NOW CLOSED Put a Kärcher Steam Cleaner through its paces (RRP £219.99) and get to keep it after testing.

[AlexMumsnet]

We've been asked by Kärcher to find 30 UK based Mumsnetters keen to put their Steam Cleaners to the test.

Kärcher say their Steam Cleaners "revolutionise home cleaning, tackling any and all frequent and difficult cleaning tasks with professional results and abolishing the need for hours of endless scrubbing! Our steam cleaner is a natural and environmentally-friendly solution that provides a family-focussed alternative from chemical cleaners that aggravate allergies and are harmful to children, killing 99.99% of all common household bacteria without the need for detergents"*

They are particularly looking for MNers who are brand new to steam cleaning and who are keen to make light work of their cleaning needs. From day to day tasks such as laminate flooring and kitchen surfaces, to those jobs we all put off such as limescale and mould in the bathroom and tough grease on the oven hood in the kitchen.

For more info on the Karcher steam cleaner that's available for test, click here - testers will be trying out the SC2.500C model. Kärcher say "We are thrilled to have created a product that achieves professional standard cleaning without the need for chemicals just using tap water. Our steam cleaners are perfect for busy parents who don't have the time to spend hours on end cleaning but want to achieve a deep down clean. 99.99% of all household bacteria are killed when thoroughly cleaning with the Kärcher Steam Cleaners hard household surfaces."

We're also looking for a further 5 testers to demonstrate the versatility of the cleaner by taking video footage of it tackling a variety of common cleaning issues, including:

~ Everyday dirt on laminate floors or tiles
~ Baked on oven grease (on the over hood)
~ Mould/limescale on bathroom tiles

If you're happy to make a film for Kärcher please tick the box on the application form. Videos will be recorded using a smartphone, so please make sure you have one of the models listed on the form. If you're selected you'll be asked to film yourself in your home using the product. You'll then need to send the footage here to MN. Please note the videos will be edited into a montage and will feature on the Kärcher website as well as on retailer websites. It may also be used elsewhere (eg Facebook, MN) - your name will not be used.

If you're selected to take part then you'll be asked to leave feedback at least twice on a thread on Mumsnet: we'd like first impressions and then some comments after you've used the cleaner a few times. You'll also be asked to add a review to the steam cleaner review section on MN.
Everyone who takes part in the product test and leaves their feedback as requested gets to keep the Kärcher steam cleaner after testing (RRP £219.99).

Additionally, the five testers who send in video footage as required will be sent a £20 John Lewis voucher.
Deliveries will take place on Thursday 21st, Friday 22nd and Monday 25th March. Please indicate on the sign up form what day and time slot you prefer.

If you'd like to take part please add your details here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/BLHKPWK

Please only apply if you are around at the end of March/ Early April for testing and feedback.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ
PS - look out for the feedback thread because if you're not selected there's a chance to win your very own Kärcher SC2.500C worth £219.99!

*When thoroughly cleaning with the Kärcher Steam Cleaner 99.99% of all common household bacteria will be killed on common household hard floor surfaces.

oops must pay more attention. cheers.

So what does it come with? I was looking on internet and think it comes with a couple of different accessories.

Mine's not coming till Monday.

Yippeeeee, mine's here

Can't wait to finish work and get started!

it comes with various brushes, a microfibre cloth, an extention thing, and a couple of other plastic bits which I as yet cannot figure out and trying to download the user manual currently so will be back :-)

Been playing already....my floor is mightily impressed. The tiles less so, but there are 25 years of baked in grease on that grout , so it may take more than a quick play to get it done...my kitchen is like a turkish bath now, there's so much steam in there!

And, my beauoooootiful pristine white cloth is now a manky grey rag
I assume you can just use any old bit of preloved terry nappy buy additional cloths?

I think cloths are cloths tbh although microfibre are usually best for cleaning esp if not using any kinds of detergents.

I can't download the online manual soo it's going to have to wait until someone who can see what they're doing can have a look. I'm usually good with things like this but there are e.g. round bits of plastic which I have no idea what they're for ...

Mine has arrived! Just warming it up now. It arrived it time for me to do the floors before visitors this afternoon. So excited!

You can get large micro cloths in pound land I think.

they are the wheels wannaBe

Did you not get a paper manual in the box?

thanks cutepuppy I have an array of different microfibre cloths I can try, but not sure they are long enough for the big nozzle!

They can be made into covers for the small one though!

Mine is not here yet. Its 12.01. I was promised before 12 :(
I hope it cones in the next hour as I need to go out.

yes am looking forward to the review to see if it's worth investing in.

absolutely Leonie, I'll be brutally honest!

OMG, I have just got mine and must have missed the email. Did anybody else get email telling them they were having one

Whipeeeeee, I never get to win anything.
I will be back tomorrow when I will be using it all day.

My email went to junk folder.

Mine comes tomorrow! Made DH promise not to go out until it arrives

Mine came! At 12.10, driver was lost
Pretty good so far!

When is the feedback thread going to be available?

Ok, so as one of the VERY lucky recipients, shall I give you all my initial thoughts?

It is dead easy to set up - even I managed. I don't do instructions manuals so just used my bonce and it was fine. The water heats really quickly.

I had a very pleasant hour trying it out last night and started on the front door, which came up beautifully. The Victorian black and white tiles on the front path also look fabulous, as do the window sills.

I then tried it on the grouting on the tiled kitchen floor. Perhaps I'm particularly grubby, but it did take some patience, though it then came up lovely and clean. The kitchen floor itself was an absolute breeze with one of the microfibre cloths over the floor attachment, and it dried really quickly so I didn't have to shout: "DON'T WALK ON MY CLEAN WET FLOOR!" at anyone, which made a change.

The one thing I really wanted cleaning was my combi microwave-oven. The inside is textured (stainless steel, perhaps?) and some numpty cooked something in it last week without putting it on a tray and it overflowed and burnt onto the bottom. So, out came the steam cleaner with the nozzle, which lifted some of it but made very little difference to the really burnt bits, which was disappointing. I then sprayed some Fairy Power on the burn (not actually sure you're supposed to use it on that material), left it for a bit and tried again - and was disappointed yet again. So I resorted to my usual method of a bowl of water with a slosh of vinegar in it which I boiled in the microwave for 7 minutes and left for half an hour. It hasn't removed it all but was more effective than the steam cleaner. I suspect that just keeping it "wet" for a while is the trick, rather than just a jet of hot steam.

So, bring on the weekend when I intend to tackle all sorts of other jobs and do a little film.

It really couldn't be more simple to use but whether or not I would pay £200+ for one, I'm not sure. I'm delighted to have one and will definitely use it, but it is something else I need to find room to store. Having said that, as a household with grubby children and a dog, it is really reassuring to know that my kitchen floor will be pretty much germ free from now on, and without the use of chemicals. In fact, I get through a bottle of Flash every couple of weeks, which quickly adds up, price wise. So actually, yes I would invest in one. We already have a Karcher pressure washer which we've had for years and is well-used, so the steam cleaner will probably be as good in terms of quality.

Downside? It is quite noisy and ArseDog was terrified of it. He has refused to get onto his bed since I attacked the grouting under it (and no, he wasn't on it at the time!). He dragged his blanket into the hall last night and slept there instead. But actually, that really is the only downside!

Waiting for mine this morning. I wonder if steam cleaners can get through snow.
(Who is the delivery company? Do they realise just how important this delivery is?)

Has anyone tried it on their sofa yet? I'm a bit scared incase it all goes horribly wrong!

I have just received mine
am off to work shortly, and then away for the weekend, so won't be unpacking it until then
tequila My sofas are sufficiently knackered that they can't be made worse, so will give them a go.

Whoooohooo mine just arrived!
A question, can I use it on Karndean, anyone know?
smartarse what are your front door and sills made of?

I'm just not sure what I can or can't use it on - any knowledgeable folk out there?

Still waiting for mone, they have 25 mins left (and the snow isn't THAT bad!!)

I'll be trying it on my knackered sofas too

Oh - there's a delivery van outside! Back soon :)