We Tested Ryobi’s $129 Pressure Washer — Here’s What It Can (And Can’t) Do

TL;DR

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Family Handyman tested Ryobi’s $129 One+ Electric Power Cleaner on a screen coated with dampened flour. The 700-psi tool eventually cleaned it, particularly with the turbo nozzle, but the report says its lower power makes it better suited to routine, lighter cleaning than heavy-duty jobs.

Family Handyman tested Ryobi’s $129 One+ Electric Power Cleaner on a window screen coated with dampened flour and found that the 700-psi portable tool eventually removed the mess, especially when the tester switched to its turbo nozzle. The test suggests the washer can handle some routine cleaning, but its lower pressure does not make it a replacement for a full-size pressure washer.

The tester chose a screen door as a cleaning surface, applied a light layer of flour, then misted it with water to make the residue stick. After connecting the tool to a garden hose and assembling it, the tester used the washer from the recommended distance of 1 to 2 feet. The report says setup took only a few clicks and was quicker than preparing a full-size washer.

Ryobi’s tool comes with three nozzles: two flat, angled options and a turbo nozzle that sprays water in a spiral. The tester initially found the stream underwhelming compared with a conventional pressure washer, describing little kick when pulling the trigger. The steady stream began loosening the flour, and the turbo nozzle helped remove more of it. The screen eventually appeared clean, though the report does not provide a timed measurement beyond saying the turbo-nozzle cleaning took about another minute.

The review’s conclusion is that the cleaner trades power for portability. Family Handyman says it may suit tasks such as removing dust from screens or mud from a sidewalk, while cautioning that it should not be expected to handle jobs requiring a strong blast. The report does not describe testing other surfaces or independently verify performance across a range of household tasks.

Where Portable Pressure Pays Off

The test addresses a practical choice for homeowners: whether a smaller, easier-to-store washer can take care of ordinary cleanup without the setup and storage demands of a full-size machine. In this single test, the Ryobi tool did more than a gentle rinse by loosening a sticky coating from a screen, but the result came with more time and less force than a stronger washer might offer.

Lower pressure can also be useful where an aggressive spray risks damaging a surface, the report notes. That is a possible benefit, not a universal guarantee: the test did not establish what pressure is safe for every screen, finish or material. Buyers should match the tool to the surface and task rather than treating the screen test as proof that it is suitable for all cleaning jobs.

A Small Washer, Not a Full-Size Unit

The Family Handyman report frames the Ryobi cleaner as a compact alternative to conventional pressure washers, which it describes as cumbersome to set up and store. The product is identified as part of Ryobi’s One+ line and priced at $129 in the report. It connects to a garden hose, so the test did not involve a separate water supply.

The report’s method was a hands-on demonstration, not a controlled comparison against a garden-hose nozzle or a full-size washer. Although the tester wondered whether the portable tool would outperform a hose nozzle, the published test described cleaning the prepared screen with the Ryobi unit and did not report results from a side-by-side comparison. That limits what can be concluded about comparative cleaning speed or value.

““There’s not much kick, and the water leaves the nozzle at a steady but uninspiring speed.””

— Family Handyman tester

Performance Beyond the Screen Test

The report provides one prepared-surface test, not a broad evaluation of long-term durability, battery runtime, water use or performance on different materials. It does not state the battery capacity used, give measured cleaning times for the entire task, or compare the Ryobi directly with a garden-hose nozzle or full-size pressure washer. The $129 price is the amount cited in the report; current pricing and availability are not established here.

It is also unclear how well the cleaner would handle stubborn grime, larger areas or jobs where a concentrated, high-pressure stream is needed. The tester’s comments about screens, sidewalks and routine seasonal cleanup are assessments based on the reported test and intended use, not results from separate trials on each surface.

Choose the Tool for the Job

Readers considering the cleaner should check current product details and price, then weigh portability against the pressure and speed their tasks require. For light maintenance, the reported screen test offers an example of a job it could complete; for tougher buildup, the review advises against expecting full-size washer performance.

No follow-up test or additional product findings are included in the supplied report. Further comparisons across surfaces, cleaning times and competing tools would be needed to establish how broadly the result applies.

Key Questions

What did Family Handyman test?

The report tested Ryobi’s $129 One+ Electric Power Cleaner on a screen door coated with flour and misted with water.

Did the Ryobi cleaner remove the flour?

Yes. The tester said the steady stream loosened the flour and that the turbo nozzle helped remove more. The report says the screen eventually looked clean.

Is it a replacement for a full-size pressure washer?

The review says no. It characterizes the Ryobi unit as a more portable, lower-power option for lighter cleaning, not for jobs that need a strong blast.

What was not tested?

The supplied report does not describe trials on multiple surfaces or a direct comparison with a garden-hose nozzle or full-size washer. It also does not report long-term durability or battery-runtime results.

Source: rss