Kärcher, Vileda or Leifheit? This is the best window cleaner
19.8.2020
Translation: machine translated
Cleaning windows is definitely one of the most unpleasant household chores. If the window is not one hundred per cent streak-free after cleaning, it feels as if I haven't done anything at all. But who wants to spend ages polishing it with leather?
When cleaning windows, the dirty water usually spills onto the floor. Sloping roof windows are my favourite - especially when there's a bed right in front of it, which I can't just move for space reasons. I've never cleaned this window since I moved in two years ago because I didn't want to make a mess. I want to change that with a window vacuum cleaner. I'm trying out three different models from Kärcher, Leifheit and Vileda, which are supposed to ensure a streak-free shine as well as no spillages.
Moving heads and deep crevices
All appliances can do exactly one thing: vacuum. This means I first have to clean my windows myself with a cloth and cleaning agent and rub away dirt. Then I vacuum the surfaces to dry them and, ideally, leave them without any water marks.
At first glance, the three vacuum cleaners look very similar. They are all made of plastic, but come in different colours typical of the brands: Vileda uses dark grey and red for its Windowmatic Power, Kärcher uses black and yellow for its WV6 and Leifheit uses white and turquoise for its Dry & Clean.
The buttons for switching on the devices are located on the handle and are therefore easy to reach with the thumb. The Kärcher model shows the remaining battery life in minutes on a display above it as soon as it has been switched on. The Vileda Windowmatic Power has a second button to activate power mode with more suction power.
The Windowmatic Power is also the only window vacuum cleaner tested with a swivelling head. This makes positioning on the window pane more convenient, as the angle can be kept constant even in hard-to-reach areas. Kärcher has at least installed a movable bezel for the lip, which can be flexibly folded away when things get tight. The Leifheit model has nothing like this, the head and attachment are fixed.
On the topic of workmanship, I was a little surprised. There are three major brands, but the appliances all have quite wide gaps between the individual plastic parts. The Kärcher model scored best here, as the slots are not really deep and can be cleaned easily by simply wiping over them. With the Vileda appliance, on the other hand, I had to use a toothpick and kitchen towel. Even after emptying the tank, the Leifheit Dry & Clean is difficult to reassemble accurately. The result is clear gaps.
Battery life and weight
All three devices have a built-in battery. In a direct comparison, Kärcher is clearly ahead with 100 minutes of battery life, but offers less suction power. The Vileda vacuum cleaner lasts just under 40 minutes (when not in power mode) and the Leifheit appliance has a battery life of 38 minutes. In practice, I have almost always activated the power mode on Vileda's Windowmatic. The battery life then drops significantly and the battery LED starts to flash after around 20 minutes.
The water tank looks very large on all three models, but only a fraction of it can be used. The Leifheit appliance and Vileda have 100 millilitres and Kärcher's WV6 has just under 150 millilitres. That doesn't sound like a lot of capacity, but in most cases it is sufficient for window cleaning. The weight plays a bigger role in handling. After all, I have to hold the appliance at the same 45-degree angle for quite a while and glide it over the windows, doors and surfaces. The yellow Kärcher model weighs the most at 800 grams, closely followed by the Leifheit vacuum cleaner at 739 grams. The Vileda model is the lightest at just 640 grams. Here it depends very much on your personal feeling as to which model fits best in your hand. I really appreciated the light weight of Vileda's Windowmatic Power when I tested it.
Vacuuming for streak-free windows
The Kärcher vacuum cleaner has the weakest suction power in comparison, but is also the quietest (around 59 dB(A), measured at a distance of one metre). The Leifheit appliance only activates its strong suction power when it is pressed against a surface. This has a positive effect on the volume in certain phases. In normal mode, the level is around 60 dB(A), then 63 dB(A) when placed against a surface. The Vileda Windowmatic Power got its name from an additional button for stronger suction power. In normal suction mode it is also around 60 dB(A), in power mode it reaches 62 dB(A). For comparison: 50-60 dB(A) roughly corresponds to the volume of normal conversations, 65-70 dB(A) corresponds to the road noise of a passing car.
When testing, I first sprayed the surfaces with cleaner and then wiped them with a cloth. The vacuum cleaners were used on a normal window, a sloping roof window, a shower cubicle, a mirror cabinet, wall tiles and a glass door. None of the appliances could cope with uneven surfaces or suck up liquids other than water. Each appliance achieved good results on the surfaces tested, as they were all mostly dry after vacuuming. However, I did notice a few differences.
The Kärcher WV6 vacuum cleaner produces good results in the centre, but often leaves a one-centimetre-wide border on the left and right. If you don't get everything on the first swipe and then place the vacuum cleaner on the partially dry surface again, the rubber lip makes a very loud, tiring squeaking noise as it glides. The movable lip surround for the bottom end of my mirror cabinet was very helpful. I didn't have to put the appliance down to the floor. The Kärcher also works well overhead. I can remove the water tank by pressing lightly on it. An insert prevents me from coming into contact with the dirty water. However, due to the curved shape of the tank and the rather narrow opening, cleaning is not quite so simple. What's more, it can't be emptied one hundred per cent and its shape makes it difficult to turn upside down to dry.
With the Windowmatic Power from Vileda, I achieve significantly better results when I activate the power setting. When vacuuming the windows, no or only very narrow edges are left behind on the left and right. Unfortunately, even a slight deviation from the optimum angle to the surface means that the rubber lip doesn't lie perfectly and wet patches remain in the centre. However, I was able to get used to the perfect position. Going over it again is noiseless and the surface remains streak-free. The water tank is quickly removed with a click. It consists of two halves and an insert. Cleaning is easy as the individual parts are not particularly large or deep due to the separation into three elements. I also liked the swivelling head and the overhead suction works perfectly. When vacuuming from the side (turned 90 degrees), however, there were several problems and the appliance sprayed me with water through the exhaust air slots on the side. The tank was almost empty. That shouldn't have been the problem.
The Leifheit Dry & Clean delivered very good results on windows and glass doors as well as in the shower cubicle. The appliance vacuumed reliably in any position, whether vertically, sideways, overhead or straight, and the edges left behind were limited. However, some clear streaks remained on mirrors. There are also significant drawbacks in terms of handling when emptying the water tank compared to the other appliances. Although there is a rubber seal on the side to let the water out through a small hole, taking the appliance apart to rinse the tank properly is neither intuitive nor quick. Firstly, the attachment has to be removed and then the water tank separated from the rest using a stiff button. Now the cap with a rubber seal is at the bottom, which I remove by pulling on a tab. This inevitably causes a jolt, so I couldn't always avoid splashing and spilling.
Okay at the window, a great help in the bathroom
In addition to saving time and preventing dirty water from dripping when cleaning windows, I have discovered the advantage of using the devices in the shower cubicle. As I have very calcareous water, there are always stubborn water stains if I don't dry immediately after showering. But I never feel like wiping with a towel when I get out of the shower. The vacuum cleaners are a huge help here and my glass cubicle walls stay stain-free for longer.
But my big question was: will I clean windows more often now? I think the window vacuums take enough work off my hands to actually dedicate myself to this task more often. They definitely speed up the process considerably.
Overall, I liked the Vileda appliance the best. The low weight, the easy to remove and clean water tank, the swivelling head, the power mode and, above all, the fact that no or only a very narrow, damp edge remains on the edges of the windows convinced me. I can get over the fact that the correct position requires a bit of practice to ensure that the rubber lip always rests in the centre. If necessary, I just vacuum over it again.
If you need a vacuum cleaner for greater heights, it's better to go for the Kärcher or Leifheit model, as these suppliers offer telescopic poles for extension.
Stefanie Enge
Autorin
Most of the time I'm living between bits and bytes, testing alternative Android operating systems and trying to make my life smarter with Open Source technology - always with a focus on privacy and data protection. When I'm not testing cool gadgets, I'm developing video games, writing stories and playing the accordion.