I have a 50m² terrace, here is how much it costs me to clean it with a Kärcher

With the return of warmer weather, it's time to clean the exterior. But at what cost?

The warmer weather is finally here for good, and with it, the inevitable return of enjoying your patio. But before you can sit outside and sip a refreshing drink with some olives, you still need to prepare the space. Dirty tiles, blackened grout, drips on the plaster... The signs of winter are here, and it's best to remove the traces of the previous months.

To do this, most French people who have a terrace use the same method: a pressure washer. However, given the power and water flow rate of the device, some wonder about the cost of this cleaning. So, before turning on the water and using the gun, Linternaute calculated the cost for a 50m² tiled terrace. Here, only the floor is cleaned. The result is surprising.

First, let's take one of the most well-known brand's flagship devices: Kärcher and its K2 Power Control. Sold for around a hundred euros, it's ideal for occasional cleaning. According to the brand, it can clean 20m² per hour. For our 50m² terrace, this represents 2.5 hours of use. The water flow rate is 360L/h. This results in a total consumption of 900L. As for the electrical power, it is 1.4kWh, or 3.5kWh used in 2.5 hours.

Adding all these elements together results in a bill that is almost identical throughout France, based on a fixed electricity price (€0.2016/kWh – EDF's blue tariff as of February ^1st ) and three prices per cubic meter of water. Thus, in Narbonne (€2.82/m3), cleaning a 50m² terrace costs €3.24. In Quimper (€2.04/m3), the bill is €2.54. In Aubenas (€1.71/m3), it comes to €2.24.

Another example is a second high-pressure cleaner that's gaining popularity: the KHD 3, sold by Lidl through its Parkside brand. This device consumes slightly more water (380L/h) and electricity (1.6kWh). For use for 2.5 hours, the bill climbs to €3.49 in Narbonne, €2.74 in Quimper, and €2.43 in Aubenas.

While the water flow rate can sometimes seem significant and cause concern about the final bill paid to Suez or elsewhere, the cost is ultimately negligible compared to our average monthly consumption. A great way to relax before toasting...