Willow and Hearth

About 2,200 Workbless electric pressure washers sold in the United States, plus roughly 657 in Canada, are under recall after testing found the machines have no built-in shock protection during outdoor, wet-condition use. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on August 20, 2026, warning that the defect poses a risk of serious injury or death from electrocution.

Key Points

• The recalled washers lack an integral ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), the component that cuts power almost instantly if the tool contacts water or a person’s body.
• The units also ship with an inadequate power cord length, which pushes homeowners toward using household extension cords that may not be rated for wet, high-draw outdoor tools.
• No injuries have been reported, according to the CPSC notice, but the agency classified the hazard as capable of causing death.
• Consumers get a full refund, not a repair or replacement.

What’s Affected

• Models WB0301 and WB0302, sold under the Workbless brand.
• Roughly 2,200 units sold in the U.S. and about 657 in Canada.
• Sold at Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Overstock, Target, and Walmart, both in stores and online.
• Sold between April 2025 and July 2026, at prices ranging from $97 to $140.
• Manufactured for Workbless by a China-based supplier, per the CPSC filing.

What Homeowners Should Do

Stop using the pressure washer immediately, especially in any wet or outdoor setting. Unplug the unit before doing anything else with it.

To get the refund, the CPSC recall notice instructs owners to cut the power cord in half after unplugging it, take a photo of the destroyed unit, and email that photo to [email protected]. Owners can also reach Workbless at 833-725-3151, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific, or through the company’s recall page. After the photo is submitted, the product should be disposed of rather than resold or donated — a recalled electrical tool with a known shock defect should never go back into circulation, even secondhand.

Do not attempt to add GFCI protection yourself with an aftermarket adapter. The CPSC’s remedy is a refund because the defect is built into the appliance’s wiring, not something an accessory reliably fixes.

What a Pressure Washer Should Have Before You Buy

This recall is a useful checklist moment for anyone shopping for a replacement or a first pressure washer. Look for:

• Built-in GFCI protection on the cord or plug itself, not just a note that it “should be used with a GFCI outlet.” Under UL 60335-2-79, the safety standard covering high-pressure cleaners, GFCI protection is required precisely because these tools are designed for wet, outdoor use.
• A power cord long enough for typical driveway and yard work, so you’re not relying on a standard household extension cord that isn’t rated for outdoor, high-current, wet-location use.
• A visible UL or ETL safety listing mark on the tool itself, which indicates independent lab testing rather than a manufacturer’s own claim of compliance.

Homeowners who own a Workbless WB0301 or WB0302 should treat the recall as immediate, not something to get to later in the week.