AR Blue Clean AR118 Review

Last Updated on December 17, 2021 by Mark Johnson

Review of AR Blue Clean AR118

Editor Rating: 3.9/5

Build Quality
Power
Features
Price

Review Summary

Sometimes it’s not a matter of having as much power as possible. Sometimes it’s a matter of having just enough power. That’s the story of AR Blue Clean’s AR118. If you look up its online specs, it looks underpowered at 1500 psi, but that’s just a number. In reality, it’s got enough power to handle most jobs you have around the house. It’s true that you probably would want to buy something more powerful for really tough or really big jobs, but if you just need to clean off a sidewalk, it’s good enough for that. In fact, for jobs that require a more delicate touch, it has just the right amount of power.

Where it really excels, however, is that it’s small, compact and portable. Anyone can move this thing around, and as long as you’ve got wall current within 30 feet, you can operate it. For what it costs, that makes it a really good value.

AR Blue Clean AR118 – A Quick Look

Pros
  • Hand portable
  • Really affordable
Cons
  • Not a lot of power

Specifications

Brand name: AR Blue Clean

Model: AR118

Power Type: Electric

Water Pressure: 1500

Water Usage: 1.5

Dimensions: 9 x 14.5 x 10 in

Weight: 11.7 lbs.

AR Blue Clean AR118

Portable enough to carry around

You could go out and buy the most powerful gas-powered pressure washer on the market, the kind that can practically scour the flesh from your arms with its laser-like jet of water. You could do that, and it will come with a big, heavy engine and powerful pump, and set on top of a welded steel frame with wheels that in another life could fit onto the side of an armored personnel carrier. Or, you could buy the AR118, which is small enough and light enough that just about anyone can pick it up and carry it around. By the way, that means that if your kid gets careless and is in need of a chore as punishment, this is the perfect sort of thing to hand him or her for the purpose of cleaning the sidewalks.

Handles lighter jobs excellently

For some jobs, you need as much power as you can possibly find in any machine. There are other jobs you can do with a garden hose with your thumb over the spraying end. Jobs in between, like cleaning off wooden furniture in preparation for staining, or spraying the dead bugs from your vehicle’s windshield, call for a slightly more deft touch. That’s where a machine that offers something in between, like the AR118, comes in. If you need something cleaned that needs more power than a simple hose, but that a really powerful pressure washer would damage, it offers a nice in-between range of power.

Simple to set up and use

The more powerful the machine, the more complicated it often is to set up. The AR118 is a pretty basic pressure washer. Just connect your garden hose to it, plug it in and turn it on. You don’t need to spend a lot of time sweating over whether you have the right nozzle on it or making sure that the power is modulated, or even that the gas engine is properly oiled. You can get this up and running before you have a more complicated machine unpacked and its gas tank filled. Of course, keep in mind that you’re sacrificing power for that ease of

FAQ

What is the total reach of the AR118?

The power cord from the wall outlet to the machine is 35 feet, and the hose adds another 20 feet to that. That’s a total reach of 55 feet.

How good is the AR118’s warranty?

It comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Does this come with an onboard detergent tank?

Yes. While it can require some extra work to use the detergent tank, it does come with one. It also has the capability, if you prefer to spend a little less time cleaning it out after use, to insert its tube into a bucket of soapy water and apply detergent that way.

Conclusion

AR Blue Clean’s AR118 is a perfect light-duty pressure washer, portable yet powerful enough. At 1500 psi it offers enough power that it can do most jobs around the house, even if it takes a little more time, while at the same time offering a premium in lightweight portability. It’s a simple machine that offers a pretty straightforward pressure cleaning. It’s perfect for jobs requiring a little more finesse in cleaning than raw, brute strength, especially if you have to move it around. If you’ve got really serious cleaning work to be done, or need to use it often, you’ll want to find a model that can withstand the extra use. On the other hand, if you want something that can do most jobs and is pretty portable, this is a great option for you. The cherry atop this sundae is that it can deliver all of this at a price right for just about any budget.