Wet cleaning a house or apartment is a monotonous and time-consuming task. Significantly simplify this process allows modern high-tech washing vacuum cleaners. Maintaining clean floors, as well as caring for carpets and upholstered furniture using such a device does not require much time. But the result of the work done will satisfy even the most biased lover of cleanliness. Yes, and modern compact models take up no more storage space than all the usual archaic rags, mops, buckets and gloves.
The device and principle of operation of the washing vacuum cleaner
In dry cleaning mode, such devices work in the same way as conventional vacuum analogues with an aquafilter. For wet cleaning of rooms on nozzles special sprayers are installed. With the help of hoses, they are connected to a pump that supplies liquid from an additional tank into which water and detergents are poured.
How to wash with a washing vacuum cleaner? The algorithm of the work is simple:
- We assemble the device in working condition (we connect the hoses and install the necessary nozzle).
- Pour the required amount of water and detergent.
- We connect the power cord to the outlet.
- We turn on the pump (depending on the specific model, the controls can be located either on the body or on the handle mounted on the boom).
- We press the lever of water supply and spray the liquid onto the surface to be treated.
- We turn on the compressor and remove water from the surface with dirt and dust dissolved in it.
- Turn off the device, disconnect the cord from the mains.
- We release the container for collecting dirty water, clean it and dry it.
Key Specifications
The main technical characteristics of vacuum cleaners with the function of wet cleaning include:
- The suction power, which is 20-30% of the total consumed (this is the indicator for marketing purposes that manufacturers put in large print on the body).
- Type of dust collector installed. Nowadays, two types of aquafilters are mainly used: hookah type (particles of dust and dirt are beaten to the bottom of the container with water droplets) and injection (the dirt removed from the surface is completely sucked into the water tank).
- The volume of the tank for pouring detergent (usually from 1.5 to 4.5 liters).
- Degree of purification. In the most modern devices, this figure reaches 99.9%.
- Functionality.
Advantages, manufacturers, prices
The main advantage of a washing vacuum cleaner compared to a conventional analogue is its versatility. According to reviews, it allows you to quickly and easily carry out wet and dry cleaning of floors of various types, cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture, and using top models you can even wash windows, mirrors and other vertical surfaces.
The most famous and popular manufacturers of home appliances in this category are German Thomas, Zelmer and Karcher, British Vax and American Bissell. The price of a washing vacuum cleaner depends on the manufacturer, technical specifications and functionality.
Zelmer ZVC752ST, which occupies the top positions in the ratings of washing vacuum cleaners, compiled according to user reviews, with EcoPower mode (which reduces power consumption when the load is reduced), automatic power off during overheating, 5 nozzles and a storage compartment for them, costs 12,900-13,200 rubles.
Karcher SE 6.100 (Italian assembly) with 6 nozzles and a 4-liter detergent tank will cost 18,000-18,200 rubles.
The popular model of the budget category Thomas Twin Panther (with a power consumption of 1600 watts, a 2.4-liter detergent tank and 4 nozzles) costs 9500-9800 rubles.
Nozzles
Depending on the model and functionality, vacuum cleaners are equipped with various nozzles:
- for ordinary dry cleaning (standard and crevice);
- for wet cleaning of floor coverings that are not afraid of moisture (linoleum, ceramic tiles, artificial stone and the like);
- for washing a laminate or parquet (water is supplied to a special perforated rag, which provides a gentle flow of liquid to the treated surface);
- for washing windows, mirrors and other smooth vertical surfaces.
The set of the most expensive washing vacuum cleaners includes all of the above accessories. For some models, additional brushes can be purchased separately, according to reviews.
Location of detergent container
Each washing device has two airtight containers: one for clean water or detergent, the other for collecting dirty water. Depending on the design features of a particular model, they can be located:
- The container under the container. To change the water, you must first remove the container with the dirty liquid, then take out the tank with detergent, fill it, put it in place and then put the container back to collect the dirty water.
- The container in the container. A container with cleaning agent is located inside the tank for collecting dirty water.
- A container for pouring clean water is installed on the rear end of the housing. This is the most convenient location for use, which allows you to quickly and easily refill the tank with detergent.
Cleaning the components of a vacuum cleaner
The components of the vacuum cleaner (telescopic pipes, hoses, brushes) also need periodic cleaning. On the internal surfaces of these devices over time, various particles of dirt settle. This reduces the suction power and overall performance of the unit. The easiest way to clean additional accessories without disassembling the vacuum cleaner in the shortest possible time is the water intake function. The operation algorithm is as follows:
- Pour clean water into a container of a suitable size (you can add special detergent).
- We lower the nozzle into it (in turn, you can clean the entire kit).
- Turn on the suction button.
- Water, flowing through all the compartments of the vacuum cleaner, cleans the internal surfaces of contaminants (this process takes no more than 5-6 seconds).
- We release the collection of dirty water.
- The vacuum cleaner is ready for further use.
Almost all popular models of Zelmer washing vacuum cleaners (Germany) are equipped with such a convenient function. According to reviews, they can easily and quickly remove accidentally spilled liquid from the floor or clean the clogged sink or bath drain.
Steam cleaners
One of the varieties of vacuum cleaners that allow wet cleaning, are products with built-in steam generator. Their main feature is that instead of water with the addition of cleaning products, steam is used to dissolve and remove dirt from the surface. Such devices are indispensable for those who suffer from allergies.
A household steam cleaner Karcher SC3 (heating time is only 30 seconds, the capacity of the water tank is 1 liter, the possibility of replenishment during work) costs 10,000-10,500 rubles.
Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Robotics penetrates more and more deeply into our daily lives. Robot vacuum cleaners with the function of wet cleaning the premises from the category of exotic or unique devices have turned into ordinary household appliances. These smart devices will clean the floor with virtually no human intervention. Such devices can be controlled depending on the manufacturer and model functionality:
- using the remote control;
- commands from a mobile phone;
- through the built-in programmer (you can set a schedule for cleaning the premises by the days of the week).
One of the most important user technical characteristics of such robots is the time of continuous operation of the device without recharging. Built-in sensors (optical or laser) allow them to bypass any obstacles (furniture, walls, and so on).
Among the numerous ratings of washing vacuum cleaners in this category, users unconditionally give the top lines to iClebo robots from the Korean manufacturer Yujin Robot Corporation. The iClebo Pop model (the time of continuous operation from the built-in battery is 160 minutes, the time of full recharging is 100 minutes) with the automatic return to the charging base function costs about 20,000 rubles today. The top model iClebo Omega with the function of preliminary estimation of the room area and the construction of the optimal algorithm for the cleaning route will cost 35,000-40,000 rubles.
Detergents
All detergents that are used when cleaning with vacuum cleaners, depending on their area of application, are divided into several categories:
- For hard flooring. The popular washing concentrate ProFloor Thomas (Germany) with a capacity of 1 liter costs 570-590 rubles. It contains polymer wax and solvent-free surfactants. It is suitable for wet cleaning of most hard flooring: PVC, ceramic tile, artificial or natural stone, mosaic, laminate or parquet. After wet cleaning, forms a dirt-repellent protective film on the surface. According to user reviews, the undoubted advantage of such a soap for a washing vacuum cleaner is the absence of stains on the tile or laminate after processing.
- For cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture. For example, a concentrated Filtero shampoo (Belgium) with a volume of 500 ml (consumption - 30 ml per 5 liters of water) costs 290-320 rubles. The composition penetrates deep into the pile of the carpet and pushes dirt. Numerous users in their reviews note the following advantages of this detergent: economical consumption, low foaming, low price, well restores the brightness of the colors of carpets.
- For washing windows. Such tools are intended for vacuum cleaners having a special nozzle for washing windows, mirrors, walls of shower cabins and other smooth vertical surfaces. For example, a set of 4 packs of 20 ml each from Karcher costs 280-300 rubles.
- Universal. According to the manufacturer, the ProTex concentrate from Thomas (1 liter - 610-640 rubles) for the preparation of washing solution is suitable for cleaning carpet products or upholstered furniture, as well as for hard flooring. Unicum universal concentrated soap for a washing vacuum cleaner manufactured in Russia can be purchased for 280-300 rubles (bottle capacity - 1 liter).
- Defoamers. Dirty foam is formed in the waste water tank during wet cleaning of the room, which significantly reduces the suction power, which, in turn, degrades the cleaning efficiency. To combat this negative phenomenon, special concentrated liquids - defoamers - have been developed. A bottle of such liquid FoamStop Fruity from Karcher (Germany) with a volume of 125 ml costs 600-650 rubles.
What to look for when choosing
Before purchasing a multifunctional device, we recommend that you carefully read the rating of the best washing vacuum cleaners at the time of your proposed purchase. Manufacturers are constantly updating the product line and expand the functionality of these products. However, it is not worth chasing news. Sometimes it’s more reasonable to buy an outdated model at a discount if it is completely suitable for you according to its functional characteristics.
It is also worth clearly clarifying for yourself what you plan and how to wash with a washing vacuum cleaner. The choice of indicators such as suction power and the capacity of the cleaning agent reservoir depend on this. For example, 250-300 watts is enough for wet cleaning of even floors. But for deep cleaning of carpets or flooring with a long pile you need a fairly powerful device (400 W or more). The average consumption of detergent, according to numerous reviews of washing vacuum cleaners, is about 1 liter for a room with an area of 17-18 m². Therefore, for a city apartment, models with a tank volume of 1.7-2 liters are quite suitable.
An important selection criterion is the presence in the set of all the necessary nozzles. This will avoid the cost of purchasing additional accessories.
Finally
Choosing the best washing vacuum cleaner (from your point of view) from a reliable and trusted manufacturer, you will receive an indispensable home assistant who will make cleaning your house easy and quick. And although such devices are more expensive than their standard vacuum counterparts, their versatility and versatility have already been appreciated by numerous users of these high-tech devices.