If you’ve ever found yourself cleaning your floors and wondering if there was an easier or faster way to vacuum and mop, you’re going to love the latest wet/dry vacuum cleaners. There are a lot of benefits to having this type of vacuum cleaner, and one of the most important is that they let you vacuum, wash your floors, and even clean your area rugs, all with one small appliance.
How does a wet/dry vacuum cleaner work?
It might look just like a regular vacuum cleaner, but there’s no stopping you when you have a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Also known as all-in-one or multi-surface vacuum cleaners, these vacuums will suck up the dirt and dust on your floor, wet mop up the stains and debris on your floor, and or carpet clean your rugs.
Designed with a rotating brush made from materials like microfiber and nylon, they can pick up any dry dirt on your floor before switching to scrubbing and mopping. These vacuum cleaners also have tanks to hold cleaning solutions and dirty water, offer swivel steering, and give you fingertip control so you can easily switch tasks.
Who are wet/dry vacuums for?
It’s the same story for everyone—you only have so much time to clean your floors, so you quickly take a vacuum cleaner and run it over the surface to pick up the dirt and debris. The problem? Your floors won’t be as clean as they could be if you also had the time to mop.
A wet/dry vacuum is a perfect choice for anyone who’d like a powerful vacuum cleaner that has the option for mopping. You can use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner after breakfast when your kids spill milk, juice, or cereal on the floor. Instead of wiping the spot and hoping it’s not too sticky, your vacuum cleaner will mop up the area. Wet/dry vacuum cleaners are also a great option for anyone who has a lot of area rugs in their home too. If the spill was on an area rug, it will clean the carpet too.
Benefits of having a wet/dry vacuum cleaner
More and more homes have a mix of flooring including hardwood, laminate, and carpet. Because these blends of flooring are so common, every homeowner can enjoy the benefits of an all-in-one vacuum cleaner.
1. They save you time
One of the biggest benefits of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner is how it helps you clean faster. You don’t have to pull out your vacuum, vacuum your floors, and then go back over the same section of floor to mop it. With an all-in-one vacuum, you can just tap on the handle and you can switch between both tasks.
2. Cordless vacuums let you clean every area of your home
Having a cordless wet/dry vacuum means you won’t be tethered to a power outlet when cleaning. They have rechargeable batteries that will let you clean for 1/2 hour or longer. You can vacuum the stairs in your entry way and reach every step. If the floor is dirty you can vacuum and then switch to mopping so your stairs will sparkle.
3. They are lightweight
With a wet/dry vacuum you can easily clean your floors and area rugs without having to lift a heavy appliance. These types of vacuums are sleek and slender powerhouses, and some weigh less than a standard canister vacuum cleaner.
4. You can clean smarter
Some types of wet/dry vacuum have Wi-Fi built-in and connect to a companion app. You can use the app to access cleaning tips, set maintenance reminders, and monitor your cleaning performance.
What surfaces can you use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner on?
A wet/dry vacuum cleaner is the perfect vacuum for homes both large and small. You can safely use one on sealed hardwood, laminate, tile, carpet, rugs, linoleum, rubber floor mats, or pressed wood floors.
Because they are also a low-flow carpet cleaner, you can safely use them on your area rugs without soaking through to your wood floor underneath.
What to consider before choosing a wet/dry vacuum cleaner
There are a few things you’ll want to consider before choosing the best type of wet/dry vacuum cleaner for you.
Power
How powerful do you need your vacuum to be? Most powerful wet/dry vacuums have a minimum of 6 HP motor. If you need to clean large areas or a large home, you may find a corded type will be more powerful than a cordless option.
Tank capacity
The capacity of your tank will affect how long you can clean without stopping to empty the tank or refill the cleaning solution. If you plan to clean a large home with a lot of area carpets, you’ll want to look for model with a larger capacity tank.
Do you need a HEPA filter?
Cleaning can release allergens into your home’s air. Some wet/dry vacuum cleaners have a HEPA filter built-in. This filter will reduce any distribution of dust or other allergens you may stir up while cleaning.
Maintaining your wet/dry vacuum cleaner
It’s not difficult to keep this type of vacuum cleaner in tip-top shape. Every time you use your cleaner you should empty out the dirty water and cleaning solution reservoirs. If possible, remove all excess debris from the rotating brush, and ensure there are no plugs in the hoses leading to the water reservoirs.
Choose the best wet/dry vacuum cleaner for you
A wet/dry vacuum cleaner is one of the best ways to save time cleaning your home. You can move from vacuum to mop with one appliance and have clean floors in no time. Take a look at the great selection of wet/dry vacuum cleaners at Best Buy.
