Ryobi RY142300: Best Electric Pressure Washer?
A good pressure washer is an underappreciated cleaning tool that I think everyone should have in their toolshed.
Most people think that it’s a niche tool that only professional cleaners would have the money to buy. But if you own a car, a nice pressure washer would be a god-sent. With only a few sweeps, a high-pressure water jet will blast away all of the build-up dust and dirt. It can save you a couple of bucks washing at home instead of having to drive to a car wash.
Besides washing your car, it can also handle a dirty driveway, dusty patio furniture, and an oily garage floor.
Overall, for any cleaning task that requires much more power than a mere mop-and-detergent combo, you can count on a power washer to make the job quicker and easier.
AVERAGE SCORE9.6
According to our marketing experts, the best pressure washer on the market at the moment is the Ryobi RY142300. This Ryobi 2,300 PSI 1.2 GPM high performance electric pressure washer is easy to use, adequately powerful, and is affordable to boot.
I’ll tell you all about it in this Ryobi RY142300 review.
Overview
According to Ryobi, the RY142300 can generate 2,300 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure and a high flow rate of 1.2 gallon per minute (GPM).
Although the RY142300 is most definitely not the strongest washer I’ve ever seen, these numbers are quite impressive for an electric pressure washer. Because electric washers tend to have light-duty performance (sub-2000 PSI, such as a 300 PSI pressure washer), the RY142300 surely stands out. It’s not at all a stretch to say that it could be one of the strongest models on the electric washer scene at the moment.
With this sort of performance, you will be able to perform most residential cleaning jobs like cleaning patio furniture, washing out the driveway and the garage, and hosing down your car.
Ryobi 2300 electric pressure washer Via: Amazon
This Ryobi 2300 electric pressure washer can do everything except for some heavy-duty jobs like paint prepping and washing the outer walls of multi-story homes. If you’re looking for a washer to do these heavy jobs, I recommend looking for a commercial-grade gas washer instead.
Design-wise, the Ryobi RY142300 is one of the larger and heavier electric pressure washers on the market. As a matter of fact, it’s the heaviest electric washer I have ever reviewed thus far. The machine weighs 51 pounds (23.1 kilograms) in total.
Aware of the back-breaking weight of the RY142300, Ryobi has made it easier for the user to move the washer around.
The motor and all of the heavy components are mounted on top of a load-bearing steel frame. The frame itself sits on top of a pair of large wheels. Rather than hauling the heavy washer around, you would push it around like a hand truck instead. That makes transportation significantly easier and less of a burden.
The only difficulty you’re going to face is lifting the washer up or down a truck’s bed, stairs, or platform. In this case, it has a sturdy metal handlebar up top for you to hold onto.
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The 51-pound weight of the vacuum isn’t just for the large motor, it’s also the 1-gallon soap tank. If you need to wash your car, the tank can hold more than enough detergent to decently soak an SUV and promptly wash it off thereafter.
The power cord length for the RY142300 is about 35 feet long. Combined with a standard 25 feet hose that’s shipped alongside the washer, the RY142300 has a total cleaning radius of around 60 feet. That's a great range to appease most residential users.
Three nozzles are included as part of the purchase: a 15-degree nozzle, a turbo nozzle, and a soap nozzle. You can buy third-party nozzles to use with the RY142300 if you seek different capabilities.
The washer has on-board storage for all of these tools (including a separate holder for any third-party nozzle you may purchase down the line.) You’ll also find power cord and pressure hose holders on the washer’s body.
Pros
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• Strong performance
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• High-capacity detergent tank
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• Wide cleaning radius
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• Large pneumatic wheels for easier transport
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• On-board accessory storage
Cons
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• Expensive
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• Heavy and bulky
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• Doesn’t have many accessories available
Features
13-amp Brushless Motor
This Ryobi 2300 electric pressure washer is armed with a 13-amp brushless motor. It’s the key component responsible for this washer’s awesome cleaning power of 2,300 PSI of pressure and 1,1 GPM flow rate.
But the most notable part about the RY142300 isn’t the 13-amp strength of the motor. Instead, it’s the brushless design.
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A brushless motor doesn’t have carbon brushes, which are a crucial part in traditional brushed motor’s design. Don’t worry, though, I’m not going to bore you with all of the technical talk about brushless vs. brushed motors. What you essentially need to know is that thanks to the brushless design, you’re going to be enjoying a variety of benefits.
Firstly, a brushless motor is more powerful overall. With the carbon brushes removed, friction and voltage drop are minimized. The motor can then deliver more power while still remaining energy efficient. Additionally, since there’s less friction, the motor can run cooler.
Secondly, the motor is more durable and needs less maintenance since you no longer have to replace the carbon brushes every once in a while. The lower maintenance requirement is the reason why the RY142300 is among my top recommendations for residential use. Even if you have little technical knowledge, you can use and keep up with this washer without much issues for years.
Ryobi pressure washer 2300 Via: Amazon
Weight-Bearing Steel Frame
Due to its weight, Ryobi must borrow the hand truck design from heavier gas pressure washers for the RY142300. The bulk of the weight is laid on top of a solid frame made out of steel tubes. This frame supports the engine and all of the heavy components. It also acts as a protective cage to protect the engine from being damaged if it was to fall or tip over.
Foam-Padded Handle
There is a foam-padded metal handle at the top. You can use it to push the washer or for lifting and carrying. I’m relatively concerned about the durability of the foam grip, though. It’s not exactly the most durable material out there and can wear out over time. Even leaving it out in the sun will cause the foam to degrade after a while. Don’t be surprised if the foam handle comes off after a few months.
Fortunately, there’s still the bare metal underneath for you to hold, so even though it’s less comfortable, you’ll still be able to grip the washer.
12-inch Pneumatic Wheels
Like previously mentioned, the washer has a pair of oversized 12-inch pneumatic wheels to make transportation easier. Its size makes movement across hard surfaces such as pavement and even soft ground smooth.
1-gallon Detergent Tank
The detergent tank of the RY142300 can hold 1 gallon of cleaning solution. The washer is integrated with an automatic soap dilution system, which will automatically mix up detergent and water at a 20:1 ratio. The system will kick in immediately as soon as you latch the soap nozzle onto the washer. You literally don’t have to do anything other than load up the tank!
It’s because of the high-capacity detergent tank that, other than being an excellent residential washer, the RY142300 is also one of the best pressure washers for cars. It’s also one of the most mentioned features in customer’s Ryobi RY142300 review.
High-pressure Washing Hose
The washer is shipped alongside a 25-feet long, 1/4-inch hose. I’m happy to report that even though the hose is a freebie, it’s very well-made. The hose has a braided construction, so it’s very resistant to abrasion and tearing. It can withstand a large amount of pressure as well as abuse without failing.
If you have an old hose that you like better than Ryobi’s included hose, you can also use it. The fitting is standard.
GFCI Power Cord
Electricity and water aren’t a good mix. As intimidating as it may sound, there’s always a risk of being electrocuted while using your electric pressure washer. This is the reason why you should always take your washer seriously and perform maintenance.
But good maintenance is actually your second line of defence against electric shocks.
The foremost component that will come into play when the electric current becomes too high is the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). It automatically cuts electricity when it detects imbalances in the electric current that could result in a dangerous shock for the user.
Accessory Nozzles
Let’s dive in a little deeper about the accessory nozzles that you get alongside the RY142300 in the box.
As you already know, you’ll be getting 3 accessories with the washer: a 15-degree nozzle, a turbo nozzle, and a soaping nozzle.
If you’re new to pressure washing, you can use these to configure the strength and spray pattern of your washer. The narrower the water jet, the more powerful it is.
For example, the 0-degree nozzle produces the strongest jet that’s almost never used due to its potent power. With it, you can blast paint from surfaces (provided that your washer is strong enough.) Meanwhile, the force of a broader nozzle like the 40-degree one will be much gentler, suitable for light wash of delicate surfaces like windows, cars, and pots.
In this case, a 15-degree nozzle is quite powerful. It’s typically employed against stubborn dirt, mud, rust, mildew, and paint. Since it’s powerful, you should maintain a safe distance from the object or surface, lest you inadvertently damage it.
The turbo nozzle is the go-to tool when you want maximum power out of your washer. It produces a narrow, highly energetic water jet. You can use it for tough cleaning jobs like blasting off oil stains on the garage floor, cleaning up dried chewing gum on sidewalks and driveways.
Jobs that cannot be handled by the 15-degree nozzle can be easily dealt with using the turbo nozzle.
And then there’s the soaping nozzle. In the small segment about the detergent tank, I’ve already explained a fair bit about what the soaping nozzle does. Quickly to recap: it switches on the detergent tank and allows you to spray soap on whatever you’d like to clean next. If you need to clean up your car from dust and dirt, this nozzle will be of use.
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Accessory Storage
Among the features I like best in this Ryobi RY142300 review is the integrated accessory storage on the washer’s body. Right underneath the top handle, you’ll find a bunch of velcro and bunge-ball-style straps. You can use these to lash the nozzles or other loose parts (like the power cord and the water hose) to the washer.
Although they are simple, and daresay a little bit makeshift, they make storage significantly easier. But the strap system will require some management skill from your part to be used effectively. You will have to arrange the cord and hose so that they won’t turn into a tangled mess that’d cause trouble down the line.
Alternatives
If you don’t like the RY142300, don’t fret! We got here some alternatives you can consider instead of this washer.
#1- Sun Joe SPX3000
This Sun Joe pressure washer is nothing short of an icon. It’s been a consistent force on the best selling chart for a long time now. The SPX3000 is affordable, but it doesn’t feel or perform like it is.
And it can deliver an impressive amount of power... When pushed to the limits, the SPX3000’s motor can generate over 2,000 PSI of water pressure with a flow rate around 1.75 GPM. That’s about matching the cleaning power of the Ryobi RY142300!
Just like the RY142300, you can sort out a variety of medium-duty cleaning jobs with it. Washing out the accumulated dust and dirt on the patio furniture, washing the car, the bike, the grill, and spots around the house like the driveway and sidewalk.
Because this washer isn’t particularly powerful in the first place, you can hose most things down without having to worry about damaging them.
It draws power from your house’s grid using a 35-foot, GFCI-protected power cord.
The best selling point of the SPX3000 is its lightweight and compact design. All in all, the washer weighs about 31 pounds (14 kilogram). This is because Sun Joe incorporates a lot of plastic parts into the washer’s construction, cutting down on weight significantly.
Since the washer is so light it doesn’t need a heavy steel frame to support and protect it, unlike the RY142300. Instead, it resembles more of a wheeled backpack.
There’s a trade-off that comes with a plastic construction, though. The durability of the SPX3000 isn’t as good as the RY142300. Its body is prone to dents and cracks after an accidental fall. While a short, low fall would just damage the outer casing and ruin the washer’s aesthetic, I’m afraid that a harder fall could damage the washer somehow. In general, durability isn’t the best quality of this Sun Joe pressure washer.
The SPX3000 comes with a wider variety of accessories than the RY142300.
It is shipped with 5 different nozzles in total: a 0-degree nozzle, a pair of 15-degree nozzles, a multi-purpose 25-degree nozzle, and a gentle 40-degree nozzle. With them, you can immediately do a variety of cleaning jobs without having to order additional accessories like with the Ryobi 2,300 PSI 1.2 GPM high performance electric pressure washer.
Sun Joe pressure washer Via: Amazon
#2- Ryobi RY803001 Gas Pressure Washer
For those who are looking for a powerful pressure washer— something far more powerful than what electric washers such as the RY142300 can offer— consider the Ryobi RY803001 as an alternative.
This gas-running pressure washer can deliver 3,000 PSI power at 2.3 GPM when pushed to the limits. Its great performance stats makes the RY803001 fit snugly into the heavy-duty washer range. That means you can use the washer for jobs other than the normal use such as paint prepping.
But because of the RY803001’s power, you should be careful while washing certain surfaces such as the car. If you’re not careful, this gas washer can damage your car’s paint.
There is a lot to say about the RY803001 design-wise. The gas engine is started using a 12V battery. It starts the engine quickly and without fuss, but since you have to charge it every once in a while, that can be a pain point.
Once started, the engine goes into high idle. When compared to more affordable gas washers, the RY803001 doesn’t vibrate a lot when it’s in this mode. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an idle down mode which would’ve done an excellent job at protecting the motor when it’s not in use.
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The engine is fueled via a ¼-gallon gas tank. Because it’s quite small, you’ll only get between 40 to 50 minutes of run-time out of it.
It has a long washing hose and the spray gun is simple to use, but some Ryobi 3000 PSI pressure washer reviews from customers said that the washing hose is a bit stiff.
Although it has many pros in terms of design, there are some cons, also. It’s a heavy vacuum at 57 pounds (25.8 kilograms). And just like any other gas washers, it’s quite bulky due to the engine’s size.
Ryobi did a fairly good job at rectifying this flaw by giving it a pair of oversized 12-inch pneumatic wheels. They make the washer considerably easier to transport. When you need to carry or haul it up and down, the metal handle at the top of the frame will make the process a little bit less strenuous.
The washer comes with plenty of accessories. You will get 4 nozzles in the box: 0-degree, 25-degree, 40-degree, and a soap nozzle. Latching the soap nozzle onto the washer and the machine will automatically draw the cleaning solution from the on-board detergent tank.
The RY803001 is a solid gas power washer. Though it’s quite costly, I believe that it’s going to be worth it if you’re looking for a dependable, residential-grade gas washer to use for the next couple of years.
Ryobi RY803001 Gas Pressure Washer Via: Amazon
#3- Honorary Mention: Ryobi Surface Cleaner RY31SC01
A surface cleaner is such a useful tool for residential cleaning that I cannot end this article without suggesting a model.
If the bulk of your job is cleaning out flat surfaces (driveways, pavements, floors, ), a surface cleaner is going to improve your washer’s efficiency drastically.
This Ryobi surface cleaner is not exactly a power wash by its own right. Rather, it’s more of an add-on attachment to a full-blown gas washer like the Ryobi RY803001. When you need to clean out surfaces around your home, instead of the traditional spray gun, connect the RY31SC01 to your cleaner.
Honorary Mention: Ryobi Surface Cleaner RY31SC01 Via: Amazon
Particularly, rather than having the traditional spray gun design, the surface cleaner is shaped like a saucer. There are high-speed, rotating nozzles at the bottom, which will blast out all of the gunks, dirt, and dust as you move it across the ground.
Because the nozzles are extremely close to the surface (as well as powerful), according to Ryobi, it cleans surfaces out 4 times more efficiently than the traditional spray gun-type washer.
The RY31SC01 can generate about 3,300 PSI and the nozzles can rotate 1,500 RPM to give you a streak-free cleaning path. That’s enough power to wash just about anything from off of your driveway or pavement.
➜ RELATED: How To Use A Pressure Washer To Clean Your Home
Conclusion
So, have you found what you’re looking for with these Ryobi RY142300 reviews?
There may be a lot of different electric pressure washers out there on the market, but it’s one of the best thus far. I’m certain that if you were to give it a chance, you would love it! And even if you don’t feel like it’s the washer for you, there are plenty of alternatives available as mentioned.
Whatever your choice is, happy shopping!
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