Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

So you finally picked up the best pressure washer and you’re ready to clean. Now, which pressure washer nozzle or tip should you choose to get the job done? There’s not really any secret sauce—and choosing the right tip might be easier than you think! We even include a pressure washer nozzle chart to help you understand the differences.

Check out our best electric pressure washer article to see our top picks

Pressure washers typically come with a set of nozzles. Just how many may vary, but there are six basic types: 0°, 15°, 25°, 40°, soap, and Turbo. We’ll go over each one and demonstrate how it works, what it’s for, and why you might want to use one type over another.

The four nozzles with various degree markings and colors shoot out water in a triangle pattern that matches the label. So when you see 0°, 25°, etc—that’s describing the spray pattern. Turbo nozzles use a rapid circular spinning motion that makes a 0° nozzle cover like a 25°. These five are the ones that take care of removing build-up.

The soap nozzle mixes with soap or another detergent to put a coating of suds on whatever you’re cleaning and isn’t actually designed to remove gunk on its own.

Getting back to nozzles, selecting the right one for the job is all about getting the pressure you want. Let’s start with the 0° nozzle. It gives you the absolute highest pressure. When you see the PSI rating for a pressure washer—that max rating was achieved using the 0° spray tip.

Use a Red 0° nozzle only for reaching high areas like soffits where that extra pressure gives you better access. It can also really help remove super-tough stains and debris from concrete and metal. Get it too close, however, and you can just about carve your initials in your driveway!

You also don’t want to use this particular pressure washer tip on painted surfaces, siding, or wood since it can easily remove coatings and ruin softer materials. It goes without saying that you want to use close-toed shoes when using a pressure washer—and really be careful that the 0° tip never touches any part of your person or anyone else.

The Yellow 15° pressure washer nozzle works really well for tough stains like mold and mildew on PVC fences. It also gives you a very strong spray, so don’t “linger” in one area for too long. That 15° tip can start to remove aggregate and paint from concrete if you’re not careful.

When using it on siding, make sure you keep the wand far enough away to provide ample spread across the vinyl. We don’t recommend this nozzle for use on painted wood siding—unless you’re prepping it for painting.

Use the Green 25° nozzle to safely clean siding, decks, sidewalks, or driveways. It also works well to remove stubborn dirt or mud from off-road vehicles and wheels. Just keep a safe distance away to ensure you don’t damage the paint. This is a great all-around nozzle and a great go-to if you’re unsure of where to start.

The 40° White pressure washer nozzle gives you the widest spray pattern. Use this tip for spraying and hosing down the car, washing windows, and anywhere you want to rinse something off. If a surface is delicate, this nozzle lets you apply a wider spray with less pressure so you don’t damage it.

There are two more pressure washer nozzles or tips I also want to talk about. These provide more than simple spray patterns.

OK, let’s talk about that Turbo nozzle. This is really a great invention because it takes the power of 0° tip and rotates it rapidly to cover a conical roughly the diameter provided by a 25° tip. That means you can rapidly clean larger areas with a higher level of pressure since you get both pressure and coverage.

Use it on the same areas you’d use a 0° or 15° nozzle—just test the area first to ensure you don’t damage the surface. We love how it helps clean concrete landscape edging—just move it along at a rapid pace to avoid damaging the softer concrete.

If you happen to have a soap nozzle, these typically work alongside a delivery system when spraying detergent or a foaming agent along with the water. Most pressure washers either have an onboard detergent tank or allow you to connect a tube directly to a detergent container. It lets you quickly and easily spray down a vehicle, boat, or surface without fear of damaging delicate paints or materials with a high-pressure nozzle.

You can also grab third-party foam cannons that sit at the end of the wand and include their own low-pressure spray nozzle.

OK, let’s wrap it all up. The trick with choosing the right pressure washer nozzle or tip is to find the widest nozzle you can use that still cleans the surface effectively. That way, you make the most efficient use of your pressure washer and your time.

If you’re working on a surface you’ve never cleaned before, try a 40° pressure washer nozzle in a spot that’s out of the way first. Hit the trigger with the nozzle about 2 feet away from the surface and push in closer until you see it starting to clean. If you don’t see results by the time the nozzle is a few inches away, try the next size down and repeat until you’re making headway without risking damage to the surface.

If you do notice you’re starting to damage what you’re working on, back off immediately and either clean from a little farther away or switch to a wider nozzle.

So there you have it—the big secret is to take the time to experiment. Every pressure washer is different and there’s no one universal answer for every situation. If you have any questions or feedback for us, feel free to drop a comment below, and as always, thanks for watching!

For some great pressure washers, be sure to check out the line of Simpson Pressure Washers available here.

When he's not remodeling part of his house or playing with the latest power tool, Clint enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader. He has a degree in recording engineering and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.

Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint dealt extensively with client management as well as film & video editing, color correction, and digital video & MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.

After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.

Crediting his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros