Kärcher is a well known German company that specialises in cleaning equipment for both domestic and professional use. The brand has built a strong reputation for producing reliable, powerful and practical cleaning machines, including pressure washers, steam cleaners and cordless vacuum mops. Despite being German based they are now not only recognised but also favoured in the UK as one of the best brands when it comes to electrical cleaning equipment and they are a brand that we have both worked with before and personally bought over the years, so we were exited to get the opportunity to try out the Karcher wet and dry vacuum.
What is a wet and dry vacuum?
A wet and dry vacuum is designed to clean up both dry dirt and liquids. Unlike a normal vacuum cleaner, which is generally intended only for dry dust and debris, a wet and dry vacuum can pick up things such as spilled drinks, mud and other wet messes as well as everyday dirt, dust and larger pieces of debris. This makes it a particularly useful piece of equipment for garages, workshops, cars, DIY projects and larger household cleaning jobs, especially when you have kids and a dog like we do!
My review
The Karcher arrived quickly and was well packaged. When I opened it I was surprised to find that it was actually in several pieces and needed to be built, which felt a bit daunting at first, however the instructions were super easy to understand and it all just slotted together with ease in a matter of minutes.
It comes with
- The main base of the vacuum
- 4 wheels that you need to attach
- 1 fleece filter bag
- Suction hose with removable handle
- 2 x 0.5m suction tubes
- Crevice Nozzle
- Clips floor nozzle for wet and dry vacuuming
- One-piece cartridge filter
- Instruction manual
Most of which can be found inside the vacuum itself.
Once I had it all put together it was time to give it a test run and I was pretty impressed. Straight away I could tell it was powerful and I love the fact it is so versatile.
One of the best features is the strong suction power. It handles dust, dirt, small pieces of debris, dog hair and larger messes with ease. It worked great on our wooden floor and when I removed the main floor nozzle it was amazing for those skirting boards and edges, stairs, sofa and reaching up for any spider webs or high up dust, (don’t judge we all get them from time to time).
However it wasn’t great on carpet so this can’t replace you regular vacuum if you do have carpets but it’s great for everything else.
I also tested the Karcher wet and dry vacuum in the car and it was brilliant. This is probably where we will get the most use out of it especially after football and rugby matches and muddy dog walks, as well as after any DIY, renovation projects and tip runs. It can deal with sawdust, dirt and other debris without any problems, making it a great choice for jobs where you need something more robust than a normal vacuum cleaner.
The ability to pick up liquids was also very impressive. I expected it to suck up some and just move the rest around but it was actually really good at sucking it all up which will be extremely useful with a dog that spills it’s water bowl weekly, a clumsy 6 year old and two rather messy sport loving teenagers!
I also like the build quality. As with all Karcher products that we have used so far it feels sturdy and well made, which gives the impression that it is designed to last. The accessories are practical, and the overall design makes it relatively straightforward to use and store with spaces for each nozzle to attach when not in use.
It also has a leaf blower function which we haven’t needed to test out yet but I am looking forward to playing with this in Autumn!
Overall
Overall, I think the Kärcher wet-and-dry vacuum is an excellent all round cleaning machine. It is powerful, well built and versatile, with the ability to handle both wet and dry messes. Whether you need it for the garage, car, DIY work or general cleaning, it is a very useful addition to your cleaning supplies.
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