At FutureFirst, we talk a lot about sustainability, conscious choices—and the joy of finding tools that just work. So here’s a little story from our home, and it begins, naturally, with a Kärcher.

We’re big fans of Kärcher products. They’ve saved us countless hours of scrubbing—our steam cleaner alone is a hero when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens (but more on that another time 😉).

Recently, after moving into a house with a garden, we welcomed another Kärcher to the family: a pressure washer. The patio needed some serious attention after months of neglect, so I did what felt responsible: I bought the Stone and Facade Cleaner bottle along with it. It just seemed like the proper thing to do—after all, I wanted results.

🧪 What's in the Bottle?

The cleaner, like most Kärcher products, comes with some positive sustainability points:

• It’s made in Germany

• Packaged in 100% recycled plastic

• Contains <5% anionic and amphoteric surfactants

• And it's partially biodegradable

But reading the label closely (with help from my assistant ChatGPT), I also saw ingredients like Sodium Pyrithione and Benzisothiazolinone—preservatives that, while approved for household use, are known to be toxic to aquatic life if they enter waterways. They're fine in controlled amounts, but probably not ideal to spray across a garden where pets and plants live.

So here’s the turning point:
Instead of starting with the cleaning liquid, I decided to try using just plain water first—no detergents, no extras. But of course, not just with any tool: I used our Kärcher pressure washer paired with its magical yellow surface brush. Simple setup, powerful results.

💧 The Result? Absolute Magic.

Within minutes, years of dirt and algae melted off the tiles. The surface turned from dull grey to fresh stone. I didn’t need to measure detergent. No rinsing of chemicals. And best of all? Kasper— your loyal sustainability expert —could wander around, sniff, supervise, and even sneak in a lick of the patio without me worrying what he might ingest.

No gloves, no residue, no runoff.
Just water. Just Kärcher. Just clean.

💡 So, What’s the Point?

Sometimes, simplicity suffices.
While brands understandably offer extras—cleaners, accessories, formulas—we don’t always need to reach for them right away. Especially not in a garden, where nature and animals share our space.

Yes, cleaners have their place. They can make tougher jobs easier. But they’re not always necessary. Water, pressure, and a bit of time might be all you need. And when that works, it’s cheaper, safer, and far more sustainable.

🐾 Bonus: Kasper-Approved

Kasper had a lovely time supervising the clean-up. No chemicals under his paws. No suspicious smells. Just a sparkling patio and a sunny spot to nap on afterward.

If you're lucky enough to have a pressure washer—and an enthusiastic helper like Kasper—start with water. You might be surprised how little else you need.

📸 (See the magic in the pictures to this post!)
🌱 Share your own cleaning hacks and eco-successes with us—we love hearing from the FutureFirst community!