
Product test
Testing the Dyson WashG1 hard floor cleaner
by Stefanie Lechthaler
Vacuuming and mopping at the same time - without pre-cleaning, without dirt residue. The wet dream of every househusband and the latest highlight from Kärcher. Will it keep this promise of cleanliness?
A monster. That's the first thing that comes to mind when I see the assembled Kärcher hard floor cleaner. The four cleaning rollers are roughly the size of car wash brushes, and the chassis could easily carry three domestic cats. Even before I start the FC 7 Cordless, I ask myself where I should put it in my home. There aren't too many dead corners, and unfortunately there's no Cagibi either. But here are a few numerical facts about the Kärcher.
I try not to get too caught up in these future problems and charge the cleaner for hours first - like everything that works on battery power. Then it's my laminate's turn. Sticky stains that combine with dander and fluff, hair, woollen mice and shoe scuffs, all of which need to be removed at once. That's right. Everything is removed with ease. The Kärcher does the work for the mop and hoover with a whirring sound, almost hovering over the laminate. In the premium version in which I tested the cleaner, it even illuminates everything beautifully. Does not flood the floor, but leaves it slightly damp. The whole flat is sparkling clean afterwards. I can even get under the bed and sofa with the giant beater and vacuum seamlessly right up to the base of the floor. At least as long as the floor is made of wood, stone or plastic.
Because the Kärcher is a hard floor cleaner and there's a large carpet on my living room floor. It makes for a cosy atmosphere, but also collects countless crumbs. I can't use the cleaner to remove these, so I have to use my normal hoover. So it doesn't completely replace the tasks of my Electrolux Ergorapido. It even has an integrated hand vacuum cleaner. Indispensable for quickly removing crumbs from the coffee table. So I would never give away my hoover for the Kärcher, but use it as a complementary tool. Which brings us back to storage. Without a wall cupboard and reducer, the long-necked vacuum cleaners are unsightly in the room and constantly attract attention.
In all honesty? Unlike Mr Knecht, I don't find cleaning fulfilling. I want to get it done quickly and quickly so that I can get back to my leisure time as soon as possible. I don't want to make a ritual out of cleaning the floor. I don't need such an expensive, large, but not to mention very good cleaner standing imposingly in the corner urging me to clean more.
My own shortcomings should not give the Kärcher FC 7 Cordless a bad image. Because it does what it promises very well. There is nothing to complain about in terms of cleaning and battery performance, the very simple assembly, the accessories and the workmanship. There is a little to complain about in terms of its size, which allows me to make faster progress when cleaning, but also takes up a lot of space when not in use. The real gripe is the price, for which - as customer cru009 has already mentioned - I could afford about three hoovers, nine mops and a cleaner.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.