WINDOWS no longer need loads of elbow grease to sparkle as window vacs have made keeping them clean a total breeze.
The best window vacs suck up soapy water and remove dirt – and as we found in our tried and tested reviews, they leave your glass streak-free.
Lynsey Hope tested out the six bestselling window vacs.[/caption]
They’re also lightweight and easy to use so no need to read up on loads of instructions; generally there’s an on/off switch and that’s about it.
Plug in to charge and they’re good to go. Some window vacs are even suitable for kitchen spills, so they make a great all-round addition to your cleaning arsenal.
Read on for our tried and tested reviews of the best window vacs available to buy in 2024.
Best window vacs at a glance:
- Best overall window vac: Vileda Windomatic Power Vac
- Best budget window vac: Beldray Cordless Window Vac
- Best window vac for condensation: Salter Window Cleaning Vac
- Best small window vac: Karcher WV
Karcher WV
Karcher WV Black Edition[/caption]
Karcher WV, from £39.99 at Karcher
Pros: includes an extra suction nozzle (narrow) for smaller areas, 35-minute run time each charge, soaks up spills, easy to empty tank, no drips, good for cleaning condensation
Cons: Heavy, price
Rating: 5/5
Karcher’s window vac is one of the most popular models and is certainly the tool to use to get sparkling, clean windows.
While it’s slightly heavier than others with a 35-minute run time, it did a great job leaving windows, tiles, worktops and mirrors sparkling.
I tested this on my balcony window and it mopped up a lot of excess moisture, making it way quicker than using a microfibre cloth.
Plus, it’s one of the best tools for cleaning up condensation and is especially useful on the inside of car windscreens.
It can also soak up liquid spills, the tank was easy to empty and it didn’t drip like some of the cheaper models.
I love the versatility of it, and while it’s pricey, it would be useful if you regularly clean windows and small spills as it significantly cuts down cleaning time.
Read our Karcher Window Vac review.
Review by Lynsey Hope & Joel Watson.
Capacity: 100ml, Power: 10W, Run time: 35 minutes
Vileda Windowmatic Power Vac
Vileda Windowmatic Power Vac[/caption]
Vileda Windowmatic Power Vac, £79.92 from Amazon
Pros: 40-minute run time each charge, turbo boost function, flexible neck, easy to empty tank
Cons: Noisy
Rating: 5/5
The Vildea window vac is about half the weight of the Karcher and the only vac I tested with an additional turbo power level.
If you switch to max mode, you get a 50% power boost which was a real help when cleaning especially grubby surfaces.
It has a flexible neck which is useful for hard-to-reach places, the tank is easy to empty and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
The battery runtime is 40 minutes – better than most – and it promises to clean 120 square metres on a single charge.
It’s a bit noisy but otherwise a real powerhouse for the price. My favourite.
Capacity: 100ml, Weight: 640g, Power: 10W, Run time: 40 minutes
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Salter Window Cleaning Vac
Salter Window Cleaning Vac[/caption]
Salter Window Cleaning Vac, £24.99 from The Range
Pros: Price, lightweight, easy to use, 30 minutes’ use on one charge, leaves windows streak-free
Cons: Tricky to use on small windows
Rating: 4.5/5
This Salter window vac is brilliant for keeping big patio doors clean, but I found that it was tricky to use on smaller windows.
It sucks up any dirt and condensation and is convenient, light to hold and easy to use.
Battery life is 30 minutes and it does take a while to recharge, but windows and mirrors were left sparkling and streak-free – great for the price.
If you’re looking for a window vac to clean larger windows but aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, then this would be a great pick.
Capacity: 60ml, Weight: 630g, Power: 10W, Run time: 30 minutes
Henry Quick Stick Vacuum
Henry Quick Stick Vacuum[/caption]
Henry Quick Stick Vacuum, £229.99 from Henry
Pros: A regular vacuum that also works on windows, great for cleaning skylights
Cons: Price, doesn’t deal with condensation
Rating: 4/5
If you’re after a vacuum that can also clean the windows, then the Henry Quick could be perfect.
The hand-held attachment was great for getting rid of dirt and dust off high skylights but unfortunately it won’t deal with condensation.
It’s got the longest run time with 150 minutes of charge, more than enough to do your entire home and all the windows.
It’s definitely pricey at almost £300, but it’s a handy tool if you don’t want loads of gadgets clogging up your cupboard.
Capacity: 1L, Weight: 3.2kg, Power: 300 watts, Run time: 70 minutes low/ 16 minutes high
Tower Cordless Window Cleaner
Tower Cordless Window Cleaner[/caption]
Tower Cordless Window Cleaner, £29.99 from Amazon
Pros: Price, soaks up spills, easy to use
Cons: head too big for hard-to-reach areas, easy to accidentally switch on and off as power button on the handle
Rating: 3.5/5
Tower’s window cleaner is great for cleaning windows, mirrors and shower screens and soaking up spills.
It gives you up to 30 minutes of run time which is sufficient enough to clean a home with a few windows, and also do bathroom showers and mirrors.
It could have had a smaller head for hard-to-reach areas and the on/off button is on the handle so I kept accidentally turning it off.
Other than that, I thought it was good value and worked well.
Capacity: 150ml, Weight: 700g, Power: 20W, Run time: 30 minutes
Beldray Cordless Window Vac
Beldray Cordless Window Vac[/caption]
Beldray Cordless Window Vac, £27.99 from Robert Dyas
Pros: Price, lightweight, 30-minutes’ use before needs recharging
Cons: Less powerful than some others, doesn’t clean up spills, can’t use on worktops or skylights, small water tank
Rating: 3/5
Cheaper than most of the models on our list, but also less powerful.
It did a reasonable job of cleaning and drying condensation but the design made it hard to clean the bottom of windows and it can’t do spills, worktops or grimy skylights.
The water tank is small and had to be emptied repeatedly but it has a 30-minute battery life, it’s cheap and lightweight and I found it handy for a quick fix.
Capacity: 60ml; Weight: 680g, Power: 10W, Run time: 30 minutes
Where can I buy window vacs in the UK?
Window vacs are widely available online from stores such as Amazon, as well as from hardware shops such as Robert Dyas.
Also, check out the websites of individual brands if you already know which window vacuum you want to buy as you can often find offers there you won’t see elsewhere.
The small appliance aisles of larger supermarkets are also a good place to look – though the choice will likely be limited.
We found the window vacs featured in our reviews at:
How much does a window vac cost?
Window vacuums are available at a variety of price points, with the more expensive versions typically having more functions and extra parts, as well as being more powerful, with larger tanks and longer run times.
You can expect to pay from £25 for a basic model with the price rising depending on the brand and the functions offered.
The cheapest window vac we tested was the Salter Window Cleaning Vac at £24.99, but the Karcher at over £50 came with extra attachments. The best window vac for your needs will depend on how often you use it, as well as your budget.
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.
