Every spring it is the same story: the patio is green with moss, the driveway is covered in mud, the garden furniture is grey after the winter, and the car needs more than a quick rinse. With a bucket, a broom and a garden hose, that is a whole weekend's work. A pressure washer does the same job in a few hours. The only question is whether to buy one or to hire one when you need it.
What is a pressure washer?
In Croatia it is often simply called a "miniwash". The machine takes water from a garden hose, raises its pressure with a pump and pushes it out through a narrow nozzle. The powerful jet removes dirt, moss, algae and deposits that are hard to shift with a brush, and it uses less water than an ordinary hose because it works with a lower flow and higher pressure.
We hire out the Kärcher K 7 Power Flex, the most powerful model in Kärcher's home range. According to the manufacturer, it has a pressure of 20 to 180 bar, a flow of up to 600 litres of water per hour and an area performance of up to 60 m² per hour. The motor is water-cooled, so it handles longer jobs, and the high-pressure hose is 10 metres long.
What can you clean with a pressure washer?
- patios and paved driveways made of stone, concrete or concrete slabs
- fences and walls, metal, concrete and stone, and wooden ones at reduced pressure
- garden furniture made of plastic, metal and hardwood
- cars, motorhomes, bicycles and motorbikes, with the right nozzle and enough distance
- bins, garden tools and machinery
- pool surrounds and the area around the house
We have a detailed guide for each of these jobs: how to wash a patio, how to wash a car without damaging the paint and how to clean a facade, fence and garden furniture.
Buy or hire?
A home pressure washer is a useful machine, but most households need it a few times a year: in spring for the patio and furniture, in summer for the car and bikes, in autumn before the winter. The rest of the year it sits in the garage or basement.
| Buying | Hiring | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Cheaper home models have much lower pressure and flow | You get the most powerful home model, the K 7 |
| Storage | You need a frost-free place to keep it | You return the machine after use |
| Maintenance | Seals, nozzles and hose are your responsibility | You get the machine working and ready |
| Worth it | If you wash every week, e.g. vehicles or a work area | If you wash a few times a year |
If you plan a big wash once or twice a season, hiring is almost always the smarter choice. Group all the jobs into the same day or weekend, and one hire covers the patio, the furniture and the car.
What do you need to prepare?
- water: an outside tap and a garden hose that gives the machine enough water at full flow
- power: a 230 V socket, and if you use an extension cable, it should be rated for outdoor use, have the right cross-section and be fully unwound
- protection: safety glasses, non-slip shoes and clothes that can get wet
- cleaning product, if you need one, and only one made for pressure washers
Before you start, close the windows, move anything that could be damaged or blown away, and cover plants and sockets near the area you are washing.
How does hiring from us work?
You get the K 7 in working order, with accessories and operating instructions, and we can also deliver it. You can hire the machine for one or more days, and you can book through the form on the website or by phone. See the price, conditions and available dates on the machine hire page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a "miniwash" the same as a pressure washer?
Yes. "Miniwash" is the everyday name used in Croatia for home pressure washers, whatever the brand.
Do I need experience to use a pressure washer?
No. The machine connects to a garden hose and a socket, and you set the pressure by turning the Vario Power lance. With the instructions you get and a little care, you will get the hang of it in a few minutes. The first time, start with lower pressure on a less visible part of the surface.
How long can I hire the pressure washer for?
As long as you need, from one day upwards. If you are planning several jobs, fit them into the same weekend so one hire covers everything.
Can I connect the pressure washer to water from a barrel or tank?
The Kärcher K 7 is designed to run from the mains water supply through a garden hose. Drawing water from a barrel needs special accessories and a suitable machine version, so we do not recommend it without checking the instructions.
Can I feed warm water into the pressure washer?
According to the manufacturer, water going into the K 7 can be at most 60 °C. For almost every job, ordinary cold tap water is enough.
How much water does a pressure washer use?
The K 7 uses at most about 600 litres per hour of operation, and less in practice, because the jet does not run continuously. It uses less water than an ordinary garden hose for the same job, because it cleans with pressure rather than volume.
Can a pressure washer damage the surface I am cleaning?
It can, if the pressure is too high or the nozzle too close. Wood, grout, render, car paint and seals are especially sensitive. So always start with a bigger distance and lower pressure, then increase it gradually. We describe the most common mistakes in our guide Pressure washer mistakes.
Is it very noisy?
A pressure washer is louder than a vacuum cleaner, so use it during the day and respect house rules and your neighbours' quiet hours. The work is usually short, and a whole patio is done in a few hours.
Do I need a cleaning product?
For most jobs, clean water is enough. For grease, oil or a very dirty car, a product made for pressure washers helps, added through the Plug 'n' Clean system. Do not put ordinary household products in the machine, as they can damage the pump.
How heavy is the K 7 and can I move it on my own?
Without accessories the machine weighs about 17 kg, but it has wheels and a telescopic handle, so you simply pull it around the garden. It is easier to carry up and down stairs with two people.
If you do not have a pressure washer, or buying one does not make sense for a few washes a year, hire a Kärcher K 7 from us. You get a powerful machine, operating instructions and delivery by arrangement, and you do the job yourself, at your own pace.
