The Ladylux³ Plus Kitchen Faucet by Grohe has an annoyingly complicated name in my opinion. Writing the superscript is difficult, and how exactly are you supposed to pronounce it?
The good news is that the faucet itself is uncomplicated and simple in both its function and appearance. It will suit anyone who is interested in a contemporary look for their kitchen décor.
Three Finishes: Stainless Steel, Chrome, and SuperSteel
Like the Leland 9178 by Delta, this Grohe faucet has a bare-bones European style and a one-handle design, but it features a brighter, glossier finish. The Leland’s matte nickel finish is nice, but if you’re looking for something a bit shinier, the chrome-finished Ladylux³ Plus will suit you better.
In addition to the Starlight Chrome finish (33893 000), there are two other available finishes for this model: a simple Stainless Steel (33893 SD0); or a SuperSteel finish (33893 DC0), which is a silvery finish on a base of brass.
Dual Spray Control with Locking
This Grohe model, with its perpendicular neck orientation, has a pull-out spray wand, in contrast to the Leland 9178 (Delta) which is an arched pull-down design. If you buy the Grohe faucet, you’ll have no trouble fitting your biggest pots and pans into the sink without hitting the faucet.
There’s another reason why I prefer the Grohe faucet to the Delta model: the length and orientation of the spray wand. Although the Delta model works fine, I find that the spray head is a bit too small for someone with big hands. The Ladylux³ Plus has a 4-inch spray wand, almost twice the size of the Delta, so it’s easier to get a grip on it.
In all other regards, you will be happy with how well this Grohe faucet works. Switching back and forth between spray and stream is quick and easy. There is a button on the top of the spray wand that is effortless to press, and (a big bonus in my opinion) you don’t have to keep holding the button down to continue either in stream or in spray mode.
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SpeedClean and SilkMove
The Ladylux³ Plus has more great features to offer in addition to the spray function.
The one-handle design makes this faucet easy to turn off and on either by hand or with your elbow. I like to operate a faucet without using my hands in order to keep the handle and faucet dry and clean – something like the way surgeons use a faucet when preparing for surgery.
This Grohe faucet makes it easy to be super-hygienic in this fashion. The handle moves up and down smoothly and easily because of the ceramic valve it contains. Grohe calls this technology SilkMove, and it’s an accurate description as well as good marketing.
The handle’s movement is in the Goldilocks zone where it’s neither too hard nor too easy to move. Some faucets have handles that move so easily that they become floppy over time. Other faucets move so stiffly that you end up forcing them and causing damage.
In some cases, lime buildup causes a faucet to move stiffly, as well as caking up the spray face. Grohe uses a design and material known as SpeedClean that minimizes the buildup of minerals from hard water. Again, this name is a marketing ploy, but it does describe the spray face pretty accurately. By simply wiping off the spray holes with your finger you can prevent lime buildup altogether.
This faucet it built to last for many years. Taking it apart would reveal the high-quality materials used in construction, and the well-made parts that fit together perfectly. Even with all the advantages of modern manufacturing techniques, many companies don’t make an effort to achieve this level of precision, but Grohe really does with this model. The company stands behind this product with a lifetime warranty: they will send a replacement part if you have a problem, and they will even ship it for free using UPS.
Installation
Installing this faucet isn’t exactly effortless, but it’s not all that difficult either. I guess you could say the same about many of the faucets on the market. But there are some that are really quite difficult to install, and this isn’t one of them, Grohe has made an effort to simplify the process for clumsy homeowners like me!
There is one thing you should be aware of. There needs to be at least three inches of space between the wall and the faucet neck to give you enough clearance for the faucet to work correctly. In most kitchens this isn’t an issue, but if you’re purchasing this faucet for a laundry room or bathroom, keep this requirement in mind.
Interestingly, this faucet uses a spring instead of a counterweight to balance the spray wand and hose. I haven’t heard any reports of this spring breaking or weakening over time, but to me it seems like a potential problem.
Overall
The Ladylux³ Plus by Grohe is a durable, functional and stylish faucet. The manufacturer is respected both for the quality of its products and for its hassle-free customer service. You can be confident about buying this faucet if it suits your style and taste.
If you’re on a tight budget, this faucet is probably not for you. The current list price is between 529 and 839 dollars, depending which finish you purchase. Some of you may be shocked by this price, but others may see it as a worthwhile investment.
If you start looking online, you’ll for sure be able to find a good deal on the price. Try starting with Amazon, where right now you can find the Starlight Chrome finish at about 240 dollars less than the list price! This represents a savings of about 46 percent.