Goethe's "Sorcerer's Apprentice" taught us that it's better not to automate cleaning. Kärcher takes a risk and it works... With a few reservations, however.
You've been domestic long enough, today consider fulfilling my will!
In the corner, broom! Broom!
And now I hope and breathe!
Everything works beautifully with the multi-purpose detergent. At the touch of a button, the rollers start up and pull the "FC 3" along with them. They easily clean up coffee that I've 'inadvertently' dropped, as well as tougher stains. Whereas I usually have to scrub hard to remove stains, the Kärcher wipes them away in just a few passes.
The spirits I've conjured up, I can't get rid of them anymore.
This article was inspired by a comment from "Wohlstandskind". Would you like me to test another product? Say so in the comments and I'll get on it!
When I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
Floor cleaning hasn't undergone any great revolution, and the concept has endured through the centuries: a broom, a mop and a bucket of water. Nothing more is needed. It doesn't even cost 50 CHF and does the job very well. Kärcher plays the apprentice sorcerer and brings the broom to life. For over CHF 300. Contrary to Goethe's poem, the Kärcher broom is by no means completely self-sufficient; you'll still have to get your hands dirty.
It's called "FC 3" and promises to clean our floors cordlessly. Like a classic broom, in fact. But the "FC 3" has that little something extra: two microfibre rollers that spin effortlessly on your part thanks to a battery. Come on, broom! Come on, broom! No need to go to the bath to empty the water with the "FC 3", it has two tanks: one for clean water and one for dirty water. At the touch of a button, the floor cleaner obeys my command and the rollers start spinning. So much for theory. But things don't always work as planned, and I didn't learn that from Goethe. I press down, nothing happens. The battery is empty. That's already a negative: my good old panosse still works.
A few hours later: charging takes forever.
Thanks to the included stand, the electric mop stands upright in its corner and charges via a cable that's also included. If you're used to fast-charging your phone, you're going to have to take it easy. Really, I'm not exaggerating. I had to wait over four hours for a full charge. That seems excessive, especially when you consider that the battery only lasts 20 minutes on a full charge. Our sorcerer's apprentice would have been delighted if his servant had only lasted 20 minutes. The broom's limited autonomy can quickly become a problem if you have a large flat. Fortunately, filling the water tank is less of a problem. Simply remove it and fill it under the tap. Kärcher gives you a homeopathic dose of cleaner and defoamer and advises against using any other product. I disregarded the instructions and used a conventional multi-purpose product. Who really buys these overpriced special detergents?
Large waters: the tank is easy to fill.
No flooding in sight: the Kärcher leaves only a thin layer of moisture.
The only prerequisite for passing "FC 3": the floor must already have been vacuumed and be free of crumbs. It's the same for all panosses. And contrary to Goethe's fairy tale, you're not going to flood the room. The Kärcher simply leaves a slightly damp floor. I think that's an advantage over the classic mop, which tends to leave a bit too much water. Once the job is done, the rollers are easy to remove. On the other hand, it takes a bit more practice to remove the dirty water tank without emptying it onto your now immaculate floor. But I'm a big klutz and I'm not going to hold that against it. I'm sure any normal person will manage just fine.
Radin: included detergents look more like test samples.
Do you need "FC 3"? No. Buy a classic pan instead and you'll save 90%. The device is certainly very effective, but far too expensive. What's more, you won't necessarily be any faster with it and the floor won't necessarily be any cleaner. On the other hand, it makes your job easier, prevents water damage and doesn't take up much space in your cupboard. So instead of playing sorcerer's apprentice and trying to bring your good old pan to life, buy this cordless cleaner instead.
Hands in pockets: the cleaner did all the work.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: sure enough, the Kärcher works better than Disney's broom.
