Ryobi 2000 Pressure Washer: Can It Clean Cars and Concrete?

Nothing beats a good pressure washer for blasting dirt and muck from sidewalks, driveways, and dirty cars. I’ve used several gas-powered pressure washers in the past, all of which work effectively but require regular maintenance and gasoline storage. In addition, I am not very fond of gas fumes, which give me headaches. I was excited to try out the Ryobi 2000 pressure washer but I was also skeptical.

The only electric pressure washer I’ve used before this one has painfully weak water pressure—my garden hose with a jet nozzle worked just fine. However, the Ryobi 2000 surprised me by providing a lot more power than I expected. This was impressive, but the tool is not perfect. Read on to find out what I liked about this compact electric washer and what Ryobi can tweak to make it even better.

Ryobi 2000 Pressure Washer: A Quick Overview

evaluation: 8.75/10

PROS

• 2,000 pounds per square inch (psi) pressure produces an effective light to medium clean
• Comes with a 25 foot high pressure hose for extended reach
• The extendable handle makes it easy to pull out the pressure washer
• Compact and lightweight design makes it easy to store in the garage or shed
• No fumes and no need to store gasoline which is flammable

cons

• They are electrically powered, which means they must be run near an outlet
• It may not be powerful enough for tough or heavy-duty cleaning jobs
• Applying soap requires the use of the dedicated soap nozzle, which is low pressure
• Available only from The Home Depot (Ryobi is a major brand for this retailer)

Get the Ryobi 2000 PSI Pressure Washer at The Home Depot for $239.

What is a Ryobi 2000 pressure washer?

The Ryobi 2000 Pressure Washer is a corded electric pressure washer designed to clean exterior surfaces. With flat-free wheels and a telescoping handle, this compact pressure washer is easy to roll from one place to another. It weighs only 29 pounds, which is about 100 pounds lighter than a gas-powered pressure washer, so I had no problem lifting it into the bed of my pickup truck.

The Ryobi pressure washer has a 13-amp electric motor that delivers 2,000 psi of water pressure, making it suitable for cleaning driveways, decks, windows, boats, cars, and more. It comes with a turbo nozzle, soap nozzle, and standard spray nozzle, all stored in the unit for convenience.

This is a corded electric pressure washer. It comes with a 35-foot cord, which is long enough to reach most areas around a typical home’s exterior, and features a 25-foot hose that expands its reach. The included spray wand comes with an inch quick coupler that makes it easy to swap nozzles, and the Ryobi features an onboard soap reservoir.

What type of assembly is required for a Ryobi pressure washer?

It was very easy to set up the pressure washer. I had to install the wheels, which involved sliding them over the axle. They are held in place by push-in connectors (included), so no tools were required for this part.

I had to hunt down a Phillips screwdriver to attach the handle, but that was simple, and the screws came in the box. It took me about 5 minutes to complete those tasks, and after that, I only had to attach the 25 ft high pressure hose to both the washer and wand (twist joints) and attach the garden hose (also by twist). The garden hose connector features a quick twist attachment, which makes it easy to connect the hose.

Is the Ryobi 2000 pressure washer simple and easy to use?

A standout feature of the Ryobi 2000 Power Washer is its user-friendly design. Starting the pressure washer was as easy as pressing a button. The top-mounted control panel has a large black “on” button and a red “off” button. Both are well defined and easy to see.

At first, I was concerned because a few seconds after turning on the machine, the motor would stall. Then I realized this was just a power saving feature. As soon as I pulled the trigger on the stick, the motor snapped back and stayed on for as long as I held the trigger. The wand features a quick coupler at the tip, which made it easy for me to switch between nozzles during testing.

The Ryobi 2000 pressure washer features an extendable handle that can be adjusted with a button, allowing for easy maneuverability. Its small size and wheels make it easy to roll, and I found I could move it quickly just by pulling the handle and dragging it from one place to another, like a suitcase. Like most wheeled home and garden tools, they roll better on hard surfaces like concrete than on grass, sand, or gravel.

How well does the Ryobi 2000 clean?

I’ve found the Ryobi pressure washer to be well suited for typical outdoor cleaning chores, but it does have a few considerations shoppers should know. It does not have a water pressure adjustment dial like some models do. Instead, it shoots water at full force through two nozzles: the turbo nozzle and the standard brass spray nozzle.

I can maintain maximum spray pressure if the water pressure in my outdoor home faucet registers at least 20 psi. I used a water pressure test gauge and set the faucet pressure to determine how much incoming water pressure Ryobi needed to spray at maximum strength. The sprinkler lost power when I turned the pressure on the spigot below 20 psi, so I recommend getting at least 20 psi at the spigot to run this pressure washer. For most, that will be possible.

The downside (from my point of view) is the significant drop in spray pressure when using the soap nozzle. This is the only real problem I’ve had with Ryobi. I filled the onboard tank with power washer cleaner, attached the blue soap nozzle, and pulled the trigger. The soapy water is sprayed but with very low pressure – more like soft drops than a cleaning spray. I did a little research and found that other users had the same complaint. Unfortunately, the detergent is only dispensed when the blue nozzle is attached; The other two, more powerful nozzles only spray water – no soap.

How does the performance of the corded Ryobi compare to the gas models?

I would classify the Ryobi 2000 as a medium pressure washer. It offers half the power of a 4,000-psi gas-powered pressure washer, but is much easier to use—no carbon-producing fumes or needing to stock up on gasoline. In general, I’ve found it to be effective for most outdoor cleaning needs.

The Ryobi pressure washer is more and more portable than the gas-powered washer. Since it doesn’t plug in, I can use the gas-powered model anywhere, while I need to be near an electrical outlet (35 feet away) to use the Ryobi. On the flip side, at 29 pounds and just under 18 inches high and 17 inches deep, the Ryobi is easy to turn and compact enough to load in the trunk of a car. Not only are the gas-powered models much heavier, but they are also significantly larger.

The maximum water force with the Ryobi is lower than many gas washers, but at 2,000 psi, it’s still enough to wash cars and clean mud and dirt off concrete surfaces. It’s not powerful enough for heavy-duty cleaning tasks, such as removing rust from iron, but it can be quite powerful for cleaning some types of surfaces. I tested the washer cleaning a stucco wall, and it did a great job, but I wasn’t comfortable using that much pressure to wash a home’s painted walls. I was afraid it would cause some of the paint to peel off or force water under the lid.

A big upside to the Ryobi is its price—it currently costs less than $230 at Home Depot. Budget model gas washers start around $300, but high-end gas models can set you back $1,000 or more.

Is the Ryobi Pressure Washer Right for You?

If you’re shopping for the best electric pressure washer looking to clean concrete surfaces or do a car wash, the Ryobi 2000 pressure washer is an excellent choice. With a 13-amp electric motor and 2,000 psi of force, it can tackle tasks like cleaning driveways, decks, windows, boats, campers, and other hard surfaces around the home.

However, it is important to note that the Ryobi 2000 pressure washer is not adjustable, which means that you will not be able to adjust the pressure output to suit different tasks. Additionally, the soap nozzle on this pressure washer only provides low pressure, which can be frustrating for those looking for a high-pressure soap spray.

It’s also worth considering that gas-powered pressure washers generally offer more power and versatility than electric models like the Ryobi 2000. They’re ideal for heavy-duty cleaning tasks and can handle tougher tasks like removing oil stains from driveways or stripping paint off a hard surface.

Overall, if you are looking for a reliable and powerful electric pressure washer for average chores around the house, the Ryobi 2000 pressure washer might be a good choice. Just be aware of its limitations when it comes to setting pressure and using the soap nozzle.

Where to buy a Ryobi 2000 PSI pressure washer

Get the Ryobi 2000 PSI Pressure Washer at The Home Depot for $239.

Meet the lab

Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer specializing in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She and her husband own a general contracting firm, and Taylor has experience with both residential and commercial building applications. It tests a wide variety of power tools as well as other home improvement, household and garden products.