Kärcher Cordless Hoovers: VC Sticks and FC Floor Cleaners
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Kärcher is best known for pressure washers and window vacs, but it also sells VC cordless stick vacuums and FC wet floor cleaners. The sticks are solid, well-built German alternatives to Shark and Dyson rather than category leaders. The FC floor cleaners are a strong choice for hard floors, especially if you want a machine that mops properly rather than vacuuming.
Quick answer: For hard-floor homes, the Kärcher FC 7 Cordless is the Kärcher to buy. It's one of the better floor cleaners at removing dried-on marks. For a dry stick, the VC 6 Cordless is the best balance in the VC line, but compare its price with a Shark or Bosch first. Already own a window vac? The WV range remains the market benchmark.
On this page
The Kärcher cordless range at a glance
| Line | Type | Best for | Typical price band |
|---|---|---|---|
| VC 4 Cordless (myHome) | Entry stick | Flats, hard floors | £130–£200 |
| VC 6 Cordless (ourFamily, incl. Pet) | Mid stick, removable battery | Family homes, mixed floors | £180–£300 |
| VC 7 Cordless (yourMax) | Top stick, two batteries in some bundles | Larger homes, longer runtime | £250–£400 |
| FC 7 Cordless | Wet floor cleaner, four rollers | Kitchens, tiles, sealed wood | £300–£450 |
| FC battery models (FC 2-4 / FC 4-4 class) | Compact wet floor cleaner | Smaller hard-floor areas | £150–£250 |
| WV window vacs (WV 2 / WV 5 / WV 6) | Cordless squeegee vac | Windows, showers, condensation | £40–£110 |
These are typical bands, not live prices. Kärcher runs frequent promotions on its own UK store and on Amazon, especially in spring.
How Kärcher's naming works
- VC = vacuum cleaner. Higher numbers are more powerful and have bigger batteries. The marketing nicknames (myHome, ourFamily, yourMax) indicate home size.
- FC = floor cleaner. These wash floors with spinning rollers fed with fresh water and pick up dirty water at the same time. "Cordless" or "Battery" in the name marks the battery versions.
- WV = window vac. It sucks water off glass after washing, with no streaks or drips.
- Pet / Premium / Plus suffixes = extra tools, a second battery or a wall mount.
Key Kärcher tech, explained
FC roller system
Kärcher's FC machines use counter-rotating microfibre rollers (four on the FC 7) that are rinsed with fresh water continuously and squeezed out. This makes them better at scrubbing than many vacuum-first wet-dry cleaners. The catch is that they're less good at picking up large dry debris, so give heavily soiled floors a quick dry hoover first. By contrast, a Tineco Floor One or Bissell CrossWave is designed to do both in one pass.
VC filtration and bins
The VC sticks use a multi-stage filter and cyclone design with a hygienic bin-emptying mechanism. Filtration is good, but the bins are on the small side compared with a Dyson V15 or Shark Stratos.
Window vacs
Not a hoover, but worth knowing about. A WV window vac clears condensation from bedroom windows in winter in seconds. It's one of the most useful small cordless gadgets for UK homes with damp problems.
Recommended Kärcher models
Kärcher FC 7 Cordless
Kärcher's standout floorcare product. Four rollers scrub tiles, vinyl and sealed wood well, and the rollers stay cleaner because they're constantly rinsed. Runtime on a charge is enough for an average kitchen, hall and bathroom. It's heavier and slower than mopping by hand, but leaves a far more even finish. Compare the options in our wet and dry roundup.
- Excellent scrubbing
- Constant clean-water rinse
- Good build quality
- Not for large dry debris
- Hard floors only
- Bulky to store
Kärcher VC 6 Cordless ourFamily
The sensible middle of the VC range. It has a removable battery, decent suction, good filtration and a solid floor head. It's competitive when discounted, but at full price it faces strong competition from Shark's Anti Hair Wrap models and the Bosch Unlimited range, which have better anti-tangle and parts support.
- Well built
- Removable battery
- Good filtration
- Smaller bin
- Less anti-tangle tech than Shark
Kärcher WV 6 Plus window vac
For condensation, shower screens and streak-free windows. The WV 6 has a longer runtime and a swappable battery compared with smaller models. A WV 2 or WV 5 is fine if you only clear condensation.
- Fast and streak-free
- Great for winter condensation
- Single-purpose
Kärcher vs the big brands
| Need | Kärcher | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Wash hard floors | FC 7 Cordless: strong | Tineco / Dreame wet-dry for one-pass vacuum and wash |
| Main cordless stick | VC 6 / VC 7: good | Dyson for carpets; Shark for hair |
| Window and condensation | WV range: benchmark | Cheaper copies exist, but parts are worse |
Which Kärcher for which home?
- Mostly hard floors, kitchen-heavy: FC 7 Cordless, plus any light dry stick for crumbs.
- Small flat, mixed floors: VC 4 Cordless, or a compact FC battery model if washing matters more.
- Family home with carpets and pets: VC 6 or VC 7 if discounted, but a pet-focused stick from Shark or Dyson is usually stronger.
- Damp-prone home: add a WV window vac whatever floorcare you choose.
Reliability, parts and warranty
Kärcher's build quality has a good reputation, and its UK site sells rollers, filters, batteries and detergents directly. Kärcher has offered extended guarantees on registered home and garden products. Check the current terms for your model. FC rollers are a consumable, and replacing them every 6–12 months with heavy use is normal. Use only Kärcher-approved detergents in FC machines.
Where to buy
Kärcher's own UK store, Amazon, Argos, B&Q, Currys and John Lewis carry parts of the range. Check bundle contents, as "Premium" or "Plus" versions add a second battery or extra rollers, which can be worth paying for.
FAQs
Is a Kärcher FC the same as a wet and dry vacuum?
Not quite. It's mainly a floor washer that scrubs with rollers and collects dirty water. It handles small crumbs, but you should hoover first if there's lots of dry debris.
Are Kärcher cordless sticks as good as Dyson?
They're well built and capable, but Dyson's floor heads generally clean carpets better and its parts network is larger. Kärcher makes sense mainly when well discounted.
Can I use a Kärcher FC on wooden floors?
On sealed wood and laminate, yes, using the low-water setting. Avoid unsealed or oiled wood and check your flooring maker's advice.