Bosch Fontus? Does that ring a bell? Exactly, a few years ago the DIY specialist (the green one) launched a mobile low-pressure cleaner on the market. The Fontus in question is still available today and has a 15-litre tank, water and power connection and was similar in design to a compact steam cleaner - but the large appliance was not really mobile. The new cordless Fontus 18V-6 is now much lighter and more compact. And as you can guess from the name abbreviation, the smaller size is primarily at the expense of the tank volume.
Bosch Fontus 18V-6 Equipment
The tank of the small Bosch Fontus cordless pressure washer holds just 6 litres, but the appliance is hardly bigger than a well-filled briefcase. The 2.7 metre long hose can be wrapped around the housing for transport. The large handle makes it easy to transport the fully filled Fontus, which weighs just under eleven kilos, to the washing area. The equipment is otherwise straightforward. In addition to the battery and charger, only the claw brush is included in the scope of delivery. The nozzle offers four different spray patterns and fights dirt on the bike with two to 20 bar.
Powerful cleaning while protecting materials and the environment - not all bike cleaners can do this. We have carried out extensive laboratory and practical tests to find out which of these 12 dirt removers are really worth the money.
Handling
Hardly any other appliance is as easy to use as the Bosch Fontus. Fill with water, insert the battery and off you go. The option of filling the device and then taking it on tour in the car is great. Unlike the Muc-Off or Aqua2Go, the tank can be closed with a screw cap. This conceals a removable filter. Refilling in a stream or lake is therefore also no problem.
Small tank volume
This becomes necessary sooner than expected. Once the bike is properly soiled, the 6-litre tank is quickly emptied. Ok, it's enough for one bike, but not enough for more. The 2.7 metre hose could be a little longer, but if necessary you can walk around the bike with the Fontus in your hand. The small gun sits comfortably in the hand and the power mode also builds up sufficient pressure for coarse dirt. If you switch to Eco mode, however, the pressure is at most sufficient to rinse the leftovers off your plate while camping.
Versatile rechargeable battery
We were particularly impressed by the battery performance of the Bosch. The Fontus buzzed for a full 25 minutes on a high setting. However, it should be added that Bosch sent a larger battery for testing. The cleaner is supplied with a 2000 rechargeable battery as standard. However, if you already have a device from the "Power for all Alliance", which also includes brands such as Gardena, Husqvarna or Gloria, you can easily use the existing batteries. So if you already use 18-volt batteries and the matching charger for your Bosch cordless screwdriver, you can save a few euros on the purchase and pay just 155 euros instead of 210.
Bosch Fontus 18V-6 - Info & conclusion
- Price 209.99 euros (incl. 2.0 Ah battery!), 155 euros (without battery and charger)
- Scope of deliveryBattery, charger, claw brush, hose
- OperationBattery / 18V, 4000 mAh
- Running time (highest level): 25:30 min
- Tank / hose length: 6 l / 2.7 m
- Pressure / flow rate2; 20 bar / 1.2 to 2.2 l/min
Conclusion
The perfect appliance for a quick shower after a tour. Thanks to the tightly closed tank, the Bosch is easy to transport in the boot, even when full. Thanks to the filter, water can also be topped up in the lake. At the highest setting, the small spray gun with four spray modes reliably removes even coarser dirt. However, the weak eco mode is hardly usable on the bike. Although the hose is short, you can simply walk around the bike with the compact Fontus. At six litres, the tank is just enough for a solidly soaked bike. The test device came with a large battery, which lasted a full 25 minutes; with the standard battery it only sprays for half as long.
Advantages & disadvantages of the Bosch Fontus 18V-6 cordless cleaner
+ Compact device; reliable battery indicator; can also be transported when full
- Few accessories; small tank; weak eco mode; short hose
Test cordless cleaning devices
Here are the other mobile cleaners that we have also tested
Stefan Frey
Editor
