Take my advice — don't buy a window vacuum cleaner

Have my communication — don't purchase a window vacuum cleaner

(Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

We all desire to make life easier, especially when information technology comes to cleaning. That's why when window vacuum cleaners showtime came to market place, we welcomed the thought with open artillery. If these small, electric squeegees could make cleaning the windows any easier, then they would be an essential purchase for avid cleaners everywhere. But, are window vacuum cleaners really all that useful and convenient? Here, we take a await at their pros and cons, and why ultimately they're not worth your time.

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What are window vacuum cleaners?

Window vacuum cleaners are a relatively new concept — Kärcher only launched their first model in the US in 2010. These handheld appliances are designed to vacuum up any condensation or cleaning solution every bit you squeegee a window or worktop. Most are cordless with rechargeable batteries and a removable tank is attached to the body to collect the backlog h2o. The advantage of using one is that it will clean and dry out your window at the same time, supposedly leaving a streak-costless stop.

Why am I not a fan of window vacuum cleaners?

When I start unboxed a window vacuum for testing, I had high hope for its operation. I live in a difficult water area, so I need to wipe out my shower with a manual squeegee daily, followed by towel-drying any remnants. However, unfortunately, the window vacuum sucked, and not in a good way.

When I started to clean my shower glass, I immediately realized I needed to severely slow down. With a squeegee I could quickly swipe back and forth, only with a window vacuum, I had to gradually drag it down the glass, which I soon lost my patience with. When I reached the bottom and moved to the tiptop of the next department, the seal on the window vacuum started to drip over the area I had but dried, which was frustrating.

Looking back over my piece of work, I was not happy with the finish at all. The window vacuum had picked upwards all of the water, but it had likewise left a tedious, streaky finish which would need buffing. So I had to grab a towel to both dry the seal betwixt swipes and buff where I'd cleaned.

On top of this, the weight of the window vacuum shortly started to strain my arm, and so I had switch hands repeatedly. I finally finished, simply the task took much longer than it unremarkably would and I felt more tired on summit of it.

Lastly, I'm not certain why, but I had hoped that being a window vacuum cleaner, information technology would be able to contribute to cleaning the windows. Sadly this wasn't the instance either. When I vacuumed a dirty, moisture window, it but smeared the dirt beyond it and blocked the seal. So in the end, all it was really good for was drying, merely I wasn't even happy with its performance there.

If you're still not convinced, hither are some pros and cons of window vacuum cleaners.

Window vacuum cleaner: Pros

It saves you drying.
Using a window vacuum cleaner does save you from drying by hand as you would after using a squeegee — particularly useful when you're wiping out the shower. A squeegee leaves lots of drips which you have to go dorsum over with a towel.
Information technology's more than environmentally friendly than paper towels.
If y'all utilize paper towels to buff and dry the windows or mirrors, then a window vacuum cleaner will save those as well, making it the more environmentally friendly selection. This will also work out cheaper as you save the paper towels.
It's good for dust and debris.
A good window vacuum cleaner can be constructive at collecting dust and debris from surfaces. Conduct in mind the surfaces will nevertheless need to be wet for this to work, equally these aren't similar standard vacuum cleaners.

Window vacuum cleaner: Cons

They are much bulkier in size and heavier than a squeegee.
Because of this, they can strain your arm quickly and aren't ideal for using over long periods of time. Their shape too ways they tin can't get into as small a cleft as transmission squeegees can.
They are slower to use than you would expect.
You lot tin't swipe with a window vacuum cleaner as fast as you would use a squeegee. You demand to move very slowly so it has a chance to vacuum up the water droplets.
Information technology doesn't ever leave a streak-free finish.
If the seal is not pressed affluent confronting the drinking glass or a pocket-size piece of debris blocks information technology, await streaks. I've had this problem before and ended up buffing or cleaning the mirror once more using the traditional method.
The tank fills speedily.
If you're vacuuming upward a spill, the tank can fill up much more quickly than you expect. Near just agree about 150ml, so exist prepared to keep emptying it if y'all're picking up a big spill.
It doesn't technically 'clean' the windows.
A window vacuum cleaner is essentially a squeegee combined with a vacuum. So, if you lot've got a dirty window and you spray some water or cleaning solution onto information technology, and then use the window vacuum, it won't work. You lot need to first clean the window before yous can vacuum it dry.
Run time tin be low.
Almost window vacuum batteries will last around 30 minutes, which isn't enough fourth dimension if you lot've got a lot of windows to comprehend. If this is the case, look for ones which terminal for an hr or more to save yourself from constantly recharging.
It can baste merely like a squeegee.
While window vacuum cleaners boast that they don't drip, some notwithstanding do in my experience, albeit not equally much equally a duster. Unless you go on drying the seal later each strip, this inevitably happens, so you still need to keep a towel on standby.
It's less environmentally friendly than drying with a bathroom towel.
As this drying method uses energy, it'southward less environmentally friendly vs using a bath towel. While the towel volition need to be auto-washed, you tin can use information technology several times beforehand and hang to dry out between uses.

Vileda Windomatic Power Window Vacuum Cleaner — (Epitome credit: Vileda)

Should you buy a window vacuum cleaner?

While my personal feel was less than platonic, some all the same vouch for window vacuum cleaners. Personally, I don't recall they add much to the convenience of drying your windows, simply there'due south certainly room for improvement in their design. Until and so, I'm sticking with my squeegee.

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Katie looks afterward everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products as well, then is the best point of contact for whatsoever household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to expect for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to exist stand mixers every bit she loves to bake in her spare fourth dimension.