I cleaned my entire home with Kärcher’s new steam cleaner and mop — and as a busy mum of three, I’m now hooked

I'm already a big fan of Kärcher – its pressure washer is one of my outdoor cleaning staples – so I was excited to get my hands on its versatile steam cleaner and see how it measured up indoors. And as a mum of three, the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra promises to remove up to 99.99% of household viruses and bacteria, all without chemicals.

So, I put it to the test in my family home to see how it would compete with the best steam cleaners and mops, and let's just say, it didn't disappoint.

In a nutshell

I was genuinely impressed by this multi-functional, powerful steam cleaner. It heats up in just 30 seconds and delivers high-pressure steam that cuts through everyday dirt, grease and bacteria.

I tested it for three weeks around my home – on pretty much anything that can be sanitised – from my kitchen and bathroom floors, to tile grout, mirrors, windows and even my baby's highchair – and it handled grime with ease.

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The flexible mop head makes reaching awkward corners and spaces simple, and I appreciated the option to adjust the tank position, allowing me to choose between a lightweight handheld or a more balanced, upright mop. The versatility came in handy during testing, and although it's a corded steamer, the cable is 5m, so it didn't restrict movement either.

Its main drawbacks are the small water tank, which requires frequent refills for deeper cleans, and the fact that it struggles with deep-set stains. But, for day-to-day (and chemical-free) cleaning, the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra is a handy addition to any cleaning routine.

Product specifications

• Tank Capacity: 200ml
• Cable Length: 5m
• Dimensions: 345 L x 113 W x 190 H
• Number of settings: 1
• Wattage: 1300 W
• Weight: 1.6kg without accessories / 2.9kg including packaging
• In the box: Tank, microfibre cover for hand nozzle, descaler cartridge, detail nozzle, hand tool, round brush, 2 x steam pipes
• RRP: £99.99

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

As a busy mum-of-three, it's fair to say I know a thing or two about mess! My home is a constant testing ground for any new cleaning gadget, so I was keen to put the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra through it's paces.

I tested both the mop and handheld steamer around my three bedroom semi-detached home for three weeks. During this period I tackled everything from my floors, kitchen tiles and worktops, to windows and mirrors, and even my baby's highchair (IYKYK).

While Kärcher kindly sent the steam mop for me to test, I followed our dedicated testing process, to provide an honest, impartial review.

Unboxing the product, first impressions and setting up

The Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra arrived in the brand's distinctive, yellow and black packaging, so there was no mistaking what had landed on my doorstep. Although the box was fairly sizeable, I was surprised at how lightweight and easy it was to carry from room to room.

I opened the box to several components neatly packed and ready to assemble, and the white steamer immediately stood out and caught my eye. Alongside it, the box also comprised two extension tubes, a large floor tool and microfibre floor cloth, a hand tool and microfibre cover, detail nozzle and cover, a round brush, refillable water tank, descaler cartridge, and instruction booklet.

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Some parts, including the steamer, the floor and hand tools, and the refillable water tank, were individually wrapped in plastic packaging (which was 50% recyclable), while the rest came loose inside the box. With various nozzles and accessories of different sizes, it occurred to me that these could be easily misplaced if not stored properly after use, which is something to consider.

After emptying the contents of the box and everything was laid out, I was initially impressed. Visually, the unit felt reasonably lightweight to hold and looked clean and modern. And after familiarising myself with the different attachments and parts, I was excited to put it through its paces.

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Assembling the product was mostly straightforward, although the instructions were pretty vague. This seemed to be a common complaint echoed in the customer reviews, but despite the sketchy guidance, it only took a few minutes to get everything set up and ready to use.

I slotted the descaler cartridge into place at the back of the steamer, with the refillable water tank sitting neatly on top. Once everything was in place, the unit felt sturdy and well-assembled.

It's worth noting that this is a corded steamer, too, like 99% of the steam cleaners on the market. However, the cable was 5m long, so it provides plenty of reach. That said, it did get in my way a little at times, and it's also worth noting it doesn't have a hook-and-loop attachment on the unit to store the cord.

Using the Karcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra

As the name suggests, the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra is a versatile 4-in-1 product so my first decision was deciding whether to test out the handheld steamer or the mop – which can be assembled in three different positions, with the tank placed either at the top, middle or bottom (depending on how you want to use it).

I have laminate flooring in my downstairs kitchen and conservatory that are a magnet for food spills and muddy footprints from my three children and husband, so I was keen to put the steam mop through its paces there first.

As a steam mop

As outlined, the mop can be assembled in three different positions, depending on whether you prefer the tank to sit at the top, middle or bottom.

I chose to use the classic setup by attaching the two steam pipes to the bottom of the steamer. Attaching the pipes was a doddle, as they clicked into place really easily. And from there, a flexible hand nozzle attaches to the bottom pipe, and the microfibre cloth attaches with velcro neatly onto the mop head.

Once I was ready to start mopping, I simply plugged the steamer into the mains socket. As soon as it's connected to power, the LED display lights up automatically – there's no separate standby mode, which keeps things simple.

During the heat-up stage, the LED light flashes orange, and the device is ready to use after approx 30 seconds, at which point the steam icon lights up green. I was impressed with the speedy start-up time.

I put the steam mop to the test on some of the toughest areas in the house – and as it happened, my four-year-old had hosted what looked like a Play-Doh and sticker party on my conservatory floor, so this was the first challenge to tackle on my list.

The mop took a few seconds to start releasing steam, and while the stickers or playdoh didn't immediately lift, a few steady passes back and forth with the mop head were enough to break them down. Sure enough, the steamer soon worked its magic and lifted the mess, leaving my floors looking noticeably cleaner and refreshed.

I also used the steam mop attachment to tackle the muddy stains on the floor by my conservatory doors – an area of high foot-traffic with my children constantly dashing in and out of the garden.

After a few passes back and forth, the unit started releasing noticeable amounts of steam. And once it did, the stains and dirt lifted much quicker. The flexible mop head was also really handy for stubborn, hard-to-reach corners and tight spaces in both my kitchen and conservatory.

The tank capacity is 200ml, and this was enough to mop the floors in my kitchen, conservatory and two small bathrooms. That said, the first time I used it when I needed to give the floors a more intensive clean, the water ran out more quickly. It needed refilling after about five minutes of continuous mopping.

I also put the mop to work on the vinyl flooring in both my hallway and bathroom. While I noticed it didn't quite glide quite as smoothly on this type of flooring, it still did a solid job. It effectively removed any dirt and left my floors feeling just as clean as my kitchen.

Although I tested the mop with the steamer in all three positions, I found myself favouring the top position (clipped directly onto the handle) as it provided the best reach for getting under table legs and under furniture, and spared any awkward crouching.

The middle position (where the steamer slots between the two extension tubes) offered a good balance between manoeuvrability and weight. It felt stable and easy to use, though I didn't use it in this position quite as much.

And as for the bottom position (attached straight onto the floor nozzle), it's lightweight and stands upright on its own, so I found this option handy for when I needed to pause mid-clean (and with kids running around, that does happen often!).

As a handheld steamer

I put the handheld steamer to work with the round brush attachment, tackling some of the grimiest, most neglected areas around my home – kitchen tile grout, the shower head and under the bathroom and kitchen taps.

I was genuinely impressed (and a tad embarrassed) to see how much dirt and grime it removed, especially from the fiddly spots that are hard to reach. That said, it did struggle with deeper, more embedded stains. It wasn't quite powerful enough to shift everything on the first pass, but for everyday grime, it did a decent job.

Next, I swapped the round brush for the hand nozzle paired with the microfibre cloth to tackle the surfaces in my kitchen – including the worktops, hob, cooker hood and fridge doors. I also used it on windows and mirrors around my home.

On day-to-day messes, it worked really well at sanitising any stains, but the windows and mirrors did appear a bit streaky after I'd finished cleaning them. If you're using the steamer, they might benefit from a polish with a dry cloth to achieve a flawless finish.

One of the things I was most keen (OK, weirdly excited) to try it on was my baby's highchair. Despite sanitising it after each use, some stubborn tomato stains just would not budge. While it's not recommended to use a handheld steamer on the plastic seating covers, I did put the steamer to the test on the tray – and I'm so glad I did.

Using the brush attachment and microfibre cloth, it effortlessly wiped away all the built-up stains and left the tray looking good as new. And the best part? It's chemical-free, which is an absolute must with babies.

My oven door was embarrassingly grimy, so I wasn't expecting miracles here. I used the hand nozzle without the cloth and while it didn't completely break down the toughest stains, it did leave it looking visibly cleaner still and saved me some serious elbow grease!

I actually found the handheld steamer to be more powerful and precise than the mop. It's particularly effective on smaller, high-touch areas that require extra TLC. Manoeuvring the steamer under taps was pretty fiddly, though.

Cleaning and maintenance

The Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra is super easy to clean – simply empty any remaining water from the tank after use, and the microfibre cloths can be popped in the washing machine on a 60-degree wash. I did this after each use, as I was surprised at just how much dirt and grime was left on the mop!

The cleaning nozzles can collect a lot of grime, but luckily, there's not much to it, cleaning-wise. I just gave them a soak in warm, soapy water.

It's worth keeping hold of the box to store all the different parts, as there's no option to store parts onboard. While it's not a huge box, I do think it could be a little more compact, which would take up less storage space, so it's worth bearing in mind if space is an issue.

How does it rate online?

At the time of reviewing, the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra has a 4.8-star rating on the Kärcher website, although it's worth noting there are only 5 reviews in total. The reviews are all positive with customers praising the product for being easy to use, its quick heat-up time and being lightweight compared to previous models.

In contrast, the reviews on Amazon are more mixed – the product has a 3.5-star rating out of a total of 20 reviews. Of the total reviews, 43% of customers rated it 5 stars and the positive comments were around the ease of use, the lightweight feel and quick heat-up time.

Negative reviews included comments from customers saying it wasn't as powerful as they expected for a Karcher product, issues with the water tank not closing properly and the instructions being unclear.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra builds on earlier SC 1 models by the brand by providing the three mop configurations, a wider range of accessories and a removable water tank.

At just under £100, it sits in the mid-range price bracket for compact steam cleaners. While, arguably the Bissell Steam Shot packs just as much power for only half the price tag, it doesn't match the Kärcher's versatility or mop functionality.

On the other end of the scale, the Dupray Neat has a bigger tank capacity and run time, but you'll be paying much more for it.

Should you buy the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra?

After putting the Kärcher SC 1 Multi & Up Extra through its paces on a variety of floors and surfaces around my home, I'm genuinely impressed with the results. As a compact, everyday, chemical-free cleaning tool, it's well worth considering.

The mop attachment did a really good job of tackling everyday grime, but it was the handheld steamer that really stood out. It offered more power and precision, and proved effective on high-touch fiddly areas like taps, grout lines and baby items.

It heats up in just 30 seconds, delivering a satisfying burst of steam. However, with a relatively short steam time before needing a refill, it’s better suited to quick clean-ups rather than prolonged, deep cleaning sessions. So if you're looking to invest in a steam cleaner specifically to tackle hard-to-shift grime, you might need something with a bit more stamina.

But for everyday upkeep, I think this is a great addition to any cleaning toolkit.