TOP 10 best Karcher steam cleaners: 2021 rating and which manual model to choose for your home

Karcher steam cleaners are modern home assistants for cleaning various surfaces.
The main advantages of this technique are that there are no streaks left on the bases, high-quality results are achieved, rich equipment, productivity, and good steam power.

We analyzed customer reviews, Rostest test results in 2021 and compiled a rating of the best Karcher steam cleaners.

You will be able to get acquainted only with the market leaders of such equipment, study their technical descriptions and features, and choose the most suitable model in terms of price/quality ratio.

Rating of the TOP 10 best Karcher steam cleaners of 2021

Floor-standing steam cleaner Kitfort KT-933

A steam cleaner with a 1.8 liter water tank will help clean a three-room apartment or house in an hour and a half. The intensity of the steam supply is regulated by a switch on the body, the maximum pressure level is 4 bar. The maximum power of the device is 1,500 W. The length of the network cable is 5.5 m.

The device comes with almost two dozen accessories. The nozzles are suitable for cleaning linoleum, parquet, tiles, stone surfaces, mirrors and windows, upholstery of chairs and sofas. Kitfort KT-933 can also be used for steaming textiles. In this case, they also didn’t forget about microfiber cloths.

Price: 12,990 rubles.

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Which one to choose for your home?

1. Decide on power . The higher it is, the faster the water heats up and steam is supplied. The best option is from 1.5 kW.
2. With water tank capacity . The manufacturer produces steam cleaners with one and two tanks. The second option is considered more profitable and effective. The volume will be from 0.5 l.
3. Pay attention to the equipment class . There are three types of equipment offered on the market: compact (designed for easy cleaning, light weight, with a power of up to 1.5 kW), comfortable (equipped with a rich set of attachments, with a power of up to 1.5 kW), extra (efficient devices with a power of up to 2.3 kW, good complete set). The buyer decides which type to choose, but it is worth deciding on the tasks that the unit will solve.

Floor-standing steam cleaner Ariete 4146

With a power of 1,500 W and a pressure of 5 bar, the device is perfect for effective cleaning of an apartment. The volume of the water tank is 1.6 l. The reservoir can be replenished without turning off the power. The body is equipped with a steam supply regulator and an LED readiness indicator. The maximum continuous activity time for this model is 1 hour. Network cable length - 6 m.

The kit, in addition to extension tubes and a hose, includes a set of attachments: a floor brush, a window cleaning attachment, a 90° angle attachment, a universal round brush, as well as a narrow nozzle for hard-to-reach places and cloth napkins for collecting dirt.

Price: 9,990 rubles.

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How to use the device?

The operating principle of the device is simple . Distilled, filtered or boiled water is poured into a special reservoir. When turned on, the thermostat heats it to a high temperature (115-155 °C). This allows the production of steam with low pressure and moisture content.

The liquid boils and the pressure increases. As soon as the valve opens, the stream instantly passes into the steam line and exits the nozzle.

Under the influence of high temperature and a natural solvent, that is, water, dirt and dust soften and peel off from the fibers. All that remains is to treat the surface with a soft cloth or vacuum cleaner.

To operate the device, you must read the manufacturer's instructions. Special techniques and attachments are used to clean various products and interior items.

For plumbing

To avoid inhaling the fumes of aggressive components of cleaning products for toilets, bathtubs and sinks, it is enough to arm yourself with a steam cleaner and two nozzles. Soap and limescale deposits will quickly dissolve under the action of hot steam. If the layer is thick, you can additionally scrub the surface with a brush.

To clean the toilet, it is recommended to use a narrow nozzle . It will penetrate into hard-to-reach places, for example, under the rim, effectively remove deposits and destroy microorganisms.

If the plaque does not budge the first time, you need to treat the surface with table vinegar or citric acid, let it work, rinse off and continue the procedure. The steam cleaner can be used to clean acrylic bathtubs and chrome components without the risk of damaging them.

Using a Karcher steam cleaner in a bathroom - in the video:

For cleaning windows

Steam treatment is best done in the warm season. You will need a handheld nozzle with a microfiber cover, a point nozzle and a rubber tie.

Algorithm of actions:

• wipe the glass with a hand nozzle;
• steam from top to bottom using a point nozzle;
• collect excess moisture with a screed.

If there is too much moisture, the rubber attachment of the coupler should be wiped dry so that there are no streaks left on the glass surface.

It is possible to treat windows in winter; to do this, it is necessary to preheat the structure with steam; the distance between the surface and the nozzle should not exceed 5 cm.

This article will tell you how to clean windows with a Karcher steam cleaner.

Cushioned furniture

Suitable not only for cleaning local contamination of sofas, mattresses and armchairs, the steam cleaner copes with preventive cleaning, disinfection and eliminates dust.

Algorithm of actions:

1. 
   Prepare several microfiber cloths.

2. Pour distilled or boiled water into the tank.
3. Wait for it to warm up.
4. Treat an inconspicuous area of ​​the upholstery to ensure that the fabric will not be damaged by the steam.
5. Gradually clean the entire surface, each time wiping off softened dirt and dust with a napkin.

If it is necessary to locally get rid of a stain, the nozzle of the device is directed at an angle, as if trying to blow off the contamination.

Tile

The device is suitable for preventing the appearance and removal of lime and soap deposits. Using a point nozzle, the jet must be directed to the surface and carefully treat each area. The direction of movement is from top to bottom .

Don’t rush and move the nozzle quickly; the plaque should dissolve completely. After steam treatment, the remaining dirt must be collected with a napkin and the surface wiped dry. If the plaque layer does not respond to steam, the problem areas should be brushed and the procedure repeated.

Tile seams are a breeding ground for germs and dirt ; they require careful care. The algorithm for processing them is the same.

The exception is silicone grout, which cannot withstand prolonged contact with hot steam. The exposure time of the device must be reduced to a minimum.

Toys

Household chemicals can cause an allergic reaction in a child. Teddy bears and textile dolls do not tolerate prolonged contact with water. Soft toys quickly become dirty.

In a hopeless situation, a steam cleaner will deal with the problem quickly and effectively. A jet of steam from a hand-held device will clean and disinfect the surface without the use of special products. All that remains is to thoroughly dry the product.

Curtains, fabrics

Steam treatment noticeably refreshes textiles and removes excess odors, lint and pet hair.

Rules for caring for fabrics using the device:

1. 
   Place it parallel to the surface being treated.

2. Adjust the steam jet. For delicate fabric it should be minimal, for dense fabric it should be more powerful.
3. Clean clothes without removing them from hangers, and use a special attachment to collect small particles from the fabric. The clothes will be fresh and ironed.
4. Avoid over-wetting the surface; collect excess moisture with paper napkins.
5. Keep the nozzle at a distance when processing fur products so that the steam jet does not penetrate deep into the fur.

You can clean a down jacket with a steam cleaner if you place the nozzle at a distance of at least 30 cm from the fabric of the product so that the high temperature does not spoil the down inside.

There is no need to remove curtains to process them. Using a special nozzle, it is necessary to direct the steam jet parallel to the surface. Movements should be smooth and directed from top to bottom. There is no need to dry the products; they will dry naturally.

Carpets

Rugs and carpets are cleaned with steam , following the following sequence:

• remove debris from the product, you can use a regular vacuum cleaner;
• process the carpet, moving from the far wall to the entrance doors, several times;
• remove softened dirt with a brush or napkins;
• dry the surface with a vacuum cleaner or paper towels.

The result of the work is a clean and fresh carpet with fluffy pile and rich color. A floor-standing model of the device can cope with the task.

Hard to reach places

Hoods, radiators, seams, baseboards, furniture grooves and narrow distances between sofa cushions - all this cannot be cleaned efficiently with bare hands. The narrow nozzle of the device will easily penetrate into any hole, and hot steam will dissolve even old dirt. One wipe with a rag and any structure will shine clean without much effort.

To remove dirt in hard-to-reach places, a floor-mounted or hand-held steam cleaner is suitable if it comes with a long, narrow nozzle.

Kitchen

The steam cleaner is ideal for treating the smooth, polished surfaces of modern kitchens.

The main problem in this area is grease, carbon deposits and soot , which give an untidy appearance to household appliances, furniture and wall coverings.

A specially fitted nozzle will help restore radiant cleanliness; dried stains can be removed with a brush. The steam will dissolve old grease stains, but you will have to remove their remains with a soft cloth.

To avoid streaks, the surface must be rubbed with a dry cloth . The result will be ideal on any material - metal, glass ceramics, chrome components.

The device can cope with a more complex task. It is indispensable for cleaning metal grates of ovens, stoves, barbecues, skewers and barbecues.

All parameters: Comparison table

We have carefully studied the main features of Karcher steam cleaners and have compiled convenient tables especially for you in accordance with the three existing types of devices.

Save these pictures to your computer or phone and use them when choosing.

Karcher equipment

Manual models have the same parameters and differ only in the number and nature of the nozzles.

See for yourself:

Manual Karcher

Sets with iron differ from each other quite noticeably.

Device with iron

Principle of operation

The operating principle of the device is simple. Its main component is the boiler. Ordinary water is poured into it, and with the help of electric heating elements it produces steam at a temperature of 140-150 C.

Attention! Getting into the hoses and spray nozzles, the steam cools to a temperature of about 110-120 C, this helps to dissolve any contaminants from the surface being cleaned and eliminate all viruses, bacteria, microbes and other harmful microorganisms.

Which steam generator to choose for ironing and cleaning, read here.

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