The Kärcher WV 6 Plus N: The Window Vac That Has Made Cleaning Windows Surprisingly Satisfying.
I have to admit; I am quite easily impressed by a cleaning gadget if it genuinely makes a job quicker and easier. And having used a Kärcher Window Vac before, I already knew that these little machines can be rather brilliant. So, when I got the chance to try the Kärcher WV 6 Plus N, I was expecting to like it, but I was still surprised by just how useful it is around the home.
Because, despite its name, this isn’t really just a window cleaner.
Goodbye to the bucket, cloth and streaks
Cleaning windows has never been one of my favourite household jobs. There is something particularly frustrating about spending ages cleaning a window, only to stand back and discover streaks, drips or the tell-tale marks of the cloth you have just used.
The Kärcher WV 6 Plus N takes a rather different approach.
You spray and clean the surface with the microfibre cloth and Kärcher cleaning solution, then use the Window Vac to suck up the dirty water. Rather than pushing the water around the glass, it collects it into the machine’s dirty-water tank.
And the result is remarkably satisfying.
The WV 6 Plus N has Kärcher’s patented liquid silicone lip technology, designed to maintain contact with the surface and remove liquid right up to the edge. Kärcher says it can clean surfaces up to three times faster than conventional methods, and with a 100-minute battery life, it is certainly designed for tackling more than just a couple of windows.
For me, the biggest difference is simply the finish. The glass looks clean and clear without that familiar trail of water running down the window.
And there is something strangely satisfying about watching the machine suck up all that dirty water!
But don’t stop at the windows…
This is where I think it becomes much more interesting.
Once you have one, you start looking around the house thinking, I wonder if I can use it on that?
The answer, in many cases, is yes.
It is designed for smooth surfaces, so I have found it particularly useful for mirrors, shower screens, tiles, worktops and other areas where water tends to leave marks. Kärcher also specifically highlights its suitability for tackling condensation.
The shower screen is probably one of my favourite uses.
Anyone with a glass shower screen will know how quickly it can become covered in water marks. Instead of reaching for a towel afterwards and wiping everything down, the Window Vac can remove the water in seconds.
It is also useful for bathroom tiles, particularly after cleaning them, and mirrors are another obvious candidate. If you have ever cleaned a large mirror only to be left with streaks everywhere, you’ll understand the appeal.
And then there are the less obvious jobs.
Think about condensation on windows, wet bathroom surfaces, spills on smooth worktops or any situation where you have a large amount of liquid sitting on a smooth surface and want to remove it quickly.
It is essentially a very efficient little water-removal machine.
A clever way to cut down on water use
There is another reason I think the WV 6 Plus N is particularly timely.
Water.
With drought conditions across much of England this summer and hosepipe restrictions affecting millions of households, we are all being encouraged to think more carefully about how much water we use.
Now, I’m not suggesting that buying a window vac is going to solve the UK’s water shortage – obviously it isn’t.
But I do think it is worth considering how much water we traditionally use for cleaning windows and outdoor surfaces. A bucket can require a surprisingly large amount of water, particularly when you are cleaning several windows and repeatedly changing or topping up the water.
With the Kärcher, you apply their cleaning solution to the surface, clean it and then vacuum the liquid away into the machine.
There are no running hose and no bucket of water sitting beside you.
And at a time when water is becoming a much more precious resource, anything that encourages us to use less of it during everyday household jobs has to be a good thing.
Of course, always check the specific restrictions imposed by your local water company, as hosepipe-ban rules and exemptions can vary.
Lightweight and easy to use
One of the things I particularly like about the WV 6 Plus N is that it doesn’t feel like a big piece of cleaning equipment.
It weighs around 800g including the battery, so it is light enough to hold comfortably while working your way around the house. The battery provides up to 100 minutes of cleaning time, which is enough to cover approximately 300m² on one charge.
There is also a minute-by-minute LED battery display, which I think is a genuinely useful little feature. Rather than discovering that your battery is about to die just as you start the final window, you can see exactly how much cleaning time you have left.
The dirty-water container holds 150ml and is easy to empty, while the suction blade can be removed for cleaning.
It is also relatively quiet, with Kärcher quoting a noise level of no more than 53dB, something I appreciate when I don’t want the whole house to know that I’m cleaning!
Is it worth having?
For me, the answer is yes, particularly if you have lots of windows, large mirrors or glass shower screens.
What I like about this handy machine is that it doesn’t try to make cleaning complicated. There is no elaborate system to learn. Spray, wipe, vacuum and empty.
And the results are immediate.
Poppy Watt