Kärcher high-pressure cleaners

What it is

Alfred Kärcher founded his company in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt in 1935 and moved it to Winnenden, near Stuttgart, in 1939. Its cleaning technology business began in 1950 with the DS 350, described as the first European hot-water high-pressure cleaner. In 1984 Kärcher launched its first high-pressure cleaner for private users in retail stores, bringing professional technology to homes and gardens.

How it works

A high-pressure cleaner uses an electric motor or combustion engine to drive a pump that pressurises water and forces it through a narrow nozzle. The jet of water loosens dirt mechanically, so less water and fewer chemicals are needed than with a hose and brush. Hot-water machines add a burner that heats the water, which helps remove grease and oil. Different nozzles and attachments change the shape and force of the jet for different surfaces.

Why it stands out

Kärcher turned a specialist industrial tool into a mass-market product, and its yellow machines became closely associated with the whole category. The company remains family-owned, with the founder's descendants involved in its governance. It now makes a wide range of cleaning equipment, from floor scrubbers and vacuum cleaners to water dispensers and municipal machines.

Where you meet it

You meet Kärcher machines in car washes, on construction sites, in food processing plants and in suburban driveways on spring weekends. The professional range is used for vehicle fleets, agriculture and public spaces, while the consumer range covers patio cleaning, cars, bicycles and garden furniture.