Let off steam
This high-tech mop cleans with heat – not just water. And it can even power up an iron! LIM TSIAO HUI does her weekly chores with it.
WHAT IS IT
The Karcher Steam Cleaner SC 4.100 C is like a mop that emits steam to clean floors, countertops and windows. Plug in the Karcher Pressurized Steam Iron (sold separately) and it doubles as part of an ironing system.
USING IT
• A floor nozzle to clean large areas while a hand nozzle fits into tight spaces. Cover it with a terry cloth (included) to turn it into a mop pad.
• Fill up the two water tanks, with a total of volume of 1.5 litres, and press the power button to start heating the water. It’s ready when an icon on the machine lights up (about two minutes). I cleaned my four-room HDB flat one go without a refill.
• The floor did not feel hot after mopping, just damp.
WHAT I LIKE
1. My wooden laminate floors and cement screed flooring felt fresh and clean. But vacuum the floor first – the terry cloth doesn’t pick up dust and hair.
2. It’s not noisy – it just emits a low rumble.
3. It turned the Karcher iron into an effective wrinkle-busting machine. Two to three swipes smoothed out stubborn creases. I breezed through a week of laundry more quickly with the lightweight iron than if I had used my regular steam iron. And I didn’t need to refill the tanks halfway.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
• The cable wasn’t retractable, so it got in the way as I mopped.
• The cables were hot; I accidentally touched them as I cleaned or ironed. The terry cloth was also scorching when I removed it.
VERDICT
"It takes more time to clean the floor with this steam cleaner, compared to a regular mop, but it is useful if you are fastidious about cleanliness. Wonderful as a steam generator for the iron." - Lim Tsiao Hui
Karcher Steam Cleaner SC 4.100 C, $588; Karcher Pressurized Steam Iron, $195; additional terry cloth, from $20 (box of five pieces), from major electrical stores in Singapore.
This article was originally published in Simply Her May 2012.
All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine’s publication. We advise readers to check with the store for the latest availability and pricing information.
