the area and make it stand out. That setting worked marvelously at removing the surface grime and moss. In no time, I moved on to the patio.
I poured this patio a decade ago and the concrete needed a much deeper clean. I tried the 15- and 25-degree spray patterns before settling on 25-degrees for this 400-sq.-ft. job.
About halfway through the cleaning, the nozzle spit up and started spraying the water erratically. I had to finish the patio with the higher pressure 15-degree pattern, which took more time and left it looking two shades of clean.
Troubleshooting this problem later in the day, I found an illustration in the manual that showed how to unclog a spray nozzle with a straightened-out paper clip! I couldn’t find a paper clip that fit, so I bent a safety pin and inserted into the 25-degree spray tip. Out rolled a tiny black plastic pebble.
With my nozzle clear of debris, I moved on to the aluminum awnings cleanup. I climbed the ladder and swiftly washed the first four awnings without hassle. When I moved to the last, I discovered the power cord wasn’t long enough, so I added a 15-foot extension cord and kept going.
The final awning was spotless in a few minutes, though you could hear and feel the pressure washer struggle to pull enough power. It draws A LOT of power and worked noticeably better when plugged directly into the exterior outlet. That’s not unique to this product; it’s a common problem with other pressure washers I’ve owned.
This week, I asked Glenn about his experience with his new Ryobi pressure washer. He told me it cleaned his deck so well that his neighbor noticed and borrowed it the next weekend to clean his. Both turned out like new.
What Other Reviews Had to Say
Several Home Depot reviewers weren’t happy with the assembly instructions.
RyobiWanKenobi writes, “I’m hoping the unit’s construction is better than the assembly instructions. Literally no guidance on installing the wheels or the assembly of the unit. The instructions also had a dead link to their website and there was no help on it when I eventually found the unit…” And Will94 writes: “Works well and easy to operate. Only complaint is the instructions are very limited on how to assemble.”
RonnieN apparently had no such problems, writing: “Easy to assemble! Easy to use! Enough pressure power for home use. Cleaned [my] concrete patio, walkway and driveway in no time! Love it!”
Final Verdict
All and all, the Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer worked out great. It tackled all the concrete, wood and aluminum projects we had. I had no problem assembling it, and just those two issues with the clogged nozzle and waning power with the extension cord.
I give it a big thumbs-up. The only thing left to do is upload some power-washing videos to the Internet!
Pros
- Powerful;
- Great nozzle assortment;
- Long 35-ft. hose;
- Onboard detergent tank;
- Easy hand truck mobility;
- Nozzle and hose storage.
Cons
- Less efficient with an extension cord;
- Spray nozzle can clog;
- Unclear assembly instructions.
Where to Buy
You can buy the all new Ryobi Electric Pressure Washer at The Home Depot.
