7 best wet & dry vacuums to buy in Australia in 2024
Avoid spreading germs while handling wet and dry messes in one go with these vacuum mop combos.
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It feels like only yesterday many of us transitioned from the powerful but literal heavyweight that was the traditional barrel vacuum, switching to a more lightweight and (finally) cordless cleaning solution. Then came robot vacs, a smart hands-free alternative that’s constantly redefining what it means to be a vacuum.
Now, it’s time for wet and dry vacuums to shine. Dust and dry debris aren’t the only things we often find on our floors, and many homes contain a mix of tiles, hard floors, rugs and carpet. So, it makes sense to have a convenient all-in-one gadget that can handle both liquids, solids and anything in between.
Sure, two-in-one robot vacuum and mops exist. But sometimes you can’t beat a stick or barrel vacuum, especially when it comes to corners and hard-to-reach spaces.
Need more inspiration for your next ‘clean-vestment’?
If you've been saving up for a Dyson, now is the perfect time to snag $450 off the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Cordless Vacuum —now $1099 (down from $1549. We tested it ourselves and "haven’t been able to look at a regular mop the same again" after the "satisfying but gross" amount of debris it sucked up. Plus, the vacuum's strong suction power is very impressive.
Another leader in the wet-dry vacs market — Tineco — is also on sale with $140 off the Tineco Floor ONE S3 Smart Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner (now S409, down from $549.99). One shopper says it "cuts my cleaning time in half", while another admitted they didn't realise how dirty their floors were until they "pulled this bad boy out".
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST OVERALL WET DRY VACUUM
Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Cordless Vacuum*, $1095 (down from $1549) at The Good Guys
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine has been hands down one of the best vacuums I’ve used by far, impressing on efficiency, runtime, manoeuvrability and all-round convenience. The Submarine wet roller head was the star of the show and I haven’t been able to look at a regular mop the same again. It handled fresh milk spills and day-old coffee stains (including the coffee puck) so smoothly, although what really impressed me was how simple it was to clean the mop head itself. Dirt on a damp surface, especially in a warm climate, isn’t an ideal combo. But being able to easily maintain the wet roller head made me feel much more at ease about potential cross contamination and bad smells.
When it comes to vacuuming, you can expect the usual Dyson special – powerful suction, three power modes, and a hygienic no-touch bin emptying system.
(Disclaimer: I tested the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Complete, which is essentially the same model but the only difference is that it’s a Dyson exclusive and comes with a few extra accessories including the Fluffy Optic cleaner head.)
Tineco FLOOR ONE Switch S6 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner*, $999 at Amazon Australia
Tineco FLOOR ONE Switch S6 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Tried and Tested by Claudia Coy, news.com.au checkout Social Media Producer
Having already tested its main competitor (the Dyson Wash G1), I was excited to see how the Tineco Floor One Switch 6 measured up. Plus, I knew Tineco was rated ‘Number 1’ on Amazon Australia in the ‘Wet-Dry Vacuums’ category three years in a row, mind you – so the expectation was already high.
My first reaction? You certainly get bang for your buck – the unit is a ‘five-in-one Smart Multi-Function Cleaner’ which basically means it comes with a range of attachments to make it easy to go from cleaning your hard floors to your rugs, to your lounge, to your car seats.
The standout features of the Tineco Floor One Switch 6 are the LED Screen Display which tells you exactly how much battery you have left and which mode you’re in (auto or max). And the iLoop Smart Sensor which basically identifies when there’s extra debris on the floor and it needs to provide a deeper clean.
For the testing phase, I used two raw eggs on my tiles and tested both the ‘auto’ mode and the ‘max’ mode to see how much of a difference there is between the two. Interestingly, both modes needed two passes at the egg before all the residue was gone, however the ‘max’ mode only had a very small amount of yolk to pick up on the second swipe.
While the mop needed a few passes during the testing phase, the pros of this unit (namely: the five-in-one capability, the vacuum light, the different modes to choose from and the ease in which it manoeuvres) were enough to make up for the added seconds it took to swipe again.
BEST WET DRY ROBOT VACUUM AND MOP
Dreame L20 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop*, $2699 at Amazon Australia
Dreame L20 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
The Dreame L20 Ultra is worth investing in if you’re after a true all-rounder. The robot cleaner offers decent vacuuming and mopping functionalities, although the auto-emptying, auto-refilling and self-cleaning docking station makes the appliance stand out. I love how the mop pads are automatically washed and air dried after each task, helping reduce cross-contamination and prevent bad odours. The fact there’s a dedicated slot for a hard floor cleaner between the clean and dirty water tanks is another bonus.
I also really like how the mop juts out to get that extra reach. With most robot vacs being round, corners and sometimes edges aren’t the easiest to sweep and usually need to be done with a stick vacuum afterwards. It’s a handy feature that doesn’t exist on most robot vacs (at least to the extent this model does).
Overall, this Dreame wet and dry robot vacuum really did give an “unbeatable clean”. It also provided probably the best objective avoidance and anti-tangle technologies I’ve experienced, having only needed to pull out cord and a newspaper pullout on the floor – items that would trip any vacuum or broom. This might make the Dreame L20 Ultra the closest to a ‘true’ hands-free robot vacuum and mop (aka a robot cleaner requiring minimal human intervention).
Ecovacs T20 OMNI Robot Vacuum Cleaner,* $1396 at Amazon Australia
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, news.com.au checkout Shopping Writer
Another clever robot vacuum and mop that got my floors seriously shining was the Ecovacs T20 OMNI. Aside from providing great results, what makes this robot vac worth checking out is the level of customisation the app offers.
You can expect a few modes that aren’t widely offered, such as Corner Deep Cleaning, Deep Edge Cleaning and Mop-Only. There’s also a Housekeeper Mode that pays extra attention to rooms prone to extra dust and dirt (an ideal feature if you have a dust mite allergy like me), deep cleans areas that haven’t been cleaned for a while, and automatically changes suction power and water flow to match your habits.
Read our full in-depth review here.
BEST CORDLESS WET DRY VACUUM
Dyson Wash G1
Tried and Tested by Claudia Coy, news.com.au checkout Social Media Producer
The Dyson WashG1 can wash hard floors and pick up dry debris so you can spend less time and effort pre-vacuuming your home.
It also has separate water tanks, including a generous 1L clean water reservoir, to help prevent cross contamination. Plus, there’s a removable debris tray for any dirt and hair.
The wet dry unit from Dyson additionally has two motors, one on each microfibre roller, allowing the cleaner head to clean in both directions. And of course, you can adjust the water flow levels to suit different surface types.
While it is undeniably pricey, the Dyson Wash G1 should be viewed as an investment. It both mops and vacuums, it’s powerful and efficient and – bonus – it vows it won’t produce any unpleasant odour, which can often occur over time with traditional vacs that use suction.
In my opinion, the Dyson Wash G1 is well worth it, the features of this wet and dry vac justify the splurge. It’s easy to manoeuvre, it’s great on tough stains, it separates debris from dirty water and it self-cleans.
Read our full in-depth review here.
Tineco Floor ONE S3 Smart Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner, $409 (down from $548.99) at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
A bestseller on Amazon Australia with more than 8600 five-star reviews, it’s hard to ignore Tineco’s Floor ONE S3 wet dry vacuum. One cool feature is its iLoop sensor, which detects messes and automatically adjusts the suction power and water flow to clean everything in one go. There’s no need to switch cleaner heads, unlike many stick vacs, and you can still enjoy the flexible control robot mop vacs can’t offer.
“I can’t recommend this enough. It works beautifully and is so easy to use. Cuts my cleaning time in half,” a customer raved.
“Absolutely love it. (W)e thought our floors weren’t that dirty until we pulled this bad boy out … It is easy to use, easy to refill (and) the self-clean function is great,” agreed another.
“This machine is FABULOUS because it does both vacuuming and mopping in one step … I also love how it dries so quickly because not a huge amount of water is used. We have a floating floor and the boards can’t be steamed mopped and can’t get too wet,” a third commented, calling the Tineco vacuum a “game changer” and “totally worth it”.
BEST BUDGET WET DRY VACUUM
Bosch Home & Garden 1000W Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner & Blower, $155 at Amazon Australia
Bosch 1000W Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner & Blower
What You Need To Know
Whether you need to handle messes in the living room, patio or garage, this Bosch vacuum cleaner (UniversalVac 15) can handle it all. It even has a universal adaptor that can be connected to Bosch Green DIY Power tools, allowing you to clean up as you go.
Many shoppers love how the Bosch wet and dry vacuum is “thoughtfully designed”, from the convenient on-board storage to the way the appliance can easily suck up dust and dirt in tricky or awkward areas like under the bed.
“Very, very pleased and impressed with this Bosch vacuum!! The features are great! I particularly like the extra long hose – it’s so light and so convenient to use. I can park the vacuum in one spot and reach such a long way (including) up high for cobwebs! I like to use this for bathrooms, laundry etc. where things may be damp/wet…,” raved one Amazon reviewer, rating it five stars.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A WET DRY VACUUM?
Ready to buy a wet and dry vacuum? Here are a few factors we evaluated when choosing our top vacuum mop combos.
Runtime
Longer runtimes (i.e. at least 180 minutes) are great if you have a large house or plan to use the appliance for deep cleaning, while models with a maximum of 60 minutes runtime are better for lighter, daily tasks.
Capacity
The bigger the container, the less frequently you’ll need to empty your dustbin and refill the water tank. Reservoirs smaller than 1L are fine for quick jobs, while more time-consuming and tougher cleans may need at least 2-2.5L.
Filtration
Filtration systems trap dust, debris and moisture which can potentially trigger pollen and dust mite allergies.
Manoeuvrability and portability
The portability of cordless wet and dry vacuums make cleaning more ‘comfortable’, especially since they’re typically more lightweight, but the runtime isn’t always distributed equally between the two functions and choosing stronger settings can shorten the cleaning time by a fair bit. Corded vacuums have less reach but are ideal for large houses and extended periods.
Cleaning solution
Not all wet and dry vacuums can be used with a cleaning solution, particularly robot vacuums, and potentially corrode the appliance from the inside. Many brands also typically require you to use their own brand of floor cleaner to prevent any damage, and not doing so may void your warranty.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE WET AND DRY VACUUMS WORTH IT?
Wet and dry vacuums are a great investment for anyone who wants to cut down their cleaning time, particularly if you regularly vacuum and mop. They’re versatile, more powerful than standard vacuums and can be used outside (depending on the model). If you’re worried about using a dirty mop, wet dry vacuum cleaners also often have washable and removable parts that let you deep clean every nook and cranny.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF WET AND DRY VACUUM CLEANERS?
Noise and size
Wet and dry vacuums are known for being bulky and loud, although there are exceptions. This is partly because they tend to be more powerful than traditional vacuum cleaners.
Need to manually change cleaner heads
Not all wet and dry vacuum cleaners can automatically switch between vacuuming and mopping, which can be inconvenient. Although some reviewers say they prefer to perform these tasks separately for better results, especially for rooms with dried-in debris or areas where the focus is on getting rid of dirt rather than sanitising the floor.
Doesn’t clean carpets like a carpet cleaner
Unless the appliance is specifically designed to work as a carpet cleaner, the ‘wet’ portion of a wet-dry vacuum cleaner functions more like a mop. It’s ideal for surface-level cleaning, not deep cleaning (i.e. removing stains on rugs). It’s why stick wet-dry vacuums like the Tineco Floor ONE S3 Smart Wet Dry Vacuum and robot mop vacs such as the Dreame L20 Ultra automatically stop mopping whenever it detects rugs and carpet.
Might be good at one thing but poor with another
If robot mop vacs taught us anything, it’s that some wet and dry vacs offer great suction power but lack as a mop (or vice versa). This is why we always recommend reading reviews before handing over your cash.
Expensive
While there are budget friendly options, wet and dry vacuums are generally pricier than regular vacuum cleaners.
Get more dirt on how to find the best cleaning appliances for your home with our guides on everything vacuum related, plus articles on best front load washing machines and more. Stay up to date on the latest deals and trends by signing up to our free weekly shopping newsletter, and don’t forget to check out the news.com.au Coupons hub for discounts from your favourite retailers and brands.
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*Product was loaned by Dyson, Dreame, Tineco and ECOVACS for a 100 per cent independent, honest review.
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