Karcher has a good reputation for creating easy-to-use products that make the dull old chore of cleaning easier and faster so you can spend more time enjoying your home than preening it. The SC 3 EasyFix is a compact steam cleaner that can be used for a whole host of tasks thanks to the wide range of included attachments. Steam cleaning is a great way to get a thorough clean without using chemicals; the combination of powerful pressure, speed and temperature means the microscopic steam particles reach the smallest of crevices to loosen and remove dirt particles. This means of cleaning prevents allergen residues, it is safer for small children and pets, allergy sufferers and better for the environment whilst effectively killing 99.99% of all common household bacteria. The SC 3 can be used for general cleaning including removing limescale, getting into plug holes, cleaning wall tiles, glass and synthetic surfaces, extractor hoods, hobs, ovens or sinks, as well as steam cleaning floors including stone, PVC, laminate or varnished parquet flooring.

The accessories include: floor cleaning kit, EasyFix + extension tube (2 × 0.5 m), hand nozzle, detail nozzle, round brush (small), microfibre cover for manual nozzle and descale cartridge. The hook and loop attachment allows for a quick and easy cloth attachment and a hands-free cloth removal, the high-end steam iron, anti-stick soleplate and ironing board saves up to 50% ironing time and instantly dries laundry. The SC3 can hold up to 1 litre, which quickly heats up in under a minute although there is no visual indicator to tell you when it is ready. Its compact design (360 x 236 x 253mm) is easy to manoeuvre around the house by either the carry handle or pulled along on its two wheels, and easily stored away when not in use. The water tank has a wide opening and integrated funnel making it easy to fill but as it doesn’t detach from the main unit which means you have to flip the entire thing upside down to empty out when you are done, which isn’t terribly difficult but not ideal either. All accessories can be stored on board, meaning they are always close to hand whilst you move around the house.

The 4-metre cord allows for a good amount of roaming room and the descaling cartridge helps to extend the life of the machine in hard water areas. The steam hose gun has adjustable flow integration and a child lock for if the little ones decide they want to play Ghostbusters and the machine can be quickly refilled on the go without having to switch the machine off. We found the SC 3 was great for cleaning hard floors, baths and showers, it wasn’t so effective with tough dried-on dirt like on the stove top for example or built-up limescale, we found this required a little bit of chemical intervention, be it a shop-bought or home-made product, to finally shift it. Even with the SC 3 you might have to put in a little elbow grease on tough dirt however the compact design and ease of use means that over all this SC 3 is a welcome cleaning assistant. RRP £149.99

Current Cheapest Price

4 out of 5

Pros

Compact

Easy to use and manoeuvre

Accessories stored onboard

Adjustable flow control

Heats up quickly

Childproof safety lock

Hands-free cloth removal

Descaler cartridge

Cons

No “ready to use” indicator

Non-removable water tank

Not always powerful enough for very tough dirt and limescale