Karcher steam cleaner for washing windows
Washing windows is not an easy task. And it’s not even that you have to wash the outside, and this is not always safe. Divorces, scratches, dust clots are far from a complete list of troubles awaiting the hostess. But all this can be avoided if you use a Karcher steam cleaner to wash windows or another unit, which makes it possible to use modern cleaning technologies. The advantages and disadvantages of these devices will be discussed in our article.
to contents ↑Why do housewives rarely buy them?
Housewives, long accustomed to washing machines and dishwashers, washing vacuums and other wonders of modern technology, often indifferently walk past shop windows where wipers are on display. First of all, they are frightened off by the high price - I really do not want to spread a tidy sum for the device, which, perhaps, will have to be used once a year. If you plan to buy it solely in order to tidy up the windows every six months, then the cost of such a purchase may be inappropriate. In this case, it’s easier to familiarize yourself with ways of washing windows with ammonia and a selection of tools to help you quickly clean PVC profiles from dirt.
A wiper, especially a steam wiper, can handle not only window panes, it is a multifunctional device. He successfully cleans many types of surfaces without damaging them. It removes stains and a musty smell from the furniture, and if necessary, successfully replaces even the iron. With this approach, the device is able to greatly facilitate household chores.
Karcher steam cleaners for washing windows can be divided into two classes:
- steam cleaners with special nozzles;
- portable wipers using special shampoo.
As for the price line, it is very extensive. If desired, you can find a very inexpensive model.
to contents ↑Choose a steam cleaner with a nozzle
Do you still decide to buy a window cleaner? And they did it right. The benefits of steam cleaning are obvious:
- steam is supplied under pressure;
- the temperature of the steam is enough for the bacteria to disappear;
- special nozzles allow you to reach the most problematic places.
Main criteria
But there are a great many models, many companies produce steam cleaners, so what to look for? In addition to the price, you should be interested in:
- the weight;
- dimensions;
- tank size;
- power;
- heating time;
- type of heating;
- pressure;
- cord length;
- hose length.
The weight
Imagine how you use this thing to wash tall glass. You will have to hold the steam cleaner in your hands for quite a while, besides, it is possible that it will have to be raised high. And this means that the most important criterion to be guided by is weight.
The lighter the device, the less tired your hand will be.
Important! Note that the weight of the water that you pour into the tank must also be added to the weight of the unit. Of course, there are floor models, but there the possibilities are limited by the length of the hose and nozzle.
Tank volume
It would seem that everything should be the same as a washing vacuum cleaner, that is, the larger the tank, the better. But in this case, this is not entirely true.
A large tank may be too heavy. The volume can be from 1 to 5 liters.The maximum that the owner of a portable steam cleaner can afford is 2.5 liters.
Power, time and type of heating
1600 W is enough for a manual steam cleaner for washing windows. Outdoor appliances, it can be much larger - up to 2300 watts.
The heating time directly depends on the power. The spread is large enough - from 1 to 10 minutes.
Important! But if the unit is low-power, this does not mean that you have to wait as long as ten minutes and only then start washing the window. You can heat the water in the kettle, and then pour it into the tank - experienced housewives often do just that.
As for the type of heating, steam cleaners are:
- direct-flow;
- with a boiler.
Important! Using a boiler allows you to get a higher temperature. This option is more common. When buying, do not forget to see what the boiler is made of. The best material is aluminum; it allows the water to heat up very quickly. In addition, there is no problem with it during the operation of the device - there is almost no scale on aluminum surfaces.
Pressure
One of the most important technical characteristics is pressure. For household steam cleaners for washing windows, it ranges from 2 to 6 bar. But this is the pressure inside the container.
In the hose, and even more so in the nozzle, it will be somewhat smaller, and this must be taken into account.
Important! Practice shows that units with this indicator less than three bars do not work well. The longer the hose and nozzle, the greater should be the pressure in the container.
Cord length
Steam cleaners for washing windows can work in two modes:
- offline;
- from the network.
The length of the cord determines how convenient it will be to use the unit. However, if the cord is short - this does not cause much inconvenience, since you can buy an extension cord in any hardware store.
Hose length
To an inexperienced housewife it may seem that a long hose is very good. But it is not so. A long hose, of course, is convenient because it makes it possible to get anywhere. But it should be borne in mind that steam tends to cool. This means that a long hose (and nozzle) can only be a powerful steam cleaner, which gives a lot of pressure in the container.
to contents ↑Karcher steam cleaners
Karcher is a well-known manufacturer of household appliances in the world market. Its founder Alfred Karcher, in his youth, created a company that produced construction equipment. This was before the Second World War.
The company's specialists seriously engaged in household appliances in the postwar years. Karcher gained wide fame after it launched the first sink in the early 50s.
The Karcher steam cleaners can be considered an example of true German quality. They are convenient, reliable and, with proper care, live a very long time. Even if you need to repair the Karcher steam cleaner, which happens quite rarely, the specialists of the service center will do everything very quickly and efficiently, because the company values its reputation.
In addition, they look pretty attractive. And other manufacturers who entered the world market later began to use the Karcher branded colors.
The company produces several household steam cleaners that differ in basic parameters. Among them there are miniature models and real giants.
Household steam cleaners SC
Among them you will find a very miniature SC1, and a powerful SC5, and the “average” SC2. All these models of Karcher steam cleaners are characterized by very fast heating.
Important! In order to get steam and heat it to a maximum temperature of 95 ° C, you need from three to seven minutes.
SC1 weighs one and a half kilograms, this is perhaps one of the lightest steam cleaners in general. At the same time, it gives a pressure of 3 bar. To the unit are attached:
- funnel;
- case;
- tight for nozzles;
- safety valve.
Important! Do not hold the steam generator close to the glass; it may not withstand and burst. Keep it at a distance of 23-30 cm from the surface.
Floor steam cleaner SC2
This is an average unit in terms of weight and dimensions. It belongs to the budget category:
- It does not have a particularly powerful heater - 1500 W, but it gives a pressure of 3.2 bar.
- True, it weighs a lot - almost three kilograms.
- Compared with his miniature “brother”, it takes longer to warm up - six minutes.
- But he has more tips. This makes it possible to clean almost any surface.
Important! Especially aquarists like this wiper, because it makes it possible to tidy the glass without using detergents.
Giant SC5
This is the most powerful household steam cleaner of the entire Karcher lineup:
- The initial pressure is 4.2 bar.
- He has two tanks.
- In addition, this Karcher steam cleaner has a function that allows you to combine steam cleaning and washing with hot water.
- True, it costs much more than its lighter and less powerful "brothers."
to contents ↑Important! Not all steam cleaners are equipped with nozzles for washing windows. But such nozzles can be bought separately at any company salon of this company.
The latest generation of wipers
It is not necessary to use a steam cleaner to clean windows. There are other devices that make this time-consuming process fast and efficient. The most modern and affordable Karcher products are wiper batteries on the WV series:
- With their help, you can wash all windows very quickly and without any stains. The wiper collects excess moisture from the surface, so no streaks remain.
- Unlike steam cleaners with nozzles, windshield wipers have a convenient handle and light weight. It weighs only 700 g, despite the fact that the smallest and lightest steam cleaner with a nozzle is at least one and a half kilos, plus water.
- In addition, the portable wiper has powerful batteries and a charger. You can absolutely safely take such a unit with you to the country, if you need to wash the glass in the greenhouse.
- You can find out how much the battery is discharged by the indicator - it starts flashing when the device is discharging.
- He doesn’t have a cord, so he won’t need a socket either. One charge is enough for 20 minutes, while in order to wash the window, 1-2 minutes are enough. The battery charges for about three hours.
Important! A variety of nozzles can be worn on the Karcher wiper, so it is well-suited not only for washing glasses.
Benefits of wiper cleaning
Karcher may be something you never get by hand washing:
- liquid from the glass is removed immediately;
- the liquid is equally successfully absorbed from both horizontal and vertical or inclined surfaces;
- at one time you can collect up to 100 ml of water and dirt;
- Big savings in detergents.
Main disadvantages
One of the main drawbacks is the price, which to some seems excessive. However, in any case, the wiper costs much less than a steam cleaner with nozzles.
Important! Some owners think that brushes and other supplies are too fast to fail. But this is also not fatal: if necessary, they are easy to replace.
Wiper WV50 Plus
One of the most popular Karcher wiper models is equipped with:
- a charger;
- 250 ml bottle with spray;
- microfiber nozzle;
- suction nozzle;
- retaining ring;
- detergent concentrate (20 ml);
- instruction.
Important! Before using, the device must be assembled. The instructions are very detailed, with an exact indication of the sequence of actions. The battery needs to be fully charged.
Specifications:
- weight with battery - 800 g;
- dimensions (without nozzle) - 13x9x35.5 cm;
- tank volume - 100 ml;
- the width of the suction nozzle is 28 cm;
- battery life - 20 min;
- charging time - 3 hours;
- the cleaning area from one charge is 25 m2.
Important! By charging the battery fully once, you can wash 10-15 windows, depending on their size. The design is extremely simple. A dirty water tank is installed inside the housing. It is very easy to get it, while you should not be afraid that you will spill water on yourself or get your hands dirty.
Putting Karcher
To assemble such a device can even a complete layman in electrical engineering. No special knowledge is needed for this. But the instructions must be read carefully:
- Remove the spray head from the bottle.
- Put the nozzle on the bottle.
- Secure the nozzle with a ring.
- Put a napkin on the nozzle.
- Fix the cloth with adhesive tape.
- Pour fluid into the spray gun as instructed.
- Add detergent at the rate of 1 ml of the product to 20 ml of water.
Important! It is necessary to carefully monitor the water level.
Try to wash
A steam wiper works according to the same principle as a washing vacuum cleaner:
- Spray detergent.
- Use the nozzle to distribute it evenly over the surface.
- Press the button under your finger and collect the dirty liquid with the suction nozzle.
Important! It is better to wash first from the bottom up, then from right to left or from left to right. Thoroughly rinse the area around the gum; dirt always accumulates there.
After cleaning, put the appliance in order:
- Rinse microfiber cloth with running water.
- Empty the tank.
- Flush the tank.
- Put the device on charge.
Important! Progress does not stand still and robots come to replace man. They can help with the issue of washing windows. You will find out more about this wonderful technique in our separate post. Robot for washing windows.
If the windows are tall
But what about large windows? Most steam wipers are not equipped with long nozzles. However, the company "Karcher" and was here on top, releasing special brushes. The unit joins its handle, and then no problems, wash the windows as usual. It is necessary to start washing from the very top.
To Karcher served for a long time
German equipment is designed for a long service life, however, it may fail if not handled properly. In order for the wiper to serve for many years, consider several considerations:
- The wiper is not suitable for dusting - it cannot be used as a regular vacuum cleaner.
- Do not attempt to suck in more fluids than specified in the instructions.
- Try to use branded products from the company "Karcher" - they are designed specifically for this unit.
to contents ↑Important! If you use products from other manufacturers, make sure that they do not contain alcohol.
What else can be washed?
First of all, the Karcher wiper is intended for washing windows, but this does not mean that they will have to be used only a couple of times a year. Not at all, because with the help of this small machine you can wash other surfaces:
- mirrors;
- tile;
- smooth walls of furniture;
- sink countertop;
- a microwave;
- fridge;
- extractor hood;
- hob;
- a bath;
- toilet bowl;
- glass shelves;
- the door.
to contents ↑Important! With the help of Karcher, you can easily wash the windows in the car - twenty minutes is enough for such a thing.
Repair Karcher for washing windows
Wipers rarely fail because there is simply nothing to break. Sometimes it becomes necessary to replace individual parts - brushes or a bottle. Buying new ones is easiest in a company store or through an official distributor of a company.
To avoid the need for repair, you need to follow simple safety rules:
- Do not give the unit to children - this is not a toy.
- Inspect all openings regularly so that there are no foreign objects.
- Charge the device only through the “native” device.
to contents ↑Important! For comparison, read about others.window cleaning.
Stock footage
In this article, you learned about different models of Karcher wiper and steam cleaners that are suitable for washing windows. We hope that you have already managed to evaluate the quality of equipment of this brand and it has completely satisfied you.