The best window vacs

Kärcher has been making cleaning machines since Alfred Kärcher founded the company in 1935. The WV 2 Plus is the sweet spot of its window vacs: 35 minutes of battery, a wide nozzle, and a spray bottle and cloth in the box.

• 35-minute battery
• 280mm nozzle
• Spray bottle, microfibre cloth and 20ml cleaner
• LED battery display
• 0.6kg with battery

What owners say: Owners find it quick and easy on windows, mirrors and shower screens, though views on streaks and build quality vary.

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A closer look: Spray, wipe with the cloth to loosen the dirt, then draw the vac down in overlapping strokes from the top. A quick pass over the shower screen after each shower keeps limescale marks at bay. On winter mornings it clears a streaming window in seconds.

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The same design with a 100-minute battery, enough for every window in the house, inside and out, on one charge.

• 100-minute battery
• 280mm nozzle
• Spray bottle, microfibre cloth and 20ml cleaner
• LED battery display
• For glass, tiles and shower screens

What owners say: Owners rave about the battery life and say it takes only minutes to do a window or a shower screen.

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A closer look: Worth the extra over the WV 2 Plus for a big house, a conservatory or if you do the outside of the windows too. It reaches the bottom of a shower wall easily. Empty the dirty-water tank as you go so it doesn’t slosh.

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Just 0.5kg, made for a quick one-handed pass over condensation-covered windows first thing in the morning.

• 20-minute battery
• 250mm nozzle
• 100ml dirty-water tank
• 0.5kg
• LED battery display

What owners say: Owners find it light and easy for clearing condensation, good for anyone who struggles with heavier tools, though some say it needs charging often.

Heads up: A few owners say theirs broke within months.

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A closer look: Keep it on the windowsill in winter and run it over the glass each morning before the water runs down onto the frames. There’s no spray bottle in the box, so add your own for proper window cleaning. Twenty minutes of battery is plenty for a few windows a day.

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It comes with a wide 28cm nozzle for big panes and a slim 17cm one for small windows and awkward corners.

• 28cm and 17cm nozzles
• Spray bottle with microfibre cloth
• Removable tank, easy to empty
• Rechargeable lithium battery
• For windows, tiles and glass

What owners say: Owners find it light, well built and streak-free, upright or flat, and good value; a few had trouble with the charger.

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A closer look: The slim nozzle is the reason to choose it: windows split into small panes are hard work with a wide head. It works flat as well as upright, which helps on glass tables and shelves. Tip the tank out after each session so it doesn’t go musty.

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A simple window vac with a 30-minute battery and a roomy 150ml tank, and a silicone blade that leaves glass dry.

• 30-minute battery, 3-hour charge
• 150ml dirty-water tank
• Silicone squeegee blade
• Windows, mirrors, showers and tiles
• 3-year guarantee when registered

What owners say: Owners find it good at clearing condensation, with strong suction and a tank that’s easy to empty, though several say theirs stopped working after a couple of months.

Heads up: Several owners say it stopped working within a few months.

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A closer look: Register it online to stretch the guarantee from one year to three, worth doing given the mixed reports on durability. A full charge takes about three hours. A good fit for a small flat, or as a condensation-only tool.

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