Craftsman CMEPW1700 Review: Best Entry-Level Electric Washer

What the CMEPW1700 actually is

The Craftsman CMEPW1700 is an entry-level corded electric pressure washer built around a single premise: cover the most common light residential cleaning tasks at the lowest possible price. That premise succeeds. At $89–$130 it undercuts the Ryobi RY142300 by $100 or more and the EGO HPW3200 kit by $400+, while still producing 1,700 PSI — enough pressure to wash a car safely, rinse outdoor furniture, remove surface mold from a small deck, and keep a patio clean across a normal season.

What it does not do is clean a heavily stained concrete driveway quickly, strip paint, or match the throughput of machines two or three price tiers above it. Buyers who understand those boundaries will find the CMEPW1700 earns its price every time; buyers who do not may feel frustrated watching it struggle through an oil-soaked driveway that a gas machine would clear in 20 minutes.

Weight and portability

At 17.6 lbs, the CMEPW1700 is light enough to carry with one hand, hang from a hook in a garage, or stow in the trunk of a sedan. The compact dimensions — 17.5 inches long by 9.25 inches wide by 10.44 inches tall — mean it fits on a shelf next to typical garage storage without occupying a machine footprint. There are no wheels and no hand-truck frame; you carry it to the job and set it down. For a buyer who stores tools in an apartment closet or a small shed, this form factor is genuinely practical in a way that heavier, larger machines are not.

Performance on typical light tasks

Car washing is the task for which 1,700 PSI is arguably the best pressure in this review group. The EGO HPW3200 at 3,200 PSI peak requires active mode management and careful standoff distance to stay paint-safe. The Ryobi RY142300 at 2,300 PSI demands a 40-degree nozzle and disciplined technique. At 1,700 PSI the CMEPW1700 with the 40-degree nozzle at 12 inches is low enough risk for factory paint, rubber trim, and window seals while still providing enough force to break road grime and brake dust from wheel wells.

Outdoor furniture — plastic resin chairs, metal tables, composite loungers — cleans easily at this pressure. The lightweight machine is easy to carry around the patio rather than dragging a hose and heavy unit.

Wood decks: 1,700 PSI at the 40-degree nozzle is a safe and controlled input for most wood types. Soft pine and old, weathered cedar benefit from lower pressure that removes biological growth without lifting or fuzzing fibers. The moderate output allows slower, more deliberate passes that rinse deck cleaner thoroughly without driving excess water into board joints.

Concrete driveways: This is where the rating gap between the CMEPW1700 and higher-power machines becomes visible. Surface dirt and light mold come off fine. Embedded oil, old tire marks, and biological staining that has had years to set requires multiple passes, a degreasing pre-treatment, and more patience than the same job done with 2,300 or 3,400 PSI. The machine will get there; it just takes longer.

Hardware and accessories

The axial cam pump and quick-connect coupler are standard for this category. The GFCI cord at 35 feet is long enough to reach from a garage outlet to most single-car driveways without an extension. The 20-foot high-pressure hose is the shortest in this group — a two-car driveway will require repositioning the machine at least once per session.

Two nozzle tips (40-degree and turbo) come in the box along with a foam cannon for detergent application. The absence of a 25-degree nozzle is a minor gap that a cheap aftermarket 1/4-inch quick-connect tip fills for under $10. The turbo nozzle does useful work on concrete surfaces where the rotating concentrated stream cleans faster than the 40-degree tip.

The trigger lock prevents accidental triggering during transport or storage — a safety feature most buyers will use once to confirm it works and then ignore until a storage incident reminds them it is there.

Durability expectations

The 13-amp universal (brush-type) motor is the main durability limitation. Brush motors wear their carbon contacts against the rotor, generating heat and gradually degrading output over time. For a machine used 5 to 10 hours per year on light tasks, the motor will likely outlast the pump seals. For sustained heavy use, the brushless motor in the Ryobi RY142300 is the more durable investment. The 3-year limited warranty matches the Ryobi's coverage.

Final verdict

The Craftsman CMEPW1700 occupies a clear and useful role: it is the pressure washer for buyers who want to stop renting, need to store it in a small space, and primarily wash vehicles and furniture rather than clean full driveways. At under $130 it is the most accessible entry point in this category, and its 1,700 PSI covers light residential tasks cleanly. The short hose, brush motor, and two-nozzle kit are real limitations for heavier jobs. Buyers who know they will need more power should step up to the Ryobi RY142300 from the beginning rather than buying this machine and then replacing it a season later.