The 8 best wet-dry vacuums of 2025, tested and reviewed

Wet-dry vacuums have quickly become one of my favorite cleaning tools, thanks to their ability to vacuum and mop my hard floors (and some rugs) simultaneously, reducing the need to pull out even the best vacuums and mops.

I've been testing the best wet-dry vacuums for four years now, totaling 24, and I'm very excited about where this technology is headed. I've noticed several meaningful upgrades in their design and performance. Most still rely on the classic setup — separate clean and dirty water tanks paired with a rotating brushroll that uses speed and downward pressure to scrub and suction messes. But newer models now include improved self-cleaning systems that use hot water and airflow to wash and fully dry the brushroll, reducing the amount of aftercare required.

Lie-flat designs are also becoming more common, and some brands like Tineco and Roborock now integrate the clean-water tank into the vacuum head to make this possible. However, the trade-off is losing LED headlights and increasing head height, which can make it harder to fit under kitchen toe kicks.

The Tineco S7 Strech Ultra is my first choice for the best overall wet-dry vacuum; it has a lie-flat design, dirt detection technology, and an efficient and quick self-drying system. At a fraction of the cost, our budget pick, the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce is powerful and effective with up to 30 minutes of battery. It can also be used on hard floors and rugs as both a vacuum and a wet-dry vacuum.

Our top picks for the best wet-dry vacuums

Best overall: Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Ultra - See at Amazon

Best budget: Bissell Crosswave Omniforce - See at Amazon

Best for pets: Roborock F25 - See at Amazon

Easiest to clean: Narwal S30 Pro - See at Narwal

Best for large homes: Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Series - See at Amazon

Best lightweight: Shark HydroVac Messmaster Cordless - See at Amazon

Safe on carpets: Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 - See at The Home Depot

Best robot: Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro Robot Vacuum - See at Amazon

Best overall

Tineco leads the way when it comes to the best mop-vacs. The feature that Tineco pioneered early on in its floorcare and continues to prioritize in its models today is the dirt detect technology, which enables the vacuum to recognize dirt and stains and automatically increase suction and mopping power to clean the floor. Not only does the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra feature dirt detect technology, but it also boasts superb dual-edge cleaning technology and an anti-tangle brushroll that is consistently rinsed to deliver clean water. We were impressed by the auto, max, and suction (for liquid spills) modes, as well as how well the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra cleaned all kinds of small and large, dry or wet messes, typically in a single pass.

The Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra differs from our previous top pick, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in a few ways. The LCD screen isn't as large and doesn't feature an animated assistant (great at first, but the novelty wears off), but S7 Stretch Ultra is a great successor thanks to its lie-flat design to reach fully under low furniture like beds and couches, and upgrades like heated drying, features the S7 Pro lacks. The lie-flat ability caused a design change; the clean water tank is now located on top of the vacuum head, and the floorhead is now bulkier and wouldn't fit under kitchen cabinets. It also ditched the LED lights I loved on the S7 Pro. The battery life is advertised at 50 minutes, which is possible on auto mode if your floors aren't that dirty, but in my testing, the battery lasted about 32 minutes. This was still plenty of time to clean my 1,600-square-foot house. In fact, the clean water tank didn't have to be refilled until the 20-minute mark, and the dirty water tank emptied at the 28-minute mark.

My favorite update to the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra has to be the self-cleaning system. It cleans with hot water, and the heated drying feature dries the brushroll in just five minutes. While the debris catcher doesn't work as well as I'd like, I can absolutely say that the Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra picked up a lot more dirt than any other vacuum I tested (except for the Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Pro, more on that model below, which cleans with hot water and heated dries the brushroll exceptionally and in just five minutes. The Tineco S7 Stretch Ultra's dirty water tank was noticeably darker and contained more dirt sludge than the other wet-dry vacuums.

Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review.

Best budget

The Bissell CrossWave OmniForce is one of the most affordable options we recommend, and it is frequently on sale. This affordable buy is a great option for pet owners, considering the tangle-free brushroll does a fantastic job of grabbing pet hair. You can use it on any type of surface, whether as a wet-dry vacuum or a vacuum, which is a rare feature in most wet-dry vacuums. Essentially, you can ensure your rugs and hard floors remain clean and odor-free with the Bissell.

It is easy to maneuver around the house. It fits under cabinets, too, despite not being able to lie flat and operating with a bit of noise. I love that it notifies you with a noise and flashing symbol on the LCD screen when you need to empty the dirty water tank, refill the clean water tank, or charge it. I was able to clean my entire home before the 30-minute battery life expired, although the water tank had to be refilled twice at the 14- and 28-minute marks.

For the most part, the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce cleans well. The Turbo mode, however, quickens the process of lifting stubborn messes, such as dried ketchup or chocolate syrup. Sometimes you just need a little more water for tougher stains. The front and edge cleaning left about an inch of space between the vacuum and the wall. I noticed that if you reverse over large debris or something like coffee grounds, they may get stuck behind the wheels.

The self-cleaning system is a major upgrade to the previous Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro I tested. That initial model which required the extra step of manually pouring water into the base, and it was corded. This one was more automatic, it's self-cleaning system wasn't strong enough to completely remove the dirt and debris that clung to the brushroll's long fibers, so hand washing was necessary, followed by letting the brushrolls air dry overnight. It also doesn't have any drying capabilities.

Best for pets

From muddy paw prints to accidents, the Roborock F25 BX fully cleans pet hair, messes, and everyday dirt and debris. The battery lasted for 34 minutes on auto and up to 60 minutes on eco mode. With fantastic edge and front cleaning, it goes within a centimeter of walls for the most thorough cleaning possible. Again, this model was also too thick to reach under the toe kick, but it could lean back flat to go under furniture. Take note that the vacuum doesn’t automatically pause when you lock it upright; in fact, it’ll keep moving if you don’t turn it off.

The dirt detect technology is a game changer for adjusting suction power. Itensures that you don’t miss any hard-to-see dirt, debris, stains, or pet hair. Although it’s not as perfect as I would have liked, since it didn’t indicate that my mudroom floors were dirty, even though I could see dirt on the ground. Max mode yields excellent results on large debris, provided you clean in a forward motion. Coffee grounds and cereal got stuck behind the wheels when we cleaned in reverse. Thankfully, you won’t have to refill the clean water tank constantly. It seems to utilize the water efficiently to the point where I didn’t have to refill it until right before the battery died.

Where the Roborock F25 BX really shines for pet owners is the cleaning system. The self-cleaning system uses hot water that’s heated to 194 degrees to clean the brushroll. I was actually surprised by how clean the brushroll was and that there wasn’t really any dirt, debris, hair, or mess left under the vacuum head after the self-cleaning system was complete. The self-drying system uses hot air to dry the brushroll over the course of about 22 minutes.

Roborock offers several variations of its F25, including the Ace, which introduces an automatic detergent dispenser and app connectivity, or the newest Ultra, which cleans floors with hot water or steam. In our Roborock F25 Ultra review, our tester had never seen her floors look so shiny, thanks to the steam features that cut through grease and erase long-settled stains.

Easiest to clean

We didn't realize the Narwal S20 could get better, but the company has added some helpful features to the S30 Pro. These new features include an improved self-cleaning and drying system, 180-degree flat lying design, auto detergent dispenser, and in-dock auto hair cutting. The S30 Pro came very close to being our overall pick, but there were small things that prevented it from being chosen, like the AI smart function not reading a very dirty area near my back door, and I didn't notice any difference in the water output between AI smart mode and wood floor mode.

That aside, the S30 Pro features five modes (max, AI smart, suction, quiet, and wood floor modes), a battery that lasts 31 minutes, and the ability to easily pick up all sizes of debris and wet messes, thanks to its dirt and stain detecting technology. This wet-dry vacuum cleans most anything in one pass — (dried ketchup took two passes). Where it shines is with front and edge cleaning, as it cleans within one centimeter of an edge. Amazingly, I didn't have to refill the clean water tank until right before the battery died.

This lightweight wet-dry vacuum easily moves around the house and reaches far under furniture, such as beds, with its lie-flat design. The suction increases when it recognizes that the vacuum is tilted to 180 degrees, ensuring better cleaning in hard-to-reach spaces. The vacuum head doesn't clear under kitchen cabinets sideways, but it slightly fits under the cabinet if approached from the front. To use Max Mode, you have to grip the trigger, a design element the Narwal S20 also features. It would be a lot easier if you could adjust to max mode with a button rather than have to hold the trigger constantly, but this is likely to conserve battery.

The Narwal S30 Pro outperforms other wet-dry vacuums. For one, as you clean, the S30 Pro pushes clean water through the brush and automatically dispenses detergent so the brushroll isn't dirty as you clean your house. When setting the wet-dry vacuum back on the base, the built-in scissors cut any hair that might have tangled on the brush. It's quite fun to watch.

The Narwal S30 Pro uses hot water and detergent to clean the brushroll and vacuum head as part of the self-cleaning system. It then dries the brushroll at 194 degrees. When complete, the brushroll is very clean and dry. However, my favorite feature is a waste separation bag that clips into the dirty water tank to catch all of the solid waste, making it easy to remove before emptying the dirty water in the sink, as opposed to the standard built-in debris catcher. It works incredibly well and limits my contact with debris, but unfortunately, the bags are not reusable. The S30 Pro comes with 10 bags, and a refill pack of 30 costs $20.

Read our full Narwal S20 Pro Vacuum Mop review.

Best for large homes

I was blown away by the Tineco Floor One S9 Artist Pro wet-dry vacuum's long battery life, quick recharging, and flash drying system. The design — inspired by the Aurora Borealis — makes it a standout among wet-dry vacuums, thanks to its aesthetics alone.

If you're willing to splurge or have a large home that requires extended cleaning sessions, the S9 is worth every penny. The S9 lasted an impressive 58 minutes on auto mode, which is about twice as long as most wet-dry vacuums. It even recharges faster than most in only three hours. The larger water tank also ensured I didn't have to refill the clean water tank until the 37-minute mark or empty the dirty water tank until I cleaned for 47 minutes. This wet-dry vacuum maximizes the clean water tank efficiently, and trust me when I say that it does a fantastic job at pulling up unseen dirt, debris, spills, and stains with its dirt-detecting capabilities. Whenever I emptied the dirty water tank, there was always a thick amount of sludge at the bottom, indicating that nothing was left unseen on my floors.

The S9 Artist Pro glides easily with self-propelling technology and can also lie flat to reach under furniture easily. If only the vacuum head weren't so thick, which prevented it from fitting under my kitchen cabinet. Interestingly, the body of the wet-dry vacuum has a 90-degree swivel design, allowing me to twist around furniture as I cleaned. You'll typically only need one pass to pick up any type of wet or dry mess. A rubber scraper, which acts as a squeegee, in the floor head aids in a streak-free clean and picking up all manners of mess, while dual-edge cleaning ensures that there are no gaps between the sides of the vacuum and a wall or piece of furniture. I also didn't detect any space between the front edge of the vacuum and a wall when vacuuming straight on. If all that wasn't enough, dual-layer scrapers prevent hair from tangling around the brush and causing any clogs or interruption in your cleaning.

The self-cleaning system is quick and efficient, utilizing water heated to 185 degrees to clean the brushroll and 185-degree hot air to dry it. The self-drying system is loud, but it only lasts five minutes and leaves the brushroll completely dry.

Best lightweight

At about 8.5 pounds, the Shark HydroVac Messmaster Cordless wet-dry vacuum is the lightest model we tested. It's easy to maneuver around your home, and with LED lights, you can clean better in low-lit areas. You'll find both of these positive features helpful when using this wet-dry vacuum, especially since the Shark HydroVac Messmaster doesn't have a dirt detection system and the battery lasts only 25 minutes. It should be noted that I wasn't quite able to clean my 1,600-square-foot house in 25 minutes and that the clean water tank ran out at the 12-minute mark, making this better suited for smaller homes. At least I was able to recharge the battery enough within 30 minutes to finish cleaning my house.

You can also use it on hard floors and area rugs. When testing the vacuum on my rugs, it didn't leave behind a lot of water, which makes me inclined to believe that it'll only lightly wash your rugs. For a deeper clean, you'll have to go with the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 or a heavy-duty carpet cleaner.

Cleaning performance was OK, but often required multiple passes. It aptly vacuumed and mopped away debris like leaves, hair, soda, and some bits of cereal on any floor type, but it struggled to clean thicker substances like barbecue sauce, syrup, and dried ketchup from hard floors. I had to go over these substances multiple times so there wouldn't be any leftover residue. I should note that coffee and larger debris like cereal often got caught behind the wheels when vacuuming backward.

The self-cleaning system is basic, but functional. There is a debris catcher within the dirty water tank, and even though it doesn't catch everything, it does catch most of the debris. A cleaning brush would've made it easier to clean the debris catcher, but one was not provided. At this price point, it has no self-drying features.

Safe on carpets

The Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 can be used on hard floors and rugs which makes it particularly versatile. Although it doesn't come with a cleaning solution, this self-propelled wet-dry vacuum has the right kind of water output that doesn't soak your hard floors or your rugs — even when you're in Max mode. You can always use the extra water trigger if you need more water.

The edge cleaning is phenomenal, and the Ecowell Lulu picks up debris just as well going forward as it does backward on all types of floors. To be clear, when used on area rugs, this wet-dry vacuum suctions debris at the same time that it cleans the rug with water. Performance-wise, the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 picked up debris of all sizes with one or two passes on any floor type. Viscous substances took two to three passes, while liquids took one pass for the wet-dry vacuum to suction it up.

I wish the machine turned off when stood upright and that it had the capability to lean further back so it could reach more areas under beds and shelves. The battery lasted about 30 minutes, and I still had a little bit of water left in the tank by the time the battery died. The Ecowell Lulu has both a self-cleaning system and a self-drying system, the latter of which is a feature typically found on pricier models. You'll have to press two separate buttons at the same time to start them up. Overall, we believe you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05.

Best robot

For hand-free cleaning, I recommend splurging on a do-it-all device that requires minimal maintenance on your part, like the best robot vacuum and mop. The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro not only automatically vacuum and mops, but can clean and dry the mopping pads so you only need to check in on on the vacuum periodically.

It's an excellent scrubber, uses a single mopping pad that shifts back and forth, using pressure to scrub up spills and stains. It was also very thorough at spot-cleaning, spinning as needed to approach the mess at all angles. As a vacuum, it's also top-notch, having no problem picking up crushed cereal to flour, offering some of the best corner cleaning our tester had seen. The process is very automatic, with technologies that detect the floor type and how much dirt is present to adjusts suction and mopping pressure accordingly. While some other vacuums let you tinker with settings to adjust water flow or pressure, the Shark PowerDetect aims to streamline the settings, especially when the amount of customization can start to feel overwhelming.

The robot also has useful design features, like if you only want to vacuum, it'll leave the mopping portion behind at the base, and lifts adequately to avoid accidentally wetting carpets.

After robot completes cleaning, the base station will wash the mop pad and then dry it with cool air. The base station can also hold up to 60 days worth of debris. The process is pretty hands-off, but between emptying into the base station, and the general cleaning of the mop pad, there is a bit of commotion, perhaps making it ideal to run at night or when you're away from home. The robot's lidar technology makes it easy for the vacuum to navigate the home in the dark; it's also useful for navigating around obstacles and furniture.

On first run, the Shark will also map your home and then in the accompanying app you you can label rooms, set no-go zones, and schedule the cleanings, including whether you want the robot to vacuum or mop and which rooms to clean.

Read our full Shark PowertDetect 2-in-1 robot vacuum review.

What else we tested

What we recommend

• Tineco Floor One S5: The Tineco Floor One S5 is the more affordable counterpart of the Tineco Floor One S7 — about $200 less. It has many of the same features, including a dirt detection system, voice assistant, app connectivity, and a self-cleaning cycle. The LCD screen may not be as high-tech as the S7 Pro, and the S5 lacks a self-drying system, but it cleans just as well.
• Dyson WashG1: Dyson's first dedicated floor washing cleaner arrived to lots of fanfare, and yes, it cleans like a dream. It functions less like a vacuum as it does not have suction, and more-so a powered mop with the ability to separate out dry debris. It sports a distinct design with a highly maneuverable dual-brushroll cleanerhead that effectively scrubs up stuck on grime. However, its self-cleaning system and intensive aftercare made us question if its truly worth the $800 price tag. Read our full Dyson WashG1 review.
• Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: The Tineco Floor One S7 Pro is still one of Tineco's greatest wet-dry vacuums thanks to the LCD screen with an animated assistant, four cleaning modes, sensor technologies that can recognize dirt and stains on the floor, automatically increasing the suction when necessary, and LED headlights that illuminate the floor in front of you. The 40-minute battery life is no joke either. It was edged out by the Stretch Ultra model, which can lie flat and introduces heated self-drying. Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro Review.
• Electrolux 2-in-1 Standard: The Electrolux 2-in-1 Standard Wet and Dry Vacuum can uniquely convert into a handheld vacuum, allowing you to clean up quick messes on your couch or in your car without reaching for another device. The Electrolux performed pretty well cleaning our house, but when it came to big messes like coffee, cereal, or egg spills, the wet-dry vacuum appeared to suction everything up, and yet minutes later, such messes would fall off the brushroll and need to be cleaned once again. It has fantastic front and edge cleaning and a decent self-cleaning and drying system.
• Narwal S20 Pro: The Narwal S20 is a favorite, only bested by its successor, the Narwal S30 Pro. The Narwal S20 cleans floors extremely well, thanks to its dirt detect technology and five cleaning modes. Not to mention, it can lie completely flat, boasts a 37-minute battery life, and has a self-cleaning and drying system that works great. Read our Narwal S20 Pro Vacuum Mop review.
• Dreame H15 Pro Carpetflex: I had high hopes for the Dreame H15 Pro Carpetflex, which has a hard floor cleaner brushroll and a separate vacuum-only design to swap in for cleaning carpets, but the suction level wasn't strong enough to make a meaningful impact on my rugs. The self-cleaning and drying system is as impressive as the dirt detect technology. The vacuum will automatically adjust the suction when it recognizes dirt, debris, or a mess on the ground. Oddly, it didn't pick up thicker liquids, such as barbecue sauce, very well and struggled with extra-large debris. The front edge cleaning is also less than impressive, in that it is only able to clean within 1.5 inches of a wall.
• Dreame H12 Pro Wet Dry Vac Mop: Even with favorable features like a dirt detect system and a great battery life of 40 minutes, the Dreame H12 Pro Wet Dry Vac Mop does an average job of cleaning of messes and generally requires users to fill up the clean water tank 2-3 times in one session. At least it excels in reverse cleaning and is well-priced. I've seen it priced as low as $199.
• HiZero Bionic Floor Cleaner: The HiZero Bionic Floor Cleaner is a futuristic-looking wet-dry vacuum that stands out for its spongy polymer roller that 'licks up' dirt, debris, liquids and solids. Not to mention, HiZero puts dirt and debris into its own trash bin separate from the dirty water tank, which makes clean up a lot easier.
• Narwal Freo X Ultra: The Narwal is another powerhouse of a mopping robot with a fully automatic cleaning system with heated cleaning and a disinfecting setting, but be prepared to shell out. It's scrubbing and mopping performance was impressive, with the ability to detect extra dirty spots and give them another clean. When vacuuming, it had no trouble picking up debris and made satisfying vacuuming lines in the carpet. However, its corner and edge cleaning needed some attention. It's also one of the quietist robovacs we've used, and despite having a base station, it utilizes a compacting dust system that remains on the robot instead of loudly transferring to the base. Read our full Narwal x Freo Ultra review.
• Roborock Saros 10R: Part of Roborocks latest flagship Saros cleaning series, the Saros 10R is an autonomous and effective robotic option with spinning mop pads. It has an eye-watering $1,600 price tag to match all the bells and whistles you could ever want out of a robot vacuum and mop (like hot water cleaning and warm air drying), plus the ability for the mop to lift off and stay at the dock when cleaning carpets. Read our full Roborock Saros 10R review.
• Roborock Q Revo Series QV 35A: Roborock's mid-range Q Revo Series is a great mid-range robot vacuum and mop, especially when found on sale. It has a lower rated suction power than many of today's top models, but it's still a rockstar at vacuuming and mopping, and seemed to get smarter and more efficient with each use. Read our Roborock Q Revo review.

What we don't recommend

• Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac:We previously recommended this corded Crosswave Pet Pro as a great option for pets, but we feel you can get better cleaning performance and enhanced self-cleaning from other Bissell vacs at a similar price and competitors like Shark (our lightweight pick). While you can control how much water and solution you want to use on hard floors or rugs with a trigger, less is more with this wet-dry vacuum because it doesn’t do that well with suctioning water. The pet hair strainer is nice, but the process for cleaning this wet-dry vacuum is more hands-on than we’d like.
• Hoover Streamline Hard Floor Wet Dry Vacuum with Hand Vacuum: Despite being one of the simpler wet-dry vacuums we tested, this Hoover is priced higher than we expected. Not only is it corded, and you have to hold the water trigger the entire time you clean, but you'll likely have to empty the dirty water tank multiple times in one session.
• Black + Decker Wet Dry Vacuum: The Black + Decker Wet Dry Vacuum is a budget buy that doesn't quite live up to what you expect from the brand. Despite cleaning most debris and substances well (besides dried substances like ketchup), the product is clunky, difficult to maneuver, and has poor edge cleaning.

What to look for when choosing a wet-dry vacuum

Multiple cleaning modes: The first thing you want to look for when buying a wet-dry vacuum is what kind of flooring it is designed to clean. Most can be used on any kind of hard flooring, though some may have settings designed for wood flooring. Some can be used on rugs, which is a great bonus. From there, check to see if the wet-dry vacuum is outfitted with different cleaning modes, like a max or boost mode, that allows more water and power output for a deeper clean. Some wet-dry vacuums have eco modes that save battery. In particular, you'll want a wet-dry vacuum that has the ability to suction liquid off the floor.

Power source: While most wet-dry vacuums are battery-powered, some are still corded. Ask yourself if an unlimited power source is most important to you or if you don't want the hassle of a cord. Look into how long the power cord is, and if it's battery-powered, the battery runtime. Be wary of brands that don't provide a battery runtime, as it generally indicates it's on the lower end.

Edge cleaning capabilities: How well a wet-dry vacuum can clean along the edges of the vacuum head is important. During our testing, we noticed that some vacuum heads leave a dry strip of floor half an inch or a full inch between the front of a vacuum head and the wall. Alternatively, if you went along the wall with the side of the vacuum and utilized edge cleaning, that dry strip of flooring might only be a centimeter in width. This is why edge cleaning is such an important element of a wet-dry vacuum. Otherwise, you'd be pulling out your mop to get those tight corners.

Self-cleaning systems: It may seem like all wet-dry vacuums have a self-cleaning system, but some are better than others. The latest trend in these systems is hot water washing and hot air drying of the brushroll in the self-cleaning modes. This is still pretty expensive, with our more budget options typically using ambient water temperatures to clean the pipes and the brushroll and then removing the brushroll once complete to lit it air dry. Also, look for wet-dry vacuums that separate dirt and debris completely from the dirty water tank, like the Narwal S30 Pro, which filters dry debris through its own disposable container, and makes handling the cleanup process easier. Just remember that no matter the wet-dry vacuum, even if it has a self-cleaning and self-drying system, you'll need to promptly empty the dirty water tank, double check to make sure there isn't hair or dust stuck on the brush roll or in the vacuum head (there usually is), clean the air filter, and let the brush roll and air filter air dry for a whole day to avoid mildew growth.

Dirt-detect features: No matter if the wet-dry vacuum has an LED headlight or not, it can still be hard to detect dirt or stains on a floor. This is why wet-dry vacuums with dirt-detecting sensors are the most ideal, but they are a sophisticated feature that costs a premium. Such wet-dry vacuums not only increase the suction or scrubbing when the floor is particularly dirty, but they'll also inform you — usually by colored lights on a digital or LCD display — that the floor is either clean or dirty and requires a few more passes of the vacuum or more water output to clean a stain.

The below table highlights some the various specs and features of our top picks of the best wet-dry vacuum

How we tested the best wet-dry vacuums

I tested 24 wet-dry vacuums over the course of three testing cycles in my house, my parent's house, and even my brother's home so that I could try them out on various floor types, including tile, laminate flooring, rugs, and a mix of modern and historic hardwood flooring. I evaluated them according to the parameters detailed below. In addition to my own personal testing experience, I also received feedback from Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, about what to look for in wet-dry vacuums and how to best use and take care of them.

Vacuuming and mopping ability: We tested each wet-dry vacuum for how well they picked up debris going forward and backward and along the front and edges of the vacuum head on different hard floor surfaces and rugs (if they could be used on rugs). Each wet-dry vacuum was used to clean various items or liquids like ketchup, mustard, cereal, hair, coffee grounds, and liquids. We paid special attention to how many passes it took to clean something off a floor, the suction capability, and the water output.

Battery runtime: Just because a brand says its product has a certain battery runtime doesn't mean that the battery will last that long. With each wet-dry vacuum, we monitored the battery runtime when it was used in the regular auto mode. Through subsequent uses, we also got a feel for how well the battery did on max or eco modes and kept that in mind when writing this guide.

Water tank capacity: Wet-dry vacuums have separate clean and dirty water tanks. According to Mock, it was imperative to test their capacity. "Larger [dirty water] tanks hold more liquid and debris, reducing the frequency of how many times you may have to empty the tank," she said. Not only did we pay attention to how quickly the dirty water tank filled up, but we also took note of how many times we had to refill the clean water tank. While it's not too big of a hassle to empty dirty tanks or refill clean ones, they do interrupt the cleaning process. Dirty water tanks that fill too quickly could also indicate an excessive water output or some other issue with the machine.

Comfort and ease of use: A cleaning tool should be easy and comfortable to use, which is why this was an important feature to consider during testing. We compared wet-dry vacuums that had self-propulsion features and those that didn't, as well as paid attention to the way the vacuum heads swiveled, the smoothness of the wheels, grip, etc. Some were outfitted with apps or voice assistants that could make the wet-dry vacuums easier to use. We made sure that the technology wasn't too complicated for the average user to figure out.

Clean-up and maintenance: Perhaps the biggest drawback to wet-dry vacuums is the clean-up and maintenance they require — even those with self-cleaning and self-drying features. That said, some wet-dry vacuums have designs that make the process easier or at least less gross. We also determined whether the self-cleaning and self-drying features were efficient or not. Heated air drying and hot water washing is also becoming more common and more affordable; it's also more hygienic. Mock reminds us: "If not regularly cleaned, the vac can have a build-up of dirt, debris, etc. which can lead to poorer performance, unpleasant odors, and affect the overall effectiveness of the vac. All this can lead to a shorter lifespan of the wet-dry vacuum."

Wet-dry vacuum FAQS

Can a wet-dry vacuum replace my vacuum?

According to Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, "Wet/dry vacs and mops are all better suited to clean hard floors, while vacuuming is better suited for rugs or carpets. If it's just a quick clean-up, then wet/dry vacs are better since they combine the functionality of both vacuuming and mopping."

Some wet-dry vacuums can be used on low-pile rugs, but most of them can't be used on carpets. So, if you have carpet, you'll absolutely need to keep a vacuum on hand. Vacuums are also multi-functional and can be used to clean cobwebs from the ceiling or used as a hand vacuum to clean messes on your couch. They're also perfect for cleaning up debris quickly, compared to a wet-dry vacuum that takes time to set up and use.

Do vacuum mops actually work?

As surprising as it may seem, vacuum mops can vacuum and mop simultaneously, thereby cutting your house cleaning time down considerably. Some have more features than others that can assist with cleaning more efficiently, easily, or quickly.

Can I use detergent or a cleaning solution with my vac-mop?

Most of the vac-mops we tested come with a small bottle of cleaning solution. Typically, only a small amount of cleaning solution should be added to the water, such as a cap full. Some vac-mops have lines on the clean water container that showcase how much cleaning solution to add. It is not advised to use cleaning detergent or a solution that is not recommended by the vac-mop company itself. You don't necessarily need to use a cleaning solution to clean your house with vac-mops every single time. Water is sufficient to clean your floors, especially hardwood.

Is a wet-dry vacuum better than a mop?

It's hard to say if a wet-dry vacuum is better than a mop — it's just different. With a mop, you have to expend a lot more energy and strength to remove stains on the floor. With a wet-dry vacuum, it does the work for you. Some, in fact, have ultra or max modes that expel more water and solution to help break down a tough stain. As Mock suggests, look for wet-dry vacuums with "higher wattage or horsepower, [as it] generally indicates better performances when dealing with wet messes."

That said, she advises folks not to get rid of their mop, as she believes it can provide a deeper clean than a wet-dry vacuum. "For a more thorough cleaning, vacuuming first and then using a mop can be more effective since vacuuming removes debris and dirt, and a mop can focus on removing stains and grime," she explains.

Now to be clear, wet-dry robot vacuums aren't going to give you as deep of a mopping experience as a regular wet-dry vacuum, but they'll keep your house fairly clean between deep cleaning sessions.

Are wet-dry vacuums safe to use on hardwood floors?

Yes, you can use wet-dry vacuums on hardwood floors as long as they're sealed. Some wet-dry vacuums have more water output than others, but among the ones we tested, the water output is not too significant to cause concern. That said, you don't need to mop your hardwood floors more than once a week. Always check to see that the wheels don't cause any scratches on your hardwood floors. That did not occur with any of the wet-dry vacuums we tested. However, we did find some wheels glided more smoothly on our hardwood floors than others, like the rubber wheels on the Tineco S7 Pro. Lastly, some cleaning solutions could damage your hardwood floors over time, so it's probably best to use the cleaning solution provided by the wet-dry vacuum only once a month.

Can you use a wet-dry vacuum on carpets?

A wet-dry vacuum will not replace the best carpet cleaners, and we don't recommend using the wet-dry vacuum for cleaning medium and high-pile carpets. There are some models that can be used on low-pile area rugs like the Bissell Crosswave, Shark HydroVac Messmaster, and the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05. They're designed to not soak the rug but rather to use water and cleaning solution to clean the top fibers and suction some of the water into the dirty water tank. Quick pro tip: clean the rugs first before using the wet-dry vacuum on your hard floors to ensure that you're not moving dust and debris from the hard floors to the rugs.

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