Ten years of home‑improvement has gifted me two things: a bottomless “sweetie will you do…” list and an allergy to equipment that’s awkward to start. My tipping point came last spring when I hauled our wheezy old petrol pressure washer out to rinse the algae off the stone in front of the bay window. Five pulls on the cord, a puff of blue smoke, and the neighbours were already shutting theirs.
That weekend a mate handed me his STIHL RCA 20—a battery‑powered, bucket‑sipping washer that weighs about the same as my cat. I filled a collapsible water bag, clicked the trigger, and watched 350 psi peel the green gunk off in slow‑motion. No petrol, no garden hose, no racket. I boxed up the petrol model for Facebook Marketplace the same evening.
In this guide I’m breaking down STIHL’s three cordless washers—RCA 20, REA 60 PLUS, and REA 100 PLUS—but I’ll come right out and say it: if you often clean away from a tap and you’d rather not spend more than the price of a decent cordless drill, the RCA 20 (under €260 in A-Z Hire Dublin) is the hero of the story.
I live in a terraced street where post‑coffee DIY can cause diplomatic incidents. Battery tools are quiet enough that my neighbour, Ian—the one with the hyperactive Staffie—doesn’t even notice when I’m jetting the patio at breakfast time.
Whether you’re rinsing a sea‑salt‑crusted SUP board at Howth or blasting muddy hiking boots in Glendalough’s car park, lugging a garden hose is impossible. Every STIHL cordless washer will siphon water from any container. I keep a 20‑litre camping jerrycan in the boot; that alone will rinse two bikes and still have enough left to wash the dog.
No spark plugs, no carb cleaner, no “drain the tank and run it dry.” When winter rolls in, I just give the trigger one last squeeze to empty the pump, pop the battery to 60 %, and store the lot in the airing cupboard.
| Model | Battery Platform | Max Pressure | Flow | Online Cost A-Z Hire | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCA 20 | AS 10.8 V | 350 psi | 1.0 gpm | €259 | Bikes, balconies, campsites |
| REA 60 PLUS | AK 36 V | 1,900 psi | 1.5 gpm | €299 | Patios, cars, decking |
| REA 100 PLUS | AP 36 V Pro | 2,200 psi | 1.2 gpm | €359 | Driveways, render, farm gear |
The headline for me is price. At less than €260 in most Irish stores—including battery, charger, 6 m hose, four‑position nozzle, and a fold‑flat 10 L water bag—it’s cheaper than many corded washers once you factor a decent hose reel. And yet I’ve used it for:
Spraying slurry‑spattered wellies before climbing back into the van after a Wicklow ramble.
Flushing dog‑hair and sand out of the boot tray at Dollymount Strand.
Rinsing barbecue grates in a pinch because I’d forgotten to soak them the night before guests arrived.
Think garden‑hose pressure times two, but with a concentrated jet. It won’t strip flaky paint—that’s a job for its bigger siblings—but it blasts mud off shocks and drivetrain cogs in seconds. Bonus: the lower pressure means you’re less likely to force water into wheel‑bearings or deck seals.
The little AS 2 pack is shared with STIHL’s shrub shears and cordless pruners. I get about 25–30 minutes of real cleaning. Because it’s a low‑draw tool, the charger only needs 40 minutes to hit 80 %. I bought a second battery, and since they weigh 220 g you can pocket a spare without noticing.
This is the big differentiator. The kit siphons water up to 5 m vertically—enough that I can leave the water bag on the ground while working on a roof rack. Turn the nozzle to the fan setting and I’ve even watered balcony planters during a hose‑pipe ban.
Switch to the AK‑platform and pressure jumps to 1,900 psi—punchy enough to carve moss off pavers but still tameable with the stepless dial for paintwork. If you already run an AK‑battery chainsaw, hedge trimmer or mower, buy the tool‑only body and you’re giggling all the way to your local Stihl Dealer azhire.ie
Real‑world anecdote: I resurfaced our 4 m × 3 m deck last August. Two passes at mid‑pressure cleared flaked stain; one pass on high lifted dirt from the grain. Total water used: one domestic wheely‑bin half filled—that’s 60 % less than when I borrowed my uncle’s old corded K3.
At 2,200 psi it rivals many petrol units, yet your hands aren’t tingling from vibration. The AP 300 S battery is pricey, but it runs my combi engine and backpack blower, so it pulls double duty around the smallholding I help my cousin with on weekends.
Farm hack: We hose down calf pens with mains water first, then the REA 100 PLUS sluices disinfectant foam and final grime without a single extension lead trailing through the slurry.
GREAT Value : All this summer Stihl are offering a second AP 500 s Battery when you buy a tool and battery. See local stihl dealers or just ask us here in A-Z hire
Do you need mains‑free water?
Yes? RCA 20 or REA 60 PLUS—both siphon brilliantly.
Biggest single area you clean?
Bikes / furniture ≤10 m² → RCA 20
Patios / cars 10–30 m² → REA 60 PLUS
Driveways / walls ≥30 m² → REA 100 PLUS
Already own STIHL batteries?
AS → RCA 20 | AK → REA 60 PLUS | AP → REA 100 PLUS
Thread on the bottle, add citrus pre‑wash, and watch dirt slide off panels. My nine‑year‑old loves “snow‑foaming” the car so much I barely have to bribe him.
Twin rotary jets under a shroud halve patio time and keep dirty mist from redecorating your jeans. I tackled my mother‑in‑law’s 20 m² front path in 18 minutes flat—she timed me.
If you’ve ever playfully pressure‑washed gutter sludge straight into your face, you’ll appreciate staying on the ground. Fully extended it reaches first‑floor fascias without wobbling a ladder.
Store at 40–60 % charge between jobs (two illuminated bars).
Keep packs indoors at 10–20 °C; sheds drop below freezing and throttle lithium chemistry.
Learned the hard way: I left an AK 20 on a concrete floor one February. It came out of hibernation with the runtime of a chocolate teapot.
Gloves stop splash‑back grit from sand‑papering your knuckles.
Eye‑pro is non‑negotiable; patio grit ricocheted off my daughter’s scooter at Mach 10.
Hold the lance 30 cm from paintwork. Do the “test patch shuffle” in an inconspicuous corner first.
Weekend adventurers: Grab the STIHL RCA 20. Under €260, fits in a tote, and laughs in the face of hose bans.
Typical Dublin homeowners: REA 60 PLUS is the Goldilocks sweet‑spot—enough power for patios yet gentle on car clear‑coat.
Commercial & smallholding warriors: REA 100 PLUS delivers petrol clout with none of the maintenance migraines.
Whatever you choose, next time you catch the neighbour’s curtains twitching at 8 a.m., smile, squeeze the trigger, and enjoy the whispered satisfaction of cordless cleaning.
azhire.ie run a click‑and‑collect, and spring bundles frequently shave €20–€40 off the RCA 20 kit. If you snag one, drop a comment below and let me know what unconventional water source you ended up using. (My current record: melted snow from a wheelbarrow after Storm Kathleen—worked a treat!)
Happy washing, and may your projects stay gratifyingly filthy just so you can clean them again.
