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Regular vacuums can handle a limited amount of dry materials like dust, crumbs, dirt and debris. But when things get messy involving liquids and sticky spills, that’s where a wet/dry vacuum really comes in the clutch for deep cleaning. These are not only a step up from some robot vacuums in terms of what they can handle, but also include cutting-edge new tech features too, keeping your home connected while cleaning. Here, we’ve picked some of the best wet/dry vacuums for cleaning any space.
What Are the Best Wet/Dry Vacuums?
For the really excessively stubborn stuff, like bubblegum or dried glue, that’ll still require old-school elbow grease. But for the majority of messes, these wet/dry vacuum options really clean up.
Storage: Especially in a small apartment or garage, space is everything. A vac that can quickly fold up and hide away in a corner or under a bed not only saves space, but is also easy to grab at a moment’s notice when a mess appears. Most include some type of dock, where it can clean itself with just a tank of fresh water, and have the brush ready for your next job.
Noise: Vacuums require a powerful engine to generate the suction needed, and the result is usually pretty loud. While this might not be bad with noise-cancelling earbuds in, other people in the house (as well as adjacent neighbors) may not appreciate the 3 a.m. cleaning spree. Luckily reduced noise options have gotten better in recent years thanks to improved tech and a more efficient internal cleaning process.
Assembly: Setting up your vacuum the first time, even if it’s confusing, isn’t so bad as long as it’s a one-time thing. But if you’ll need to take it apart regularly to empty out the tank or change the filter, that’s when putting it back together can be a pain if things don’t line up or click in properly.
Weight: Some of the super-powerful shop vacs aren’t really made with weight in mind, since they’ll mostly be staying in one spot. But if you’ll be using this all around the house, you’ll need something that can be easily carried from room to room.
Surfaces: Take a quick look at the surfaces in your home and make sure the vac you’re eyeing can handle them. Generally common surfaces like tile floors, marble and wood won’t leave marks behind, but it’s always best to check before purchasing.
Damage: These inevitably will be slammed into tight corners and baseboards to catch crumbs and other messes, so durability is non-negotiable. A vac that gets damaged or misaligned with regular usage isn’t going to cut it for the long run, and this is a purchase that should last you years at the very least.
Emptying: With traditional vacs, dumping out the dust is a messy job, creating a cough-inducing cloud and re-circulating the vacuumed particles right back into the air. These vacs can offer perks like self-cleaning, and separating the dirty water into its own tank for easy emptying down the drain (toilet is best, since it’s the widest), keeping the nastiness factor to a minimum.
Attachments: Most vacs will include at least a few of these, and while they may seem like unnecessary extras, they can absolutely come in handy depending on the job. For awkward places and hard-to-reach heights, it’s a huge help, and a powerful suction brush tool is particularly perfect for pet hair.
Cord vs. Cordless: A cordless vacuum is a great machine for cleaning, never worrying about untangling or running out of slack ever again. But the advantage of a plugged-in cord is unlimited run time, which is often better for bigger houses that cover more ground than a cordless might offer.
Liquid Cleaning Solution: Generally, brands have their own cleaning solutions designed for use with their vacuums. And while it may sound like one more thing to worry about adding to your shopping list, most connected vacs can automatically order more when it gets low. Some can work with just water, using steam to power through stains and avoiding the chemicals altogether.
