DTL LAB is our in-house line of pressure washer hardware and workshop kit, built around the parts that domestic machines do worst. It covers the Pro Swivel Short Trigger Gun, stainless steel turbo and professional spray nozzles, proprietary 3/8 inch quick connect adaptors in machine-specific fittings, Karcher to 3/8 inch connectors, plus foam cannon wall and bucket holders, a steel detailing cart and a steel bucket dolly for the wash bay itself.

Because the long gun supplied with most domestic machines is the wrong shape for a car. A short gun puts the nozzle where you need it at wheel arches, sills and lower panels without you having to crouch and twist, and the swivel version stops the hose fighting your wrist as you walk round the vehicle. It is the single change most people say makes washing less tiring, and it costs less than a new machine.

The 3/8 inch quick connect adaptor is stocked in machine-specific fittings for Nilfisk, Bosch, Karcher, Lavor, Black and Decker and Titan, so you choose the version that matches your washer rather than buying a generic part and hoping. There is also a Karcher female to 3/8 inch female connector for converting an existing Karcher setup. Tell us your model if you are unsure and we will confirm which one you need.

Yes, for one specific reason: the hard plastic tips supplied as standard will mark clear coat instantly on contact, and it only takes one trip over a hose or a slip on a wet driveway. Stainless nozzles are more durable and hold their spray pattern, and pairing them with a quick-release setup means you can change pattern in a second. For car work, rubber-tipped or stainless quick-connect nozzles remove the biggest accidental damage risk in the wash bay.