The Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer Reviewed

Introducing Makita’s entry-level pressure washer, the HW101 is indeed a basic pressure washer without all the usual bells and whistles. But like I always say, there’s nothing wrong with an appliance that actually does the one job it’s meant to do perfectly. With a weight of 6.3 Kg, 240V on that hardy motor, and one heck of a tortoise shell for an exterior, this is a great budget pressure washer.

Here’s my candid and balanced review of the Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer.

Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer review

What are you buying?

In the handheld power tools scene, Makita is definitely making big leaps. That’s why it comes as no surprise that their recent release is arguably one of the most sought-after models for all types of home pressure washing tasks (of course, the lower price tag has a lot to do with that).

Maybe it’s because of its petite nature that makes it an entry level appliance. This just means that it’s suitable for smaller cleaning jobs and not those large scale pressure cleaning jobs. So you’ll have no problems whatsoever giving your vehicles, bikes, windows, patios and other parts of your home a thorough hose down.

But don’t be fooled by the small frame for even one minute. At 6.3 Kg, the HW101 is a bit heavier than most of the pressure washers you’ll find here. But as you’ll soon find out, there’s a good reason for that. They used metal and plastic to make the exterior more durable.

Makita understands that cleaning with water is never enough. Sometimes, you need to bust out the cleaning solutions and detergents to shift all the dirt and grime. The HW101 compact pressure washer a detergent bottle that is fixed to the gun for improved cleaning quality. We’ll look into how that works later on.

Now for the specs; at 240 V, the motor is powerful enough to get almost all the dirt out of some surfaces. However, I did find it a bit slow when dealing with extremely dirty outdoors. But I really enjoyed the wobble plate pump technology that Makita incorporated in the HW101. This allows the washer to produce incredibly high pressure and even run completely dry.

What’s more, these types of pumps have been known to have longer lifespans. And lastly, the 3m pressure hose is ideal for cleaning small and medium spaces. But if you’re cleaning a considerably large area, you might have to lift or drag your unit a few times.

How easy is it to use?

Like I said at the beginning, the Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer is as basic as they come. So as you would expect, everything about it oozes user-friendliness. Except of course for the slightly heavier weight which is a huge pain in the arms. Other than that element, there are no major qualms from me.

The HW101 does require some assembly once you get it unpacked, but I found that it’s a relatively easy process since there’s not much to assemble anyway. Word of caution though; make sure you feed the water line correctly when assembling the unit. That part really gave me a hard time.

After that, it’s just a matter of getting your water in, applying some detergent in the bottle that connects to the lance and you’re all set.

This unit has a very sensitive trigger, so make sure you don’t go all trigger happy on it. In addition to an adjustable nozzle that lets you manoeuvre through different angles, this bad boy also has a couple safety features such as the total stop system that automatically works the on and off button to save your motor.

Last but not least, I was surprised to find storage accessories that let you store all the components directly on the HW101’s casing when done.

What accessories are included?

You should expect the following items in the box once you make your purchase:

• The Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer
• Detergent bottle
• Gun
• Lance with adjustable nozzle
• 3 m pressure soft hose

Pros

• Easy to assemble and use.
• Incredibly powerful and wide water jet.
• Ideal for most home pressure cleaning jobs.

Cons

• Keeping in mind the heavier weight, Makita could have included a longer hose.

Food for thought

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I found the HW101 pressure washer quite loud. The manufacturer has the noise levels at 75 dB for pressure washing and 83 dB for power washing, but I swear it sometimes goes higher than that. But hey, keeping in mind how great a worker she is, she can purr away all she wants if that’s what it takes.

Conclusion

There’s no question about it; the Makita HW101 Compact Pressure Washer is a pretty basic unit. But given the chance, it can be a great addition to most UK households. It’s a hardy and reliable machine that will help with small to medium DIY cleaning jobs at home without much fuss.

Of course, it’s not completely without its faults (like that weight to power ratio), but if you take good care of her, she’ll last a very long time and take great care of your home and properties.

Where to buy?

• Amazon UK: > CLICK TO CHECK TODAY’S PRICE