Should you buy your own pressure washer? A homeowner's honest guide

Home Depot sells thousands of pressure washers to weekend warriors every spring. Half of them end up in garage sales two years later. Before you buy, know what you're getting.

• Good for: patio furniture, cars, small deck sections, patio chairs, siding rinse
• Bad at: full houses, driveways, decks
• Reality check: 1,600–2,000 PSI, 1.2–1.5 GPM. That's low flow. Cleaning a driveway with one takes 4x longer than with a pro machine.

• Good for: driveways, decks, fences, patios
• Bad at: whole houses (still no cleaning solution injection for real soft-wash)
• Reality check: These are what most DIYers should buy if they're serious. 2,800–3,300 PSI, 2.5+ GPM.

• Only worth it if you're starting a business or maintaining several properties

Honestly? For 90% of homeowners: a garden-hose foam cannon ($50), a stiff deck brush, and a phone call to a pressure washer for the once-a-year house/driveway wash.

• Consumer washer + soap + gas + your Saturday × 2 uses/year = ~$100/year in gear + 8 hours of your time
• Hiring a pro for the same work: $250–$400/year, done in 3 hours while you do whatever you want

For most homes, hiring wins on time-per-dollar. Buy your own if you *enjoy* doing it and want control over timing. Otherwise, don't.