Kärcher SC1 Steam Stick - Review thread - non testers - chance to win one of your own! NOW CLOSED

[KathrynMumsnet]

This thread is for the 30 Mumsnetters who are currently testing out the Kärcher SC1 Steam Stick.

Kärcher say "The SC1 Steam Stick is the UK’s first handheld steamer that can also be used to clean floors. The Steam Stick cleans deeper without chemicals killing 99.99% of all bacteria just using tap water, making it an environmentally and family friendly alternative to chemical cleaners. It’s an innovative new way to help you effortlessly clean the most difficult and frequent household hotspots; whether it’s cleaning everyday dirt from floors, limescale from bathroom tiles, spot cleaning stubborn carpet stains or eradicating tough, dried-on oven grease."

Non-Testers: If you’re not an official tester but you’d like another chance to be in with a chance of getting a Steam Stick (RRP: £99.99) for yourself then please share on this thread where in your house could really benefit from a deep steam clean? Is there a task or area you always avoid? Where would you most like to put it to use?

Testers: We'll be asking you to add feedback twice - we'd like your first impressions now and once you've had a bit of time to test out your Steam Stick, we will add some more questions.

So, for your first impressions, Kärcher would love to know:

• Where have you used the Steam Stick?
• What cleaning chore have you been most pleased with the results from using the Steam Stick?
• What were your impressions from the first few uses?

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Non-tester: I've got a cheap £20 steam cleaner that I bought for doing the floors and I've been disappointed with it. It doesn't feel like it's lifting dirt. more spreading it around.

If I got a chance to use the Karcher then it would probably be the bathroom floor that I'd be keenest to tackle. With dh and 2 boys in the house the area around the toilet never seems to be as deep clean as I'd like. We've also got the cat's litter tray in there and I think a steam cleaner would be great for getting that clean.

My cat is a very clever one!
Once when she arrived home without her new cat collar I told her off for being careless.
Shortly after this she came to me mewing loudly, and indicating that I should follow her outside.
There on the back doorstep was her collar.
She obviously retrieved it from the hedge where she'd lost it.

non-tester: tile grout is where it would be put to most use!

Non tester: I'd steam the house from top to bottom! Kids, dog, dh and life make the mess! I imagine the steaming process to be therapeutic!!!

I'm a non tester but this sounds exactly what I have been looking for and may be worth splashing out on! In the sales, I have seen many cheap steam mops and steam cleaners and have wondered if it was worth trying one of those to speed up cleaning the bathroom, especially the floor. After reading some of these comments, it seems this may be worth spending the extra on. No matter what I do to the bathroom floor tiles, it still looks like it could do with more scrubbing and I would love to try this karcher.

Non tester but would love a chance to test this.
I've recently started taking on some cleaning jobs. Last week I was physically exhausted as I had to use so much elbow grease on the house I was cleaning (an empty house between old tenants moving out and new ones moving in, so a really deep clean needed). I'm wondering if a steam cleaner might be a good tool but never tried one before. This one looks particularly good- lightweight and easy to carry in and out of my car. Please let me try it out for you!

Non Tester here. The ensuite bathroom definitely needs it, it's a level access shower and wet room and to clean it properly requires getting on my hands and knees with a scrubbing brush. Not fun!

Non tester.

I would like to use it on my Ds bedroom. He is on lots of medication as he has jia. Lots of whichatein stick syrup. Cleaning around all his mobility equipment is a nightmare and because of this his room is very minimal. I'd I had something to take the elbow grease out of my work, he could have more things in there and pay about worth his brothers without me worrying about additional mess and hygiene!

Non-Tester:

Having read what the other testers have said about the Kärcher SC1 Steam Stick, I would be using it for cleaning my kitchen and toilet. My kitchen area is large and so my work in cleaning it everyday is also time consuming.

Some testers have said that the steam stick works great on the grease with the extractor filters and hence it will be helpful to clean up my kitchen tops and tiles often.

I would avoid using it in the oven though as I am not sure whether it could be used there as well. If yes, I would give it a try. And as I have already said, this steam cleaner will be put into more use for my cleaning my kitchen.
Fingers crossed!

Aaarrgh just typed a long post on my phone and it bloody lost it. Grrrr.

Anyway condensed version is that I tried it on the inside of the washing machine drawr today and it did a good job, loosened all the fabric conditioner gunk and black stuff. Might give it another blast though tomorrow. Cleaned round the seal and door too and found a missing FirstAid badge and 5p so win win.

I'm a returning tester by the way.

Drawer not drawr

I would love to win and I have tried and failed to clean my kitchen floor tiles in my rented thatch cottage. They just won't come up to standard for my about to crawl 8 month old son for when he wants to like the floor or what ever else despite me on my knees scrubbing them which is painful now since I herniated my disc having my DS even its not finally on the mend.

Thank you

Returning tester here with a bit more feedback.

We have been given an old sofa, I'd removed the cushion covers and washed them, but have now used the steam cleaner to clean the arm rests and they have come up great. I'm very impressed.

I've also used it to clean my oven. It did an ok job, but did require quite a lot of scrubbing as well.

I'm looking forward to trying it on a big stain on dds bedroom carpet that I haven't been able to shift with chemicals.

Non tester. I would use it in my kitchen as with three children a messy other half and a cat my kitchen floor is always looking grubby and I need to clean it everyday although I often try to avoid it when I can

- Would you recommend a Kärcher Steam Stick to a friend or family?

Well I'm torn. I've tried it again and managed to get the button to stay down so it didn't hurt my hand as much. I had a go at the shower and it did seem to clean it up very quickly. It is a bit of a faff though, plugging it in, filling it up, lugging it about and having to refill it. The mop and my cleaning cloths are lighter, don't need refilling and dont cost nearly a hundred quid.

- What are your thoughts of the Steam Stick after continued use?

It's a nifty little gadget and if you like your gadgets you'll like this. However I wouldn't say it did a much better job than old fashioned elbow grease and was much heavier than a cloth and a bottle of bleach. And the mop thrown in.

- Has your cleaning routine changed since using the Steam Stick?

No, not really. Like I said it's heavy, it only runs for a few minutes before you have to fill it up again and it's plugged in so you can't actually get very far with it. I don't have any plug sockets near my en-suite so I had to find an extension cable in order to use it. I could only do half my kitchen before I had to refill it and move the plug to the other end of the room. I would have been tempted to try it on the windows if it came with that attachment and a longer lead.

Oops, I hadn't realised it wasn't suitable for laminate flooring and used it on mine today.

What? I must have missed that bit. My kitchen floor is laminated.

Well until I can afford to replace it, it's awful stuff.

Does anyone know what happens if you want to move to another room? Do you just unplug, and plug in in the next room then wait for it to heat up a bit? And if you run out of water, do you have to let all the steam out before refilling every time?

Also where does it say about not using on laminate flooring?

Whaaaaaat? Does it say no to laminate? My whole house is laminate and ive been merrily steaming it (tester here).

Well I don't know actually. On page ten of the main instruction book it says:

Never direct the steam jet at glued edges as the edge band may loosen. Do not use the steam cleaner on unsealed wooden or parquet floors.

And then on the next page it says:

Suitable for all washable walls and floor coverings, eg. stone floors, tiles and PVC floors.

Does laminate count as glued? Or is it washable? I'd have thought it's washable actually.

Non-tester: I would most like to use it in the bathroom on the tiles, the tub, the surround, the floor, everything!

Hi Tzibeleh we put forward your question to Karcher
I have a question for Karcher: in my area the water is seriously hard, so in order to prolong the life of things like irons and steamers I buy de-ionised water for use in them. I have a domestic water-softener, the sort that uses salt. Is it OKto use water softened this way in the steamer?"

They have replied with this information;

“ 1. De-ionised water - A mixture from 50% tap water an 50% de-ionised water is ok. It is also ok when the 50% tap water comes from the domestic water-softener. 2. Domestic water-softener this kind of water should not be used 100% as the calcium in the water will be replaced by salt. And with this kind of water the steam cleaner does not work to it’s maximum efficiency anymore (e.g. more water output, SC might spit water, more aggressive water might harm the boiler…)”

Hope this helps!

My laminate is 'click' together. Do you know for sure yours is glued?

I think my laminate is click together too.