Power Washers...
 

...one you can use from your own frontyard hose.

Anyone have one?

I'm thinking of buying but don't know how much $$$$ to sink into one. I wanna wash the house, concrete patio, my car, windows, etc. with it.

Any advice, o wise ones?

Get a gas powered one. I bought one last year - already dead.

The one my father bought 2 years ago? That ones dead as well.
Both were electric.

Used a gas one a month ago to prep the deck for staining and to get some mold off the siding - EXCELLENT!
Wouldn't even consider an electric one again. YMMV

Please keep in mind you can tear your house up with one of these. Especially siding/stucco. Your house was designed to shed water from top to bottom. The most common direction these devices apply water is from bottom to top.

Not to mention the pressure. I've cut the (&$#*&)_+%%# out of my hand and fingers with these. They look o so pretty and soft. Yeah. Like fire looks pretty. By the time you feel the pain, you're already injured. Injured bad.

rent one from Lowes or Home Despot?

that;s an idea...

We've always been advised agaianst power-washing our siding -apart from what bigv mentions, most house paint is not designed to be powerwashable, apparently.

I power washed my deck, picnic table, and adirondak chairs. I had to sand and seal the deck afterwards, but overall I was satisfied with it's effectiveness.

If I power wash my deck there will be nothing left of it.

Years ago when I was power washing my parent's car in one of those coin operated car washes, I noticed a little something stuck to the plastic bumper, so I aimed the nozzle at it a bit more to get it off. It really started to come off, but was still hanging on, so I aimed a little closer. It was only a couple seconds later that I realized what I was doing was cutting into the bumper with the water stream, and that "thing" stuck to the bumper was the flap of plastic I was carving off the bumper.

I cut it off with my pocket knife and didn't say anything. If my parent's noticed the gouge (the size of a penny) they didn't say anything either.

Power washers are the debbil.

What he said.
I have one of those decks, too.

Defintely rent one. The daily price ain't bad, and you know you're not going to use it more than once a year at the absolute most.

We power-washed our roof, even though they say you're not supposed to do that. We were careful to keep the stream of water far enough back that it wasn't stripping the shingles. Also did the concrete in the driveway, got the oil stains out.

I use one to clean our paved and concreted areas under trees because they get slippery from the mould that grows there because it doesn't get much sun. Works a treat, but it definitely will strip paint if you're not careful.

What he said except I'd use a local rental company with knowledgeable staff who can give good advice on pressure, technique, and suitability.

They can be a lot of fun. They can also take out an eye. I once shot two decorative shutters off the laundry room window in one careless sweep of the power wand. You can certainly peel paint off your house or deck, if that is your intent. I have used mine for moss removal from cement and leaf removal from my deck cover and roof. Use caution, have fun.

Do not use on any car.