Research conducted in the laboratories of leading international cleaning companies clearly shows the high efficiency and absolute safety of cleaning surfaces using steam. If numerous bacteria and harmful microorganisms gradually adapt to various detergents, then high-temperature steam supplied to the surface to be cleaned under high pressure kills up to 99.99% of all viruses and microorganisms harmful to human he alth. Users who use such products in everyday life, in their reviews of Karcher steam cleaners, note their high efficiency in combating various types of pollution.
A little about the manufacturer
The German company Karcher was founded in the now distant 1935. Today it is one of the largest manufacturers of equipment for cleaning, cleaning and washing both professional and domestic use. The company has been developing and manufacturing steam cleaners for more than 20 years. Many years of experience and constant updatingmodel range, using innovative technologies, allowed the company to become the sales leader in this segment of household equipment. Among the wide variety of such devices, which are very widely represented on the market, it is the Karcher steam cleaners, according to the reviews of numerous users, that are the most popular and in demand. And the five-year warranty that the manufacturer provides for all devices in this category speaks of the quality and reliability of these products.
Design and principle of operation
The principle of the steam cleaner is quite simple. The main part of it is the boiler. Ordinary water is poured into it, with the help of electric heating elements it is converted into steam with a temperature of about 140-150 degrees (such a high temperature ensures its low humidity). Passing through hoses and spray nozzles, the steam is cooled to a temperature of about 110-120 degrees, which is quite enough to dissolve any contaminants from the surface being cleaned and destroy almost all viruses, bacteria, microbes and other harmful microorganisms.
According to the design of the boiler and the principle of heating, the company produces two types of steam cleaners:
- The boiler and the water tank are one. To replenish the tank, such products must be turned off, unscrew the sealed plug, add water and replace the plug.
- With flow heating elements. In such devices, the water tank has a removable design. Replenish water in suchtank can be carried out during the work (just periodically adding it to the required level).
In their reviews of Karcher steam cleaners for the home, users do not give preference to one design or another. Both effectively cope with the main tasks. The second (of the above designs) is preferable for those who are going to wash a large area at a time. At the same time, the cleaning efficiency (at the same power and steam pressure) increases only by saving the time required for the next heating of the liquid to the operating temperature after replenishing the tank.
What can be washed with a steam cleaner
In numerous reviews of Karcher steam cleaners, users claim (and quite unambiguously) that these devices do an effective job of cleaning:
natural or artificial stone floors, ceramic tiles, laminate, parquet, linoleum, PVC tiles and other hard floor coverings;
faucets, faucets, sinks and sinks;
- baths and showers;
- tiles, windows and mirrors;
- furniture;
- tabletops (polymer, metal, laminated and so on);
- cookers, hobs and hoods;
- internal and external elements of the car;
- as well as other hard surfaces in the house.
And although steam cleaners do not have the function of suction of dirty liquid (unlike steam vacuum cleaners), it is quite possible to refresh carpets, rugs or upholstered furniture with their help. The steam produced by these devices has even less humidity than the air around us. Therefore, with moderate use, you will not harm fleecy surfaces.
Judging by the reviews of the Karcher steam cleaners, the price of these convenient devices is quite justified (from 3,500 rubles for the SC1 in the minimum configuration to 33,500 rubles for the SC5 in the maximum). The money spent on the purchase will pay off with the quality of cleaning, as well as simplicity and ease of use.
Main benefits of steam cleaning
Users report that the main benefits of cleaning with steam cleaners (compared to conventional wet cleaning with mops, rags, detergents, buckets and water) are:
- High efficiency. The combination of high temperature, pressure and speed of steam supply to the surface being cleaned makes it easy to remove various types of dirt.
- Environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity of both the cleaning process itself and the treated surfaces (which is very important if the family has small children or people with various allergic diseases). A distinctive feature is that only steam is needed for the production of work (no chemical cleaners). Even for easier removal of hard formations (e.g. limescale or scale), the manufacturerrecommends pre-wetting only with organic products (acetic or citric acid). Many people are drawn to this aspect.
- High operational safety. All models, without exception, have a steam lock system (this is done to prevent accidental activation by children).
- Energy saving. Innovative technologies, patented know-how and design features of the nozzles used in Karcher steam cleaners allow you to save energy by up to 25% compared to using similar products from other manufacturers.
- Versatility and multifunctionality.
Main technical characteristics of Karcher steam cleaners
The main technical characteristics of Karcher steam cleaners are:
- power consumption: 1200 to 2200W;
- maximum steam pressure: 3 to 4.2 bar;
- water tank capacity: 0.2 to 1.5 liters;
- capacity (surface area that can be cleaned without replenishing water): 20 to 150 m²;
- heating time to working condition: 0.5 to 6.5 minutes;
- weight (without additional accessories, water and installed brushes): 1.58 to 6 kg.
Lineup
The range of steam cleaners for domestic use is able to satisfy the request of each customer and consists of five models. They are all denoted by the Latin letters SC (steam cleaner - steam cleaner). This is followed by a number (from 1 to 5), which determines the model number: what is itmore, the more powerful, more functional and, of course, more expensive device. If the abbreviation EasyFix is present in the brand of the product, this means that the package includes a nozzle for cleaning the floor with an improved design. On the outer side of such brushes, special lamellae are installed, which provide a longer contact of steam with the surface to be cleaned. According to users, this increases the speed and efficiency of cleaning.
The English word Premium (if it is present in the name of the device) informs the potential buyer that the product is fully equipped with all the necessary additional accessories (up to a special agent for removing scale from the internal surfaces of the boiler).
You can also find the word Iron on top products from the Karcher brand. That is, the package of delivery of such a device also includes a highly efficient steam iron.
According to reviews, Karcher SC steam cleaners are marked very informative. So, for example, for a user who at least superficially familiarized himself with the main technical indicators, it is clear that the Karcher SC4 EasyFix Premium Iron is a model of the upper price range, with the maximum configuration (with a steam iron and an improved floor brush). And the Karcher SC2 is the entry-level device as standard.
Package and optional accessories
Depending on the class of a particular model (Standard, EasyFix or Premium)steam cleaner kit consists of:
- the device itself with a boiler installed in it, a water tank and heating elements;
- steam hose with a gun on which the steam lever is installed;
- extension tubes (generally 2 x 0.5m);
- floor nozzles (regular or advanced);
- spot nozzle for cleaning crevices and hard to reach places;
- hand brush heads;
- round brushes (small and large);
- special carpet brush;
- nozzles for washing windows, glasses and mirrors;
- replaceable microfiber (or terry) cloths to attach to the appropriate attachments.
Buyers note in reviews that Karcher steam cleaners are easy to equip with one or another device that a caring manufacturer offers as additional accessories.
The smallest representative of a large family
Karcher's range of steam cleaners opens with the small-sized compact product SC1. This "baby" weighing only 1.58 kg is designed specifically for the rapid cleaning of small spaces. Numerous users in the reviews of the Karcher SC 1 note its undeniable advantages. With its more than modest dimensions (321X127X186 mm, which allows you to store it even in one of the compartments of the kitchen table), it has quite impressive technical characteristics:
- power - 1200 W;
- maximum steam pressure - 3 bar;
- performance – 20m².
The measuring cup included in the package will help you fill in only the required amount of water. Noted in the responses and additional ease of use - a bag for storing accessories. In the starting configuration, this device costs about 3,500 rubles.
In comparison with the standard model, the Karcher SC 1 Premium steam cleaner, according to user reviews, is more versatile and functional. The included FloorKit, consisting of a floor nozzle, extension tubes (2 x 0.5 m) and a cleaning terry cloth, allows you to quickly and easily turn the product into a convenient steam mop. Such a device already costs about 5,500 rubles.
For information! A set of additional cloth napkins (5 pieces: 2 for the floor and 3 for the manual nozzle) can be purchased separately for 800-900 rubles.
The main disadvantage that users note in their reviews of the Karcher SC 1 steam cleaner: the power button of the device must be kept constantly pressed during operation. Of course, this is done for security reasons. For example, if you accidentally drop the device or put it on a table, the steam supply will automatically stop.
The weight of the device itself is only 1580 grams. But, adding 200 ml of water and a lot of extension tubes to this figure, you get a rather heavy device, which for some representatives of the better half of humanity is very tiring to hold in your hands for a long time during the cleaning process. Therefore, for cleaning rooms of mediumor a large area, it is better to purchase a more expensive and powerful product, which is placed on the floor in working order, and only the applied nozzles are in the user's hands.
Most Popular Models
The Karcher SC 1020 steam cleaner, which is very much loved by Russian consumers, has been replaced by the SC2 model. With the same power (1500 W) and maximum steam pressure (3.2 bar), the novelty has a significant advantage. Thanks to the improved design of the boiler, the heating time has decreased from 8 minutes to 6.5. In reviews of the Karcher SC2 Premium steam cleaner, users note its high performance (up to 75 m²) and the convenience of storing basic accessories on the product body.
Many pet owners love the special carpet brush. In combination with a small amount of steam, it is very successful in removing hair from any fleecy surfaces (which is sometimes quite problematic to do even with a powerful vacuum cleaner). The price today is about 8,500 rubles.
Compared to the SC2, the SC3 next in line has more power (1900 W) and more steam pressure (3.5 bar). And although the performance of both devices is the same (75 m²), according to reviews, the Karcher SC 3 Premium steam cleaner has a number of undeniable advantages. Thanks to the modified design of the boiler, the heating time has been reduced to a phenomenal 0.5 minutes. And although such a model costs 11200-11500 rubles, ease of use andhigher efficiency (due to more power and higher steam pressure) well justifies the additional financial costs.
Top models of Karcher steam cleaners
The top line of the lineup (both in terms of functionality and price) is occupied by the Karcher SC 5 Premium steam cleaner (user reviews are only enthusiastic). This is the most powerful (2200 W) appliance among household products with a maximum steam pressure of 4.2 bar. Of the technical features inherent only to this model, it is worth noting:
- 4-level steam regulator;
- the presence of a mode of simultaneous supply of steam and hot water to the surface to be cleaned;
- two water filling tanks (0.5L pot and 1.5L removable tank).
The iron, which is part of the Premium Iron modification of the Karcher SC 5 steam cleaner, according to user reviews, copes with steaming things twice as fast and more efficiently than conventional counterparts. The cost of such a model in the maximum configuration today is about 33,500 rubles. Without an iron, this product can be purchased for 28,800-29,000 rubles.
In their reviews of the Karcher SC 4 steam cleaner, users note that, despite the more modest technical specifications (power 2000 W, maximum steam pressure 3.5 bar), in terms of efficiency it is slightly inferior to its older “brother » SC 5. Complete with an iron, such a model can be purchased already for 21,900-22,600rubles. And if you are satisfied with the two-level steam regulator located on the gun and the capacity of the water tank (0.8 l), then you should “think twice” whether to buy the top model. After all, the economic benefits are quite obvious. According to reviews, the Karcher 4 steam cleaner for 16,000-16,200 rubles (without an iron) is quite suitable for consumers who are used to ironing and steaming things with products already in the household.
What to look for when choosing
Before buying a steam cleaner, you must carefully read the technical capabilities of commercially available models. If you plan to use a steam cleaner in a small city apartment, then a device with a capacity of 20 to 75 m² is quite suitable. If you are the owner of a fairly large house of your own, then it is better to purchase a model with a value of this indicator of 100 m² or more. However, you need to clearly understand for yourself for what amount of work you will regularly use the device. Paying extra for a high-performance model sometimes just doesn't make sense.
The efficiency of removing contaminants directly depends on the maximum steam pressure: the higher it is, the faster the product will cope with cleaning. For regular cleaning (when there are no old stains or hard-to-remove solid formations), models with a pressure of 3-3.5 bar are quite suitable. And for cleaning offices or other high-traffic areas, it is best to choose a model with a maximum rate of 4.2 bars, or purchase a device for professional cleaning.
According to reviews,Karcher Premium steam cleaners are most fully equipped with all the necessary accessories and nozzles. Therefore, you should immediately buy the Premium modification, and not the Standard, so that later you do not waste your own time and effort searching for the necessary additional accessories.
In conclusion
Whether you purchase a simple, small-sized SC1 steam cleaner or a fully stuffed SC5, cleaning and cleaning your home will be quick and effortless. And most importantly, surfaces treated with the help of such “helpers” will not contain residues of chemical detergents, and all “parasites”, bacteria and microbes will be destroyed. One of the important arguments in favor of purchasing such a cleaning device, judging by the user reviews of Karcher steam cleaners for the home, is the price of the devices. Everyone will be able to choose a model for themselves in accordance with their financial capabilities.
