We test the Muc-Off Pressure Washer and quickly learn that cleaning your muddy bike can be both fast and fun!
Using pressure washers to wash your bike is nothing new, but pressure washers designed specifically for washing bikes are, and this is Muc-Off’s example.
Muc-Off has been one of the most prominent names in bike cleaning for as long as I can remember, but in all those years of producing the foamy pink stuff, this is the first-ever piece of hardware from the brand.
Named simply the Pressure Washer, this £119.99 compact cleaner comes in Muc-Off Pink and ships with a trio of lances, 1 Litre nano cleaner and 1 Litre Concentrate all designed to offer high-quality cleaning without damaging your bike’s seals and bearings.
The compact design and large carry handle make the Muc-Off Pressure Washer a breeze to carry from place to place, and it’s small enough to pop in the back of your car for riding holidays and trips out. Just keep in mind though that this unit isn’t an all in one type deal, and you’ll have to ensure where ever you plan on cleaning your bike has a water supply, hose and mains electric.
Muc-Off has designed the pressure washer to be as user-friendly as can be. The time from taking this out of your shed to cleaning your bike should take you just a minute or two. All that’s needed is to connect a hose, plug in the power and snap in your lance of choice.
The included high-pressure hose locks in to place and released via large, well made sliding locks. One end plugs into the pressure washer while the other into the lance with a satisfying and audible click.
Rather than a wand, you get a lance with a proper handgrip to keep it comfortable to use and easy to control. This is especially good to know if you plan on cleaning large groups of bikes at a demo day, at a bike shop, or if you draw the short straw after a group ride.
For blasting off dirt and debris from your bike there’s a standard attachment that runs at just the right sort of pressure to knock off grime and mud, but not so powerful that it’s unsafe to clean suspension components, seals or hubs.
If you have a motorbike that needs a clean or need something more powerful for cleaning your drive or pathway, then there are other attachments that can be fitted. The higher pressure nozzle is meant to be safe on the types of bearing and seals on a motorbike but not ideal for a mountain bike. Each attachment is clearly marked so you don’t mix them up.
The nozzle that makes the Muc-Off pressure washer so unique and fun to use is a bespoke adjustable pressure lance. This lance is designed to fasten to a bottle of Muc-Off and produces a thick soapy foam that will cover your bike in just a few blasts.
Muc-Off Pressure Washer | What’s it like to use?
Usually, when cleaning my bike after a very mucky ride I would rinse the bike with water first, then give it a spray of Muc-Off (or similar). Scrub with a brush then rinse with the hose.
With the Muc-Off pressure washer, the cleaning steps are reduced to just 2. Step 1 blast with foam, step 2 blast with water and job done. You might need to use a brush if you let the dirt dry a little, but generally, the pressure washer gets the job done without.
While using the foamy wand I suggest using the lowest pressure possible that gives you optimal Muc-Off coverage. The first few times we used the pressure washer we used up half a bottle of cleaner in no time at all, simply because we forgot to adjust the lance.
Once adjusted properly and when used sparingly, the pressure washer shouldn’t use much more Muc-Off than you would do under normal cleaning, but you’ll get a much more satisfying foamy coat.
After a good foaming, switch over to the bicycle lance and rinse the foamy Muc-Off, mud, dirt and debris from your bike for a nice clean finish. Job done!
Overall
Overall the Muc-Off Pressure Washer is an extremely well made, easy to use, and versatile cleaning machine. Its small size makes it easy for storage, and an optional bag keeps the powerful pink pressure washer safe and sound when not in use.
The optional lances mean that you can use the Muc-Off pressure washer on delicate bike parts without concern, but switching to other lances lets you perform all those usual garden jobs too. I would also happily clean my car with it too. A well-made product, in a great colour and at a good price.
Muc-Off Pressure Washer Specifications
- Motor Power: 1200W
- Volt/Freq: 220-240V~50/60Hz
- Motor Type: Carbon brush motor
- Rated Pressure: 70 bar
- Permissible Pressure: 100 bar
- Max. Inlet Water Pressure: 1.2 MPa
- Rated Flow: 5.5L/min
- Max. Flow: 6.5L/min
- Max. Water Temperature: 50°C
- Water Protection Class: IPX5
- N.W. / G/W.: 5.5/6.2 kgs
- Carton Size: 290 x 265 x 413mm
- Power Lead Length: 5M
- Price: £119.99, € 139.99, $174.99.
Review Info
| Brand: | Muc-Off |
| Product: | Pressure Washer |
| From: | Muc Off |
| Price: | £79.99 |
| Tested: | by Andi Sykes for 5 months |
Comments (4)
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How does it compare to say a hose?
I got one of these at launch, and for dealing with a family load of bikes on return home it is first class. The foamer is brilliant, although as mentioned, being trigger happy is potentially expensive. If you get it with the carry bag, all the kit is neatly stored and ready to use for next time. I don’t know why this is easier. I reckon from opening the garage door to cleaning the bike is about 2 minutes if I’m really tired. Better than a hose? depends how good your hose is really? If you have amazing water pressure and trigger handle on your garden hose, you may not notice a benefit. For me,, it has turned a bit of a chore into a quick post ride ritual.
Which would you choose between this and the portable Bosch Fontus (also recently reviewed)?
Is portability worth the extra price and the loss of pressure? What if they were of equal price, which then?
Is this compatible with Peaty’s Loam Foam? That comes out the bottle nice and foamy to start with? Anyone tried it?