In between the cleaning capabilities of a hose nozzle and a pressure washer is a class of tools called power cleaners. The Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean Electric Cleaner is an upgrade from the previous design, and we wanted to see what the hype was all about.
If you're not familiar with this type of tool, a power vacuum is essentially a low-PSI pressure washer. Ryobi's electric cleaners run at up to 600 PSI and at speeds of up to 0.7 GPM and don't require the same class of motor and pump systems as their electric or air pressure washers.
In fact, it doesn't even need a pressurized water source at all. While you can use the hose directly with the adapter, there is also a 20-foot siphon hose that allows you to use the tool without a hose. Put it in a bucket, barrel, pool, or lake — as long as it's a fresh water source, it's fine.
For that matter, you can also convert the bottle into a water or detergent source – there's an adapter in the box, too.
Compared to other electric cleaners on the market, the Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean has higher pressure and slightly lower flow. Unusually, there are 3 electronic speeds to choose from to help you manage your run time. Most electric vacuum cleaners only have one speed, but there are also two speeds.
In terms of what you can do with it, imagine what problems you could solve if you could get 5 to 10 times the pressure out of a garden hose nozzle. You can clean outdoor furniture, windows, screens, camper, or my favorite – your boat. What you won't be able to do is clean concrete or other surfaces that really need a higher PSI level to get the trash moving.
Pro Tip: 600 PSI is enough to clean concrete, but you don't want to be dealing with your entire driveway. Stick to using a pressure washer to cover large concrete areas and use EZClean for spot cleaning.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean 600 PSI Power Cleaner Design Notes
size and weight
With spare rods, the tool is just over 31 inches long. That's more compact than most competitors out there. Everything else we've tested is in the 38 – 40 inch range.
It weighs 4.2 lbs bare and 5.8 lbs with the 4.0Ah battery added.
battery protection
You can use any Ryobi 18V One+ battery to power EZClean. Even though water and electricity doesn't sound like a great idea, having a battery case with a gasket seals out any water, no matter how much you splash it.
Spray Guns and Nozzles
The tool comes with a quick-connect gun with an installed length of just over 12 inches. We appreciate that Ryobi uses metal shafts instead of the plastic ones we've seen from others.
The nozzle that comes with the tool is a three-in-one design, covering turbo (0°rotation), 15°, and flushing. While some models come in 5-in-1s, these are the nozzles we use most often.
Although it is a quick-connect system, it is not the same size as a standard pressure washer. You cannot use standard nozzles or foam cannons.
Accessories
You can get a lot done with the items in the kit, but you can take the EZClean's versatility to a whole new level with the accessories that Ryobi offers it.
- Chemical Nozzle Kit
- wash
- foam sprayer
- scraper
- Bottle adapter (for 2 liter bottles)
- expand
- Flexible Wand (Must Have!)
- Siphon extension
- Swivel adapter (another must have!)
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean 600 PSI Electric Cleaner Price
You can buy Ryobi's cordless electric cleaner for $159 at The Home Depot. We like the value proposition considering the included tool, siphon hose, hose adapter, bottle adapter, 4.0Ah battery and charger. If you're already using the Ryobi 18V One+ platform, you can pick it up bare-bones for $119.
Ryobi Power Cleaner Quick Comparison
| 18V One+ EZClean | HP Brushless EZClean | |
| greatest pressure | 320 psi | 600 psi |
| Maximum flow | 0.8 gallons | 0.7 gallons |
| nozzle | 3 in 1 (Turbo, 15°, Flush) | 3 in 1 (Turbo, 15°, Flush) |
| price | $79.97/$149.00 | $119.00/$159.00 |
the bottom line
The Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean Electric Cleaner reaches a higher level of performance than its predecessor, making it an even more versatile tool. While it's not designed to replace a pressure washer, it does have high pressure for this type of tool. It's a great portable cleaner for when you don't have access to a pressurized water source or want to avoid the potential damage a pressure washer can cause.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless EZClean 600 PSI Electric Cleaner Specifications
- Model: Rimei RY121850
- Power supply: Ryobi 18V One+ battery
- Maximum pressure: 600 PSI
- Maximum Flow: 0.7 GPM
- Nozzle: 3 in 1 (Turbo, 15°, Flush)
- Weight: 5.8 lbs with 4.0Ah battery
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $119 bare, $159 kit with 4.0Ah battery