Nilfisk E 145 Pressure Washer

Summary

The water flow it delivers is higher than that of the other models we looked at, which means large surfaces get cleaned noticeably faster.

Its induction motor also keeps the noise down, so long cleaning sessions are far less tiring on the ears. We tested this model in Spain as part of a kit with extra accessories; on Amazon.co.uk you get the standard E 145.4, the same machine with a shorter list of accessories (more on that below).

Analysis and verdict

Pressure and flow – Score: 8/10

The Nilfisk E 145 is built for demanding cleaning jobs around the home, although it isn’t a professional machine.

It’s a powerful washer designed for long stretches at high pressure, and while it works, its 2,100 W induction motor stays impressively quiet.

Large outdoor areas are well within its reach, too, because it covers a generous cleaning area of 50 m²/h according to the specifications of the unit we tested (the UK listing for the E 145.4 quotes up to 55 m²/h).

The metal pump is excellent quality and offers two pressure levels, from 135 bar up to a maximum of 145 bar. Our unit was rated at 610 l/h, which speeds up rinsing on big surfaces; the UK listing gives a flow of 420-500 l/h for the E 145.4.

Accessories – Score: 9/10

The kit we tested came with a high-pressure hose, a Powerspeed nozzle, a Tornado variable-pressure nozzle, a soft-grip hose, a Click&Clean foam sprayer, a jet cleaning tool, a patio cleaner, a drain and pipe cleaner and a rotating brush.

That score reflects this extended kit. The standard E 145.4 sold on Amazon.co.uk comes with less: the listing mentions a foam sprayer, gentle and rough nozzles, a nozzle cleaning needle, the G4 gun and G4 rotating lance and a 9 m hose. The patio cleaner, drain cleaner and rotating brush aren’t included, so you’d need to buy them separately if you want them.

Handling – Score: 8.5/10

When it comes to toughness, the Nilfisk is hard to beat: it’s made of metal and its induction motor is built to last.

This mid-range machine has a professional, streamlined design, with a telescopic handle, sturdy wheels and a long 9 m hose that’s genuinely useful and easy to handle.

The 5 m power cable lets you move freely within a 28 m diameter. Like every Nilfisk, it’s built to be robust and hard-wearing, and the E 145 keeps up that tradition.

It measures 39.5 x 34.5 x 90 cm and weighs 19.8 kg, uses good-quality materials and has a reel to store the high-pressure hose.

There’s also a storage system on the side for the power cable.

Our test

Test 1: Pressure and flow – dried mud on the car and a patio with ingrained dirt

The moment that told us most about this Nilfisk came when we ran the lance over the dried mud on the lower sills of the car. The jet stripped the crust away without us having to go over the same spot again and again. We marked out a 1 m² strip on a patio with ingrained dirt and repeated the test on the bodywork, using the standard lance at 30 cm and counting passes, always comparing against the same area washed with a garden hose alone to see what the machine really adds.

With its two pressure levels (135 and 145 bar) and the 610 l/h flow of our unit, rinsing the patio strip went faster than with other washers we’ve tested, which fits the 50 m²/h cleaning area the manufacturer gave for that model. We also liked that on flaking paint it didn’t strip off paint that was still firmly attached, only the paint that was already damaged, which avoids nasty surprises on delicate surfaces. We don’t have an exact number of passes or a timed result to publish for this model, so that comparison stays at what we saw rather than a figure.

Test 2: Accessories – every nozzle on its own surface

We sat down with the box of accessories from our kit and tried each piece on the surface it’s designed for: the Powerspeed and Tornado nozzles on the patio, the soft-grip hose on delicate areas, the patio cleaner on outdoor paving, the rotating brush on the bodywork and the drain and pipe cleaner where it made sense, noting which ones are genuinely useful and which are just for show.

The Click&Clean foam sprayer surprised us most. It doubles as a detergent tank without needing a separate one, and applying foam was easy, with no fiddly manual dosing. The rest of the nozzles each did their job, and with nine pieces in that kit (counting the high-pressure hose) we didn’t need to buy anything extra for normal home use. Bear in mind that the UK E 145.4 comes with fewer accessories, as explained above. What we can’t vouch for is how each accessory holds up over time, because our test was a one-off rather than months of continuous use.

Test 3: Handling – assembly, the 9 m hose and packing away

Getting from the box to a connected high-pressure hose took us no time at all, which already says a lot about the assembly. We went through the whole routine: assembly, connecting the hose, working along the front of the house with the lance and packing away, checking whether the trolley moved easily around the garden and whether the cable and hose reached everywhere.

With 9 m of hose and 5 m of cable, the 28 m working diameter promised by the manufacturer felt real: we got round a good part of the house front without unplugging or changing socket. The hose reel and the cable compartment on the side keep packing away free of loose cables, which you appreciate on a machine weighing 19.8 kg. What we didn’t check is how the trolley copes going up or down steps, or whether it tips over if you pull hard on the lance at an awkward angle. We didn’t force that situation, so we can’t vouch for its stability in those specific cases.

If you want to know more about what to look for, take a look at our pressure washer buying guide, where you’ll find the best models we’ve tested and advice on choosing the right one for you.