Hose Kit Tested

Which hosepipe attachments will help you breeze through cleaning your car? We test 12

Auto Express Car Reviews

November 2011

If you don’t have a pressure washer, a hose is still adequate for shifting winter dirt from your car. But you need to make the most of it with one of the wide range of attachments on the market.

Drivers have three main types to choose from: short-handled brushes for cleaning alloy wheels and radiator grilles, long telescopic versions for the roof and door panels, and spray guns to quickly rinse off soap and grime.

But which should you spend your money on? Armed with a hose reel and outside tap, we connected 12 to find out.

The Test

For any attachment, a simple yet secure quick-release connection is essential. We also wanted controls to stop and vary the water flow, to prevent repeated trips to the tap.

Each attachment was rated on its cleaning ability, as well as its build quality. Brushes were measured for reach and stability at full extension, while guns with multiple spray patterns and trigger locks scored extra marks.

Those tools that came with connectors for our hose also scored well. Finally, we factored in value for money; all the prices quoted exclude delivery charges.

Verdict

We’ve got our favourites in each category, but the most useful is still Halfords’ Heavy Duty Extending Wash Brush. It makes light work of brushing car roofs and muddy door sills.

In second is the Alaska Autowash – our favourite hand brush. It’s well built and its bristles shift brake dust from alloy wheels easily.

The final place on our podium goes to our preferred gun for rinsing: B&Q’s Verve.

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2 Comments

Beware

Some items tested have been around a long time in variuos guises.
1) Halfords long brush..... Leaks quickly at the connection with use. Cumbersome but OK for taller vehicles.
2) B&Q Verve multi gun...... OK but again soon leaked at the connection. Mine lasted 2 years before the trigger broke away.
3) Maplin 8 Dial spray..... for the money this was good value and I had one similar for a couple of years.
4) similar to this item I have had a handle like this. Not really suitable for car paintwork as it can mark with fine scratches. It would be good for off roaders not too heavily mudded.
I now have a set of very similar handles and guns from ASDA at £4.99. So far they have been fine. Bear in mind that I got them in June and they have seen constant daily use until recently, with garden watering and car cleaning, they are NOT leaking at the joint and have multifunction tops. That was 3 hand guns with hose connections for £4.99!!!!

By roverv6 on 15 November, 2011, 1:01pm