Hey guys, welcome to RobotObzor! Today I’ll tell you how to chose cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaner. We will talk about cordless models, more than two dozen of which have already been reviewed by me. Having tested models from different brands and different prices, and having gained experience, I decided to share the most important, in my opinion, points that you should pay attention to. In total, there will be 10 points that will help you understand the differences between cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaners and choose the best option for your own conditions and budget in 2024.
Manufacturer
First, let’s see which brands are worth looking at.
At the time of the revirw, I’d consider Roborock, Dreame, Tineco, Bissel, and Karcher to be the best manufacturers of cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaners. The first two manufacturers are the most popular on the market and can always be seen at the top of the ranks. They have good assembly quality, and advanced functionality. If you re looking for something more budget friendly, you can look at the Chinese brands iLIFE and Neatsvor, which specialize in inexpensive robot vacuum cleaners and are gradually bringing to the market their washing upright vacuum cleaners. Reviews are predominantly positive. Also cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaners are produced by Xiaomi and its well-known sub-brands: Roidmi, Lydsto and Jimmy. I’ve had some of these on my review, and they left a predominantly positive impression of themselves. But it’s important not only to know which companies you can trust, but also to find out how this or that brand is shown on the market. Check the distributor, warranty, and service before buying.
Type of cleaning module
When picking a cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaner, the type of cleaning module matters a lot. It’s usually a soft, fluffy roller. Some vacuums have two or even three rollers, which makes cleaning a bit better.
But what’s really important is where the roller is placed. It’s more effective when the roller is close to the edge of the cleaner or extends all the way to the sides. This way, there’s less space left uncleaned between the baseboard and the roller’s edge. If the roller is in the middle with plastic on the sides, you end up with a bigger area (about 15-20 mm) that doesn’t get cleaned. Moving the roller to the edge reduces that area to just 1-5 mm, which is much better.
An interesting solution- is the additional atomization of water in front of the roller through a nozzle on top, which allows you to pre-dissolve difficult stains and dirt on the floor. Multiple vacuums on the market have already implemented this feature.
Some cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaners have a special roller for cleaning carpets. This lets you clean the floor, and then replace the roller, and clean the carpets.
But the idea is actually not very rational because of how the vacuums are used. Since you will have to clean the carpets without water, and dry dirt will quickly accumulate on the filter, thus the motor will overwork.
And the most universal option is disconnecting the main unit with the motor for installing an extension tube and a nozzle for vacuuming. You can and fully clean the floors, and vacuum the floor, as well as furniture and other places.
This type of wet vacuum cleaner is gaining popularity and is likely to displace more expensive conventional models.
Work modes
When choosing a cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaner, you should also pay attention to the supported modes. It’s good when you can adjust the level of water supply to the roller, regulate the suction power and, if necessary, turn off the water supply to collect water residue from the floor or, for example, to clean carpets while vacuuming.
An auto power increase function can also be implemented when dirt is detected. This is a convenient alternative to manually switching between modes. But still having the ability to manually control the power and water supply is an obvious advantage compared to choosing between modes.
Suction power
The characteristics of each vacuum include things such as power usage and suction power. The better these are, the more thoroughly the vacuum will get dirt and liquid residue from the floor. I consider powerful vacuum cleaners to start from 300 W. With the suction power, it’s a bit more complicated, as many manufacturers simply don’t specify. Those that do, give within 5500-17000 Pa. Focusing on this gap, you can understand how strong the suction is of the model you choose, compared with its competitors.
Battery and power life
The battery in a vacuum is crucial for how long it can clean before needing a recharge. Bigger batteries mean it can work longer on one charge. A 4000 mA*h capacity is a good indicator. Some models like those that I have previously reviewed can run for up to 46 minutes on low power, but only about 30 minutes on high power. Unfortunately, not all brands tell you how long the battery lasts on high power. It’s great if the battery is removable. This makes it easier to replace it when it no longer holds a charge. Plus, you can buy an extra battery and switch it out during cleaning to double the cleaning time.
Tank sizes
Also, when choosing a vacuum cleaner, pay attention to the container capacity for the clean and dirty water. The larger the tanks, the less you will have to distract yourself with filling clean water and draining dirty water while mopping the floor.
Sometimes you have to change the tanks twice in one cleaning cycle on a single battery charge if they’re small. Starting from half a liter (.13 G.) is already a good volume for the containers. Other models are equipped with tanks with a volume of 700 ml (23.6 Oz.) plus, each.
Filtration systems
The filtration system is another factor to consider, particularly concerning the dirty water tank. The clean water tank usually has a coarse mesh filter inside it, but it’s even better if the dirty water tank has a HEPA filter with fine mesh. Plus, having an extra coarse filter to trap hair and large dirt is always good. If the vacuum lacks a HEPA filter, the quality of the air it blows out can be significantly worse.
This can be bad for the vacuum’s engine. In some budget models, you might find a sponge filter as a substitute for a HEPA filter, which is not as effective. It’s generally best to avoid models with sponge filters if you want the best.
Roller drying
A mega useful feature that is gaining popularity in 2023 is drying the roller at the station after self-cleaning. This reduces the likelihood of bacteria spreading in the wet roller and, just as importantly, no bad odor will spread throughout the room. It’s great if the roller is dried with warm air. In this case, the roller’s hair dries completely for 2-4 hours of work.
However, many models have started drying the roller with room temperature air. This solution partially solves the problem, but if the room is already humid, the probability of the roller being dry is extremely low. A bit of moisture can contribute to the spread of bacteria and smell. At the same time, the advantages of drying with room temperature air include fire safety and lower energy consumption.
Display
The presence of a display, especially if it is actually interactive – makes the vacuum much easier to use. A good display will show the battery, selected mode, service messages and remaining run time.
If it’s just something as simple as the battery, it’s not worth overpaying for.
Kit
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, pay attention to what’s in the box. A good manufacturer would equip the vacuum cleaner with a spare HEPA-filter and a spare roller. Now it’s very good – if in addition to all this in the box you will find a branded detergent, which is added to the tank with clean water to improve the quality of floor cleaning and scrubbing dirt.
And don’t forget before buying to search where you will buy all of your filters in the future, and their price if they’re available.
Extra functions
Lastly, let’s dive a bit deeper into the additional features of upright vacuum cleaners designed for washing. These extra functions can significantly enhance your cleaning experience. Some models come with a feature that sterilizes the clean water tank. This is great for disinfecting the liquid you use in the cleaning process. UV lamps are sometimes used for this purpose, but it’s hard to truly tell how effective they are. An alternative method, known as electrolytic sterilization, appears to be more promising, though laboratory tests are needed to confirm.
Connecting your vacuum cleaner to a phone makes vacuuming more convenient. This feature allows you to keep tabs on your vacuum’s performance and maintenance. You can monitor the filter’s condition and replace it in a timely manner. Additionally, you can access stats about your cleans and adjust various parameters. For instance, you can control the duration of the roller’s drying cycle, the level of self-cleaning, or even manage the water supply to the roller. Such settings might not be available on the vacuum cleaner itself, making smartphone integration a valuable addition.
When it comes to the Roborock Dyad Pro, it boasts a particularly innovative feature – automatic detergent dispensing. With a special tank, the vacuum cleaner can add the right amount of detergent to the cleaning process without your manual intervention. This eliminates the need for you to mix concentrate with water in the correct proportion every time you clean, making the process much more convenient.
In the ever-evolving world of home cleaning appliances, new and unique features are constantly emerging. These features are designed to make each new vacuum cleaner stand out from the competition, offering consumers more options and conveniences in their cleaning routines.
And so, we’ve reviewed the main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a cordless wet and dry vacuum cleaner. I hope that the info has helped you understand the differences between the models and choose the best option based on your preference and budget. On this note I’d like to end the review. If you still have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. Have fun shopping, bye!
