Kärcher OC 3 review: This portable hose-free cleaner is a London must-have

There’s a particular kind of mess that lives in the no man’s land between indoors and out.

The dried mud on walking boots, the fine dust clinging to a bicycle frame, the streaks of pollen on a balcony table after a breezy spring afternoon. Not quite worthy of the full garden hose treatment, yet far too grubby for a quick wipe with a cloth. City dwellers, especially those without outdoor taps or ground-floor access, tend to make peace with it—or learn to live in mild irritation.

This is the problem Kärcher seems intent on solving. The German brand is best known for its industrial-grade pressure washers, that sunny yellow livery now as synonymous with serious outdoor cleaning as Stanley is with tools or Le Creuset with cookware.

Founded in 1935 and still family owned, Kärcher began by developing innovative heating systems, but it was their 1950 invention of the first European hot water high-pressure cleaner that changed their trajectory. Since then, they’ve become a household name, particularly in the UK, where their compact, powerful cleaners are a mainstay of garage shelves and garden sheds.

But the Kärcher OC 3 Plus Foldable Portable Cleaner (RRP £129.99) is aimed at a different kind of user. It is not designed to blitz moss from flagstones or refresh a driveway before an estate agent’s visit. It’s a quieter, more compact answer to smaller domestic tasks—the sort of jobs that call for hose-free water pressure, but not enough to threaten your paintwork.

Foldable, rechargeable and roughly the size of a picnic hamper, it offers a surprisingly considered solution to the urban problem of dirt. But how well does it work in practice? Is it more than a nicely packaged gimmick? And can it really justify its price tag for those without a garden to speak of?

I’ve taken it out, cleaned up, and paid attention to the bits other reviewers skim. Here’s what I found.

Every time I test a Kärcher product, I’m amazed by the simultaneous simplicity and ingenuity of the design. Just like my now second-favourite bright yellow device, the brilliant but low-maintenance window vac, this portable cleaner comes pretty much ready to go. While it requires USB-C charging before use, there’s a decent amount of juice in there to clean a small balcony upon immediate unboxing.

I loved how easy it was to unfold, and it reminded me of my classic Dunelm silicone colander in terms of design. There’s a handy hook on the back of the bucket to hang the lid while you’re filling it with water, and when you place the lid back on to carry the bucket outside, there’s a divot along the handle for neatly storing the hose pipe.

Since the portable cleaner comes pre-assembled, requires no de-assembly other than collapsing the bucket when empty, and has a singular on-off button, I think it’s safe to say that the Kärcher OC 3 Plus Foldable Portable Cleaner is an incredibly user-friendly piece of kit. Once switched on, simply press down on the hose lever and watch the magic happen.

When the bucket is empty, the mechanism will make a spluttering sound before using those last droplets of water. When that happens, just make sure to turn it off at the bucket before taking it back to the sink for a refill.

I also read the accompanying leaflet, so you don’t have to. It says not to put any harsh cleaners inside the bucket, as you risk damaging the mechanism. Instead, pop your cleaner of choice onto the surface in question and spray with clean water directly from the bucket. When you’re finished with the clean, remove the miniature integrated water filter and give it a rinse. In the pursuit of saving money, I used a bit of Fairy Liquid on my balcony, and it worked a treat.

I was blown away by how powerful the nozzle was on this portable device, as all I expected was a rinse-worthy drizzle. Nevertheless, the flat jet blasted away unruly algae and moss from my rather neglected outdoor tables and decking.

Here’s where I have a few qualms – though it’s no fault of the design. The hose is powerful for a low-pressure device and uses a lot of water as a result. While the bucket has a volume of eight litres, I found myself frequently returning to the kitchen to refill it. This is fine if your balcony or patio backs onto your kitchen, but mine is in my bedroom, so it became quite the faff.

Another qualm, which is once again no fault of Kärcher, is that spider webs are rather hard to blast away. Naturally, due to Darwinian developments, the webs are resistant to strong sprays of water that might resemble a British winter storm. Thus, if you were hoping to clear away the cobwebs, best stick to a classic outdoor broomstick – or even better, a high-powered pressure washer.

Not only did this fabulous yellow device bring new life to my patio, but its easily portable nature means it’s something I’ll take with me on frequent road trips to visit my family in the countryside. I see my future, and it’s free from mud-stained wellies and pollen-adorned windscreens. I may even use it to clean those hard-to-reach ceiling tiles in my bathroom…