Investing into a quality garden hose for washing cars can make the cleaning task far more easier. There is nothing worse than using a water hose that doesn’t accept many nozzle attachments, isn’t long enough or constantly kinks.
The best hose for washing cars is the Flexzilla HFZG450YW, which is an extremely flexible hose that is available in a range of diameters and lengths.
Garden hoses are far more complex than a tube that allows water to pass. Along with the length, you have various diameter options. Choosing a wider diameter allows more water to pass but this can be an issue for those on a water meter.
Table of Contents
Best Hose For Washing Car
Garden Hose | Type | Length |
---|---|---|
Flexzilla HFZG550YW | Standard | 3, 5, 10, 25, 75 or 100 Feet |
Hospaip Water Hose | Expandable | 50 Feet |
Giraffe Tools Hose | Standard | 3, 5, 10, 25, 75 or 100 Feet |
Stanley Fatmax | Standard | 50 or 100 Feet |
Soled Garden Hose | Expandable | 8, 25 or 75 Feet |
For those that use a car pressure washer for washing their car, you will require a quality garden hose. They need to connect from an outside tap to the pressure water. However, if you do not own a pressure washer, there are many hose nozzle attachments that you can use for effectively washing your car.
The two main types of water hoses include the standard rubbery hose and an expandable alternative that is very desirable for many.
Below is a list of the best hoses for washing cars that are available in a range of lengths and diameters to suit your requirements.
Flexzilla Heavy Duty Garden Hose
The Flexzilla HFZG450YW is one of the most popular garden hoses in the USA and for good reason. It is made from a lightweight flexible hybrid polymer that provides the hose with the best possible form of flexibility.
Flexzilla offer this hose in a range of sizes that include 5/8 or 1/2 inch diameter and lengths that range from 3 to 100 feet.
Other features of the Flexzilla HFZG450YW include:
- All weather bendability
- Abrasion resistant outer cover
- Anodized aluminum fittings
- Will not kind under pressure
- Drinking water safe as its lead free
- High quality O-ring to prevent leaks
Overall, the Flexzilla HFZG450YW is an excellent all-round hose for washing cars and will not disappoint. There is also a range of lengths to choose, which allows you to select a length that best suits your requirements.
Hospaip Expandable Garden Hose
The Hospaip is an expandable water hose that is 17 feet long but expands to 50 feet once the water is turned on. Unlike many of the alternatives, this hose is very durable with extra strength 3750D polyester fabric and brass connectors.
The expandable designed is made possible by a flexible inner latex hose and polyester casing. Hospaip state that you will require a minimum of 40 PSI of pressure to fully expand this hose.
Other features of the Hospaip Expandable Hose include:
- 50 feet in length
- 3/4 inch diameter
- Solid brass fittings
- Tangle and kind free
- Heavy duty rubber washer and seal
- Comes with a storage bag
Overall, the Hospaip is the best expandable hose that offers a long lasting solution and great value for money. One drawback is that there is only one size option and this may be an issue for those requiring a longer hose.
Giraffe Tools Flexible Garden Hose
The Giraffe Tools hose is designed to be lighter and less bulky than other hoses, which makes it great for washing cars. The brand claim that it has been rigorously tested and it is certainly built to last with the high quality materials used.
This water hose is only available with a 5/8 diameter but they offer sizes ranging from 3 to 100 feet long.
Other features of the Giraffe Tools Hose include:
- Kind resistant with no memory-lays flat
- All weather flexibility
- Brass fittings with protectors
- Flexible hybrid polymer construction
- One of the lightest hoses available
Overall, the Giraffe Tools garden hose offers the best value for money and has a range of sizes to choose. The intuitive edge warped fittings, nickle sleeve coating and swivel grips are examples of great design and it will not disappoint.
Stanley Fatmax Professional Grade Water Hose
Stanley are a highly reputable brand worldwide and the Fatmax hose they produce is highly rated with a 500 PSI burst strength. It is a professional grade garden hose that the brand claim cannot be beaten in terms of quality.
The Fatmax is available with a single diameter option of 5/8 inches but the choice of a 50 or 100 feet long hose.
Other features of the Stanley Fatmax Hose include:
- Anti-kink technology
- Forged aluminum titanium coated couplings
- Combination of Polyurethane and PVC
- Male & female swivel grip
- Lead free and crush proof
- Limited lifetime warranty
- All weather performance
Although it comes with an expensive price tag, the heavy duty design is highly desirable and worth paying the extra. The Fatmax garden hose also comes with a limited lifetime warranty for peace of mind too.
Soled Expandable Garden Hose
One of the cheapest garden hoses that are great for washing cars is the Soled water hose. It uses a new and improved design that uses a triple layer latex core and extra strength fabric for protection.
The brand offer this hose in three sizes (8, 25 and 75 feet) and state that it expands by up to 3 times its length.
Other features of the Soled Expandable Garden Hose include:
- Solid aluminum fittings
- High density knitted outer weave
- Includes a 1 year warranty
- All weather flexibility
- Lightweight and easy to store
Overall, it is a cheap expandable water hose that is ideal for washing cars and even include a 1 year warranty for peace of mind.
Car Wash Hose Buying Guide
Choosing a garden hose can be a difficult task due to the amount of hoses available. There are a range of diameters, lengths and expandable options that some people may find desirable. Selecting the premium hoses can make a huge difference when it comes to washing cars or other applications.
Features such as a kink-free design, crush resistance and a high quality construction provide great usability of the hose.
To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below guide regarding car wash hoses.
Hose Material
If you are purchasing a hose for washing cars, we strongly recommend that you avoid metal/stainless steel hoses. If these were to rub against the vehicles paintwork, the hose will more than likely leave a scratch. They are also not crush resistant, which may pose a problem because you may run over the hose and it will break.
The best material for hoses that are used for a car wash is either a rubber/polymer or a heavy duty polyester fabric, which is used for expandable hoses. Not only are they highly flexible but they are crush resistant and kink-free.
Length of the Hose
The water hose length can be one of the most important factors to consider. Most people will need a hose that is long enough to reach from the garden to their driveway in order to wash their car. Failing to reach all the way around the car will make it pointless.
Many people also make the mistake of choosing a hose that is simply too long and this can make it harder to use. Before purchasing any of the recommendations, you should check the length from the water supply to the area where you will wash your car.
Diameter of the Hose
Not every manufacturer offers the choice of diameters and the standard for most hoses is 5/8 inches. However, some may offer larger or smaller diameters.
The larger diameter options output more water, which can be very beneficial for certain tasks such as washing your car. However, the drawback is that they can be bulkier and heavier.
Opting for a smaller diameter can make the hose lighter and easier to maneuver but may not be suitable for washing cars.
We recommend that you choose a hose with the diameter of 5/8 inch or wider for washing cars. Narrow hose diameters may result in a lack of pressure, which will not allow you to fully rinse the car and remove any debris.
Coupling Material
Every garden hose will have coupling on either end that attach to the outdoor spigot and the nozzle. Most cheap hoses will use plastic couplings whereas the more premium alternatives will use metal couplings, which are usually brass or aluminum.
We recommend that you spend the extra for a water hose which uses metal couplings. The plastic alternatives are known for cracking or cannot be tightened correctly, which causes leaks. The best option would be to use metal couplings that are usually made from brass. These are far more durable and leak resistant, which makes them worth paying the extra.
Most will also include rubber washers inside of the coupling to prevent any leaks. If this is not included or arrives broken, we advise that you get in touch with the manufacturer as the leak can become very frustrating.
Strength – Burst Pressure
All hoses will have a “burst pressure” rating, which determines how much PSI it will take before rupturing. For example, the Stanley Fatmax has an impressive burst pressure of 500 PSI, which is the best within this article.
Flexibility
Flexible hoses allow you to navigate around corner with ease and make storage easier. However, they can begin to kink and overtime this can cause damage to the hose. There are various methods to prevent your hose from kinking but choosing a hose that is resistant is the better option.
Temperature
The temperature can make a big difference to the usability of the hose. Coldness can have the effect of freezing the water inside the hose, which reduces the flexibility. Hot temperatures can breakdown the rubber, which may rupture the hose.
All of our recommendations are suitable for all year round weather conditions and will not be a problem in the cold or warmth.
Conclusion
Continuing to struggle with an older water hose can be a thing of the past. All of the recommendations are hoses that are ideal for washing cars. They are lightweight, durable and will not scratch the car unlike many of the alternative hoses available.
It may be tempting to purchase the cheapest hose you can get your hands on but spending the small amount extra is worthwhile.