As a fan of cordless and robot vacuums, full-sized corded cylinder vacuums feel quite novel to me. Dyson clearly thinks there's still a place for one, too, as the new Big Ball keeps the self-righting ball design, 700W motor, and Harlequin finish borrowed from the DC01 De Stijl (the special edition of Dyson's very first bagless). So, I wanted to test it myself and see if this old-school reimagining could compete with the best Dyson vacuums.

On paper, it's for anyone who wants to clean the whole house in one go, without a battery running down or a small bin to empty halfway through. If you have a big house, carpeted stairs and a pet that sheds year-round, I'd see it as a fair proposition. In my case, though, cleaning performance matters more than any promise of convenience.

In a nutshell

On my first pass over my rugs, the Big Ball made a convincing case for itself: it lifted fine dust my robot vacuum had left behind the day before, and the Motorbar's hair-removal vanes kept the brush bar clear of hair (human and animal) throughout testing.

It also asks very little of you once it's set up - a nice change from even the best vacuum cleaners on the market. There's no filter to wash, no bags to buy, and no battery to wear out. So, beyond the occasional brush bar, it costs almost nothing to run, and the five-year guarantee is more than double what Dyson offers on its cordless range.

The trouble is space, and getting around with it. It's a big, heavy machine that wobbles and tilts as you tug it from room to room, and the wand doesn't park on the body, so in my small flat it spent most of its time leaning against the wall rather than tucked away.

If you've got a cupboard big enough to swallow it, more rugs and carpet than hard floors, and don't mind unplugging and re-plugging it every so often, that'll be much less of an issue. For smaller houses like mine, though, I do think you'll struggle to give it a proper, convenient home.

Specifications

• Motor: 700W
• Suction power: 135AW (Air Watts) in 'Powerful' mode
• Cord length: 6.6m
• Total reach: 10m
• Bin capacity: 1.6L
• Filter type: Captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, no filter to wash
• Weight: 7.9kg
• Dimensions: H114.5 x L40 x W25cm
• In the box: Motorbar cleaner head, crevice tool, brush tool, wand storage clip
• Guarantee: Five years

Meet the tester

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Big Ball comes in a mostly cardboard box with dividers to keep the body, hose, and tools in place. It's heavy, but manageable for one person to carry. The body and hose are still in their plastic wrap, and there's a fair bit of foam in the bin, so there's still more plastic than I'd like.

Assembly is as simple as clicking the hose into the body, the wand into the hose, and the Motorbar onto the end of the wand. It took me about three minutes to open the box and plug it in, and I didn't even need to refer to the instructions until afterwards.

Everything fits together perfectly, and the unit feels really solid. The only bit that took some fiddling was realising the spare tools are on the wand clip, not the body.

It's difficult to talk about the Big Ball without starting with the colour. The Harlequin scheme (red cyclones, yellow bin shroud, blue-and-red ball) is a deliberate nod to the past, and it stands out beautifully against my boring grey hallway. I suspect it'll split opinion between those who remember the DC01 fondly and those who'd rather their vacuum wasn't so flashy. I'm firmly in the first camp.

The body sits on a large ball rather than wheels, with an extremely low centre of gravity. Dyson says this lets it steer around furniture much more easily and right itself if it tips over. A clear carry handle sits above the bin with a red release button, and the wand handle articulates a full 360 degrees so you can reach under furniture.

Using the Dyson Big Ball

Debris test

Before using it for everyday dirt, I put the Big Ball through Ideal Home's debris test, scattering flour, rice and crushed cereal across the vinyl in my kitchen. The flour and rice disappeared in a single pass, with nothing left behind in the gaps between tiles. Cereal was a different story.

The larger pieces took several passes to clear, and the Motorbar pushed some ahead of the head and out to the sides before finally picking them up. This was slightly disappointing, and I expected a little more, but it's important to note this model's suction power: 135AW in 'Powerful' mode.

This level of suction is typically associated with lighter cleaning rather than deep cleaning, and is around the same as the brand's budget-friendly cordless Dyson V8 Cyclone. And it delivers only a fraction of the 315AW power of their most powerful Dyson V16 Piston Animal. So, that's something to consider if you regularly have larger debris to vacuum up.

Everyday cleaning

Most of my flat is laminate (vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom), so the vacuum did most of its work on hard floors. The Motorbar picked up fine dust, crumbs, and the grit my cat tracks in from the patio without issue, and it didn't leave any marks on the laminate, though the brush bar is much noisier on hard floors than on rugs. It's a lot of machine for a flat floor, though, and I'm not convinced all that power adds much over a decent cordless when the dirt is just sitting on the surface.

Rugs are where the Big Ball really earns its keep. The suction was more than enough for my home, and on my mixed-pile rugs it pulled up noticeably more dust and dirt than my robot manages, including from rugs I'd vacuumed the day before. There's only one power setting, though, so you can't dial it back, and you may end up taking a rug that isn't anchored by furniture with you.

Pet hair

Jet (my all-black cat) is the real test of any vacuum in the house, and Dyson makes a pretty strong claim here. The Motorbar head has polycarbonate hair-removal vanes designed to remove hair from the brush bar as you clean, rather than leaving you to cut it free with scissors.

After cleaning, the brush bar was completely clear, with just a few short strands caught in the end caps. Human hair is a different ball game, of course, but compared to other vacuum tests I’ve done, this was quite miraculous.

Manoeuvrability, cord length and reach

Moving the Big Ball around my flat was a lot more awkward than I expected. The ball is meant to roll behind you, but in practice it wobbles and tilts every time you tug the hose, and while it never quite fell over, it leaned far enough, and often enough, that I had to stop what I was doing to set it straight.

The hose also caught on a couple of furniture legs when I changed direction sharply. It's fine to carry the body between rooms in a flat, but at 7.9kg I'd think twice about hauling it up a full flight of stairs every week.

Being corded, the Big Ball also needed two socket changes to get round my one-bedroom flat, which gives you a fair idea of how it would scale in a larger property with its 6.6m cable.

Noise

Dyson routes the power to the cleaner head through the hose rather than a separate cable, which they claim gives better pick-up with less noise. I measured 60.8dB, which is loud, though not outrageous. I could still listen to a podcast through headphones, just not through a speaker in the next room.

Using the attachments

Alongside the Motorbar, the Big Ball comes with a crevice tool and a brush tool, both of which clip onto the wand via the included storage clip, so they go round with you rather than sitting in a drawer. Switching between them is a one-click job, and I liked not having to go back to the body every time.

The corner by the cat flap is my benchmark for every vacuum, as it's a perfect mixture of dust, hair and mystery debris. The Motorbar cleaned right up to the skirting boards, leaving only a thin line of dust that the crevice tool cleared in seconds. The brush tool also did a great job on the sofa, and I'd expect most households to reach for both regularly.

Cleaning and maintenance

This is where the Big Ball really shines. Earlier Big Ball models (Animal 2, for instance) had a washable filter, but Dyson says the cyclones on this model separate dust so effectively that you don't need a filter at all (so nothing to wash or replace).

And because it's bagless, you don't even have to buy bags. In terms of actual out-of-pocket cost, that's massive. There's no battery to wear out, and the only component I'd expect to need replacing in the medium term is the brush bar.

Emptying the bin is supposed to be a button press, so you don't have to touch anything icky. In practice, the pictorial instructions for releasing the bin didn’t work despite about five minutes of trying, so I found the hidden latch and used my fingernail to push it down. After that, it took two hands and good aim, but the dust and debris emptied into the kitchen bin without too much trouble.

Storage is the bigger problem. The wand doesn't park on the body, so mine ended up leaning precariously against the wall when I wasn't using it, the ball at its feet, taking up a patch of floor about the size of a dining chair. People like stick vacuums for a reason, and it's never clearer than when you're trying to wrestle a unit and hose into a boiler cupboard.

How does it compare to similar models?

The trade-off with the Dyson cordless range is straightforward. You lose the freedom of cordless cleaning, but gain a much larger bin, no battery to replace, and a five-year guarantee instead of two.

The closest corded rival I'd look at is the Miele Guard M1 Cat & Dog Flex, which we rated 4.5 stars and named the best vacuum for pet hair attachments. It's a corded cylinder at a similar full price (around £350, and often less on sale), and on paper it fixes most of what frustrated me about the Big Ball.

It's slightly lighter at 7.3kg, rolls on castor wheels rather than a ball, has a longer 7.5m cord, keeps its tools in an onboard compartment and offers four suction modes, so you can turn things down for hard floors or a lightweight mat. The trade-off is that it's bagged, so you'll need to buy bags, while the Big Ball costs next to nothing to run.

If budget matters more than power, the Henry HVR160 is our best budget vacuum and costs well under £200. Like the Big Ball, it only has one power level, and our reviewer found it struggled with dirt trapped deep in carpet pile (exactly where the Big Ball shines). It's smaller and easier to store, though, with four wheels and a 6L bag that lasts for weeks, so if your home is mostly hard floors, I'd say it's the more sensible buy.

Verdict: Should you buy the Dyson Big Ball?

If you have a larger house with carpets, rugs, stairs, and a shedding pet, and your cordless always runs out before you're finished, I'd put the Big Ball near the top of your list, because its powerful suction really comes into its own on soft floors.

If you're in a flat or smaller home with mostly hard floors and something that's already doing the job, I'd look elsewhere. It cleans brilliantly, but in a space like mine, it's just too awkward to move around and store compared to a stick vacuum you can mount or tuck away neatly.

As Ideal Home’s Floorcare Editor, I’ve definitely developed flooring favourites over the years. And while hard floors can look squeaky clean again with a quick vacuum and mop, carpets are a whole different story. Especially in autumn, when muddy footprints and mucky paws threaten them with daily stains and discolouration.

Even when you know how to clean carpets and rugs, it can often feel like you’re fighting a losing battle during the soggier months of the year. That’s why I’ve learned it’s best to tag-team autumn carpet care, focusing on both preventing and removing dirt and grime buildup. Personally, I can’t do that without a few handy essentials nearby.

So, I thought I’d share the four must-haves I use during the autumn and winter months to keep my carpets looking (and smelling) clean - even when it seems as though the weather outside is making that impossible.

1. Doormats at every entrance

Doormats may not be the most attractive things in the world, but they can make a world of difference to your carpets during muddy season. After all, they're designed to remove as much water and grime from your shoes (or paws!) as possible, so you don't track it into your home and onto your carpets.

And while you may question whether a doormat should go inside or outside, my advice is to opt for as much protection as possible. Pop a tougher coir doormat like this Bootscraper Black & Brown Doormat (£14 at Argos) outside your front door to scrape excess dirt off your shoes. Then, choose a lighter doormat for inside to remove moisture. Ideally, use them at every entrance, too.

As I have a dog, I personally use a moisture-absorbent microfibre doormat inside my front and back doors, as I find it much more effective at drying his paws before he walks all over my downstairs rugs. It’s also a must-have if you want to keep your hard floors clean in autumn, too.

2. A carpet cleaner (or spot cleaner!)

You probably don’t need me to tell you that the best way to clean muddy carpets is to use one of the best carpet cleaners. And if you find yourself struggling with wet and muddy carpets every autumn, I’d recommend investing in one to refresh them every so often.

However, you can clean carpets without a big machine, and smaller spot cleaners can work wonders if a member of your family has ‘accidentally’ walked over your carpets with muddy shoes. They’re grab-and-go appliances that are generally much cheaper and are better suited to smaller stains and more targeted cleaning. However, it’s up to you to determine whether a carpet cleaner or spot cleaner suits you best.

Neither could also be an option. Although I have both in my home, I often reach for this Dr. Beckmann Carpet Stain Remover (£3.50 at Amazon) when I feel like the autumn stain or mark doesn’t warrant a bigger appliance. It’s great for smaller spills and can be stashed under the kitchen sink.

3. Proper shoe storage

A carpet’s biggest enemy is shoes. And while you might get away with walking over your carpets and rugs in shoes in spring and summer, they’ll dirty up your carpets in no time when the weather changes. So, motivate yourself to remove your shoes as soon as possible by having proper shoe storage in your hallway.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, either. There are plenty of shoe storage options under £50 that give you space to store muddy shoes properly, keeping your hallway clear of mud and clutter. These include plastic or metal interior shoe racks that wipe clean easily, inconspicuous shoe cabinets that look like furniture, or boot holders you can store outside the front door.

Whatever you choose, make sure your shoe storage fits your space and the number of people (and shoes!) in your family. If you need shoe storage ideas for smaller spaces, use vertical space where you can. This 2 Shelf Stackable Shoe Rack (£7 at Argos) is a great option, as you can simply stack more racks on top if you need them.

4. A regular vacuuming routine

I may be biased as Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, but I don’t believe that people are vacuuming their homes regularly enough - especially during the autumn and winter months. After all, even the smallest, most invisible dust and dirt particles can become visible if they build up for too long.

This can quickly make your carpets look, feel and smell dirty, which is why you should always have one of the best vacuum cleaners to hand. By vacuuming at least once a week (although I often find myself vacuuming every day in autumn), you can pick up loose particles before they embed in your carpet’s fibres and become even harder to remove.

Focus primarily on high-traffic areas, such as your hallway, stairs, living room, and bedrooms, and use the proper vacuuming technique to clean your carpets as effectively as possible. I also use this Jiuhao Carpet Scraper (£4.99 on Amazon) once or twice a month to remove stubborn hairs, debris, or little bits of leaves that seem to make their way into my house.

Say goodbye to soggy, mucky carpets!

As Ideal Home’s Floorcare Editor, I take pride in keeping all the floors in my home clean and tidy. I can’t deny that the autumn months make that very difficult, though.

And while the best vacuum cleaners can be a lifesaver year-round, I’ve learned through hundreds of hours of testing and cleaning that they’re not the be-all-and-end-all. Especially when you’re dealing with muddy shoes, mucky paws and overall sogginess of the colder, wetter months. That’s why I always switch up my floorcare routine in autumn.

In fact, I swear by three products to keep my floors sparkling during the autumn and winter months. They work on the principle that prevention is better than cure, helping stop outside mess from being tracked into your home. So, I thought I’d share them with you, too.

1. A shoe rack

During the colder months, floors get dirty faster when wet and muddy shoes are tracked in through the front door and into the depths of the house. And the quickest way to prevent this mess is to stop those shoes at the front door or in the hallway.

So one of the best ways to autumn-proof a hallway is to add a shoe storage solution. This way, you can take your shoes off as soon as you enter the house and give them a proper home without cluttering up your entryway. Or, if you regularly wear boots and wellies for your dog walks, you could pop a boot rack outside your front door so they don’t enter the house at all.

Personally, I’d suggest buying a plastic or metal shoe rack so you can wipe it clean if muddy shoes leave their mark. Wooden shoe racks typically look better but are much harder to keep clean, so I think it’s always better to choose function over form.

2. An absorbent doormat

I share my home with a very fluffy cocker spaniel who soaks up water like a sponge, so I have to contend with wet shoes and paws. For a few years, I mopped up his muddy paw prints twice a day. Now? They’re barely noticeable, and I clean much less.

This is all thanks to the absorbent doormats I bought last year. And while they may not be the most glamorous purchases I’ve ever made, I can confidently say that they’re some of the best (and most affordable). That’s because, unlike regular doormats, these ones absorb excess moisture from shoes and paws, so less of it is walked into your house.

And while it doesn’t completely dry my dog’s paws, it takes off a lot of the surface water - and then I keep this pet wiz Microfibre Noodle (£12.95 at Amazon) nearby to tackle the rest. I also keep one by my back door for when he walks on the wet grass, but you don’t have to be a pet parent to use them. They work just as well for wet shoes, too.

3. A multi-purpose appliance

As mentioned, vacuum cleaners alone can’t handle the wet debris that settles on floors during autumn and winter. After all, liquid is one of the many things you should never vacuum up. But in today’s modern day and age, appliances can vacuum and mop your floors at the same time.

This includes the best vacuum mops and robot vacuum mops, both of which tackle dry and wet debris in one appliance. This makes them perfect for homes during the wetter months, as they can handle muddy footprints and the extra dust that amps up when the heating is on, without adding more cleaning time to your busy schedule.

Just be warned that most vacuum mops won’t vacuum carpets or rugs, which is why I’d always recommend opting for a robot vacuum and mop instead. A bonus is that they’re almost completely hands-free and can be programmed to clean your home when you’re sleeping - or not even at home at all.

With these essentials at your disposal, I bet your floors will stay cleaner than ever this autumn.

It’s essential to clean the things that clean for you, as failing to do so will drastically shorten their lifespan and reduce efficiency. So, when you’re shelling out for an expensive robot vacuum, it’s even more important to clean this hands-free hero.

Nowadays, the best robot vacuum cleaners can largely be left to their own devices. They’ll vacuum your carpets, mop your hard floors, and some will even dust your skirting boards. But just as you need to clean a vacuum cleaner regularly, you also need to take some time to clean your robot vacuum and keep tangled hair, clogged filters and stagnant water at bay.

Thankfully, this won’t take much of your time. Lukas Zou, Robot Vacuum Specialist at Anker eufy, says you need to remember the following rule: ‘A five-minute weekly tidy, one twenty-minute monthly service, and a dock refresh every couple of months.’ So, these are the exact steps you need to follow.

1. Turn it off

The first step is simple, and Lukas advises, ‘Before starting any maintenance, power off and unplug the dock.’ Just make sure you take the time to turn off the bot and the dock separately.

You typically do this by removing the bot from the dock and pressing the power button. You’ll likely see the lights go out, and you may hear the voice assistant confirming the shutdown. A surefire way to check you’ve done this successfully is to also check the app.

Unplugging the docking station is enough to power it down. At this stage, it’s also worth consulting your instruction manual to see if the manufacturer has any specific cleaning and maintenance requirements. However, everything below should be standard cleaning practice and will ensure the robot vacuum is worth it.

2. Top up fresh water, and empty waste water

If you have an auto-empty robot vacuum cleaner and mop (which is what I’d always recommend as someone who tests them for a living), you’ll need to replace the fresh water weekly. This ensures that you’re always mopping your floors with hygienic, clean water, and not letting it go stagnant - especially if you don’t use it regularly.

While you’re at it, empty the wastewater to prevent unwanted smells. Then give it a good clean with water, washing-up liquid, and a clean cloth to remove any lingering grime from the corners or internal pipework.

3. Rinse the docking station and check mops

Many robot vacuums can now compete with the best mops, and docking stations typically handle dirty water and mop pads without human intervention. However, it’s worth checking the washing tray regularly to make sure it’s doing its job properly, and wiping it down to remove any lingering dirt.

Elizabeth White, UK Brand Manager for MOVA, explains, ‘Check the dock’s washing tray for build-up. If the washing tray has a heating module, make sure it is fully cooled down before cleaning it. If your machine doesn’t wash and dry its own mop pads, clean them after use and let them dry fully.’

She adds, ‘With automatic mop cleaning, check occasionally that the pads are clean and drying properly. This helps prevent unpleasant smells and stops dirty pads spreading grime back across the floor.’

4. Empty the dust chamber or replace dust bag

Whether you have a dock-free robot vacuum or one with an auto-empty docking station, you’ll still need to empty and clean a debris chamber. And AO’s appliance expert, Jade Golding-Gault, warns, ‘A full dustbin can reduce airflow and impact suction power. Emptying it regularly helps the vacuum pick up dirt and debris more effectively.’

If your model only has a small onboard dust chamber, you should ideally empty it after every clean - or you might be able to stretch to once a week if you have minimal mess. If your model comes with a dust bag, replace it every 30-60 days, but inspect it monthly and replace it with a fresh bag if it’s full.

For docking stations without a dust bag, empty the contents into a general waste bin as often as needed (typically once a month). If the manufacturer allows, you can then rinse it with water and dry it with a paper towel - but always check this, as some robot vacuum manufacturers advise against using water.

5. Remove any hair from brushes

Robot vacuums typically have a few brushes and brush rollers - including side brushes and the removable roller brush on the underside of the bot. And if you’re regularly vacuuming pet hair (or you’re just a particularly hairy human), hair can wrap around both of them.

That’s why Elizabeth advises, ‘Give the brushes and wheels a quick check each week. Remove any trapped hair and threads using the recommended cleaning tool. Even anti-tangle brushes are worth checking, as build-up can restrict movement, leave more dirt behind and put extra strain on the machine.’

Your robot vacuum may come with a hair removal tool, but you can also use scissors or a dedicated tool like this Pikk-It Hair Removal Tool for Vacuums (£7.99 on Amazon) to remove hair.

6. Clean the filter

Just as you should clean your regular vacuum cleaner's filter once a month, you should do the same with your robot vacuum cleaner. Especially as Jade says, ‘Filters trap fine dust and allergens, but when they become clogged, they can put extra strain on the appliance.’

Thankfully, it’s not difficult to clean the filter and keep your robot vacuum in full working order. And Jade advises, ‘Tapping out loose debris and gently brushing away dust will help keep the vacuum running effectively.’

You don’t need any fancy tools, but if tapping over a bin isn’t enough, a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush should do the trick. If you run your robot vacuum more than once a day and have a particularly messy house, you may need to do this more than once a month.

7. Wipe the sensors

Although robot vacuums have sensors and obstacle detection that help them navigate around obstacles, it’s still a good idea to declutter before using a robot vacuum and wipe the sensors every so often. The same goes for the charging points on the bot and the dock.

Elizabeth says, ‘Sensors and charging contacts are easy to overlook. As a guide, give them a gentle wipe with a soft, dry cloth (never use a wet cloth) once a month, or sooner if they look dusty. Keeping these clean helps the robot find its way around your home and connect properly to its charger.’

This will help you get the most out of your robot vacuum and keep your hard-earned investment running and cleaning at its best.

FAQs

So, make sure you give your robot vacuum the TLC it deserves.

I always love a stick vacuum I can grab and go without thinking too much, and one that can handle my cat's hair and whatever's been tracked in from the patio of my basement flat. That's why I've always leaned towards the best cordless vacuum cleaners. It's an extra bonus when they're affordable, too.

That's why I wanted to test the VAX Pace Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. It's the entry model in VAX's ONEPWR cordless range, with an RRP of £189.99, well below most of the stick vacuums I've tested. You wouldn't expect Dyson-level performance at that price, of course, but I was curious as to whether it would clean well enough that I wouldn't end up eyeing a pricier model. This is how it fared.

In a nutshell

A big vacuum has never really made sense for me, since my one-bedroom basement flat is mostly hard floors with a couple of rugs, and most of the mess worth worrying about comes in on my cat's paws as Jet comes through his cat flap. So, on paper, the VAX Pace Plus fit the bill.

And from the first proper clean, it did more than I'd anticipated for the price. Spilt flour and rice disappeared from the kitchen floor in one go, and the rugs (where a cheap stick vacuum usually gives up) were no trouble at all. At 3.1kg, it's light enough to pick up for a quick tidy, and it steers easily around chair legs and under the sofa.

I timed battery life at around 43 minutes in standard mode, which was more than enough for a go-around my flat. Boost mode, as you'd expect, wipes it out in about 10 minutes. Crushed cereal also needed an extra pass, and the only real nuisance was the fur wrapping itself around the brush bar. If you have a small place with mostly hard floors, I'd keep it in mind.

For the most part, though, this is a budget-friendly cordless vacuum that ticks a lot of boxes - just be warned that it won't be able to compete at the same level as the best vacuums for pet hair if you share your home with any furry friends.

Specifications

• Weight (overall): 3.1kg
• Weight (handheld): 1.4kg
• Bin volume: 0.6L
• Run time: Up to 40 mins, 10 mins in Boost
• Charge time: 3 hours
• Modes: 2 (standard and Boost), plus brush bar on/off
• Filtration: 3-stage, washable filter
• Noise level (measured by us): 56dB (standard), 64.5dB (Boost)
• In the box: Wall mount, ONEPWR charger, crevice tool, stair tool
• Dimensions: H105 x W24 x D21cm
• Guarantee: 3 years with registration

Meet the tester

Unboxing and setting up

The VAX Pace Plus comes in a tall, skinny box which I could quite easily carry in from the doorstep with one hand. All the components are in cardboard inserts, and the only thing that's in a plastic bag is the battery itself, so pretty much everything went straight into the recycling.

You get the main body, floorhead, extension wand, the removable ONEPWR battery with its charger, a crevice tool, a stair tool and a wall mount. It's a fairly basic kit by stick vacuum standards with no dusting brush or mini motorised tool - though at this price, I'd rather the money went into the floorhead than a drawer full of attachments destined to gather dust.

It took about two minutes to set it up. The wand clicks into the main unit, the floorhead clicks onto the wand, and the picture-led instructions take care of the rest. There's no floor-standing dock, just a wall mount, so you'll need to find a spot and drill it in (screws and wall plugs are included).

It won't stand on its own, so between cleans it'll be either on the mount or leaning against the wall. The battery slides out and charges in its own little cradle, so you don't have to keep the vacuum by a socket.

It feels a bit more plasticky than a Dyson or a Shark at this price, as you'd expect, but nothing gives way or flexes, and the wand feels solid. The grip is comfortable, and the weight is well balanced, sitting close to your hand rather than the front end dragging down.

Using the VAX Pace Plus Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

The controls are as simple as you could possibly get. Three buttons sit along the top of the handle: one for power, one to switch the brush bar on and off, and a plus for Boost.

There are just two power settings (standard and Boost), and you can turn the brush bar off for hard floors. The 40-minute runtime VAX quote is for standard mode on hard floors with the brush bar off, so you'll get less if you're cleaning rugs or carpet.

I started with a debris test on the textured vinyl in the kitchen, scattering flour, rice, and crushed cereal, then running the Pace Plus over it in standard mode with the brush bar on.

The flour and rice were both dealt with in one pass (a few grains did get caught in the vinyl's dimples), and the cereal took a second pass, with a few larger pieces being pushed ahead of the floorhead before it caught them.

Boost made very little difference, so I'd save that for carpet or rugs. I also did a pass with the brush bar off (as VAX recommends for hard floors), but I ultimately left it on for everything as the results weren't as effective.

The rug in the living room took a couple of passes to clean properly, largely because the muck had worked its way down into the pile. Boost definitely earned its keep here, pulling up the last of the fluff right along the edge.

VAX makes no anti-tangle claims for the brush bar, and it’s clear why. By the end of the test, a thick band of Jet's fur (and some of mine) was wound right around the brush bar, and a good-sized felted clump packed into the corner of the floorhead, which I had to pry the brush bar out of to clear.

Day to day, it's easy to carry between rooms and gets on well with furniture. The wand is low enough to reach under the sofa and bed, and my wrist was fine after a full clean, though I wouldn't want to use it as a handheld for long, as the 1.4kg weight can take its toll if you're constantly reaching up high to clean upper nooks and crannies.

The bin was the real story, as after the first couple of cleans, it was stuffed past the MAX line with hair, grit, and bits of leaf from the houseplants, plus stuff pulled out of the rugs, which I'd thought were fairly clean.

I got just over 44 minutes in standard mode, well above VAX's 40-minute claim. A full clean of my flat takes about 20 minutes, so one charge is more than enough, and I'd only be recharging every other clean.

Recharge time was just over 3 hours, which matches VAX's claim, but if you have a larger property, the removable battery could be worth a look. A spare ONEPWR battery (£79.99 from VAX at the time of writing) would double your cleaning time, and it's compatible with VAX's other ONEPWR machines, too

I recorded noise levels at 56dB in standard mode and 64.5dB in Boost (again, below average for a stick vac). You could still hear the TV over it in standard mode, though Boost is loud enough that I'd definitely avoid it if someone were on a call in the next room.

Using the attachments

There are just a crevice tool and a stair tool to swap between with the VAX Pace Plus, and it becomes a handheld when you unclip the wand with the button by the bin.

The corner by the cat flap is where Jet's litter and all the general outdoor mess accumulates, so that's where I put the crevice tool to work. It cleared that and the skirting boards pretty quickly, although the narrow nozzle does take a couple of passes to cover the width.

There are no stairs in my flat (another benefit of living in a basement), so I gave the stair tool a go on my sofa. It did a good job lifting cat hair out of the sofa cushions, though it required a few passes to get into the seams.

Cleaning and maintenance

The 0.6L bin is a bit bigger than some more expensive competitors, and in my flat I expected to empty it every two or three cleanings.

It's pretty easy to do, as there's a release that simply drops the base open, though it is a two-handed job, and hair has a habit of getting caught in the mesh filter in the middle, so I had to fish some of it out with my fingers.

The filter is washable (which keeps future costs down), but it needs rinsing about once every two weeks and takes 24 hours to dry. I'd wash it the night before a day off cleaning.

If hair did get caught on the brush bar, it was easy to release and remove, and clearing, refitting, and reassembling it took less than a minute.

The wall mount holds the vacuum by its handle with the floorhead resting on the floor. The battery charger obviously needs its own space near a socket, which is a small inconvenience but means the vacuum can stay in one room while the battery charges in another.

How does it compare?

A natural competitor to the VAX Pace Plus is in the same brand, though the Vax HomePro Pet-Design Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is slightly pricier at £299. However, this model is a dedicated pet model, so it suits those who need to rely on anti-tangle technology.

Spend a bit more, and you get the Dreame V20 Pro (£349.99 RRP), with Auto mode that adjusts suction to the level of dirt, a sharper edge and a charging dock with tool storage.

The bin is a little smaller at 0.5L, and for a small flat like mine, I suspect the extra performance isn't worth the roughly threefold price premium, at least while the Pace Plus is on sale. If you want a vacuum that looks like it's straight out of a sci-fi film, it's certainly an option.

Verdict: Should you buy the VAX Pace Plus?

The VAX Pace Plus cleaned my floors better than the price suggests, lifting flour and rice in one pass while also handling rugs quite well. It's light, easy to live with, and the removable battery makes it more versatile than most budget stick vacs I've tried.

It would start to struggle in larger homes, though. Half an hour of battery won't go far, and if you have a long-haired pet, untangling the brush bar will be a regular job. For a small, mostly hard-floored property, though, it's an easy one to put on your shortlist.

It's what I reach for now when Jet comes in through the cat flap trailing half the patio, and I haven't once wished it were something pricier.

As Ideal Home’s resident vacuum expert, I spend my days testing robot vacuum cleaners in my home. But like many others in the UK, I also live in a very small house. And while it’s easy to assume these two things don’t go hand in hand, I’m here to prove that wrong.

Sure, the best robot vacuum cleaners undoubtedly work best in large, open spaces. Fewer obstacles and corners mean simpler cleaning routines, and the extra space means you can tuck the dock away from everyday life. But that doesn’t mean that robot vacuums don’t also have a place in smaller homes. After all, I live in one and use mine every day.

In my professional opinion, robot vacuum cleaners are worth it in a small house - but only if you take the time to realise that you’re going to need to actively set this hands-free hero up for success. So, I thought I’d share how I make the most of mine in a space-savvy way.

1. Decluttering is essential

One thing I’ve learned as a small-home dweller is that less space often means more clutter, making cosier houses harder to keep tidy. And although high-spec robot vacuums, like the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25 (which I gave a perfect 5-star review), are smart enough to clean around obstacles, none of them can clean underneath them.

That’s why it’s so important to declutter before using a robot vacuum - especially in small homes where floor space is already limited. And by taking just five minutes a day to pick up toys, shoes, cables, and anything else on the floor, you can improve the robot vacuum’s coverage and reduce interruptions.

If you don’t, you won’t be able to enjoy the robot vacuum’s full cleaning power, and it’ll miss large portions of your home, meaningyou’ll have to step in and finish the job. Plus, you’ll likely have to save it from getting tangled in chargers, and explain to your kids why their favourite (and very tiny) toy has been sucked up by the robot.

2. Size really does matter

One of my biggest pieces of advice for anyone buying their first robot vacuum is to choose a robot vacuum-and-mop combo, which combines the suction power of one of the best vacuum cleaners with the wet-floor cleaning ability of one of the best mops. Nine times out of ten, though, these models come with large docking stations.

This can be tricky in a small home, as these docking stations typically need to be positioned at least 1m away from the nearest rug. So, if you’re really strapped for space, I’d suggest a model like the budget-friendly Hoover HG2 Turbo Slim Hydro Robot Vacuum Cleaner, which you can buy without the auto-empty docking station. This means you’ll have to manually empty the dust canister and refill the water tank regularly, but it saves a lot of space.

Alternatively, compact models with auto-empty docking stations do exist (the SwitchBot K11+ Robot Vacuum with Mop is a good example), and there are ways to hide a robot vacuum so it doesn’t encroach on your living space. Ideally, you'll also want one with a low profile so it can go under furniture and expand its cleaning reach.

3. Opt for little and often

Just as smaller homes look cluttered more quickly, they also seem to get dirtier faster. This is because you do all your walking, cooking, relaxing, and sleeping in a much smaller area, so dust and grime build up in a tighter footprint. That’s why using a robot vacuum little and often in a small home is best.

Personally, I run mine at least once a day to keep on top of everyday dirt, debris, and especially my dog’s pet dander. I typically do this when I take him out for an evening walk, so I come home to clean floors without lifting a finger. In winter, when his paws (or my shoes) are particularly muddy, I’ll also set it to clean again at around 11 pm so it can clean while I’m sleeping.

In some cases, you might not need the robot vacuum to clean your whole, small house. In those cases, you can set it to clean only certain rooms or high-traffic areas, like your hallway or living room. Doing this regularly helps you stay on top of cleaning without having to intervene.

4. Make use of small-space friendly features

Although robot vacuum cleaners have been around for decades, they’ve really come into their own over the past few years. Now, they’re souped up with impressive technology and features that make cleaning so much easier - like Shark’s PowerDetect UV Reveal, which uses UV light technology to uncover (and clean) hidden stains.

But many people don’t realise you can also use these features to help in a small home. And because my tiny living space also doubles as my work-from-home zone, I regularly use a robot vacuum cleaner’s ‘Quiet’ or ‘Eco’ modes, which make it less disruptive to my work. In ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, it doesn’t auto-empty or make dock noise.

As mentioned, the scheduling feature also works well for my smaller house, so I often schedule it to clean and mop while I’m not home so it doesn’t get in the way. If you do the same, you’ll often not realise that the robot vacuum is there - which is always a bonus when a small home already feels restrictive

5. Clean it regularly

Whether a robot vacuum cleaner is worth it depends heavily on how you clean and maintain it. And while robot vacuums and their docking stations are relatively hands-free, they still require regular TLC to keep them in working condition - especially in small homes where clutter and dirt build up quicker.

This means regularly emptying the dirty water tank, refilling the clean water, wiping the sensors, emptying the dust canister or replacing the dust bag, and cleaning the filters. It’s also worth checking the side brushes and cleaning bars for any tangled hair, and I swear by my Pikk-It® Hair Removal Tool (£7 at Amazon) for that.

Keeping an eye on these things will prevent the dustbin from overflowing or the brushes from flicking debris back into your small home, ensuring reliable suction and preventing nasty dust or debris recirculation. Then you’ll keep your small home clean while getting your money’s worth from your appliance.

So, yes, a robot vacuum cleaner is worth it in a small house - but only if you set realistic expectations and make a few changes before you use it.

I'm always on the lookout for ways to simplify my cleaning routine, so I was keen to put the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop to the test. With a detachable handheld steamer and a generous selection of tools, it promises to clean everything from kitchen floors to windows, tiles and awkward corners.

So, how does it compare to the best steam cleaners and mops? I put it to the test in my family home to see whether one steam cleaner is enough to tackle the whole house.

In a nutshell

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop RHMSM6001 is a lightweight, versatile steam cleaner that offers much more than your average steam mop. It heats up quickly, is easy to use on hard floors, and comes with a generous selection of tools to tackle everything from windows and grout to general bathroom grime. The range of additional attachments felt overwhelming at first, but once I'd familiarised myself with them, they were straightforward enough to use.

On hard floors, I was impressed with the results. My floors looked noticeably cleaner afterwards and were dry enough to walk on almost straight away. The mop also removed a large proportion of a tomato ketchup spill in a single pass, although it left some residue on the plastic edging, which was a little more of a hassle to clean. It doesn't include the bells and whistles you'd find on a premium mop, but the upside is that it's hard to beat for simplicity. It has only one control dial for steam output, and the water tank lasts through several cleaning sessions without needing a refill.

I also appreciated how little maintenance it demands. You can remove and wash the mop pads, and the various attachments only need a quick rinse or wipe after use. The handle detaches too, making it easy to tuck away, and it includes a wall mount if you'd prefer to store it upright.

Its biggest selling point is the versatility, but that doesn't come without a trade-off. While the mop itself is incredibly lightweight, it felt considerably heavier when converted to a handheld cleaner. I personally can't see it replacing my smaller handheld steam cleaner, particularly for jobs that require you to hold it for more than a few minutes. But for the price, it offers good value for money, especially if you want a harsh-chemical-free steam cleaner that works on floors and other surfaces.

Specifications

• Capacity: 350ml
• Power: 1500W
• Weight: 3kg
• Dimensions: 21D x 29W x 109H cm
• Heat time: 30 seconds
• Cord length: 6m
• In the box:  2 x Machine Washable Mop Pads, User Manual
• RRP: £72.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop turned up on my doorstep in a branded, rectangular-shaped cardboard box so there was no second-guessing what was inside. I was surprised at how lightweight it felt, and I had no trouble carrying it inside myself.

Inside, I found the user manual resting on a layer of moulded cardboard. Beneath that, all of the parts and accessories were neatly packed and wrapped individually in plastic.

The plastic was marked 'PE-LD 04', which can be recycled, although it can't be done with general household waste and needs to be taken to a specific drop-off point. While it was reassuring to know it was recyclable, it did feel slightly inconvenient and not the most eco-friendly solution overall.

Once I removed everything from the box, I could see how many parts and accessories were included. It's a 12-in-1 mop, so I expected some additional tools - although I won't lie, there were a lot of extra parts, which did feel slightly overwhelming at first. My first concern was making sure I didn't lose them, but thankfully the plastic bag they came sealed in doubles as a handy storage bag.

The accessories included a flexible hose, window cleaning tool, straight nozzle, grout tool, large round brush, angled nozzle, small round brush, wire round brush, and scraper tool. It also includes a spare mop pad and window cleaning cloth.

Assembling the mop was straightforward and took only a couple of minutes. The handle clicks onto the main body, and you can disassemble it just as easily by pressing the 'handle release button'. It's a small point, but it stood out to me because the handles on many similar models don't detach easily. This is particularly useful when storing the mop, and you need to make it more compact.

The mop pad was already attached to the floor head, but it sticks on with Velcro and loop-and-hook fasteners that align to hold it securely in place.

Once the steam mop was fully assembled, before putting it to the test, I did what I always do and took a moment to take in the design and overall look and feel of the model.

The first thing that struck me was how lightweight and slim it felt. The white and blue colourway gives it a clean, simple look, and the steam control dial on the front of the unit makes it feel more like a traditional mop than newer models with digital displays.

The steam mop is also corded, but its six-metre power cord is one of the longest I've come across, which was reassuring, as I knew I would be able to clean larger areas without stopping to switch plug sockets mid-clean.

So overall, while it didn't feel as premium and modern as some steam mops, I appreciated the simple, no-fuss design.

The water tank sits on top of the main unit and can be removed by pulling it upwards and away from the unit. It holds up to 350ml, which is about average in size. As someone who mops their floors at least once a day, I was keen to see just how many jobs I could tackle with one full water tank.

I filled the tank with water - the fact that it's chemical-free is also a bonus for me with kids in the house - then popped it back onto the main unit and was ready to go.

Using the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

As a steam mop

The first place I wanted to test the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop was on my laminated kitchen floors. With three children, my floors are no stranger to wet spills and muddy footprints, and I normally rely on my Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic to keep them clean.

To get started, I plugged the power cord into the nearest plug socket in my kitchen, and the control dial lit up red to indicate that it was heating up. After 30 seconds, the light turned green, and the mop was ready to use.

Activating the mop is fairly typical. I stepped on the floorhead before pulling the handle back toward me. There's a steam release trigger on the bottom of the handle, which the manual instructs to 'long press' to release steam.

The manual isn't particularly clear on this, so I had to work out for myself that I needed to keep hold of the button to continuously release the steam. I could hear the mop producing steam, although I couldn't actually see it, so it was difficult to tell at first whether it was working.

In use, the mop felt incredibly lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Reassuringly, I could see a layer of moisture on my floors, and they looked noticeably cleaner afterwards. Within a couple of minutes, they were dry enough to walk on, too.

A major bonus was that the mop was flexible enough to reach into awkward corners and close to my skirting boards. And while I've used steam mops that feel almost self-propelling before, I did have to apply some pressure to particularly stubborn areas, such as the area by my conservatory door, which is a magnet for muddy footprints.

Still, after a few passes, I noticed a visible difference in my floors, and I was pleased with the results.

As part of how we test steam cleaners and mops at Ideal Home, I wanted to see how the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop handled a deliberate, noticeable mess. So I squirted some tomato ketchup on my kitchen floor and left it to sit for 30 minutes.

I turned the control dial up to 'Max' before activating the steam trigger. On the first pass, it removed a large proportion of the ketchup, but it smeared some further along the floor, too. After a couple more passes, my floors were clean.

One thing I noticed was that some of the ketchup stuck to the plastic edging rather than just the mop pad, so I had to wipe it off by hand. That said, I was impressed with its cleaning power, particularly given the size and nature of the mess I was tackling.

There's also a carpet glider attachment designed to give carpets a light refresh. To be honest, when I've used a carpet glider attachment before, the results haven't been as transformative as I'd expected, but it did help me keep my expectations realistic this time.

The carpet glider consists of a plastic mop cover which clicked onto the base of the floor head easily. I used the carpet glider the same way I did on my hard floors, except I kept the dial turned down to 'Low' because I didn't want to saturate my carpets.

Pushing it back and forth over my carpets, the first thing that struck me was how smooth and lightweight it felt, even on carpet. As before, I couldn't see any steam coming from the base, which made it hard to tell how effective it was. The carpet did feel damp to the touch, though, so I knew it was working.

While I didn't think the results were particularly noticeable, the glider works well enough for a light refresh. And I hoped that it was working hard to eliminate invisible bacteria, grime and any potential dust mites.

As a handheld steam cleaner

Switching the mop to handheld mode is simple - the handle can be easily removed using the release button at the top of the unit, and there is an accessory adaptor to attach the relevant accessory to the base. I liked that a separate handle sits on top of the unit, and it has another steam release button at the front, making it feel more convenient to use.

I used the window cleaning tool first, attaching the nozzle, before fitting the window cleaning tool and cloth to the end of the mop. It was comfortable to hold, and I found the steam release button easy to use since it was positioned on the front, but my arm started to ache before I'd covered the whole window.

I could definitely see a difference on the glass, and my windows felt clean, but while it's a convenient addition, it didn't feel like the easiest way to clean my windows.

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop also includes a flexible hose to increase the reach of the cleaning accessories. I used this with the straight nozzle to clean the rim of the toilet, but once again I found it quite fiddly to hold.

The hose wasn't as firm as it needed to be, so I had to hold it with one hand and the unit in the other. That said, I could hear the steam releasing more clearly, and it worked effectively, clearing the general build-up of grime around the toilet.

I also used the grout tool to give my shower tiles a once-over. As with the windows, I found the unit quite cumbersome after a minute or so. I also found I had to angle it on its side to reach the corners and edges, although I did find the handle helpful.

While I wouldn't describe the results as transformative, the tiles looked and felt noticeably cleaner and fresher afterwards.

A few additional tools are included to cover smaller cleaning jobs around the home. The small and large round brushes are for tough stains, while the angled nozzle directs steam into awkward corners, like under taps.

I'm not sure how useful I'd personally find some of these, particularly the round brushes, as I rely on my Bissell HydroSteam Spot Cleaner for smaller jobs. They are useful to have on hand when you need them, though, and I like how simple it is to switch between the different tools.

Cleaning and maintenance

Thankfully, maintenance is minimal, and cleaning the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is straightforward. The mop pad is machine washable, and the box includes a spare pad, which is useful. The manual states that only Russell Hobbs mop pads can be used with the appliance, although I couldn't find any online for this particular model when I searched.

I also rinsed and wiped down the additional tools after use to keep them clean. The filter, which sits under the water tank, needs to be replaced every six months. I haven't reached this stage yet but the manual advises that replacement filters can be purchased direct from Russell Hobbs and selected retailers, for between £10 - £15.

How does it rate online?

Online reviews are quite sparse for the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop. On Amazon, it currently has a 4.7 star rating and a total of 27 reviews. Customers praise its ease of use, how lightweight it feels and how effective it is at cleaning floors.

Beyond that, while it is available from B&Q and Tesco, I couldn't see any further customer feedback or reviews.

How does it compare to predecessors and similar models?

The Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop builds on the brand's earlier steam mop models, most notably the Steam & Clean RHSM1001BP. While both clean hard floors and carpets, as the name suggests, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 is far more versatile, with a detachable handheld steamer and a wide selection of additional tools. The Steam & Clean is primarily more basic, but it also comes at a much lower price point.

During testing, the Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop reminded me of the Lakeland 2-in-1 Steam Mop - another 2-in-1 model that includes a range of additional tools. The Lakeland is slightly heavier and not quite as lightweight, although it compensates with a larger water tank and three dedicated steam settings. I'd say the cleaning performance is broadly on a par, although the Lakeland has the edge as it feels slightly more modern.

As I've mentioned, the steam mop I use day-to-day is the Shark & Scrub Automatic, which sits at the more premium end of the scale. It's hard to beat when it comes to blasting stubborn stains, and its rotating mop pads do much of the work for you, but it does have a much higher price tag. It also doesn't offer the same versatility as the Russell Hobbs 12-in-1 and can only be used on hard floors.

Verdict: Should you buy the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop

If you're looking for an affordable steam cleaner that can tackle more than just your floors, the Russell Hobbs Multifunctional 12-in-1 Steam Mop is worth considering. At £72.99, it offers plenty of versatility for the price, and it's incredibly lightweight and easy to use on hard floors.

It's a cleaner that doesn't rely on chemicals, which could be particularly useful for households with children or pets. There are certainly more modern, high-tech models on the market, and this feels very much like a traditional steam mop, but it's also very simple to use.

The handheld mode feels heavier to use, but it includes a good selection of additional tools to help you tackle almost every surface. The performance also isn't as standout in handheld mode, but I think that's a fair compromise, given what the 12-in-1 can do.

Over the past few years, robot vacuum cleaners have dominated the floorcare market. And as demand for hands-free cleaning continues to rise on a mammoth scale, brands like eufy have ramped up production to meet it. So, meet the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni, the brand’s latest addition to the squad.

The E35 Omni’s little sister has sat at the top of my best robot vacuum cleaner guide for the past year, with other makes and models failing to knock it off its pedestal. So I was eager to see whether the upgraded model, with its higher specs and added features, had what it took. This is what I found out.

In a nutshell

Last year, I tested the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25, and its power and precision quickly made it my new number-one rated robot vacuum. The new E35 supposedly builds on what worked for the E25 and improves it… and in some ways it does. In others, it doesn’t.

The design is sleek, and the docking station is relatively compact compared to other models on the market. Plus, I genuinely can’t fault its cleaning ability. With 35,000Pa of suction power, it tackled dry debris with an ease you rarely see without getting hands-on, and the HydroJet mopping system leaves hard floors sparkling while removing 99.99% of bacteria. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it offers some of the best robot vac-mop cleaning I’ve ever come across.

The app is uncomplicated and easy to use, while still offering the customisability you’d expect from a big brand like this. It also offers enough cleaning modes and features to make the docking station and bot as hands-off as possible. Still, I found this new model couldn’t really figure out what it was, where it was, or where it was going.

During testing, I ran into quite a few problems with the E35’s mapping and navigation technology that I didn’t expect from such a high-tech model. Don’t get me wrong, it was still usable and didn’t turn me off completely, but it did impact the areas cleaned and my overall enjoyment of the robot vac. After all, when I'm paying £1,000, I want it to scrub every inch of my floors seamlessly.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 180 mins
• Suction power: 35,000Pa
• Bin volume: 3L (up to 75 days)
• Mop function: Yes
• Multi-level mapping: Yes
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• Noise levels (tested by us): 60- 68 dB
• Dimensions: 38L x 45W x 42H centimetres
• Weight: 18.14kg
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
• Warranty: 2 years

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Testing robot vacuums is like my own personal gym workout - especially as a 5’2” woman with very weak arms. This became clear when the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni arrived at my door in a hefty box weighing a whopping 20kg.

Normally I try to struggle and carry these boxes into my house by myself, but this time I knew I genuinely needed a helping hand. So keep that in mind if you live alone or have mobility issues.

Nevertheless, unboxing and setting up the E35 Omni was relatively pain-free after my husband carried it into the dining room. There were very few parts to click together, a dust bag was already pre-installed, and it was pretty much plug-and-play. The only things I needed to do were fill the clean water tank with fresh water and then fill the detergent cartridge with the detergent from the bottle.

And, strangely, despite being very heavy, this model is actually very compact and smaller than other robot vacuums I’ve tested. This was a huge tick, as I like my on-show appliances to be as small as possible.

My only other niggle at this stage was that the dock and some smaller parts were packaged in PE-C7 plastic, which isn’t generally recyclable. I expected a big brand like eufy to have moved away from such eco-unfriendliness by now, so this was a shame.

Nevertheless, with everything assembled, I could link the E35 Omni to the Anker eufy app and let the robot vacuum map out the downstairs of my house. This took less than 10 minutes, but I have to admit that it wasn’t 100% accurate.

While the robot vacuum managed to pick up the main rooms downstairs, it completely ignored my hallway and downstairs toilet - despite the fact that they’re connected to the rooms it did map, and I left the doors open for the robot to discover them.

In the end, I moved the E35 Omni into my hallway and found it could map the entire downstairs without any issues. This was pretty frustrating, as I don’t like appliances cluttering up my hallway, but for some reason the mapping function had an issue with its initial placement.

Ease of use

One thing I always love about Eufy products is the easy-to-use app. I’m already familiar with the app, as I have three of their security cameras for my house, and the robot links directly to the same app, so I can control everything from one place.

But if you’re new to this app, I’m happy to report that it offers the best of both worlds. It’s a no-frills app that’s not complicated in any way, shape, or form, but it still offers the customisation robot vacuum owners need to make the most of it.

The app's most important feature is the ‘Mode’ setting, where you can choose how you want your E35 Omni to clean. Here you can choose between vacuum + mop or vacuum-only, adjust the cleaning intensity (‘Fast Cleaning’ covers the main areas of a floor but omits corners and edges, while ‘Deep Cleaning’ takes longer but covers all corners and gaps), and even the water flow and suction levels.

It’s customisable without being convoluted, and you can also toggle between whole-map cleaning or ask the robot vacuum to focus on a single room or area. Plus, you can set up schedules, adjust base settings, manage the map, or even turn on the child lock if you have young ones in the house.

One feature I also always like in an app is the ability to check the lifespan of the accessories, and the eufy app gives detailed information on the percentage and the hours left before features like the side brushes, sensors, and rolling brush need cleaning or replacement. You can also buy replacements via the app.

All in all, there’s not much more you could need from a robot vacuum cleaner app. If it offered anything more, I think it would just be overkill.

Performance

With 35,000Pa of suction power, the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni is one of the most powerful models I’ve ever tested - and a huge step up from the 20,000Pa of the E25 Omni. This new model also uses AeroTurbo 2.0 Multi-Cyclone Filtration, which means it spins the dust before it clogs and, in theory, should offer 365 days of consistent suction - without any loss of power. So, I was excited to put it through our robot vacuum cleaner testing process.

First, I threw sugar, crushed cereal, and my dog’s hair onto hard flooring. As you can see in the video, it picked up 99% of the debris in one pass. The only thing left behind was a little hairball, which the robot picked up when it came around again.

I then repeated this on my carpet and got equally impressive results, proving the suction power is as good as advertised. Again, the bot picked up little hairballs of mine and my dog’s on the carpet and my rugs, but it eventually sucked them up as it made its way around the space. And as someone who lives in a hairy household, I’ve yet to test a robot vacuum that doesn’t do this.

For the second test, I spooned some yoghurt onto my floors and let that dry before spooning on some more wet, fresh stuff to test its mopping power - and this is where it really thrived. Not only did the E35 Omni clean up the yoghurt with its HydroJet mop technology, but it also detected the dry yoghurt stains and kept cleaning the affected area until it was confident it had removed them 100%. And it did so extremely well. No lingering residue or even a smell remained.

Next up was the obstacle test, which had very varied results. When I put obstacles in its way, the E35 Omni really struggled to figure out its route around them. It immediately barged into one and pushed it out of the way, but then it detected the second one without any problem. This inconsistency carried on through real-life testing, too.

When the robot followed the map, it avoided obstacles quite well. It navigated my dining room chairs with ease, diverted around my dog’s food bowl with minimal fuss, and avoided bumping into large pieces of furniture. So, I can only conclude that the E35 Omni handles expected obstacles well, but doesn’t cope as well with unexpected ones.

I also appreciated the extendable arm, which cleaned right up to (some) of my kitchen cabinets and the skirting boards in my living room. However, one major flaw I found during testing was that the general navigation system often left the robot wondering where it was, or where it was supposed to go.

Sometimes it completely cut large areas of the room from its cleaning schedule, and other times it ditched the traditional zig-zag pattern for a random one that didn’t make sense, especially when it faced large, open, empty stretches of floor.

You can see this in the app screenshots earlier on, where it started cleaning my hallway and some of my living room in the zig-zag pattern before ditching that for a random one in the living room and the kitchen - not cleaning the edges at all, despite being in ‘Deep Clean’ mode. During this cleaning session, it also finished cleaning and headed back to the dock despite missing a huge portion of my dining room.

Also, the bot returned to the dock three times during one 45-minute cleaning session. It did this to clean and wash the mop, which I understand from a hygiene perspective. But this really interrupted the cleaning cycle, and I imagine it’ll need to do this even more if you have a larger home.

Cleaning and maintenance

While the E35 Omni had some disappointing performance issues, it definitely made up some ground with its cleaning and maintenance. Or, should I say, the lack of it.

As with any robot vacuum cleaner, you need to empty the wet debris chamber, but the beauty of high-tech models like this one is that the dock does everything else for you.

After every cleaning session, the robot vacuum gives itself a good deep clean - immediately emptying the dry debris into the 3L dust bags (which, depending on your usage, could hold up to 75 days’ worth of dirt, dust and hair), washing the mop with 60°C hot water and then drying it with 55°C hot air to keep it clean and prevent mould growth or nasty smells.

I must admit the drying process takes quite a while (for example, one cleaning session ended at 8 pm, and it didn’t finish drying the mop until 2:30 am), but I do appreciate the care and attention the mop roller gets.

The charging time is much speedier, though, and I found that the robot vacuum could go from around 40% to 100% in just two hours - which meant that if I did want to give my floors another clean before the mop was bone dry, it at least had the charge, even if it was still damp.

As mentioned, the app lets you track any extra cleaning or replacement parts you need, so it requires very little hands-on input. But if you want to get up-close-and-personal, you can easily click the integrated dust bin and rollers in and out to remove any lingering dust or wrapped hair (if any).

How does it compare to similar models?

I would be doing eufy - and myself - a disservice by not comparing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni to its older model, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25. Especially as it’s been my top-rated model since August 2025.

On paper, the E35 is significantly better than the E25. It has 35,000 Pa of suction compared to the E25’s 20,000 Pa; the HydroJet mopping system has been improved for a more powerful, hygienic clean; the 8-in-1 docking cleaning station has been updated; and it adds AI navigation technology.

However, in practice, the E35 seemed almost overloaded with features - so much so that the mapping was inconsistent and the navigation was unreliable a lot of the time. This limited the hands-off experience I need from a robot vacuum, and I didn’t encounter it at all with the E25. Because of this, I’d personally stick with the older model if you’re an average household that doesn’t require a deep clean every time.

It’s also worth comparing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 with another model with nearly identical specs and features: the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum. Both robot vacuums offer 35,000Pa of suction, impressive edge cleaning, and a sleek, compact look that fits easily in any home.

The downside of the Roborock is that the app is much fiddlier than the Anker eufy app, but their cleaning power is virtually the same. And the Roborock’s navigation ability was miles better than the eufy. So, it depends on what you want from your robot vacuum.

If you want an easy-to-use model that won’t confuse you - even though the navigation will - the E35 might suit you better. If you’re willing to take some time to get to know the app for a consistent and clear clean every time, the Roborock is your best bet… and it’s slightly cheaper.

Verdict: Should you buy the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni?

After loving the E25 so much, I went into testing the Anker eufy Robot Vacuum E35 Omni with very high expectations - which is perhaps why it disappointed me in some ways. However, it’s not a bad robot vacuum. It’s just not perfect, and not what I’d expect from a model with these specs.

Its shining glory is the cleaning quality, with strong suction power and impeccable mopping that truly did leave my floors spotless. In fact, I can confidently say that it left my floors cleaner than 99% of the robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tested. The easy-to-use, customisable app also makes it suitable for robotic newbies and veterans alike.

Where it falls short is the mapping, navigation and overall cleaning routine, though. The E35 Omni regularly seemed to forget where it was or which direction it was cleaning, and the route was never consistent. It also needs to wash the mop multiple times during a single cleaning session, which is something to consider if you have a larger home.

So, it comes down to what you want from your robot vacuum. If you understand that a robot vacuum will never truly replace a regular vacuum and you live in a smaller home, the strange navigation could be a trade-off worth making for the impressive cleaning quality. But if it’s not, the E25 is a solid, reliable choice instead.

I may be Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, but I also work for a homes magazine - which means that I love pretty things. And when I spotted the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum, I thought it was one of the sleekest, chicest robot vacuums I’d ever seen.

But I also take my job of finding the best robot vacuum cleaners very seriously. And while the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow may look good, I wanted to see whether it has the cleaning power to back it up. So, I’ve spent the past two weeks putting this competitively-priced robot vac and mop through its paces - and this is what I found out.

In a nutshell

I’ve already had the pleasure of testing a few Roborock robot vacuums and mops, including the Roborock QV 35S and the Saros 20. But where the brand-new Qrevo Edge 2 Flow differs from these models - and, in fact, the entire UK range - is that this model is the first one to use a rotating roller instead of rotating mop pads.

This new-and-improved mopping ability, coupled with 36,000Pa of suction power, makes for a very impressive all-around cleaner. The new roller shroud is also a nice touch, as it lets it move from hard flooring to soft flooring without soaking carpets and rugs.

During testing, it tackled dry and wet debris with ease, and its ability to not only detect but also navigate obstacles is up there with robot vacuums priced in the thousands - which makes its £799 price tag hugely competitive, in my eyes.

However, it’s not perfect. For some reason, Roborock doesn’t offer a mop-only option for this model, forcing users to vacuum their floors even when they don't want or need to. The app also offers a lot of customisation that isn’t strictly necessary and can feel overwhelming, and it takes a bit of practice. Overall, though, it’s a solid choice.

Specifications

• Max. run time: 240 minutes
• Suction power: 35,000Pa
• Bin volume: 2.7 litres (up to 65 days)
• Mop function: Yes
• Multi-level mapping: Yes (up to 4 maps)
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Noise levels: 68dB (tested by us)
• Dimensions: 47L x 45.1W x 40.2H centimetres
• Weight: 13.5kg (bot and dock)
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple, Matter
• Warranty: 2 years

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Like almost every robot vacuum I’ve tested, the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum came in a hefty box. It was big, bulky, and weighed in at a whopping 17kg. It did have carry handles on the side to make it easier to move from my doorstep to my testing room, but you may need an extra set of hands.

Everything inside was packaged very securely, and I could see the contents were heavily protected. But one thing I will knock Roborock down for is that it wasn’t very eco-friendly at all. The bot and the dock were encased in polystyrene (which isn’t typically recycled kerbside), and then wrapped further in LDPE 4 plastic (which can only really be recycled at certain supermarkets). As a result, only the box was recyclable.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with how little assembly was required. All I had to do was place the dock on a flat surface and click in the dock base before filling the clean water tank, located next to the dirty water tank on top of the dock. If you remove both of these, you can also see the dust chamber and dust bag, which were already pre-installed.

I’ve tested a couple of Roborock robot vacuums now, and I was a little disappointed to note that Roborock still doesn’t offer a sample bottle of detergent with these machines - especially as they recommend you only use Roborock-approved detergents in these robot vacs.

I always think a sample not only aids cleaning and improves results, but also encourages future detergent purchases. So, I had to just stick with water for the duration of testing. But with the water tank filled and the dust bag already pre-installed, the only thing left was to link the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow in the Roborock app and create a map of my home.

All in all, the mapping process took less than five minutes. It was also incredibly accurate, and I loved that I could customise the map by adding my furniture placement, separating and merging rooms, and setting no-go zones. I could even add the location of my dog's food and water bowls!

Ease of use

I’ve previously criticised the Roborock app for being a bit overwhelming and complicated, but I found it easier to navigate this time around. I guess this shows that the more you get familiar with what you need to use, the less complicated it seems.

After all, there are so many customisable options on the app - from changing the cleaning sequence to choosing which room(s) you want to clean, and how you want it to be cleaned. You can choose from three modes: vacuum & mop, vacuum followed by mop, and vacuum-only. You can then adjust everything from the water flow to the cleaning count.

However, Roborock seems to have removed the mop-only mode, which has been an option on other Roborock models I’ve tested. I have used this mode a few times for wet spills and when I don’t want to actually mop, since it also stops the side sweeper brush from getting caught in the wetness.

Taking this away seems like an oversight, but it only really affects you if you regularly have wet spills that need cleaning.

You can also use the app to set schedules, turn on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, adjust your home layout, change the mop wash frequency, set it to ‘Pet’ mode, and even let the robot vacuum take onboard photos of pets and other obstacles. It also shows you the remaining lifespan of your main components.

Truthfully, you could spend hours fiddling with the different settings, but I’m not sure you really need them all. They’re a nice touch, but the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow is so intuitive and smart already that you can largely leave it to its own devices.

Performance

I’ve developed a thorough methodology for testing robot vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home, but before I start throwing rice on the floor or putting obstacles in its way, I like to let the robot vacuum clean my home as it would anyone else’s.

I set it loose in four rooms downstairs in my house - the dining room, kitchen, living room and small hallway (an area of 31 m²) - and it took the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum 55 minutes to vacuum and mop it. It was fully charged before this cleaning task, and I was impressed to see that it still had 58% battery left when it finished.

This also let me experience some of the fun features, like the Edge-Adaptive Roller Mop, which extends to ensure skirting boards and edges get the same treatment as the rest of the room. If I looked closely, I could also see the Automatic Roller Shield close over the roller when it went over my rugs. This meant that I didn’t have to worry about them getting mopped, too.

The slimline design also meant it fit underneath my low TV unit, sofas, and other low furniture, which is always handy because they’re a nightmare to clean.

And although I follow my own advice and declutter before using a robot vacuum, the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow’s ability to manoeuvre around furniture and plant pots suggested that it would have no problem during my dedicated obstacle test.

The smart navigation and reactive AI obstacle recognition were even able to show exactly which obstacles it encountered on the app, using cute little symbols - like a plant pot or electrical wires.

However, I wanted to test this properly, so I set up a dedicated obstacle course as per my official testing process. I popped down a couple of obstacles in the path of the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow and waited to see how it would navigate them.

As you can see, the obstacle detection was super smooth. The robot vacuum and mop got as close to the obstacle as it could get (without bumping into it), and tried a few times to find an alternative route. When it realised it couldn’t go that way because of another obstacle, it tried again and eventually realised that area was out of bounds.

This was a resounding success in my eyes, and I was thoroughly impressed with the robot vac’s ability to not only detect obstacles but also find its way out of a sticky situation. But I wasn’t going to give it its flowers without officially testing its debris pickup, too.

So, I threw a collection of different debris - including rice, sugar and oats - onto the floor to see how the robot vacuum would cope. As you can see from the video, it picked up most of the debris in a single pass. The side brush did fling a few bits of rice out of its way in the process, but the robot vacuum picked them up when it continued its cleaning routine.

I then repeated the process on the carpet on the upper level of my house, and it was once again a positive outcome. This time, a few oats were left behind, but the Qrevo Edge 2 Flow picked them up once it finished its route.

I also share my home with a very fluffy cocker spaniel, and this model had no trouble picking up the little mounds of hair he likes to leave all over the place. Its anti-tangle design meant that I didn’t have to remove any hair from any of the brushes or rollers, either.

The last test was the mopping test, where I poured some orange juice on the hard flooring in my living room. The robot vacuum and mop had no trouble wiping this away in one swipe, and it left the floor looking as good as new. My only critique is that it smelled like orange juice for a while until I sprayed the area with cleaner, which is where detergent would have helped.

While I found that this Roborock robot vacuum and mop generally managed to traverse hard floors, rugs, and carpet with ease, I did have a slight niggle during testing. I often found it left little pockets of debris on the edge of my rug when it moved off the rug onto the hard floor. I then had to go round with a handheld vacuum to remove this.

However, it is worth pointing out that I have a wiggle-edged rug, so this could be due to the shape rather than the robot vacuum’s cleaning ability.

Roborock also claims that this robot vacuum runs at 66 dB, and I measured a maximum of 68dB on my decibel meter app. This sits at the upper end of the noise-level rankings, but you can set it to Quiet Mode, which reduces operational noise (like the voice alerts) and suction power. This is handy if you want to use it at night.

Cleaning and maintenance

Removing the dirty water tank proved to me that the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow is excellent at mopping. Just look at the colour of that water! I had thought my floors were clean, but that colour suggested otherwise. So, I quickly removed it from the dock, poured it down the sink and gave it a rinse.

Aside from that, it requires very little maintenance. The dock auto-empties the dry debris, and the all-new pressurised self-cleaning system cleans the mop roller after use. Smart detection means that it will re-wash itself if it's not happy with the end result. Then, 63°C warm air dries the mop roller to prevent odours or bacterial growth.

Of course, you’ll also need to keep on top of cleaning sensors and filters, but this is standard when cleaning a robot vacuum. Roborock suggests washing the filter every two weeks, and replacing it every 6-12 months. These are £29.99 for two on the Roborock website. You can also buy replacement dust bags and detergent here, too.

However, I do think that Roborock is missing a trick by not including some detergent as standard. It makes a much better first impression and means that customers are set up for the first few months without needing to pay extra - especially as robot vacuums aren’t cheap in the first place.

How does it compare to similar models?

When looking at this new Roborock robot vacuum, it’s always a good idea to compare it to other Roborock models - especially ones I’ve already tested. The last one I reviewed was the Roborock Saros 20, which I also gave 4.5 stars. However, I actually think I prefer this one more.

It has the same level of suction power and offers the same impressive mopping ability, but there are some distinct differences. And if you have higher thresholds, the Saros 20’s AdaptLift chassis would definitely be a better option.

However, the Saros 20 is well over £1,000 - for not a lot more, in my opinion. It offers a similar level of cleaning (admittedly a little more thanks to the new roller, rather than rotating mop pads). So if you’re after an impressive Roborock robot vacuum and mop that gets the job done, I’d actually recommend this one more.

It’s also worth comparing it to the model that has been number one in my guide for months now: the Eufy E25 Omni - which I awarded 5 stars. I liked everything about the Eufy model, from the app to the cleaning power and the overall look. But I do think that this Roborock model is a very close contender. Especially as it’s a very similar price.

They both offer similar rotating mop rollers, but I’d say the biggest differences are the controls and the detergent. Eufy’s app is much easier to navigate, and it includes a dedicated detergent cartridge. However, it does offer less suction power at 20,000Pa. So, it’s worth weighing up what matters most to you.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum?

I love it when an appliance looks good and does a good job at the same time, and the Roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum does just that. It’s powerful and capable, and surprisingly high-tech for its competitive price tag. Because of this, I’d have no qualms recommending this to family and friends.

It doesn’t come with any detergent or spare parts, which is a bugbear of mine, and I do think that they’ve missed a trick by removing the mop-only function. However, it proved its cleaning power during testing, and I do think that it’s one of the sleekest, chicest robot vacuum cleaners I’ve tested so far.

As a Homes Journalist and Certified Vacuum Expert, I love it when an appliance is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. But while I believe that every household needs a robot vacuum cleaner, they've never quite struck that pretty-but-practical balance.

After all, the best robot vacuums are typically quite intrusive, compromising your home’s design and decor. However, Bosch is looking to change that. The home appliance brand has just launched a fully integrated vacuum and mop robot, designed to fit seamlessly into your kitchen cabinetry - so much so that it becomes ‘invisible’ when not in use.

Created in collaboration with robotics brand ECOVACS, the Bosch Built-In Vacuum and Mop Robot even comes with its own full-service station, where it automatically empties dry and wet debris and dries the mop pads before its next cleaning session. But this integrated design comes at a cost - spatially, practically, and, of course, financially.

Deciding whether a robot vacuum is worth it ultimately comes down to whether you want the convenience of a hands-free appliance doing the work for you - and whether you’re willing to sacrifice the overall ‘look’ of your home to house a freestanding appliance that doesn’t quite match your aesthetic.

The Bosch Built-In Vacuum and Mop Robot removes the freestanding, individualised aspect and turns it into a fully integrated addition that forms part of your kitchen - just like your oven and fridge. It’s hidden within cabinet plinths (the area between your cabinets and the floor), and the docking station is hidden in a cupboard that can be pulled out for maintenance.

When you need it to clean your floors, it’ll move out of its little hidey-hole and make its way around your house. When it’s finished, it’ll take itself back to its hidden home - out of sight and out of mind.

This new development isn’t just about design, though. It’s officially Bosch’s most powerful robot vacuum and mop to date, offering 20,000Pa of suction power, which, for reference, is the same cleaning power as the current number-one-rated robot vacuum cleaner in our guide, the Eufy Omni E25.

It also has an ultra-slim design to clean under furniture, plus smart navigation and multi-level mapping to clean every area of your home. Then, you can control everything via the app.

But what are my thoughts on this new development in the robot vacuum world? Well, I’m torn. On the one hand, I can definitely see the appeal and wholeheartedly agree that robot vacuums are often an ugly addition to any room.

On the other hand, I do find the concept quite limiting, especially as we’re in the midst of a serious robot vacuum revolution right now.

It seems as though new-and-improved models are being released every week, and I think the beauty of buying this appliance - especially if it’s your first robot vacuum - is figuring out the features and modes you like, and what you don’t like. Then, you work your way up from a cheaper model to a more expensive one.

In fact, I feel like my own favourite model changes every time I review a new robot vacuum cleaner, as they're changing so much, and so quickly, too.

For example, the robot vacuum I'm currently testing - the new roborock Qrevo Edge 2 Flow Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop (now just £599 at Amazon) has a whopping 35,000Pa of suction power. That's almost double that of the Bosch. And I know of even more coming soon that go well above 40,000Pa.

However, this model requires you to stick with the same robot vacuum to keep it integrated, and you’ll need to enlist a professional to install it properly. So, at just under £3,000 to buy and install, it would be a very expensive mistake if you don’t like the way the robot cleans - or the features it offers.

You’ve also got to consider the fact that this new integrated robot vacuum has to be installed within or next to an under-the-sink cupboard in a kitchen or utility room - meaning you’ll always have to sacrifice cupboard space in those specific rooms. Which, let’s be honest, are typically quite small and limited on storage space anyway.

Could you justify these quibbles in your home? If you value interior design and aren’t fussed about the latest models, I get it. It's a great idea on paper and makes sense for many people.

But with so many other ways to hide a robot vacuum cleaner, I’m not sure I’m 100% sold.

Alternatives to consider

What are your thoughts on a disappearing robot vacuum?

It's no secret that Shark has produced some of the most premium floorcare appliances out there, and the brand already has two spots in our guide to the best handheld vacuum cleaners on the market.

But where does the Shark WandVac Deluxe sit amongst their current offering? After using it in my home for two weeks, I can confidently recommend this handheld vacuum to anyone.

In a nutshell

The Shark WandVac Deluxe quickly became one of the best handheld vacuums I’ve tested (and I've tested a lot). It’s incredibly lightweight, yet doesn’t feel like it’s sacrificed power for its slimline design. In my flour tests, it picked up everything from hard floors and carpets in a single sweep, and the boost mode gives you even more power when you need it.

The WandVac Deluxe also couldn't be easier to use. The attachments slot in and out effortlessly, the charging base doubles as storage for all three tools, and the compact design means I can keep it within easy reach without it feeling like a hindrance. The motorised tool is another big plus, particularly if you want a handheld that can tackle more than just everyday crumbs.

It's surprisingly loud for such a small vacuum, and the dust bin is fairly small, so you’ll need to empty it regularly if you’re using it for bigger cleaning jobs. But neither issue has really bothered me during testing.

Plus, I think the Shark WandVac Deluxe earns its £199.99 price tag. I've grown to prefer this model to other handhelds I've tested, and I'm still surprised at just how powerful it is given its lightweight design. So, if you're looking for a handheld vacuum that is as good for grab-and-go cleans as it is for tougher cleaning jobs, this is one I'd happily recommend.

How I tested

Specifications

• Max. run time:  40 minutes
• Charge time:  3.5 hours
• Bin capacity: 0.13 L
• Weight: 2kg
• Dimensions: 46.99 L x 21.11 W x 11.81 H cm
• Modes: 3
• In the box: Main Unit, Duster Crevice Tool, Motorised Pet Tool, Charging Base, Charging Plug
• RRP: £199.99

Unboxing, set-up, and first impressions

The WandVac Deluxe offered exactly the kind of unboxing experience I'd expect from a premium brand like Shark. Everything arrived neatly packaged in a box that was easy to carry around, and there wasn't a scrap of single-use plastic in sight.

All the components were wrapped in recyclable paper instead, which is a big thumbs up from me in terms of both the product's environmental impact but also in relation to the unboxing experience – it just feels elevated.

While I knew the WandVac was designed to be a lightweight, grab-and-go handheld, I was still surprised by just how sleek it looked once everything was out of the box. It's slimline rather than bulky, but it didn't feel flimsy. It's exactly the sort of streamlined design you'd expect from a handheld vacuum meant to be picked up and used at a moment's notice.

I was also a big fan of the charging base, which doubles up as an accessories holder. All three attachment heads slot neatly into the base, so everything has its own place, and I don't have to go rummaging through a cupboard every time I want to use them.

In terms of assembly, there's actually nothing to do at all. The instruction manual is still nice to have, though, as it provides all the information you need to get the most out of the vac.

It recommends fully charging the device before its first use (which takes around 3.5 hours), so I popped it onto the charging base and saw one of the indicator lights start blinking. Once all the lights stopped flashing, I knew it was fully charged and ready for action.

What's it like to use?

I'm glad to say that the seamlessness of the set-up process continued once I started testing the WandVac Deluxe in my home. The three attachments – crevice, upholstery, and motorised pet – each slot easily into the main unit, and detach just as easily via the tabs on either side of the handle.

There’s no fiddling around or wrestling with the attachments, which, from previous testing experience, I know isn't always a guarantee.

I started by giving the edges of my kitchen floor and living room a quick once-over with the crevice tool, and it didn't take long to get a sense of how much power this little vacuum has. There are three modes to choose from – normal, eco and boost – and although I started off in normal mode, I switched to eco pretty quickly.

In fact, Eco mode was more than enough for the surface-level cleaning I had planned, which was also good news for the 40-minute battery life.

However, the vacuum's noise surprised me; it’s pretty loud for a handheld, especially one this small. I could actually see the vinyl floor in my kitchen move slightly under the nozzle's suction, which gave a clear indication of how much power the WandVac has.

But to actually paint the picture of just how powerful this handheld vacuum is, I put it through our usual flour test. I was slightly more generous with the flour than I intended when scattering it across my kitchen floor, which left me a little worried that I’d made the test harder than it needed to be.

Thankfully, it was no problem for the WandVac Deluxe. I used the wider upholstery tool for this test (despite me very obviously not cleaning upholstery), as I wanted to put this attachment through its paces before I tested the motorised tool later on. And it got full marks from me as it picked up the flour in a single sweep.

It was the same story when I repeated the test on my living room carpet. The WandVac picked up all the flour in its path in a single pass, which is always a satisfying sight.

Speaking of the upholstery tool, this was the perfect attachment for refreshing sofas, pouffes, curtains, and even table runners. It glided effortlessly over surfaces and left the telltale, satisfying streaks on my pouffe, which usually indicate strong suction power.

And I was actually very pleased I had a new handheld vacuum for this purpose, as my previous model (the Gtech ProLite Handheld Bagged Vacuum) lacked an upholstery tool altogether.

Next, I tested the WandVac's 'motorised pet' tool by cleaning the interior of our car. This review was well-timed, as I had an oat-related disaster in the car a few weeks back and I still hadn't got around to cleaning it.

Happily, the WandVac made light work of this job. Not only did it pick up the oats and other debris that had been lingering, but it also cleaned the car seats and removed the oat residue that had worked its way into the fabric when I switched to boost mode.

Using the device in boost mode with the motorised head is a powerful combination, and I seriously doubt the WandVac Deluxe would struggle to clean anything with this pairing.

I'd highly recommend the motorised pet tool for deeper cleaning jobs like this. While I don't have any pets, the way it cleaned our car left me with little doubt about the WandVac Deluxe's cleaning capabilities. It's picked up stubborn dirt and hair in my home, and I'd be confident recommending it to people with pets.

Lastly, in terms of how the WandVac Deluxe actually feels to use, I couldn’t be happier. It’s the lightest handheld vacuum I’ve tested so far, and it's made me realise this is exactly what I want from a handheld.

If a handheld vacuum feels bulky, it kind of defeats the point of having one in the first place. The WandVac’s slimline design fit in my hand like a glove, and I could easily pick it up to tackle different surfaces around my home without feeling like I was lugging an appliance around.

It’s also small enough to leave on its charging base between cleans without creating the sort of visual clutter that can come with bulkier handheld devices.

Cleaning and maintenance

My first thought when I saw the size of the WandVac Deluxe was that the dust bin would need frequent emptying. It looked tiny, and I expected it to be a nuisance.

That said, the small dust bin didn't bother me during testing, and I found it took a surprisingly long time to fill up. And when the time does come to empty the dust bin, it doesn't require too much effort or patience.

It springs open at the touch of the button, so you need to hold it horizontally over a bin; otherwise, you risk spilling the contents on the floor. I had a little trouble reinserting the dust cup after I emptied it, but it's easy enough once you get the knack.

Though I didn't find the small dust bin too much of a hindrance, there are great handheld vacuums out there with a larger capacity, so keep that in mind if you think this would bother you.

As with any vacuum, it's best to clean the filter regularly to keep the device in tip-top condition. Although I struggled to remove the filter holder, I could still access the filter easily enough.

Taking mine out revealed just how much flour I'd used on my earlier tests, but thankfully, most of it came out by tapping the filter over the bin. Rinsing the filter is the best way to clean it fully (just make sure it's completely dry before putting it back into the vacuum).

After using it, the upholstery tool had a little dust and debris on it, but it only took a couple of minutes to wipe it down, too. I'd recommend keeping all attachment heads as clean as possible to keep the WandVac working optimally.

How does it compare to similar models?

Shark is no stranger to producing high-quality handheld vacuums, but where does the WandVac Deluxe sit amongst the brand's current offerings? First, it's the upgrade of the WandVac 2.0, a cheaper (£129.99 compared to £199.99) option with a much shorter battery life (max 15 minutes). The WandVac 2.0 is still good for on-the-go cleaning, but you might struggle to use it for longer jobs like cleaning the car.

Then, there's the Shark PowerBoost Pet Handheld Vac. Our reviewer was impressed by its suction power, lightweight design, and battery life, and this model includes a flexible hose and extra tools for awkward areas, making it slightly more versatile. The PowerBoost's dust cup is slightly larger (0.25L), but I'm not convinced the price hike (£229.99) is worth it. It's not a slimline design like the WandVac Deluxe is, which is my personal preference for handheld vacs.

Finally, the Dyson Car+Boat has long held the top spot in our handheld vacuum buying guide. I tested it myself, and it earned full marks for its impressive cleaning performance.

In standard mode, the Dyson Car+Boat runs for 50 minutes, the longest battery life I've found for a handheld vac. That said, after testing the WandVac Deluxe, I think this is my preferred model for easy handheld cleaning. I prefer the lightweight design to the bulkier Dyson model, but I don't feel like the WandVac Deluxe compromises on power. It's also cheaper than the Car+Boat, which costs £249.99 at full price.

Should you buy the Shark WandVac Deluxe Handheld Vacuum?

I rarely give an appliance five stars in my reviews, because it really needs to tick all the boxes. But testing the Shark WandVac Deluxe has genuinely been a delight. The seriously impressive suction, the three power modes for cleaning flexibility, and the motorised tool for deep cleaning mean it handled everything I threw at it. It's perfect for grab-and-go cleans but also holds its own on tougher jobs.

What really sets the WandVac Deluxe apart for me is how lightweight it is. I’ve tested plenty of handheld vacuums, and I’ve realised that if a handheld feels bulky or cumbersome, it defeats the point. The WandVac Deluxe is slim enough to sit comfortably in my hand, and I can quickly grab it to clean room edges or freshen up soft furnishings without feeling like I’m lugging a hefty appliance around.

The compromises are there, but they're small. It's a little on the loud side (especially in boost mode), and the dust bin is small, but I didn't need to empty it as much as I thought I would. That might change if you use the vacuum for regular heavy-duty cleaning, but for this review, it wasn't a problem.

At £199.99, it isn’t the cheapest handheld vacuum around, but after testing it alongside models from Gtech and Dyson, I think it offers excellent value for what you get. If you want a powerful, lightweight handheld vacuum that can handle more than just the occasional crumb, I’d have no hesitation recommending the Shark WandVac Deluxe.

A major perk of my job is testing cleaning and floor care appliances in my own home - something that has come in very handy after recently moving into a new (slightly neglected) house. And in an effort to restore my old, worn carpets into something that didn’t give me the heebie-jeebies, I decided to take the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner out for a spin.

Typically, the best carpet cleaners are big and cumbersome, but the new Shark CarpetForce is marketed as a lightweight, compact alternative to these larger, heavier options. But does the cleaning power match its impressive size and weight specs? That was what I wanted to find out.

In a nutshell

At 6.9 kg and with a small footprint and removable wand for easy storage, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is undoubtedly the lightest, smallest, and most manoeuvrable carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. That alone would be enough to add it to my basket, especially in a world where these appliances can weigh over 15kg and require an entire room for storage.

But the CarpetForce also offers two cleaning modes - Express Clean and Deep Clean - allowing homeowners and renters alike the chance to give their carpets a quick refresh or a deeper, more powerful clean to get right into the carpet fibres. And during testing, Express Clean impressed me with its power and rapid drying time.

On the other hand, Deep Clean mode handled smaller, less-intrusive stains with ease, but it wasn’t quite enough to remove deep-set coffee stains, and the drying time was over 24 hours. Because of this, this carpet cleaner isn’t for those who want to take soiled, stained carpets and restore them to their former glory. Instead, I believe it’s for the everyday user who wants to refresh their carpets with more than just a vacuum cleaner.

Just be warned that with no tools or attachments, this is very much an appliance for carpets and rugs - not your sofas, upholstery or stairs. But for an affordable, compact carpet cleaner that gets the job done quickly and efficiently (and on a small scale), it left me impressed.

Specifications

• Cord length: 6m
• Clean water capacity: 3.8L
• Modes: Deep Clean, Express Clean
• Weight: 6.9 kg
• Dimensions: 32.69 cm L x 26.39 cm W x 110.9 cm H
• In the box: Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner with removable wand, 350ml Shark Deep Clean Ultra formula - Starter Bottle
• RRP: £179.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When a brand says something, I like to think that they mean it. So, things started off well when Shark’s ‘lightest carpet cleaner’ turned up on my doorstep in a compact box weighing no more than 10kg. After all, I’m used to testing carpet cleaners (and even some vacuum cleaners) that weigh significantly more than that.

In true Shark form, everything was packaged incredibly simply and in an eco-friendly fashion - from the outer cardboard box to the paper packaging surrounding the carpet cleaner and the removable wand. The box also included an instruction manual and a starter bottle of the cleaning solution.

I was happy to see that very little assembly was required. All I had to do was click the wand into the top of the unit and remove a few sticky labels before I could inspect it in its entirety.

It's a compact model and so lightweight to carry around the house, and I knew just from looking at it that I wouldn’t have to rehome my husband to find storage space for it (which I’m sure he was happy about, too).

And while I’m used to testing carpet cleaners that also come with hoses and handheld attachments for smaller cleaning jobs, I tried not to be too disappointed. I got the feeling that this carpet cleaner was for everyday refreshes rather than deep fibre penetration and stain removal. But I was eager to test this theory out.

To get ready for the first clean, I removed the clean water tank, unscrewed the cap, and filled it to the handy ‘WATER’ fill line. Then, I topped up the rest of the tank with the solution, which was also marked with a ‘CONCENTRATE’ line.

Then, I popped it back on the unit, ready to start cleaning. From unboxing to ready-to-go, it took no more than five minutes, which is a major win in my (very busy) book.

Using the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner

We have strict rules for how we test carpet cleaners at Ideal Home, so I started the review process by throwing coffee onto a carpet sample, wiping blue toothpaste next to it, and letting the stains settle and dry for 24 hours. I then set to work on (hopefully) removing these stains with the Shark CarpetForce.

I used the ‘Deep Clean’ mode for these stains, applying the solution by pressing the trigger while slowly pushing the carpet cleaner forward. Then, I released the trigger and pulled the unit back to ‘extract’ the stains and the water/cleaning solution concoction.

One thing I noticed immediately is that Deep Clean mode uses a lot of water - so much so that it started leaking over the sides of the carpet sample. This left it soaking, and while the extraction removed a fair amount, a lot of water remained behind. In fact, it took the carpet sample over 24 hours to feel dry to the touch - a little too long, in my opinion.

The results here were fair. Although the Shark CarpetForce removed the toothpaste stain with no problem during the first Deep Clean, the coffee stain remained - albeit a lot fainter. So, I had to repeat the process a couple of days later, but even then a slight hint of brown still lingered if you looked close enough.

The issue, in my eyes, is that the CarpetForce doesn’t come with a spot-cleaning function or tool that allows for more targeted stain removal. But in Shark’s defence, it didn’t design this carpet cleaner with that in mind.

So, I can’t really fault it for not having a smaller hose or attachment for stains. It is worth considering this if you regularly have to tackle stains, though, as it may be worth buying a separate spot cleaner like the Shark Stainforce.

However, one thing that did impress me during this stain removal test was how lightweight and manoeuvrable the carpet cleaner was, so I then decided to take it for a spin on my living room rug - a cream number that, in hindsight, wasn’t a good choice in a high-traffic area when you live with a dog.

I used Express Clean for this task, and the water usage felt much more appropriate. I could see and feel that it left the rug damp, not sodden, and it looked noticeably cleaner on the first try. But what I loved most was that the rug was completely dry again in less than three hours.

I was so impressed that I decided to tackle the carpeted landing that has been giving me nightmares since we moved into this house. The property was fairly neglected when we moved in, and I had no idea how long it had been since it was last cleaned, so I was fully expecting to be horrified - and I was.

Even in Express Clean mode, the Shark CarpetForce extracted so much dirt and grime that the water turned a disgusting dark brown. But despite giving me shivers, it was extremely satisfying and took very little effort on my part.

Of course, without attachments or tools, I couldn't use this carpet cleaner to clean my carpeted stairs, which was a shame. But for a refresh of rugs and flat carpets, it did a very good job, and the 6m cord length was long enough to offer stretch without the cable getting in the way all the time.

I was also able to use one full tank of water and cleaning solution for three separate cleaning jobs - including one Deep Clean and two Express Cleans on smaller areas - so it went a lot further than I thought.

Cleaning and maintenance

While not having any tools or attachments is undoubtedly a negative for versatility, it’s certainly a positive for cleaning and maintenance. The Shark CarpetForce was surprisingly easy to look after, and not as messy as I was anticipating.

I’ve previously tested carpet cleaners where the brush roll gets ridiculously gunky where debris hasn’t been sucked fully back into the dirty water chamber, but the CarpetForce was fairly clean - just a bit wet, with a little bit of hair wrapped around the brush roll. However, I always have my Pikk-It® Hair Removal Tool (£7.99 at Amazon) to hand whenever I test a floorcare appliance, as this tends to come with the territory.

Despite the few strands caught around the brush roll, though, most of the human (and dog) hair was captured within the strainer that sits within the dirty water tank. In fact, it was completely full to the brim with hair and carpet/rug fibres, but it was easy to tap it into a bin and get rid of it all.

Then, you can pour the dirty water down the sink and clean the foam filter with soap and water. It’s also a good idea to lightly wash the dirty water tank and its removable parts in washing-up liquid and water before air-drying and reassembling. You can also remove the brushroll for a deeper clean.

One ongoing maintenance cost to consider, though, is the cleaning solution. This particular Shark carpet cleaner isn’t compatible with any other solution or carpet cleaning solutions, so you will need to buy it every so often if you’re running low - and a refill of the Deep Clean formula will set you back £14.99 at Shark. You can also buy pet- or stain-specific Shark solutions, too.

A bonus is that - unlike other carpet cleaners I’ve tested - you can store the carpet cleaner with any unused solution in the tank, and you don’t have to empty it after every use.

In terms of storage, this is also undoubtedly the smallest full-size carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. The wand is removable, making it even smaller and easy to store in smaller homes with limited storage. So, that’s a major bonus in my book.

How does it rate online?

The Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is still relatively new to the market, but at the time of writing, it has 32 reviews and an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.

Most reviewers praise the ease and manoeuvrability of the lightweight, compact carpet cleaner, saying that it was ideal for giving their carpets a refresh - especially at the low price point.

However, some have criticised how quickly it runs out of water during carpet cleaning. Others noted that it was a shame there were no tools or attachments for cleaning stairs.

How does it compare to similar models?

When comparing carpet cleaners, it’s important to compare with the top-rated model in our guide - the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Washer. This model is significantly more expensive at £350, but it offers much more in the way of deep cleaning.

It comes with a longer power cord for extra reach, plus a 2.5m hose, 2-in-1 anti-microbial tool, SpinScrub tool, and more cleaning solutions. This meant that our reviewer could use it on everything from her rugs and sofas to her stairs with ease.

It also has a hot air dry-only setting that significantly speeds up drying time by removing moisture before you pop it away. However, it is a lot heavier at 8.9kg, and a lot bigger - making it trickier to store.

As it’s a Shark model, it’s also worth comparing it to the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Deep Carpet Cleaner with Spot Cleaner, which I tested last year and gave a slightly higher 4.5-star review thanks to the built-in spot cleaner and Dry Only mode.

The CarpetXpert is undoubtedly a better carpet cleaner than this CarpetForce in terms of performance and features, but ultimately it depends on what you want to buy a carpet cleaner for. If you want it to give your carpets a big, deep clean, the CarpetXpert will suit you best.

If you want an everyday carpet cleaner that you can whip out quickly for quick spills and refreshes, the CarpetForce is a better option.

Should you buy the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner?

If you’re after a carpet cleaner that you can keep out of sight in a cupboard and bring out to give carpets and rugs a quick refresh, I genuinely couldn’t recommend the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner more. It ticks all those boxes, and it's extremely easy to use while effectively removing dirt, hair, and grime.

The compact size makes it an accessible option for those who have previously had to rent a carpet cleaner or pay a professional, and the low price point is a major bonus for those on a budget. However, it’s not perfect.

Its stain-removal abilities are fair, but not fantastic, and without any tools or attachments, its cleaning options are limited to rugs and large carpeted areas. This means that you’ll still need to buy another cleaning tool - like a smaller spot cleaner - for targeted stain removal, cleaning upholstery and furniture, and cleaning stairs.

But all in all, the Shark CarpetForce offers much of what it promises, and for under £180 I really do think it’ll be a welcome addition to many people’s cleaning routine.

Today, Dyson announced it’s adding a wide range of floorcare appliances to its already-stellar lineup. But perhaps most exciting is its first sub-£500 robot vacuum - a nice step away from the premium price we’ve come to expect from this premium brand.

While the best robot vacuum cleaners have become the new must-have appliance in homes across the UK, they’re not cheap. Many of the top models - including Dyson’s own robot vacuums - retail for anywhere between £700 and £1,000. But the new Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry breaks the mould at just £499.99… and it promises excellent cleaning power, too.

The Dyson R1 Nurovi Dry isn’t alone, though. It’s one of THREE new robot vacuums unveiled by Chief Engineer Jake Dyson at the Dyson Unveiled Event in Berlin today (which I was lucky enough to get an invite to), and you can read on to find out what makes these new robot vacuums so special.

The affordable R1 Nurovi Dry forms part of the new Nurovi range, aimed at offering varying levels of innovation and cleaning power across three very different machines: the R1 Nurovi Dry, R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry and the Dyson R3 Nurovi Spot+Scrub™ UV.

All three offer varying features and price points, but to cut the jargon, I’ve put the information you need into an easy-to-understand table below:

Of course, the cheapest R1 option is undoubtedly the most basic model, and it's worth weighing this up if you’re buying your first robot vacuum cleaner.

But if you primarily have soft flooring in your home and don’t need a robot vacuum that also mops, it’ll suit you perfectly. Especially with the new, souped-up cleaning technology and the side-sweeper system that aims to reach nooks and crannies like never before.

If you do want a robot vacuum that’ll mop your floors, the R2 is the mid-range option offering both wet and dry cleaning with new Reuleaux triangle pads designed to offer an effective and efficient clean that covers every inch of your floor - something that robot vacuums with round pads often miss.

And this is what Dyson wants from this new era of robotics. Speaking at the event, Jake Dyson explained, ‘With the Dyson Nurovi robots, we’ve rethought things from the ground up – from how debris is captured, to how edges and corners are cleaned, and how the machine senses and adapts to its environment.’

‘The result is a range of robots that clean intelligently, precisely, and effectively across every surface,’ he added.

But if you’re not a fan of robot vacuums, you don’t have to worry. Dyson unveiled a whopping 12 new home appliances at the unveiling - including the new Dyson W1 PencilWash (£299 at Dyson), which builds on the success of the original PencilWash by offering a self-cleaning roller dock and a more absorbent roller.

Or if you’re in the market for an old-school vacuum cleaner with a twist, the iconic vacuum brand has also reimagined the Dyson Big Ball Konical Vacuum Cleaner (£399.99 at Dyson).

You’ll probably recognise this classic design as one of Dyson’s first big successes, but this new model has been upgraded to include the Konical head (which can be seen on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal), improved cyclone technology for powerful suction power, and self-righting ball technology - which means it’ll never fall over.

Fans of the best cordless vacuums, and more specifically the hugely popular Dyson V15 Cordless Vacuum, will also be happy to hear that the brand will release its most powerful V15 model ever in 2027.

I’ll share more details on this in the coming months, but from what I hear, it’s going to be extremely versatile and very powerful.

Things are looking exciting over at camp Dyson!

I test vacuum cleaners for a living. And while I know that a large majority of consumers love the convenience of a cordless vacuum, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ll almost always favour corded. That’s because these appliances clean… and they clean well.

Luckily for me, Shark just dropped a brand new corded vacuum: the Shark PowerDetect Transformer LX5001UKT Corded Upright Vacuum Cleaner. But this ‘triple threat’ model isn’t like any other model I’ve seen before, so I was desperate to see if it could compete with the best vacuum cleaners out there - not forgetting the best Shark vacuum cleaners.

In a nutshell

While I do love my job, testing vacuums for a living often takes the shine off cleaning my own house. But I can honestly say that testing the Shark PowerDetect Transformer Corded Upright Vacuum - and then using it in my home as my regular vacuum cleaner - has been pretty exciting.

I had assumed that the 3-in-1 transformation was a novelty that would soon wear off. But two weeks on, I’m still marvelling at how one vacuum can offer so much and deliver such impressive cleaning results - and have even mastered the art of transforming it from upright to stick and then handheld in three seconds flat. I dare you to try and beat that.

As a vacuum, it’s powerful, convenient, and smart in a way that makes cleaning incredibly easy, detecting everything from different floor types to the amount of debris it needs to pick up. And the corded nature means it offers boosted power (compared to cordless vacuums) and unlimited runtime, with a lengthy cord that let me stretch from one side of my house to the other without unplugging.

However, I did have some niggles. Not only did I struggle to find the right tool to vacuum my carpeted stairs, but in upright mode it’s also large and heavy, making manoeuvrability and storage a little tricky. Let’s not forget that it’s almost £500, making it one of Shark’s most expensive vacuums on its roster.

Specifications

• Weight: 8kg
• Cord length: 8m
• Bin volume: 1.3L (upright), 0.2L (handheld)
• Physical modes: 3 (upright, handheld, stick)
• Cleaning modes: 4 (Detect, Hard Floor, Carpet/Low Pile/Thick Carpet/Area Rug)
• Noise level (tested by us): 77- 79 dB
• In the box: Floorhead, vacuum pod, wand, handheld unit, accessory posts, anti-odour cartridge, crevice tool, pet multi-tool, pet power brush, accessory bag
• RRP: £499.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

It’s quite literally my job to test vacuum cleaners (yes, really!) so I’m no stranger to big-box deliveries. And while the Shark PowerDetect Transformer came in a hefty 11.5kg box that made me glad I had my Wheetabix that morning, I understood why when I opened it.

After all, the box was packed to the rafters - and in eco-friendly packaging, no less - with so many goodies inside. This included the main floorhead, vacuum pod, wand, handheld unit, accessory posts, anti-odour cartridge, crevice tool, pet multi-tool, pet power brush, and accessory bag.

As I pulled everything out of its packaging, two things initially struck me. 1) Everything felt very sturdy and well-made, which is something I’ve come to expect from Shark. 2) I really loved the green colourway. However, as I was assembling everything, I noticed that the green really picked up dust, so I made a mental note to check on this during testing.

Assembly was very easy, though. I started by inserting the anti-odour cartridge into its home on the floorhead, attaching the wand to the floorhead, and then slotting the handheld portion of the unit to the wand. This is where the cord attaches to the unit, so I unwrapped it and wound it around the dedicated cord holder for the time being.

Then, the last step was to attach the accessory posts to the vacuum pod and then slide the vacuum pod onto the main unit. This is by far one of the heaviest parts of the vacuum, but the pod slid on quickly and efficiently, with little wriggling or faff.

With everything assembled, I could then take a step back and assess the vacuum as a whole. My verdict? It looked good, felt robust, and was certainly an interesting concept. I was just a little worried that it would be fiddly with so many moving parts and modes, so I wanted to get started and see for myself.

Luckily, this model is corded, so I didn’t have to wait for anything to charge. I could just get cracking!

Using the Shark PowerDetect Transformer Corded Upright Vacuum

Before I take any new vacuum for a spin around my home, I always complete a few dedicated tests to help me compare models and ultimately assign a star rating that reflects its performance and price. So, I threw some sugar, porridge oats, rice and my dog’s pet hair on the floor to see how well it reacts to - and removes - different types of debris.

For this test, I put the Shark PowerDetect Transformer in its upright form and turned on Detect Mode so it could adjust its cleaning power according to the floor type and debris level. And as you can see in the video, it tackled all the debris incredibly well and removed everything from the floor in a single forward pass.

So well, in fact, that you can actually see the pet hair being sucked into the rollers before it’s even touched them. And as I live with a dog that sheds a lot, this was amazing to see.

I then repeated the same test on carpet, and the results were identical. And when I began to use it as my everyday vacuum, I continued to find that the Detect Mode was extremely responsive and efficient. It reacted instantly when I moved from my hard flooring to my rug, and the edge cleaning and the floorhead lights picked up dust and debris I didn’t even know was there.

And while I did try out the Manual Surface Modes - which allow you to choose a specific floor type on your own - I didn’t feel like I needed to, as the automatic adjustments of Detect Mode always offered the optimal clean. However, it’s nice to have the option to use them if you have particularly delicate flooring.

I also found myself using the upright mode more often than the stick mode, as the large debris chamber makes it handy for deep, whole-home cleans. But having the option to switch into stick mode in seconds? Well, this was very handy - especially when I needed to clean under furniture or wanted to quickly clean up a dedicated spill. After all, the onboard debris bin for the stick portion is pretty small at just 0.2L.

Of course, the elephant in the room is that this new vacuum cleaner is corded and on the heavier side in upright mode - a dealbreaker for some. But Shark has been very generous with the 8m cord, and I was able to vacuum the majority of my downstairs from the same plug socket. It also propels itself forward when you push gently, so it doesn’t feel as heavy as it is.

But if you have a larger home, you will need to get into the habit of unplugging and replugging to ensure you vacuum every inch. And you’ll still need to carry it upstairs if you want to use it in upright mode - but there at least is the option to take off the upright pod and only take the stick portion upstairs.

As I do with all vacuum cleaners, I also test the noise levels using a decibel meter app on my phone. And one thing to note with the Shark PowerDetect Transformer is that it came in at around 77-79db. This is actually very average for a vacuum cleaner, and while the noise level doesn’t change when you switch modes, the sound does.

The only way to describe it is that Detect Mode sounds quite airy, while the other dedicated floor modes are a bit whinier. Personally, I don’t mind this - and neither does my dog - but if you’re sensitive to sounds, this is something to consider.

Using the attachments

Another aspect of the Transformer’s transformation is that it quickly detaches from the vacuum - either in upright or stick form - into a handheld. Of course, this isn’t new and something that most cordless vacuum cleaners offer, but it’s still something I like to test out properly. Especially as the Shark PowerDetect Transformer also comes with a few accessories.

Included as standard are the crevice tool, pet multi-tool and pet power brush. I always find the crevice to be handy for vacuuming down the sides of the sofa, and Shark’s iteration did the job well. The multi-tool was also a particular favourite of mine.

This tool can be used with or without the bristles (you simply press the lock button to take them apart), and worked wonders on the dirty footstool my dog sleeps on. It removed all the lingering mud he brings into the house and most of the hair. However, that hair then got stuck on the underside of the tool, which I had to remove manually.

Then there’s the pet power brush, which I had high hopes for. This one let me down a bit, though, as I was expecting a motorised tool that would rotate of its own accord and work hard to remove hair and debris - especially on my carpeted stairs. It wasn’t like this, though.

It wasn’t motorised at all, and it seemed like the suction power was lacking, so it missed a fair bit of debris on the stairs. This left me in a bit of a loop as I typically use a motorised tool to vacuum my stairs, so I didn’t quite know how to clean them. In the end, I opted to use the multi-tool again.

Of course, the handheld section is once again corded so you do have to be cautious of the length of the cord - but I’m used to this as someone who has tested numerous corded vacuums, and I don’t mind it.

It’s also worth noting that this model is compatible with many other accessories, too. This includes a duster crevice tool, a home & car detail kit, and an under-appliance wand - and a full list of compatible accessories can be found in the instruction manual or on the website.

All in all, the handheld’s cleaning abilities were ok, but my favourite thing was the fact that, after I’d finished using the handheld portion, I could pop it back onto the main vacuum unit (with the upright vacuum pod attached) and it would automatically empty itself into the larger dust bin.

This is a new feature I loved, as it meant I could use it quickly without having to empty it after each use. In fact, I could use it multiple times without needing to empty the larger debris chamber.

You can see this in the video above - just keep an eye on the handheld dust bin if you don't have the sound on.

Cleaning and maintenance

When the time comes to empty the larger debris chamber/vacuum pod, you can easily remove it from the vacuum and empty it directly in the bin. This is a sealed HEPA chamber, so it shouldn’t release any harmful pollutants into the air.

When you do this, you can also see the pre-motor filter, which needs to be rinsed and air-dried every month. The post-motor filter can be found by pressing the ‘Filter Door’ button, which can be cleaned in the same way every year.

The handheld vacuum portion also comes with its own pre- and post-motor filters, which can be removed when you open up the dedicated dust chamber. Again, the pre-filter needs to be rinsed every month under cold water and left to air dry - but the post-motor filter every six months.

As the floorhead has anti-hair-wrap technology, I didn’t need to remove any hair from the rollers at any point during my two-week testing period, which was a massive bonus. Plus, the anti-odour cartridge released an amazing scent that made my home smell clean after vacuuming. These don’t last forever, though, so will need to be replaced when the scent disappears if you want to continue using it.

Aside from that, very little maintenance is required for the Shark PowerDetect Transformer. But I will say that my earlier prediction was correct, and the green colourway does pick up a lot of dust and becomes quite dirty in use - but this was nothing a quick dust couldn’t fix.

It also needs to be stored in its upright form, really, so it is still quite big and might not suit smaller households with limited storage. So, just beware if you live in a tiny flat.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Shark PowerDetect is a first for Shark, so it’s hard to compare it to anything else. However, it builds upon the specs and features of the Shark PowerDetect Powered Lift-Away Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner I reviewed in November 2025, so it’s a good idea to start there.

The two models look almost identical and offer the same PowerDetect technologies to deliver a deep clean to your floors. The difference is that the original PowerDetect is only a corded upright (with a Lift-Away Pod for smaller jobs), while the new Transformer combines the upright with stick and handheld modes.

So, it really comes down to what you’re after. If you already have a stick vacuum you love and don’t see yourself giving up anytime soon, the OG PowerDetect will still offer that corded power you’re after - and for almost £100 less. But if you want one new vacuum that will do it all and offer multiple variations of itself, it’s probably worth shelling out that extra cash for the Transformer.

Verdict: Should you buy the Shark PowerDetect Transformer LX5001UKT Corded Upright Vacuum?

At my testing facility (AKA my home), I always have at least five vacuums to choose from at any one point. And if I find myself reaching for one vacuum over another even when my official testing process has finished, I know it’s a good’un - and that’s exactly what’s happened with this model.

If you have the money to invest in a new vacuum, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Shark PowerDetect Transformer. It’s extremely powerful, offers so many effective cleaning features, and is multi-purpose so you’ll never need to buy a secondary vacuum - or even a handheld vacuum. It’s your all-in-one solution for whole-home cleaning.

However, it is expensive, and upright corded vacuums don’t suit everyone. But if you’ve only ever used cordless stick vacuums, I do think this model could be a great gateway into the corded realm, as its corded stick form offers a happy medium that lets you taste a bit of everything... for a price.

As a home tech reviewer, I've spent the best part of a decade testing appliances out in my home. And I've had the pleasure of taking some of the best robot vacuum cleaners out for a test drive.

Recently, I got my hands on the iRobot Roomba Plus 415 Combo, and it's a strong cleaner but a poor driver. Of course, which of those observations you care about more depends entirely on what kind of home you keep. So, this is everything you need to know.

In a nutshell

The 415 sits at the entry point of the new Roomba Plus range, vacuuming and mopping in the same run, with an AutoWash dock that empties the bin, washes the pads, and dries them with warm air at 45°C. Suction is quoted at 20,000Pa, which iRobot says is 2.8 times that of the older Roomba 505, though the number is less important than the two DualClean pads spinning at 200 RPM underneath.

ClearView LiDAR handles navigation, and the map-building is quick, with the resulting plan coming out pretty accurately. Sadly, there's no camera-based obstacle recognition at this tier, and after a day of watching it drag a cat toy into the hallway, that omission is my defining impression of the machine.

In fact, I've learned that there is a specific noise a robot vacuum makes when it detects a charging cable and mistakes it for a rug. A rising whine, then the sound of furniture scratching and, in the worst cases, ornaments dropped to the floor as a table falls over. I heard it three times in the first hour with the Roomba Plus 415 Combo, which is a shame because between those moments it did some of the best floor cleaning I've had from a robot in this end of the market.

​The dock is the other thing worth discussing, mainly for what it isn't. At 33 x 33 x 48.5 cm, it takes up roughly half the floor of the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra I tested in the same flat a few weeks ago, and it went into its corner without anything else having to move. Anyone who has tried to house a self-washing dock in a small flat will understand why that's such an important detail.

Specifications

• Suction power: 20,000Pa
• Mop function: Yes
• Pad lift: 10mm auto-lift on carpet detection
• Navigation: ClearView LiDAR
• Multi-floor mapping: Yes, up to 3 maps
• Dock functions: Auto-empty, pad wash, 45°C heated drying, self-cleaning cycle
• Dust bag: AllergenLock, up to 3 months
• Cleaning modes: Vacuum only, mop only, both together, vacuum then mop
• Robot dimensions: H8.35 x W30.3 x D29.8cm, 2.9kg
• Dock dimensions: H48.5 x W33 x D33cm, 5.3kg
• Compatible with: Roomba Home app, Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The packaging consisted of too much cardboard and more plastic than I'd like to see in 2026, but that’s not a knock on iRobot specifically.

The cardboard at least goes out with the paper, but the dock arrives inside a full plastic sleeve, and the smaller parts each get their own compartment on top of that. I've said this about every robot vacuum I've tested, and I'll keep saying it.

What's inside is better organised than the outside suggests. A quick start guide, the dock, the robot, clean and dirty water tanks, an edge-sweeping brush, two pairs of mop pads, a spare AllergenLock bag, and both UK and US power leads.

Assembly is where the price shows itself. Everything goes together, but nothing clicks, and the way the panels sit feels flimsy, making me double-check that I'd done it right. Sliding the dock into its corner, I spent most of my energy making sure I didn't knock the water tanks off the top, which may only be a problem on the first day, but it didn't inspire much confidence.

It did, however, pass the test I apply to everything that arrives in a box: whether I can set it up without reading the instructions. The dock is intuitive, the pads only fit one way round, and the app takes over from there.

The robot itself is nicer-looking than most. There's a faux fabric patch across the top and a minimal set of buttons, which is a welcome change from the glossy black plastic discs that make up most of this category. It looks like something that belongs in a room rather than something you'd hide in a cupboard.

One absence I noticed straight away is that there's nowhere to add detergent. Other models have an auto-dosing compartment that meters cleaning solution into every run, but the 415 washes with water alone. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing about if you're used to a floor cleaner that also leaves a smell afterwards.

Ease of use

The Roomba Home app is clean and user-friendly, and the initial mapping run was quick and accurate. You get four cleaning modes, spot cleaning, zone and room selection, scheduling, and the usual voice assistant support across Alexa, Siri and Google.

Where it fell down for me was in the manual controls. I wanted to trigger an auto-empty and a pad wash on demand, partly to time them and partly because I'd just run the machine through BBQ sauce, and I couldn't find an obvious way to do either. They may well be in there, but after twenty minutes of looking, I'd given up, and a feature you can't find is basically a feature you don't have.

Performance

​As per how we test robot vacuums at Ideal Home, I also put the Roomba Plus 415 Combo through some messy tests.

The BBQ sauce test was a roaring success, and I don't say that lightly, given how many robot mops fail it. A fresh, sticky spill on laminate, and the 415 took it up in a single pass, scrubbed rather than smeared, with nothing travelling onto the cream rug sitting alongside. It just dealt with it, then paused a few moments later to wash its pads.​

Edge cleaning is the other genuine strength. The pads and the sweeping brush get right up against the skirting, and the back corner of my lounge by the cat flap, which is permanently filthy in a way no upright vacuum solves, came up lovely and clean.​

Hair pickup was also strong. In the interests of full disclosure, this was my hair rather than the cat's - Jet having made himself unavailable for brushing at the critical moment - but three good tufts of it went up in one pass with no hesitation.

Carpet detection works, and, more usefully, you can hear it working. There's a reassuring uptick in fan noise as it crosses onto a rug, and the pads lift out of the way, so nothing came up damp the next morning.​

Unfortunately, object avoidance is the worst I've tested this year. It’s not cautious or oversensitive like many robots, but simply absent.

Cat toys were dragged from the lounge into the hallway rather than avoided; the robot got tangled in charging cables almost immediately and, at one point, made a determined attempt to climb Jet's puzzle feeder. It also ate my feet, twice, while I was sitting still.

This is the LiDAR-only tier, and iRobot's own product page claims obstacle recognition that steers around cords, shoes, and toys. On the evidence of a full day, I'd treat that claim with a healthy dose of scepticism. The mapping is genuinely good, and the coverage is systematic, but the machine has no idea what any individual object is and behaves accordingly.

It's also deliberately, methodically slow, which I don't mind at all in a machine that runs while I'm out, but it is a problem when you have to babysit.

Cleaning and maintenance

Following the BBQ sauce test, while I was feeling positive about its performance, I opened the robot afterwards to check the brush and found not only remnants of sauce inside but also every strand of hair from the earlier test tightly wrapped around the roller.

On a machine sold on tangle-free rubber brushes, that's a real mark against it, and the sort of thing that turns into a five-minute job with scissors every couple of weeks (or more if you lose hair as I do).

The dock handles the rest well enough. It auto-empties into the AllergenLock bag, pad-washes between runs, and then dries with warm air at 45 °C. That's cooler than the 75°C wash some rivals manage, and whether it's enough to stop pads going sour is a question I can only answer with more time.

​The tanks lift out easily and refill without fuss, and the filters need to be changed every three to six months. Bags and pads are an ongoing cost, and I'd expect it to fall in a similar range to other models in this class.

How does it compare to similar models?

The MOVA P50 Pro Ultra, which I tested in the same flat, has better plumbing and a genuinely anti-tangle brush, but its dock is nearly twice the footprint, and it split the sauce test that the 415 passed outright.

​The Eufy Omni E25 holds a five-star rating from Ideal Home and delivers stronger raw suction, so a mostly carpeted home is better served by it.

​Within iRobot's own range, the step up to the Roomba Plus 575 adds AI visual recognition alongside LiDAR, which is exactly what the 415 is missing. If your floors have cables, pet toys or anything else it might eat, I'd work out what that gap costs before saving money at this tier.

Verdict: Should you buy the Roomba Plus 415 Combo?

If your home is mostly hard flooring and you're reasonably disciplined about clearing the floor, yes, and fairly happily. The mopping is one of the best I've seen at this price; the edges get proper attention, and the dock is small enough that finding it a home isn't a project in itself.

But the object avoidance is a problem, and it isn't a small one. A robot vacuum earns its money by being something you don't have to think about, and this is a machine you have to tidy up for. Every cable, every toy, every pair of shoes left by the door becomes something you deal with before you press start. Whether that's a fair trade depends on how much clearing you were going to do anyway.

As it’s literally my day job to test floorcare tools and appliances, I’m under no illusion that these products often look the same. But when I learned of the brand-new Joseph Joseph UltraClean Microfibre Floor Mop Cleaning System (£80 at Joseph Joseph), it's fair to say that its alien-like appearance intrigued me.

My guide to the best mops already includes a Joseph Joseph mop that I rate very highly. But the UltraClean is a first from the innovative brand known for its space-saving, design-led products. It’s their first mop AND bucket set, to reimagine mopping so you’re only ever cleaning with clean water - instead of pushing dirt around.

But while I have a lot of thoughts about the look of this new mop (more on that later), my first task was to try it out for size and see how well the brand’s new SprayClean technology fares in a real home and against real-life messes. This is how it got on - and why I'm not surprised it sold out once already.

Featuring separate clean and dirty water tanks, the UltraClean is designed to remove dirty water from your mop pad while spraying it with clean water every time you rinse. This allows you to use the perfect amount of water, ensuring you don’t make any mopping mistakes or oversaturate your hard flooring.

This was highly effective when I tested it myself, leaving them damp to the touch but not overly wet. In fact, my floors were dry again in just 5 minutes on a relatively gloomy day with the windows closed. That was its first tick.

And while there’s a lot going on in the way of technology, this doesn’t affect the UltraClean’s ease of use. All you have to do is fill up the clean water tank, add your detergent if desired - I love this Wild Rhubarb Method Floor Cleaner (£4.50 at Amazon) - and then pump it a few times to kickstart the process.

When it's time to refresh the mop, simply pump it again to spray clean water onto the mop pad. At the same time, the dirty water will be scraped into the dirty water tank - leaving behind a clean mop head and a satisfyingly dirty bucket of brown/grey water.

And while the new Joseph Joseph UltraClean was only released a few months ago, it proved so popular that it sold out instantly and has only just come back in stock.

Plus, its impressive reviews prove I’m not the only one who appreciates its cleaning power. One reviewer wrote, ‘The clean and dirty water separation is brilliant, and you can clearly see it lifting dirt. It feels solid and well-made, and it’s very satisfying (if slightly alarming!) to see how much dirt collects in the bucket.’

Another raved, ‘The mop is very lightweight, yet gives a brilliant, effortless clean in hardly any time. I never thought I’d ever say this about a mop, but it looks extremely stylish too!’

That last comment is where things get a little murky for me, though, as I’m still unsure on the design front. On the one hand, it’s very on-brand for Joseph Joseph, and I’d definitely be able to pick it out of a line-up. My husband also loves the modern, alien-like aesthetic and even told me he’d be happy to keep it on display if we didn’t have space in the cupboard to store it.

I’m not as convinced, though. I find the look a little weird and a bit too out there for me, but I will admit that it’s grown on me the longer it’s been in the house. And I guess that’s the difficulty of designing something that’s so very different to the other mops on the market; some people will love it, while others won’t.

But, ultimately, most customers want to buy a mop based on its cleaning power, and the Joseph Joseph UltraClean has that in spades. Plus, it makes an impact.

However, I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I told you that this new mop was perfect. The price is a big issue for me, especially when you consider that, while impressive, the technology isn’t exactly unique. In fact, it’s very similar to another mop I tested recently, the Vileda H2PrO Flat Mop System (£51.50 at Argos).

As you can see from the pictures below, the basic features of these mops are very similar. They both have separate clean and water chambers, they both offer flat, machine-washable mop heads, they’re both relatively compact, and they both use the same clean-water spraying mechanism within the bucket.

The main difference is the price, with the Vileda mop coming up almost £30 cheaper. The Vileda is also much smaller, making it better suited to smaller spaces. But while they both offer squeaky-clean results, I can confidently say that the Joseph Joseph offers more in the way of manoeuvrability.

The all-access rotating mop head, combined with the telescopic handle, makes it extremely easy to clean smaller nooks and crannies. And while it's extremely lightweight in hand, in true Joseph Joseph form, it still feels very high-quality. Although for £80, I'd expect nothing less.

Whatever mop you buy, though, it’s important that you always vacuum before mopping to ensure the cleaning process is as effective and efficient as possible. Alternatively, you could invest a little more into one of the best vacuum mops that’ll do both jobs for you.

Alternatives to shop

So, will you be joining me in my 'weird' mop era?

The Kärcher SCV 4 promises to take some of the legwork out of cleaning by vacuuming and steam cleaning hard floors at the same time, while doubling up as a regular vacuum on carpets. As someone who's tested plenty of floorcare appliances for Ideal Home, I was keen to see whether this multi-tasking model could compete with the best steam cleaners and mops (and the best vacuums) out there.

After putting it through its paces around my home, there was plenty that impressed me - but it's not without its drawbacks.

In a nutshell

The Kärcher SCV 4's biggest selling point is its ability to vacuum and steam hard floors at the same time, and I was impressed by how effectively it managed both. It made my vinyl kitchen floor look noticeably cleaner after just a few passes, while the sensitive steam mode will be helpful for delicate hard flooring. Better still, it only uses water, so there's no need to buy a separate cleaning solution.

It performed well in my tougher cleaning tests. Flour and raw egg disappeared from my kitchen floor in a single pass, although it struggled slightly more with a large pile of baked beans, with a few getting caught underneath the floorhead. For everyday crumbs and spills, though, I'd be more than happy to reach for it.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was how well the SCV 4 worked as a standalone vacuum on carpet. It picked up almost all of my flour test in one sweep and glided smoothly across the floor, making it a seriously versatile appliance. The self-cleaning mode and powerful LED headlights are handy additions, too.

My main reservations are its bulk and corded design. It can't reach right up to the edges of a room or fit into every tight space, and I found the long cable less convenient than using a cordless cleaner. But if you're happy to sacrifice some manoeuvrability for a solid cleaning performance and want one appliance that can steam hard floors and vacuum carpets, the SCV 4 is a worthy pick.

How I tested

Specifications

• Weight: 7.1kg
• Dimensions: H:122 x W:31 x L:31 cm
• Clean water tank capacity: 500ml
• In the box: main unit, cleaning roller, descaling cartridge, cleaning station, accessories holder
• RRP: £339.99

Unboxing and set up

The Kärcher SCV 4 arrived in a fairly large box that was a little awkward to carry around, but thankfully not too heavy. Inside, all of the parts were neatly packed in cardboard, but there was still some plastic wrapping, which I’d personally prefer to see less of. You can recycle this kind of plastic at most larger supermarkets, at least.

Setting everything up was pretty straightforward thanks to the quick-start guide and (somewhat bulky) instruction manual. The handle slots easily into the main unit, and the cleaning roller is fitted into the roller cassette. I found getting the cassette back into place a little fiddly, but it only took me a few minutes to get it back in place again.

You’ll also need to insert the descaling cartridge into the water tank before getting started. This is included to help protect the appliance from limescale and extend its lifespan, which I thought was a nice addition. Another plus is that you only need to fill the tank with water, so there’s no separate cleaning solution to keep buying.

Design-wise, I wouldn't exactly call the SCV pretty. As someone who loves a cordless vacuum, I'm used to sleek, compact appliances that don't have trailing wires. This isn't necessarily a critique of the product; it's just not my personal preference. But I was hoping the bulk meant it would pack a powerful punch and fare well against heavy-duty cleaning.

Performance

Once I'd filled the water tank up and plugged the SCV 4 in, it was good to go. As the appliance heats up, the screen display lights up with flashing icons for each of its cleaning modes: vacuuming, regular steam mode and a sensitive steam mode, designed for more delicate floor surfaces, such as laminate and sealed wooden floors.

Vacuuming can also be combined with either steam setting, which is a major plus - to be able to vacuum and steam at the same time is never a guarantee, so I was looking forward to putting this feature to the test.

Hard floors

To get used to the feel of the SCV 4, I took it for a quick turn around my vinyl kitchen floor, starting with the vacuum and regular steam functions switched on together. From the off, I could tell this was a powerful appliance - so powerful that it almost seemed to move by itself. Very little effort was required from me to push it around the floor, despite the fairly bulky build. It's also fairly noisy, though not at a level I'd deem unpleasant.

As I passed the SCV 4 around my kitchen, the floor became visibly damp, while crumbs and other small pieces of debris all but disappeared. After just a few passes, the surface looked noticeably cleaner.

While vinyl is hard-wearing enough to withstand regular steaming, I did try the sensitive steam mode as well. Less steam comes out, but the floor still seemed pretty clean afterwards. It's a good option if you have delicate hard flooring in your home.

I'm also a fan of the SCV 4's LED headlights. These are pretty powerful and do a good job of illuminating hidden messes on the floor, especially in darker corners and areas that are harder to see.

For a more controlled test (and as part of how we test products at Ideal Home), I scattered flour, baked beans and a raw egg across the kitchen floor to see how the SCV 4 would cope with these kinds of messy spills. Given how much food we somehow seem to get on the kitchen floor on a weekly basis, I was pretty keen to see the results.

It was impressive to watch the flour and egg disappear in a single pass, but the device definitely struggled more to pick up the beans.

Some were pushed around the floor rather than immediately sucked up, and when I thought I'd finished, I discovered that a few had actually become lodged along the underside of the floorhead rather than making their way into the waste tank. I had to wipe these away with some kitchen roll afterwards.

That said, this was a fairly big chunk of baked beans concentrated in one spot, and the SCV 4 still dealt with most of the mess surprisingly well. The liquid was successfully collected in the dirty-water tank, too, and the floor itself was left looking clean.

Based on this test, I'd be confident reaching for it to deal with everyday kitchen mishaps and smaller food spills, although I'd probably pick up the bulk of chunkier spills first rather than expecting it to replace a dustpan entirely.

Carpets

The SCV 4 can also be used as a regular vacuum cleaner on carpets (though the steam function shouldn't be used here).

It's fair to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the SCV's performance as a vacuum. It glided smoothly across my living room carpet and left behind those satisfying vacuum lines that make it easy to see where I've cleaned.

To put its suction to the test, I scattered some flour across my living room carpet, and it picked up almost everything in a single sweep. Steam vacuums can sometimes prioritise their steaming capabilities over vacuuming, so I was pretty pleased with this result.

I've tested plenty of vacuum cleaners for Ideal Home now, and in terms of straightforward pick-up power, the SCV 4 held its own against some of the best performers I've tried.

Where it falls slightly short as an everyday vacuum is its size. The handle lowers until it's almost flat, which means you can technically reach underneath furniture, but the bulky floorhead still needs enough clearance to fit.

It was also too wide to squeeze through the gap between my sofa and pouffe, something my usual vacuum manages comfortably. It also won't clean the edges of a room, so even if you did choose to use the SCV 4 in place of a standard vac, you'd probably need a good handheld vacuum to use alongside.

I also just prefer the ease of a cordless model compared to a corded one. This might come down to personal preference, but I found the trailing wire of the SCV 4 a bit annoying when I was trying to clean. The cord is also pretty long, which does mean you can comfortably clean larger spaces - but on the flip side, there's more cord to avoid and wrap up when you're done.

Cleaning and maintenance

Handily, the SCV 4 has a self-clean mode, so there's no need to spend a lot of time keeping the device working in tip-top condition. The process is carried out with the vacuum sitting on its cleaning stand, where it runs water through the roller and internal system to help flush out any lingering dirt.

A word of warning, though: make sure you actually put it on the stand before pressing the self-clean button. I made the mistake of starting the cycle while the SCV 4 was still sitting loose on my kitchen floor, at which point the powerful roller sent it trundling off by itself. Amusing in hindsight, but not something I’d recommend repeating, as my floor was quite wet afterwards.

The self-clean function takes a few minutes to complete and does get rather noisy. It also uses a fair bit of water, but the roller brush looked much cleaner afterwards.

The self-clean function takes care of some of the day-to-day upkeep, but it doesn’t remove the need for a little hands-on cleaning, particularly after messier jobs. It's recommended to empty the dirty-water tank after each use, and following my flour, egg and bean test, mine definitely needed more than a quick rinse.

Emptying and washing the tank itself was straightforward, but I had to go in with an old toothbrush to remove the last traces of bean sauce from some of the harder-to-reach areas.

I also wiped around the inlet to the dirty-water tank, where a fairly unappealing combination of bean juice and matted hair had collected, and took the opportunity to rinse the filter at the same time. None of this was especially difficult, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the more ambitious you get with wet food spills, the more cleaning you’re going to need to do afterwards.

Overall, I found maintenance pretty manageable. For everyday vacuuming and steaming, the self-clean cycle should keep much of the routine upkeep to a minimum, while the removable parts are easy enough to rinse when needed. Just don’t expect the machine to completely clean up after itself if you’ve asked it to tackle half your dinner.

How does it compare to similar models?

Currently residing in the top spot of our vacuum mop guide is the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, which is perhaps the main other model to consider when weighing up whether to buy the Kärcher SCV 4. The Shark offers cordless convenience and a much lighter build, so it's probably going to feel easier to use on a day-to-day basis. But the Shark can't be used on carpets, so you'll save on storage space if you use the SCV 4 as a regular vacuum as well as a mop.

It's also worth comparing it to the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce Edge, another lighter, cordless and easy-to-manoeuvre mop that might be better for everyday cleans. The Bissell is slightly more expensive though (£379.99), and you'll have to commit to an ongoing cost of cleaning solution fairly regularly.

There's also the more affordable Kärcher Floor Cleaner FCV 3, which our reviewer found very easy to steer around hard floors. This is a cordless model with a run time of 30 minutes, and does a great job of both vacuuming and mopping. The main drawback is that it doesn't provide steam cleaning, which is where you'll get a deeper clean on hard floors. But if it's just a mop and vacuum you're after, the FCV 3 is a worthy pick.

How does it rate online?

There aren't a tonne of reviews of the SCV 4 online yet, but those that are out there are fairly positive. It has an impressive 4.8-out-of-5-star rating on the Kärcher website (from 24 reviews), and a 4.4-star rating on Amazon (from 19 reviews).

Customers praise the powerful vacuuming and steam cleaning capabilities, and like the fact that it can be used in place of a regular vacuum. People are most impressed that it can vacuum and steam clean at the same time, though there are critiques around the SCV 4's bulk and the fact that it can't clean the edges of a room.

Should you by the Kärcher SCV 4 Steam Cleaner Vacuum?

The Kärcher SCV 4 isn't the lightest or most nimble floorcare appliance I've tested, but it does an impressive amount to justify its bulk. Being able to vacuum and steam hard floors at the same time makes it a good option for quick but thorough cleans, and during testing it made easy work of everything from everyday dirt to flour and a raw egg.

Its vacuuming performance was one of the biggest surprises for me. It picked up flour from my carpet almost entirely in one sweep and performed just as well as some of the best vacuums I've tested for Ideal Home. That makes the SCV 4 a versatile option if you want one appliance that can tackle both hard floors and carpets, rather than a vacuum mop you'll only be able to use in certain rooms.

The sensitive steam mode also makes it a solid choice for homes with more delicate hard flooring, as you can reduce the amount of steam without giving up the benefits of steam cleaning altogether.

But there are compromises. Its bulky floorhead struggles to clean the edges of a room, the cord makes it less convenient than a cordless model, and my baked bean test showed that chunkier spills can leave some debris caught underneath the roller. The self-clean mode makes maintenance easier, although messier jobs will still require some hands-on cleaning afterwards.

I'd recommend the SCV 4 most to anyone who prioritises thorough floor cleaning over lightweight convenience. It's particularly appealing if you have a mix of hard floors and carpets, want the hygienic benefits of steam without having to keep buying cleaning solution, and would rather invest in one capable multi-purpose appliance.

If grab-and-go cleaning and easy manoeuvrability are your priorities, however, one of the lighter cordless vacuum mops I've compared it to will probably suit you better.

I may be Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, but I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve only recently come to love and appreciate robot vacuums. For many years, I thought they were overpriced and over-hyped, and the models I tested just weren’t giving me the results I expected for such a high-ticket appliance.

But after trying more of the best robot vacuum cleaners and talking to engineers and brands over the past year, I have realised that - for the most part - the problem wasn’t the robot vacuums themselves. Instead, it was the way I was using them, and the state of my house, that resulted in subpar cleaning capabilities.

Since then, I’ve learned that a little prep can go a long way when you live in a normal, everyday home that has shoes on the floor and wires cluttering up the space. And decluttering before using my robot vacuum has drastically improved the efficiency and effectiveness of my new favourite appliance.

Of course, whether a robot vacuum is worth it typically depends on its features. And in today’s modern world, most (but not all) robot vacuum cleaners are equipped with high-tech navigation technology and obstacle avoidance that allow them to clean their way around a house almost completely unaided.

But the reality is that even the most advanced robot vacuums can’t clean under the items on your floor. This leaves gaps in the cleaning cycle that can build up over time and leave your floors looking dirtier and dirtier.

This is echoed by Katie Lillywhite, Small Appliance Expert at AO.com. She says, ‘While robot vacuums are designed to navigate around everyday household furniture, decluttering floors before each cleaning cycle can significantly improve their performance. A clear floor allows the vacuum to follow its route more accurately.’

This is something I didn’t do when I first started using robot vacuums - often because I have to test their navigation skills and obstacle avoidance as part of how we test robot vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home. But I also didn’t tidy up beforehand because I didn’t see these items through the eyes of a robot vacuum cleaner.

After all, as an organisation obsessive, I like to think that my home is pretty tidy. I try not to leave clothes on the floor, and I don’t have any kids who leave toys on the floor.

But I’ve since learned that smaller, less obvious types of clutter - like charging cables and extension leads, shoes, the occasional loose change and my dog's food and water bowls - can also impact a robot vacuum cleaner’s cleaning ability and lead to unreliable, ineffective results. It can also damage the robot vacuum if you’re not careful.

Katie adds, ‘Without decluttering, objects can obstruct the vacuum's progress or become caught in moving parts. This can lead to missed sections of flooring and interrupted cleaning cycles, making the robot vacuum less effective.’

However, it’s important to note that you don’t have to have a whole-home declutter to get the most out of your robotic investment. Before I put my robot vacuum on to vacuum and mop the floors in my home, I spend two minutes walking its route to pick up clutter that would have normally disrupted its cleaning cycle.

If it’s a permanent addition, like my dog’s food and water bowls, I’ll pop them on the kitchen worktop and place them down again later. If it’s temporary clutter that shouldn’t be there, I either rehome it immediately or place it in my clutter bucket to deal with when I have more time.

My only warning with this is that you need to set a deadline for clutter buckets. For example, I give myself until the end of the day to put clutter back in its home, as you’re at risk of creating even more clutter if you ignore it for days on end.

And the beauty of decluttering before using a robot vacuum is that the more you do it, the less time it takes. I’ve become more aware of what I’m keeping on my floors, and I find I’m finding less and less clutter now that I know this is a no-go area. Now, I spend 30 seconds max tidying up my home before my robot vacuum works its magic.

Plus, my floors have never been cleaner, as my robot vacuums can work to the best of their ability with no interruptions!

So, take this as your sign to spend two minutes decluttering before you use your robot vacuum.

The Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua promises to combine the brand's powerful cordless vacuuming technology with a separate AquaTwister mop attachment, giving you the option to vacuum carpets and hard floors before refreshing surfaces with a wet clean.

I put it to the test in my busy family home to see if it could compete with the best vacuum cleaners and the best vacuum mops on the market. While there's a lot to be impressed with, it isn't without its compromises. Here's everything worth knowing.

In a nutshell

I've tested my fair share of vacuums and vacuum mops, but the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua is one of the most versatile models I've used. As a mum of three, I rely heavily on both mopping and vacuuming my floors daily, so convenience is key - and Miele has put a lot of thought into the design. It has a clever three-in-one configuration, with a generous selection of attachments, and a wall bracket to store everything.

Performance is where the Triflex HX3 Aqua really shines. I was really impressed by its suction on carpets, which left them looking and feeling noticeably cleaner than my usual vacuum, and the AquaTwister attachment left my hard floors looking fresh and streak-free. It isn't the lightest model, and it did feel heavier to push on carpets, but the results made up for the extra effort.

The separate AquaTwister mop attachment means you get a proper cordless vacuum that can also mop hard floors, rather than a hard floor cleaner trying to do everything - a real advantage if you have a mix of carpets and hard floors, or limited storage space. I did personally find swapping between the two floor heads a bit of a hassle, and it did interrupt my cleaning routine more than I'd have liked.

Throughout testing, I was always conscious of the £789 price tag. It's undeniably expensive, and whether it's worth the investment does really depend on how much you'll use the mop function, as there are many more affordable hard floor cleaners out there. But while I didn't find it flawless, its excellent cleaning performance and thoughtful design do still make it an easy vacuum to recommend.

How I tested

Specifications

• Weight: 3.6 kg
• Dimensions: 1297 x 260 x 280 mm (H x W x D)
• Max run time: Up to 70 minutes
• Modes: 3
• Water capacity: 300ml
• Bin volume: 0.5L 
• Charge time: 4 hours
• In the box: cordless vacuum, wall mount, power supply unit, removable battery, multi floor XXL electrobrush, 2 x mop pads, cleaning solution, Aqua Twister, crevice nozzle, dusting brush, XXL SPD 20 upholstery nozzle, accessory storage
• RRP: £789

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua arrived in a sturdy cardboard box. Although it wasn't particularly light, it was still manageable to carry inside myself. Inside, I found another box, this time branded with the product images.

It opened sideways, and straight away I could see everything was neatly packed. Many of the components were wrapped individually in paper bags, rather than plastic, which left me with a good first impression.

After removing the top layer of moulded cardboard, however, I was greeted with the full collection of parts and accessories. I'll admit, I felt a little overwhelmed at first as there are a lot of different pieces to get your head around.

Alongside the vacuum itself, the box included the Aqua Twister attachment, wall mount, power supply unit, removable battery, multi-floor XXL electrobrush, two mop pads, cleaning solution, crevice nozzle, dusting brush, upholstery nozzle, accessory storage, quick-start guide and user manual.

From a sustainability point of view, the packaging scored well. Most of the protective wrapping was paper-based and easy to recycle, although there were a couple of foam and plastic bags which weren't clearly labelled with disposable instructions. Overall though, it did feel like Miele had made an effort to reduce plastic packaging.

One of the standout features of the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua is its three-in-one design. The PowerUnit can be placed at the bottom of the suction tube to reduce wrist strain when cleaning larger areas, or positioned at the top to help clean under low furniture. It can also be removed altogether and used as a handheld device for stairs, upholstery and smaller cleaning jobs.

To get started, I placed the unit in the bottom position by attaching it to the floor head. It clicked together easily and intuitively, including the removable battery, which simply slides into place underneath the PowerUnit. Within a couple of minutes, the vacuum was fully assembled and ready to use, and more straightforward than I was expecting considering all the different components in the box.

Before I could use it, I needed to charge the battery, which took around 4 hours to reach full charge - fairly typical for a cordless vacuum. The digital display shows the percentage charge while it's plugged in, so it's easy to track how long a full charge takes.

Using the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua

As a vacuum

There's a small digital display that sits on the top of the handle of the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua, with a power button and two controls underneath. The button on the right lets you switch between three suction settings (Eco, Low and High), while the one on the left activates the Boost function, delivering 10 seconds of extra suction power when you need it.

By default, the vacuum starts in Eco mode, which is a medium power level designed for normal, everyday soiling. While it uses FloorDetect technology to adjust the suction power and brush speed depending on the floor surface, it doesn't detect heavier dirt or debris, so you need to switch to High mode or the 10 second Boost function to tackle tougher messes. You can also manually switch between the three power settings, but doing so drains the battery much quicker when using the highest setting.

To familiarise myself with the vacuum, I started by taking it for a spin around the downstairs of my home, which has a mixture of both carpet and laminate flooring.

The vacuum activates in the same way most modern cordless models do - by placing your foot on the floor head and pulling the handle backwards. It glided smoothly over hard floors; it felt lightweight in hand, and the flexible swivel head made it easier to manoeuvre around corners and furniture.

One thing I did notice was that in Eco mode, while the suction power was enough to pick up everyday crumbs, it wasn't quite as powerful when there was larger debris, so I found myself switching to High mode, which made a noticeable difference in cleaning performance and tackled the bigger mess with ease.

The first time I used the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua on carpets, I was surprised at how different it felt to manoeuvre. It didn't feel as lightweight or glide as effortlessly as it did on floors, and I found myself applying more manual effort. I've got to say, though, that the results were much more impressive. The suction power was immediately noticeable, and it lifted a lot of dust and debris from my carpets. Compared with my regular vacuum, they looked and felt cleaner after just one clean.

I also put the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua through its paces with a number of controlled tests, which is part of how we test vacuums at Ideal Home. The 'debris test' involves throwing various sizes of debris on the floor and seeing how quickly and effectively the vacuum picks it up.

I scattered some flour, crushed Cheerios and Weetabix across my kitchen floor, and then, keeping the vacuum in Eco mode, I passed it over the debris. While the vacuum had no trouble picking up the flour, it struggled with the bigger mess and pushed the Cheerios further along the floor. I switched to ‘High’ suction mode, and this did make a difference, although it still took a few further passes before it completely picked up everything on the floor.

One thing I did notice was that the estimated remaining battery life dropped much more quickly when I used the higher suction setting.

I then repeated the same test on carpet, and the results were more impressive here. Within the first pass, the vacuum lifted most of the mess and left my floors looking noticeably cleaner.

Overall, although I did need to apply more effort, I did find the vacuum's performance stronger on carpets than on hard floors, particularly when there was larger debris to tackle.

Using the attachments

The Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua also comes with a selection of smaller attachments designed to tackle areas beyond floors. While I think these are useful additions that add to the vacuum's versatility, how much you use them will come down to your own cleaning habits.

I started by testing the upholstery nozzle on my stairs, using the vacuum in handheld mode. It was comfortable to use, and I didn't feel any strain while cleaning the steps, but I was a little disappointed with the nozzle's performance.

It doesn't have any bristles, just a rubber edging, which I didn't find as effective at picking up embedded debris. My stairs were left looking cleaner afterwards, though, and it was convenient to be able to switch to handheld mode rather than reaching for a separate vacuum.

The dusting brush was another useful addition, and I used it to clean my sideboard and other surfaces. It did make a difference to the amount of dust collected, although I personally couldn't see myself replacing my usual dusting method with it for a full clean.

The crevice nozzle was probably the attachment I found the most useful. My breakfast bar stools are a magnet for collected crumbs and trapped dust, so it came in really handy here - its suction power was impressive, and it was satisfying to see how clean the chairs looked after.

As a mop

While the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua is first and foremost a vacuum, it also comes with a separate AquaTwister mop attachment for mopping hard floors. Setting it up was really simple - there are two round cleaning cloths which attach onto the bottom of the mop easily (they stick on like Velcro).

The AquaTwister mop has a removable plastic water container which sits on the top of the floorhead. To remove it, there's a yellow release button on the inside that you press to remove the container.

I then turned it upside down on a flat surface, removed the rubber stopper and filled the tank with the recommended amount of cleaning solution and water, following the ratio instructions in the manual. Once filled, I popped it back in place and swapped the standard vacuum floorhead for the AquaTwister attachment, ready to start mopping.

One feature I particularly liked about the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua is that it cleverly detects the change in attachments from the vacuum floorhead to the AquaTwister, so you don't need to change any settings as it adjusts automatically.

As soon as I switched it on, the twin rotating pads started spinning, and the LED lights illuminated the floor ahead to help spot any hidden dirt.

Straight away, I could tell I wouldn't need to do much work; the mop feels like it has a self-propelling motion and it glided effortlessly across my floors. In use, it reminded me of the Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic, which also uses rotating pads. The main difference is that the Shark is a steam mop and arguably feels more powerful, whereas the Miele is designed as an attachment rather than as a dedicated steam mop.

My floors were left with a light layer of moisture and felt noticeably cleaner, and they were dry enough to walk on within a couple of minutes.

I also had an ideal opportunity to test its performance on bigger spills after accidentally spilling some coffee on my kitchen floor. Considering the spill was fairly large, it removed most of it within the first pass and lifted most of it after a couple more passes. It left the floor looking much cleaner with very little effort on my part.

Afterwards, I could just throw the mop pads in the wash, which made the clean-up process feel quick and hassle-free.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

Cleaning the Miele Triflex HX3 is relatively straightforward, but like most floor cleaners, it requires basic upkeep. There is a 'Max' mark on the dust container, but the manual recommends emptying it before it reaches that level. To remove it, first detach the PowerUnit from the main vacuum, press the release button on the side of the dustbin, and lift it away from the main unit. The lid can then be opened over a bin, using the release catch on the bottom.

For deeper cleaning, the vacuum has a two-stage filtration system made up of a pre-filter and a fine-dust filter. Miele advises cleaning the fine dust and pre-filter at least once every three months, but when I removed it after a couple of weeks, it was already covered in dust and dirt, so it really depends on how often you're going to be using the vacuum.

The roller brush can also be removed using the arrow on the flap on the side of the floor head. When I did this, I was shocked at how much hair (I won't lie, I'm definitely the culprit) was wrapped around the brush. Luckily, it was easy to remove and cut away with scissors.

I appreciated the fact that the mop pads were coloured, as I've previously tested white ones, and even though they're washable, it can be hard to keep them looking their best. These mop pads are machine washable, and as they remove easily, maintenance feels very straightforward. Miele also supplies an extra couple of pads, which is a small touch but genuinely useful.

Although the Miele Triflex HX3 comes with several different attachments, it also includes an accessories holder and a wall bracket, so everything can be stored compactly together when not in use.

How does it compare to its predecessors and similar models?

The Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua builds on its popular lineup of cordless vacuums, particularly the original Triflex HX1. Like its predecessor, it features Miele's 3-in-1 design, allowing the unit to be positioned in different ways depending on the task.

The main addition with the HX3 Aqua is the AquaTwister, so you can use it to mop floors, too. Rather than replace the traditional vacuum design, Miele has introduced mopping as an additional feature, so it doesn't scrimp on performance. The most noticeable difference is the price point, as the HX3 is significantly more expensive, but it's a huge step up in terms of versatility.

In terms of other brands, it's worth comparing to the Bosch Unlimited 7 Aqua, which is also a cordless vacuum with a mopping function. Our reviewer also scored it 4 stars. The main differences are that it does have a lower price tag and the attachments are arguably more effective, but the battery life isn't as long, and the dustbin is smaller, so it will need emptying more regularly.

How does it rate online?

At the time of testing, the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua was still relatively new, but I did find a handful of reviews across different online retailers.

On Miele's website, the cordless vacuum has seven reviews and an impressive 4.7-star rating. Users praise it for being practical and versatile, with one reviewer describing it as a significant improvement on the HX1. The only notable criticism was that emptying and cleaning felt more complicated than expected.

There are a further six reviews on Currys, with customers awarding it a 4.2-star rating. Opinions were slightly more mixed, although customers still praised its strong cleaning performance. The main criticisms centred on the separate vacuum and mop attachments, with one reviewer feeling the machine was overpriced for what it offers.

It's also stocked on John Lewis, and has a 4-star rating. Feedback told a similar story: some users were really impressed with the vacuum suction and mopping function, but the separate mopping and vacuuming attachments and ease of use made it less convenient to use.

Verdict: Should you buy the Miele Triflex HX3 Aqua?

I do think the Miele Triflex HX3 is a great choice if you're looking for a premium cordless vacuum that can do more than just pick up everyday dirt. Its impressive suction, flexible design and added AquaTwister attachment make it a versatile option for homes with a mix of hard floors and carpets. It's particularly ideal if you want to avoid having multiple cleaning appliances taking up valuable storage space.

At £789, it won't be the right choice for everyone. If you mainly need a hard floor cleaner, there are more affordable options available, and if you prefer a vacuum that can mop and vacuum at the same time, switching between the attachments may feel like an inconvenience.

Overall, if you want a high-quality vacuum with the flexibility to tackle everything from carpets, stairs and upholstery to refreshing hard floors, the Miele Triflex HX3 is a strong contender.

Shark has just dropped four ‘Luxe’ colourways of its uber-popular PowerDetect UV Reveal Robot Vacuum (£1039.99 at Shark). And as the proud owner of the OG black colourway, I must admit that I’m a little jealous of this chic, aesthetic upgrade.

This handy, hands-free model has already staked its claim in my best robot vacuum cleaner guide thanks to its impressive suction power, squeaky-clean mopping ability, and the ridiculously smart UV Reveal technology that uncovers hidden stains on your floors. But while I’ve used it every day since testing it, the black colourway has always been a bit… meh.

These four new colourways are designed to fight back against the traditional black-and-white appliance trend, though. They will work with your home decor and will suit those who want their appliances to be a showpiece in their home - and I think they clean up very nicely.

Adding Evergreen, Espresso, Dove, and Deep Harbour colourways to the roster, Shark has broken away from the ‘ugly’ and ‘boring’ home appliances we’re used to. And luxurious upgrades like this are something I’ve rarely seen in my time as Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums. Most of the time, robot vacuums are an addition to the home, rather than a well-thought-out inclusion.

And while I gave the PowerDetect UV Reveal Robot Vacuum an almost perfect 4.5-star review for its mess-busting performance, one of my biggest niggles was that the black colourway was a magnet for dust and dirt. As a lover of colourful, chic home decor, it was also impossible to tuck in the corner without it sticking out like a sore thumb.

However, the brand describes this new Luxe Collection as ‘Elevated design meets exceptional performance - now in a premium finish crafted to live beautifully in your home.’

This is a smart move on Shark’s part, as it’s difficult to hide a robot vacuum cleaner at the best of times. But it’s even harder when a robot vacuum clashes so much with your interior decor. So, offering customers the chance to choose a colour that forms part of their interior decor opens up a whole new world of cleaning capabilities - without compromising on style.

And the good news is that Shark has used an existing robot vacuum cleaner to experiment with this new ‘Luxe’ look, instead of launching an entirely new model. This means that expert vacuum testers like myself have already tested its cleaning power and rated it pretty positively, and customers have already had their chance to independently review it, too.

The bad news is that those people (like me) who already own the black or white colourway are now stuck with these monochromatic colours. Plus, the ‘Luxe’ colourways also come at a premium price and will set you back an extra £40, taking the price point over £1,000.

This means it's really an investment piece rather than a throwaway purchase, but one of the things I’ve learned while testing robot vacuum cleaners is that if you buy cheap, you often buy twice. Premium models typically offer more in terms of functionalities, quality, and overall cleaning power, and the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal Robot Vacuum is one of them.

Just be warned that every appliance has limitations, and Shark robot vacuums famously offer a very basic app with basic floor mapping. Personally, I find the app to be refreshingly simple compared to overly complicated competitors, but the brand does cut out customers who want to clean both levels of their homes by not offering multi-floor mapping. Even luxurious colourways can’t make up for that.

But even if a robot vacuum doesn’t work for your home, Shark also has ‘Luxe’ colourways in their cordless Shark PowerDetect Speed Vacuum Cleaner, too. I gave this full-size vacuum cleaner an impressive 5-star review - and the new colourways are slightly different, so may suit your home better.

My vote is that ‘Espresso’ will be the ‘it’ colour of the year....

As Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, I test vacuum cleaners day in and day out. Couple that with homeownership and being a dog mum, and I feel like I’m constantly cleaning and emptying my vacuum’s dustbin. That’s why I’ve really come to love auto-empty vacuums.

And while the best Dyson vacuum cleaners come in so many different shapes and forms, this big-name brand hadn’t entered the auto-empty chat until recently. So, when I got the chance to test out the new Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok for myself, I jumped at the chance. But how did Dyson’s first auto-empty vacuum hold up?

In a nutshell

I love it when the best vacuum cleaners get a refresh, and welcoming auto-empty vacuums to the market is a switch-up we’ve been crying out for. After all, everyone knows that emptying a vacuum’s dust bin is the worst (and messiest) job of all. But the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok was a strange one for me to review.

From a cordless vacuum cleaner point of view, Dyson has nailed it with the V10 Konical. The 150AW of power is more than enough for everyday cleaning and tackled my rigorous debris testing with ease, and the brand’s famous conical floorhead dealt with the pet hair in my home without getting tangled or caught once. It’s also extremely lightweight, has a long 60-minute run time, and has an average-sized dust bin on the main unit.

The brand’s new Auto-Empty Dok, however, didn’t impress me the same way. Although I liked the onboard tool storage, it was way too big and cumbersome for my house and stood out like a sore thumb in terms of both size and aesthetics. And while, in theory, the Auto-Empty Dok should empty the V10 Konical vacuum automatically after each use, I found that it struggled to expel all of the debris and hair almost every time.

Of course, larger homes with less pet and human hair may find space for it and experience full auto-emptying capabilities. But these niggles, and the fact that I’d need to buy replacement dust bags in the long run, left me feeling a little disheartened. However, I do see the vacuum itself being a huge hit, and I think it was a great idea from Dyson to allow customers to buy the vacuum without the Dok. It’s obviously cheaper this way, and I’ve popped links to where to buy it below.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.65kg (vacuum), 7.2kg (Dok)
• Suction power: 150 Air Watts (AW)
• Bin volume: 0.5L (vacuum), 2.5L (Dok)
• Run time: 60 mins
• Charge time: 4 hours
• Modes: Eco, Medium, MAX
• Noise level (tested by us): 79-86dB
• In the box: Main unit, Auto-Empty Dok, Conical Floorhead, Mini Motorised Tool, Crevice Tool, Wall Dok

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

Floorcare appliances aren’t exactly small, and I’m used to receiving large parcels as Ideal Home’s Floorcare Editor. But was I expecting the box of the Dyson V10 Konical and Auto-Empty Dok to be as giant as it was? Well, no.

Not only was the box almost as tall as me (I come in at 5’2”), but it was also incredibly heavy at almost 20kg. There were some carry handles to make manoeuvrability easier, but I still struggled to get it over the threshold of my home by myself. So, bear this in mind if you live solo or have any mobility issues.

Inside the main box was a game of eco-friendly Tetris, as it was filled with three more boxes - one large one and two smaller ones. I soon learned that the larger box held the Auto-Empty Dok, one of the smaller ones held the base of the Dok, and the third held the V10 Konical vacuum in its entirety.

There was very little plastic to contend with, which pleased me, and as someone who hates reading instructions, I was happy to learn that I could assemble both the Dok and the vacuum without consulting the written instructions. In fact, it took me less than two minutes to get everything where it needed to go.

One thing I loved straight off the bat was that everything was very self-contained. The vacuum sits in the Dok, and both the dust bag (which was already inserted, although Dyson also provides a spare) and the tools sit in their respective compartments within the Dok. This is a nice perk for me, as smaller vacuum bits and bobs do tend to go walkabout in my house.

However, the (very big) elephant in the room was that this vacuum and its Dok aren’t small. The Dok is huge and completely overtook my dining room. Granted, I’m in the process of moving house, and my dining room is also serving as a storage space for boxes, but there’s no denying that this will really stand out in any home.

This was a bit off-putting for me, to be honest, as I do feel like it could have been designed to be smaller, but I appreciate that looks and size aren’t everything. So, I let the Dyson V10 Konical charge on the Dok for a few hours before testing it out properly.

Using the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok

Offering 150 Air Watts (AW), the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum sits comfortably alongside the Dyson V8 Cyclone in terms of power. And what I loved about this budget-friendly model was that it offered just enough power for everyday cleaning - and the V10 Konical is no different.

This was proven when I threw oats, rice, and sugar onto my hard flooring as part of our vacuum cleaner testing process. The idea here is that a good-quality vacuum with effective suction power should be able to remove all of the debris from the floor in as few passes as possible - ideally just the one forward pass. Amazingly, that’s exactly what the Dyson V10 Konical did. There were a few stragglers that needed a backwards pass, but overall I was really impressed with the pickup power.

I then repeated the process on carpet, and was just as impressed. It tackled both the larger debris and the smaller debris with ease - and one look at the onboard dust canister proved that it also managed to pick up some lingering hair that was embedded into my carpet fibres.

I continued to be impressed with the Dyson V10 Konical as I continued using the cordless vacuum around my house for general cleaning. At 2.65kg, the cordless vacuum is incredibly lightweight and manoeuvrable, and I personally love the conical floorhead and its pickup ability (although I do know that some people don’t like it as much as Dyson’s older design).

It tackled hard flooring, carpets, and rugs with ease, and I didn’t feel like the suction power lowered as I moved from one flooring type to the next. Plus, the classic Dyson green laser made invisible dust and debris visible - offering a more efficient overall clean.

There are three modes available - Eco, Medium, MAX - but I rarely found myself having to stray from Eco, as this was enough to tackle the everyday debris in my home over the course of almost two weeks. Because of this, I was able to make use of the 60-minute run-time, which is extremely generous.

Using the attachments

The Dyson V10 Konical and Auto-Empty Dok comes with two attachments: the classic crevice tool and a mini motorised tool. These can be used when the vacuum is in its handheld form, and overall I found this to be super quick and convenient to grab for smaller messes.

It’s extremely lightweight in handheld mode, and while the crevice tool is nothing remarkable (I’ve yet to find a crevice tool from any brand that has wowed me, as it’s just a nice extra), it still managed to get into the smaller nooks and crannies of my house.

As a dog mum and the owner of woollen carpets that hide hair and debris, I love any motorised tool, and the Dyson motorised tool was definitely a handy addition to my cleaning routine. I used it to clean everything from my carpeted stairs to my dog’s bed and a velvet sofa bed, and found it did exactly what I needed it to.

Another thing I do really love is that the tools can be stored in a little compartment on the Dok. This meant that they were always accessible for when I needed them, but still tucked away so they didn’t clutter up my space.

It’s also worth noting that you can buy extra accessories for the V10 Konical on the Dyson website if you need more. These vary in price from around £19 up to £80, so they can be expensive, but it’s nice to have the option to add more if you would benefit from using them.

Cleaning and maintenance

The beauty of the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok is that cleaning and maintenance is fairly limited. The vacuum itself has an on-board dust capacity of 0.5L, which was enough to successfully vacuum my small three-bed terrace without needing to empty it. But even if you do fill up the 0.5L onboard capacity before you finish vacuuming, you can simply pop it on the Auto-Empty Dok and empty it in seconds.

Dyson claims that the onboard bagged capacity of 2.5L should offer space for up to 60 days’ worth of dust, depending on your cleaning habits. And after almost two weeks of testing, I can confirm that it’s nowhere near full.

The Auto-Empty Dok wasn’t flawless, though. I have a very hairy household thanks to my dog’s hair and my long hair that seems to get everywhere. And while the V10 Konical excels at sucking up this hair without it getting stuck, the Dok doesn’t have as much luck. On almost all occasions, the auto-emptying function just couldn’t pull the last bit of hair out of the onboard canister and down into the bag.

This didn’t happen every time, but it happened enough for it to become annoying and meant that I either had to start cleaning with the canister already partially filled, or I had to manually remove it. So, it seemed to defeat the object of the Auto-Empty Dok slightly.

Of course, another negative of being a bagged Dok is that you need to buy replacement bags. Dyson includes two as part of the purchase, but at the time of writing, I can’t actually find the replacement bags on the Dyson website. So, this is something that Dyson needs to address as soon as possible, as ongoing costs are a factor many people consider when buying a new vacuum.

Nevertheless, the Dok also serves as a charging point for the V10 Konical, and it will start charging it as soon as you pop the vacuum on it. This means that you’ll never be without battery power - as long as you remember to place it back on the dok. A full recharge takes about 4 hours.

In terms of other cleaning and maintenance, the Dok has a HEPA filter that needs to be washed every two months - or when the Dok alerts you with a warning light. All you need to do is pull it out, rinse it under cold water, allow it to air dry fully for at least 24 hours, and then re-insert.

The vacuum itself also has a washable filter, which should be washed every two to four weeks depending on use and cleaning habits. Again, let it dry completely before putting it back in the vacuum.

How does it compare to similar models?

I’ve tested a lot of vacuums over the years, but auto-empty docks are still relatively new to the game. Because of this, it’s hard to compare it to many alternatives, but there’s no denying it’s very similar to the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean and Empty Pet I tested a few months ago.

These are two new auto-empty vacuums from two very big vacuum brands, and they’re also at a fairly similar price point - the Dyson is £569.99, and the Shark is £499.99. They also both have the exact same suction power of 150 Air Watts (AW), and two attachments that can be stored on the docks.

There are some differences, though. The Shark auto-empty dock is bagless - meaning it’s less hygienic but will cost less in the long run- while the Dyson is bagged - which means it’ll suit those who struggle with allergies better. But you will need to pay for bags as the months go by.

There’s also the size difference. For me, the Shark is way more accessible for the everyday household as it’s so much smaller, even with the auto-empty dock. It’ll neatly tuck away in a corner, and it looks fairly inconspicuous thanks to the variety of colourways available.

The Dyson is not inconspicuous. It’s big, it’s bold in its black colourway, and I think Dyson has limited its customer pool by making it so large. For my cosier home, the Shark suits me better. If you have the space, though, the Dyson should fit into a larger home.

In terms of performance, though, they’re both incredibly similar and offer many of the same functionalities. So, which one is better ultimately depends on your preference in terms of size, look, and ongoing maintenance.

Verdict: Should you buy the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum and Auto-Empty Dok?

I’ve now spent almost 500 hours testing vacuum cleaners with Ideal Home, and this has definitely been one of the most difficult vacuums to rate. Because, yes, I would recommend the Dyson V10 Konical Cordless Vacuum.

It offers the premium quality and capabilities you’d expect from a big name like Dyson, and I genuinely enjoyed cleaning with it and seeing the impressive results. At £469.99, I do think it’s on the cheaper end of the Dyson spectrum, and is a nice, affordable option for those who can’t quite justify their more expensive models.

However, the Auto-Empty Dok just didn’t hit the mark for me. Considering it adds over £100 to the price tag, I expected it to blend seamlessly into my home and offer a convenient, auto-emptying function that meant I wouldn’t need to lift a finger until the dust bag was full and needed replacing. As that wasn’t the case - and the Dok is just way too big for my liking - I’m not sure I’d recommend it unless you have the space.

I’d like to think that this is a first iteration for Dyson, though, and they’ll continue to work on bringing more auto-empty docks into the mix as the years go by. After all, the idea is there, and I do believe people want auto-empty docks in their homes. But the execution is just a little off.

I have been, until fairly recently, a robot mop denier. Too often it means paying several hundred extra pounds for a machine to drag a damp wipe across your floor and call it cleaning, and the results tend to look like a floor that’s been made a bit wet rather than properly washed.

So, I was intrigued to take the P50 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum - from the fairly under-the-radar MOVA brand - for a spin, to see if a smaller brand can offer wet (and dry) floor cleaning features that some established brands still haven't quite nailed. My take? It's certainly a contender for one of the best robot vacuum cleaners out there.

In a nutshell

The P50 Pro Ultra is a vacuum-and-mop combo with a self-emptying, self-washing, self-drying dock, and its real strength is in the mopping. At the start, it had a low bar and a hostile jury, but what changed my mind, more than any of the headline numbers, was the plumbing: a 4L clean water tank, a 3.5L dirty one, a separate detergent compartment, and two rotating pads that spin against the floor instead of being towed across.

Hot water at 75°C also cleans the pads between runs, warm air dries them, and 32 moisture levels mean you can dial the water down for laminate and up for vinyl without thinking about it every time.

On paper, the vacuuming is just as impressive, with 19,000Pa of suction quoted on the box. In practice, on my laminate and vinyl it was never anything less than thorough, though on a thicker rug, it's fine rather than exceptional, and I'd weigh that carefully if your home is mostly carpeted.

Where it consistently surprised me was at the edges. The back door off my lounge has a catflap within it, which means that patch of floor and skirting is permanently filthy in a way no upright vacuum ever quite solves. The P50 gets right into it, both vacuuming and mopping, and after a few sessions, that corner looked better than it has since I moved in. So, consider me impressed.

Specifications

• Suction power: 19,000Pa
• Max. run time: 210 mins
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• Dust capacity: 3.2L bag in dock (up to 75 days)
• Water tanks: 4L clean, 3.5L dirty
• Mop function: Yes, dual rotating pads, 32 moisture levels, 75°C wash and 45°C dry
• Maps: Up to four floors
• Dimensions (with dock): H42 x W45.8 x D47cm
• Weight (with dock): 13.76kg
• Compatible with: MOVAhome app, Alexa, Google Home

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

No getting around it: the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum has too much packaging. Thankfully, it's almost entirely cardboard and recyclable, so it went out with the paper rather than into landfill, but I'll always favour brands that keep the box count down in the first place. Boxes inside boxes inside a box, with a cardboard sleeve on top for good measure, will never not be frustrating.

It's also a hefty machine. At 13.76kg with the dock, and 47cm deep, this takes up considerably more floor than I'm used to, and I've tested quite a few self-emptying models before. In a one-bedroom basement flat, finding it a home meant genuinely rearranging a corner, but I managed it, which suggests most people will be able to tuck it away somewhere. Still, if you're short on floor space, I'd measure before you buy rather than after.

Setup itself is quick and easy. You simply fit the ramp extension plate, attach the mop pads to their holders, fill the clean water tank, drop the cleaning solution into the auto-detergent compartment, and dock the robot. The tanks lift out from the top of the dock with a nice handle, which is appreciated when you're carrying 3.5L of dirty water to a sink.

Then comes the app, and as always with these machines, it works far better once you've committed to it. Once the MOVAhome app was downloaded and the robot connected to the Wi-Fi, the experience was lovely. First, you send your new robot friend off to look around, room by room, building a map.

I was shocked, in a good way, that not only did it find its way into every room, but it worked out which room was which. It labelled the primary bedroom, the corridor, the bathroom, the kitchen, and the living room. More impressively, it identified the back portion of my lounge as a dining hall, which it can only have worked out by recognising a table and chairs and drawing a conclusion.

I then spent far too long editing that map, placing tiny bits of furniture and curtains around the plan to give the robot as much information as I could. You might not be as into that sort of thing as I am, but it does mean the app rewards fiddling, if you're the fiddling type.

Ease of use

The app has depth without being intimidating, and the setup flow walks you through the options one at a time rather than dumping an entire settings menu on you. AI-driven MopExtend, which swings the pad out at walls and table legs, is toggled on during setup.

So is the pets-in-the-home setting, which makes the robot more cautious around anything living, and an optional feature that captures animated GIFs of your pets while it cleans.

There's a voice assistant too, woken with "Hey MOVA", which works well enough for those who want or need a hands-free experience.

The choices that actually change the outcome are simpler than the feature list suggests. You can run a deep clean, toggled on and off in the app, with the only real trade-off being a longer cycle and more water used.

You can also choose whether the robot vacuums and mops simultaneously or does one job and then the other. I went with simultaneous for my first proper run, largely because I wanted to see whether it could multitask.

Turns out it could, and it did an admirable job of navigating a flat with a confusing layout that is also, at present, half-renovated. I'd cleared what I could from the floor before mapping, but there was still plenty in its way, and it worked around all of it without getting stuck or crying for help in a doorway. Stray wires are still an issue, but it never got stuck on any curtains.

Performance

The single most impressive thing was that its initial look around had correctly identified every rug in the flat, so it didn't try to mop them. No wet edges or damp patches to discover the next morning.

On a thicker pile, it can lift the pads by 10mm, and if you set it up that way, it will drop the pads back at the dock entirely before vacuuming the carpet and collect them again afterwards. It's a clever bit of engineering, and removes the one big anxiety that has always stopped me leaving a robot mop running unsupervised.

Edge cleaning is the other genuine strength. Both the side brush and the mop arm extend outward, so skirting boards, kickboards and the gap beside the catflap get properly attended to.

Object avoidance is a more mixed picture. In vacuum mode it's quite sensitive, sometimes to the point of giving a stray shoe a wider berth than it needs and leaving a small unswept halo behind. In mop-only mode it seems noticeably less cautious. Neither behaviour is a problem, exactly, but the inconsistency seems odd.

I ran the two tests I always run when testing robot vacuum cleaners for Ideal Home. The first was cat hair, in tufts, on a hard floor. The P50 picked up one tuft cleanly but treated the second as a solid object and drove around it. I'd call that a draw, and it's worth knowing if you live with a heavy shedder. The anti-tangle brush is excellent in its main job, though, and I've yet to cut a single hair off the roller.

The second was the sauce test, using sticky BBQ sauce, and here the result was genuinely split. Roughly half of it came up instantly, scrubbed away rather than moved around, but the other half got spread, and some of it travelled onto the cream rug sitting alongside. That's the limitation of any rotating pad system on a fresh wet spill, and it's why I'd still reach for kitchen roll first and let the robot handle the residue rather than the incident.

For dried-on marks, though, it's a different machine altogether. Coffee rings and dried splatter are exactly what those spinning pads and hot water are for.

Cleaning and maintenance

This is where the P50 earns back the space it takes up. After each run, the robot empties itself into a 3.2L bag in the dock, good for around 75 days of debris, then washes its own pads with 75°C water and detergent before drying them with warm air. That means no sour mop smell, which is a normal failure point for cheaper models.

The clean tank, dirty tank and detergent compartment are all easy to remove, fill and rinse, which sounds like faint praise until you've wrestled with a model where they aren't.

My only regular job was tipping the dirty water away, and even that didn’t come around every time (depending on how much mopping you're asking of it).

You will need to buy replacement dust bags, filters and eventually mop pads, which comes to somewhere in the region of £40 to £60 a year with moderate use. That's normal for the category rather than a MOVA quirk, but it's a running cost to factor in, and it's worth registering your purchase so the three-year guarantee is straightforward if you need it.

How does it rate online?

Owner reviews of the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra skew strongly positive, particularly from people who bought during a sale. On Amazon and in robot vacuum Reddit communities, the recurring praise is for the mapping, the mopping and the dock automation, and there's a consistent line of reasoning that goes something like: flagship Roborocks and Dreame models may be marginally better, but not by enough to justify the gap in price.

There have been scattered owner reports of front wheel failures on early P50 Pro units, with at least one person describing two units going the same way within weeks. That appears to be an anomaly rather than a pattern, and MOVA has reportedly revised the part since.

How does it compare to similar models?

The obvious comparison in this price bracket is the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni E25, which Ideal Home rated a perfect five stars. That model uses a rotating roller mop rather than dual pads and hits harder on raw suction, so if your home is largely carpeted, it could be the better buy. The MOVA takes the edges and corners more convincingly, and the removable-pad trick is something Eufy doesn't offer.

Verdict: Should you buy the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra?

If your home is mostly hard flooring, yes, and I say that pretty enthusiastically. The mopping ability is the reason to buy the MOVA P50 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum, and I don't say that lightly given where I started. Two spinning pads, real tanks, hot water washing and an arm that reaches the edges add up to a machine that actually cleans a floor rather than giving the illusion of being helpful.

But I'd measure your floor space before you commit. The dock is a substantial object, and no amount of clever design gets around 47cm of depth in a small flat. I found a corner in a one-bedroom basement, so it can be done, but it took some negotiating.

As Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, you could say that I’m a little obsessed with floorcare. I’m also lucky to have a regular rotation of vacuum cleaners to test in my house (yes, this really is my job), which means I’ve gotten hands-on with vacs of all makes and models.

But the best vacuum cleaners aren’t a one-size-fits-all appliance. From cordless vacuums to cylinder and upright models, you can even buy vacuum mops to tackle dry and wet messes. Plus, there’s the hands-free option of the best robot vacuum cleaners.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m a robot vacuum cleaner convert, but until recently I’d only ever really used my robot alongside my regular vacuum. So, I decided to ditch my hands-on appliance in favour of a fully hands-off approach for an entire week. And this is what I learned along the way.

1. They're a help, rather than a hindrance

I created a whole testing criteria for robot vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home, as I only ever want people to buy appliances that will positively serve them and their homes. And one thing I definitely learned over a solid week of only using a robot vacuum was that they are a massive help.

There’s something so satisfying about watching something else do a cleaning task for you, and across the week I set mine to vacuum AND mop while I was working from home or taking the dog for a walk. And the bonus is that this consistency rarely wanes, as these robots thrive on planned routes, cleaning schedules and routines.

However, there is a caveat: this isn’t the case across the board. And after testing countless robot vacuums, I can confidently say that more expensive models with enhanced features always do a better job, as cheaper models often struggle with obstacles and navigation, making them more of a hindrance.

That’s why I’d always suggest buying a robot vacuum as an investment, rather than a cheap model off the cuff. Sure, the same goes with regular vacuums, but the truth is that there’s less risk, as you can often pick up a cheap cordless vacuum that gets the job done extremely well without the same fluctuations in effectiveness and efficiency.

2. They’re a hands-free hero if you're short on time

Due to what I thought was poor planning on my part, I timed my week-long robot vacuum cleaner marathon with the week before moving house. But while I was spending every free moment boxing up my belongings and dismantling furniture, I was able to perfectly test the hands-free nature of robot vacuums compared to regular vacuums.

Aside from filling and emptying the clean and dirty water tanks, I didn’t have to touch the robot vacuum at all during testing. I set schedules on the app to clean at certain times, chose my cleaning settings (something you need to consider if you’re buying your first robot vacuum) and let it loose in my house.

It vacuumed and mopped without any further input from me, emptied its debris, cleaned itself, and charged itself without me needing to do anything. And in the end, I was still able to benefit from clean floors - just as I would have if I’d used my regular vacuum to clean by hand.

Because of this, robot vacuum cleaners can really be a game-changer for parents or shift workers who just don’t have much time to dedicate to cleaning. However, just be warned that robot vacuums can’t clean everything - and they won’t be able to clean tight corners, stairs, or targeted messes.

3. I could probably get rid of my regular vacuum, but I won’t

As you can probably tell, my week-long stint with a robot vac made me fall in love all over again. And if I swapped my regular vacuum for a powerful handheld, I do think the robot, coupled with this smaller cleaning tool, will cover all the bases a robot alone might miss. However, I’m not going to get rid of my regular vacuum just yet.

That’s because floor cleaning isn’t a one-size-fits-all task; it's a very personal choice, and I like to have options when cleaning my home. For me, I like to clean my floors using a full-size vacuum, a handheld vacuum, or a robot vacuum cleaner - or all three. This allows me to mix up suction levels, tools, ease of use and accessibility.

Plus, my regular vacuum still has plenty of power left, so there’s no point in getting rid of it, given how long vacuum cleaners last. But if your vacuum is nearing the end of its life, it’s definitely worth considering your floor-cleaning options and deciding whether a robot vacuum has a place in your home.

In my opinion? I still think robot vacuum cleaners are worth it, and as someone privy to industry secrets before the general public, I can also tell you there are some very exciting new features and models on the horizon.

Alternative robot vacuums that I rate

Will you be adding a robot vacuum to your cleaning line-up?

Vacuum mops have become one of my favourite cleaning gadgets, simply because they cut one of the most time-consuming household jobs in half. I've tested plenty of models, so for it to really impress me, it needs to stand out from the crowd.

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop did exactly that. After putting it through its paces in my family home, it quickly earned a spot among the best vacuum mops I've tested.

In a nutshell

I didn't expect to be quite as impressed with a hard floor cleaner. But after testing the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop around my busy family home, it's saved me so much time - and even made cleaning my kitchen floors feel like less of a chore. Not only does it vacuum, mop and dry floors, but it also does so with minimal effort required on my part. This is all thanks to its powerful self-propelling function, which I'd go as far as saying is the best I've come across (and I've tested a lot of vacuum mops).

I can't fault its cleaning performance either. It cleared up everyday mess from my three children with ease, and even removed beans, flour and a cracked egg in a single pass. My floors were only left lightly damp afterwards, too, so there was no waiting around for them to dry before you could walk on them.

Tefal have really paid attention to the design, too. It feels premium, and features such as the built-in LED headlights and 180° flat-edge design make it super versatile for tackling hard-to-reach areas. There are three modes to choose from - Auto, Max and Eco - and it uses automatic dirt detection, adjusting the suction power and water flow accordingly. It also has an impressive 50-minute run time, which is one of the longest I've come across on a vacuum mop.

It falls short of a 5-star review because it won't fully replace a vacuum cleaner, as it's only suitable for use on hard floors, and at £449 full price it is an investment. The clean water tank also sits on top of the main floorhead, which is a quirky feature, and I found it took a little getting used to, but it's decently sized so you won't need to refill mid-clean. Overall, it's a really impressive, powerful floor cleaner that's perfect for busy households.

How I tested

Specifications

• Weight: 5.98 kg
• Dimensions: 325 x 300 x 1192 mm
• Max run time: 50 minutes
• Modes: 3
• Clean water tank capacity: 600ml
• Charge time: 3.5 hours
• In the box: Wet dry cordless vacuum cleaner, additional soft cleaning roller and filter, charging and cleaning base, cleaning brush.
• RRP: £449.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop arrived in a large, oblong-shaped cardboard box. Although it was slightly awkward to carry single-handedly because of the size, it was noticeably lighter than I'd expected.

I opened the outer packaging to find another cardboard box, this time branded with the Tefal logo and product images. Inside, all the components were neatly secured between a layer of moulded cardboard, and wrapped individually in plastic bags, labelled as '50% recyclable'. I always pay attention to how eco-friendly the packaging is, and while I'll always favour brands that use 100% recyclable material, it's not something I've come across regularly.

The box contained the main vacuum mop and handle, an additional soft cleaning roller, the charging base, a cleaning brush and a user manual.

Assembly was incredibly simple; all I needed to do was insert the handle onto the base and pop it on the charging station to charge before use. And my first impressions of the Tefal X-Clean 7 were positive - it instantly felt premium and well made. It was lightweight too, and I appreciated the fact that the charging station was compact enough not to take up too much room (always a bonus when you're short on storage space!).

Once connected to power, the LED display on the top of the main unit activates, and a voice prompt confirms that it's charging. It took around 3.5 hours to reach full charge, which is fairly typical for a vacuum mop.

Before getting started, I needed to fill the clean water tank. Rather unusually, the tank is located at the front of the main body, just above the floor head, and I won't lie, it did confuse me for a second! It's not something I've come across before, and my first reaction was that the tank wouldn't hold as much water as a typical upright design. But at 600ml, it's on the larger side for a vacuum mop, so it's deceptively bigger than it looks once you remove it.

The tank then clips away from the main unit easily; there's a release button on top of the unit which you press to pull it away. The manual advises that adding cleaning solution is optional, but also comes with a warning not to use any foaming, vinegar or greasy products.

There's also no solution included, and I do think the guidance could be a little clearer, something I picked up on when reading online customer reviews. Personally, I try to stick to natural, chemical-free cleaning products anyway, so I decided to stick to water initially to see how it performed.

The manual advises filling the water tank with clean water between 10°C and 50°C. I found it slightly more fiddly to fill because of its shape, and even though it's described as transparent, I did find myself having to pay attention to how full it was, especially as there's no fill line. That said, there's a flashing icon on the LED display to let you know when the tank is empty, as well as a voice prompt, so it's not a dealbreaker.

Using the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop

The Tefal X-Clean 7 has three cleaning modes: Auto, Eco and Max. When the machine is turned on, it defaults to Auto mode, which detects dirt and automatically boosts suction power and water flow when it comes across messier areas.

To get started, I stepped on the floor nozzle, pulled the handle towards me and pressed the power button. As the unit powered on, the LED headlights on the base lit up the floor ahead, making it easier to spot hidden dirt. I also noticed it sounded louder than I was expecting, probably on a par with my regular vacuum.

I started by taking it for a spin around my kitchen floors, which are all laminated, to familiarise myself with it. Straight away, what I noticed was how smooth it felt to manoeuvre. As soon as I switched it on, a self-propelling motion activated to help the machine glide across my floors with barely any effort needed from me.

I've tested my share of vacuum mops, and I'd easily say this was the most powerful I've come across. I really felt like the mop was doing the cleaning for me, and all I had to do was steer it in the direction I wanted it to go.

I also really appreciated the LED lights on the base of the machine, which illuminate any hidden dirt, and were particularly useful for hard-to-see areas, like under my dining table.

The auto-adjustment worked really well, too. I could clearly hear when the machine boosted its suction, while the coloured ring on the LCD screen gave a visual indication of when it had detected a dirtier area.

The handle also has a 180° flat edge design, which made cleaning under furniture easier. Because of the size of the floorhead, I couldn't reach completely under my sideboard unit, but the flexible design made it much easier to reach underneath my kitchen table - an area I always struggle to clean - without needing to crouch down awkwardly. The voice prompt also lets you know when the machine is cleaning underneath low furniture, confirming that the suction levels have been adjusted. I thought this was a handy feature - although I can imagine the voice updates may feel jarring after a while.

The vacuum mop left a light layer of moisture behind, but this dried within a couple of minutes, so the floor was ready to walk on almost straight away - something I appreciate in a busy home.

To really put its cleaning power to the test (and as part of how we test products at Ideal Home), I cracked an egg on the floor, squirted ketchup and threw a handful flour directly in the vacuum mop's path. This is where it really impressed me.

After switching on the unit, keeping it in Auto mode, I slowly glided it over the mess. It cleared every trace within the first pass. Given the amount of debris in its path, I was genuinely surprised at how quickly it removed everything, with barely any effort on my part. I've carried out this test before on plenty of vacuum mops, and even the most powerful models usually need a couple of passes to pick everything up, so its cleaning performance is definitely one of the Tefal X-Clean 7's standout features.

Immediately after, I emptied the dirty water tank - which pulls outwards from the front of the machine easily - and poured the contents away. As you'd expect, the grime inside the tank wasn't pleasant to say the least, so if you are using the machine to clean up bigger messes, you'll want to empty and rinse it straight away.

This is where the self-cleaning feature comes into its own. After use, I placed the machine on its docking station, and pressed the self-clean button at the top of the handle. I know from testing other vacuum mops that this stage can be pretty noisy, and this was no exception. The roller was automatically rinsed, and all the dirt and debris were flushed into the dirty water tank. The cycle lasts three minutes, after which the dirty water tank was full of filthy water, which I took as a reassuring sign that it had done its job.

Having little ones means I'm constantly mopping up spills, and I had more than one opportunity to see how well the Tefal X-Clean 7 cleaned up large liquid spills, thanks to my one year old's new favourite hobby of throwing milk, water and anything she can get her hands on, all over the floor.

I kept it in auto-mode, and once again, I didn't really need to do much. It suctioned up the puddles with ease, leaving just a light layer of moisture behind. Unlike some models, there's no dedicated 'Dry Only' mode, but I didn't find it made any difference to its performance.

Cleaning, storage and maintenance

Cleaning and maintenance are straightforward and made even easier thanks to the self-cleaning function. Before starting the self-cleaning and self-drying cycle, the manual advises emptying the dirty water tank and making sure the clean water tank is full. It's also worth noting that the function won't start if the battery has less than 20% charge.

Beyond that, Tefal manual recommends cleaning the different parts of the machine once a week. There are a few handy illustrations showing how to remove and clean each component, using a cloth and the cleaning brush that's included. This includes removing the filter that sits on top of the clean water tank and rinsing it out.

There's no guidance on how to how often to clean the roller itself, but from experience it's worth doing regularly, as bits of debris can get trapped between the roller and the floorhead.

Thankfully, the manual includes a step-by-step guide for removing and replacing it when needed. Tefal recommends replacing both the roller and the filter every six months. I like the fact that a spare roller brush and filter are included in the box, as it feels reassuring to know long-term running costs should be kept low.

How does it compare to its predecessors and similar models?

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop builds on the strengths of the X-Clean 4, which was awarded a 4.5-star rating by Ideal Home's Content Editor Lauren when she reviewed it.

The biggest upgrades include a new lay-flat design, which makes it easier to reach under furniture, as well as LED headlights to help illuminate hidden dirt. During her testing, Lauren found the X-Clean 4 struggled with smaller spills, whereas the X-Clean 7's automatic dirt-detection felt much more responsive to everyday mess.

It's also worth comparing it to the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, which really impressed me during testing. Both models have built-in LED highlights, but I think the Tefal has the edge thanks to its more powerful self-propelling motion and hot air self-drying function, which helps keep the roller fresh between uses. It does come with a higher price tag, though.

I've also tested the Kärcher Floor Cleaner FCV3, which I found impressively lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It also has three cleaning modes and is more affordable, making it a strong option for lighter cleaning tasks. But when it comes to overall performance the Tefal X-Clean 7 comes out on top.

How does it rate online?

The Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop currently holds a 4.5-star rating on the brand's website, from 62 customer reviews. Impressively, 92% of customers recommend the product, with feedback praising the suction power and ease of use. The price point does receive mixed reviews, and one reviewer did highlight the lack of guidance around cleaning solution caused confusion.

Elsewhere, on Very, it has a 4.5 star rating from 58 reviews. Although it's worth noting that a good proportion of the reviews were collected as part of a promotion. Feedback was similar, with users commenting on the impressive power and overall cleaning performance, but listing the affordability as a drawback.

Verdict: Should you buy the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop?

For busy households who regularly vacuum and mop hard floors, and are looking to cut down on cleaning time, I really couldn't recommend the Tefal X-Clean 7 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop enough. There's no shortage of hard floor cleaners on the market, and this one does have a high price tag, but its incredible cleaning performance, powerful self-propelling motion, 50-minute run time, edge cleaning abilities and flexible handle make it really stand out from the competition.

As long as you're happy emptying the tanks and keeping on top of basic maintenance, it takes much of the hassle out of cleaning floors. My only really niggle is that I wish I could use it on carpets, too!

Shark has a few carpet cleaners to its name, but the brand's newest release, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner EX500UK (£179.99 at Shark), definitely stands out from the crowd as it's officially their lightest model to date.

Of course, you probably don’t need me to tell you that the best carpet cleaners are big, bulky and heavy. This often makes them difficult to manoeuvre and even more difficult to store - especially in smaller homes where cupboard space is limited. And while renting a carpet cleaner is always an option, Shark has made buying one more accessible than ever.

The Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is designed to be compact, lightweight, and seriously convenient, delivering full-size power in a ‘fun-size’ form that’s easy to use and store. At just £179.99, it also takes the cake as one of the cheapest carpet cleaners I’ve come across.

Coming in at just 6.9 kg, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is officially lighter than any other full-size carpet cleaner in my guide - and it even comes with a removable wand that makes it smaller to store in tighter spaces.

In fact, my number-one-rated model, the VAX Platinum SmartWash carpet washer review, weighs 8.9kg, and the hefty Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner comes in at a whopping 14.25kg. And while some of them do fold down, they are nowhere near as compact as Shark’s new model.

But while I’d initially questioned whether a lighter, smaller carpet cleaner could successfully clean carpets, Shark claims that the CarpetForce offers up to six times deeper cleaning than traditional vacuuming, using its DirtDistrupt brush roll to get deep into carpet fibres and lift, loosen, and remove all kinds of debris.

The 3.8-litre clean water tank capacity is also what you’d expect from a full-size carpet cleaner, and it’s compatible with Shark’s Deep Clean Pro Formula (£14.99 at Shark), which is specifically designed to refresh carpets and remove odours from pets or even smoke.

But if that doesn’t quite suit your carpet-cleaning needs, it’s also compatible with the Shark Deep Clean Ultra With Stain Guardian (£19.99 at Shark), which is for more targeted spot cleaning and for protecting against future staining.

And while we all know that the most annoying part of cleaning carpets is waiting for them to dry, Shark’s Express Clean Mode supposedly offers a 50% faster dry time compared to the Deep Clean Mode. This means you can get on with your day much quicker.

On paper, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner definitely has a lot of perks - most notably the sub-£200 price point. But I always like to test these claims for myself, so keep your eyes peeled for a full review coming soon.

I do already love the idea of a compact, lightweight carpet cleaner though...

With daily spills, muddy footprints and the general chaos of family life, my carpets rarely stay clean for long. So when the new VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner promised hassle-free cleaning, larger water tanks and a self-rinse function, I was keen to see whether it could give my carpets a much-needed refresh.

I tested it on everything from well-trodden carpets to sticky ice-lolly spills to see whether it could compete with the best carpet cleaners on the market. Here's what I found.

In a nutshell

The VAX Platinum SmartWash XL is a carpet cleaner that gets the essentials right. It's fair to say it had its work cut out in my busy family home, and it did an excellent job of lifting everyday dirt and reviving my tired-looking carpets. While the transformation wasn't always dramatic, I was impressed with how much better-maintained my surfaces looked after testing.

There's no denying it's a big machine, but carpet cleaners aren't exactly known for being lightweight and compact. That said, its design feels practical rather than excessive. The large water tanks meant I wasn't constantly stopping to empty or refill them, and the self-rinse storage tray is a standout feature that helped to take some of the hassle out of post-cleaning maintenance.

It also includes a hose and hand tools, allowing it to double up as a spot cleaner. I found these especially useful for tackling upholstery, stairs and targeted stains, and I even used them to clean my toddler's buggy, which came up noticeably cleaner. While I can't see it replacing my dedicated spot cleaner, I can see the appeal of having one machine to handle multiple cleaning tasks around the home.

It isn't perfect, though. Its size means it's not the easiest to lift up and down stairs or to find storage space for. I also found its performance was strongest on everyday dirt, general refreshes and fresher stains, rather than deep-set marks that had time to settle in. Even so, for keeping carpets looking clean, fresh and well-maintained, it's an impressive all-round performer.

Specifications

• Weight: 9.4kg
• Number of modes: 3
• Clean water tank capacity: 3.8L
• Dirty water tank capacity: 2.7L
• Cord length: 9m
• Dimensions: 44D x 32.6W x 109H centimetres
• In the box: 2.5m hose, 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool, (bristle attachment and rubber attachment) SpinScrub^™ hand tool, accessories bag
• RRP: £379.99

How I tested

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The VAX Platinum SmartWash XL arrived at my doorstep in an unmistakably large, branded box. I wasn't expecting it to be lightweight, and it did have two carry handles on either side, which made lifting it easier, but it's worth noting that if you have mobility issues, you might need a hand.

Opening the box, my initial reaction was slight overwhelm at the number of components inside. Everything was securely packed and neatly organised, although most parts were wrapped individually in LDPE 4 plastic, which typically can't be recycled through normal household collections.

I've previously tested the VAX ONEPWR Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner, and comparatively, the packaging did feel more eco-friendly, with all the parts wrapped in paper rather than cardboard.

The contents included a hose extension, 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool, (bristle attachment and rubber attachment) SpinScrub^™ hand tool, accessories bag and user manual.

Set up was really straightforward. The main unit arrives in three parts, so the first thing I did was assemble it, which took less than a minute. All I needed to do was insert the handle into the main unit - which clicked into place easily - before placing the clean water tank onto the main base.

Once assembled, it was obvious it's not a lightweight, compact machine. At 9.4kg, it falls within the typical weight range for a full-sized carpet cleaner, but its generous dimensions make it one of the largest models I've tested.

Before plugging it into power, I took a couple of minutes to properly take in the design. It takes up more floor space than I was expecting, but the size feels practical rather than excessive. The floorhead and clean and dirty water tanks are very generously sized, suggesting they're designed to tackle large cleaning jobs with few interruptions for emptying and refilling. The two large wheels on either side of the machine are also prominent features, making manoeuvring easier.

It's a corded machine, but the cord length is probably the longest I've come across at nine metres, so you don't need to worry about switching sockets mid-clean. While I wouldn't describe it as sleek or stylish (or most carpet cleaners, for that matter), its robust, purpose-built design made me optimistic that it would be up to the task of cleaning my tired-looking carpets.

Using the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner

To get started, I removed the clean water tank and filled it with warm water up to the indicated fill line, as instructed in the manual. There is a bottle of cleaning solution included in the box, though if you fill the water tank to capacity, it will use up most of the solution. As soon as I added the solution, the water immediately turned cloudy.

I also underestimated how big the tank was until I'd filled it and noticed how much heavier it felt. That said, it was still easy to secure it back in place on the machine.

To activate the machine, you first need to press the handle release pedal located on top of the left wheel, and then press the power button at the top of the handle. This took a little getting used to, as the cleaner won't start unless the handle is reclined before the power button is turned on.

There are three cleaning modes: the default 'Wash Dry' setting for everyday cleaning, 'Spot' for tackling stubborn stains and spills, and 'Dry Only', which is designed to leave carpets dry in as little as one hour.

I started by giving my living room carpets a general refresh. While I try to keep on top of spills, because I live in a busy household, it doesn't take much for them to start looking tired. With no specific stains to target, I opted for the 'Wash Dry' mode for an overall clean.

There's no denying the machine is loud - noticeably more so than a regular vacuum - but that's fairly typical for a full-sized carpet cleaner. Using it like a vacuum, I began by making slow forward and backwards passes across the carpets. It felt much heavier than the VAX Compact Cordless, but it was still manageable to manoeuvre and smoother to push than I was expecting.

The SmartWash Motion Sense technology automatically senses whether you are pushing forward to dispense solution or pulling back to extract. As I moved the machine forward, it released the cleaning solution onto the carpet, and the LED display read 'Wash'; pulling it back switched the display to 'Dry' as it vacuumed up the residue.

While I generally try to limit the use of harsh chemicals where possible, one of the first things that struck me was how fresh my carpets smelled almost immediately. It was also incredibly satisfying (not to mention embarrassing) to see just how much was being extracted. After only a couple of passes, the carpets looked noticeably cleaner, brighter and fresher. My usually very unobservant husband even commented on how much better they looked afterwards, before I'd even pointed it out!

Despite the carpets in my toddler's nursery being the newest in the house, they were looking worse for wear after a late-night Calpol mishap. Admittedly, I didn't tackle it straight away, and the spill had become trodden in, leaving behind a sticky, dark patch that I was desperate to remove.

I sprayed the affected area with the pre-wash solution that's included in the box, and left it to soak for five minutes. I then turned the cleaner on, switched to 'Spot' mode, and made a few passes over the stain. The patch looked noticeably better almost immediately, but it was clear that a deeper clean would be needed to lift the remaining residue. Rather than continuing to soak the surrounding carpet, I decided to switch to the hose attachment for more targeted cleaning.

The hose compartment is neatly concealed behind a cover on the front of the machine, which pulls down to reveal the connection port. As I was focusing on a stubborn stain, I opted for the SpinScrub hand tool attachment. It was straightforward to attach; I connected the tool to one end of the hose and inserted the opposite end into the machine's connection port.

The 2.5m hose length felt generously long, so I was able to comfortably reach the stain without repositioning the machine. After switching on the power, I pressed the trigger on the forward stroke to release the solution. The spray pattern initially took me by surprise, as the water sprayed outward in both directions rather than directly ahead, so I had to adjust my positioning to make sure I covered the area.

As its name suggests, the SpinScrub tool rotates continuously, so I didn't have much to do other than guide it over the stain. The rotating brush helped lift more residue from the carpet, noticeably improving the appearance of the affected area. While it didn't completely remove the stain, the remaining mark was subtle enough that it would be difficult to spot unless you knew where to look.

The testing period also coincided with the recent UK heatwave, so a blackcurrant ice-pop spill on my carpets was aptly timed.

Unlike the Calpol stain, I tackled this straight away using the SpinScrub brush attachment, and the results were much more impressive. After the first pass, most of the spill had already disappeared, and I didn't need to apply any pressure or scrubbing. It also left my carpet only lightly damp.

As part of how we test carpet cleaners at Ideal Home, we carry out a number of controlled tests. One of these involves squirting tomato ketchup onto a carpet sample to assess how well the carper cleaner can remove it. For this test I left the ketchup to sit for a good hour before tackling it.

Using the SpinScrub brush attachment, I could see the solution was making a difference, although the results were not as immediate as they had been with the fresh blackcurrant stain. I needed to apply more pressure, and spend a couple of minutes scrubbing the area before most of the ketchup lifted.

The carpet sample was also noticeably wetter as a result of repeatedly spraying the area. After around four hours it was completely dry, but although it was lighter, the stain was still fairly visible. I suspect a second treatment would have improved the results further, but it did suggest that the Platinum SmartWash XL performs better when stains are treated as quickly as possible.

I was also keen to see how it tackled upholstery, so I used the 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool on my sofas, which were in need of a general refresh. It attaches via the hose in the same way as the SpinScrub tool, so all I had to do was swap over the attachment. My sofa easily shows marks as it's a light-coloured fabric, and there were a couple of visible marks I wanted to tackle.

The results genuinely surprised me. I wasn't expecting the difference to be as noticeable as it was with the SpinScrub, but the attachment glided effortlessly over the fabric. Once dry, the sofa looked fresher, brighter and generally much cleaner than before.

Finally, I used the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL to tackle a job I'd been putting off - cleaning my toddler's buggy. As well as looking generally grubby from everyday use, there were a couple of chocolate marks on it so I was keen to put it to the test here.

As I was dealing with specific stains, I initially used the SpinScrub tool. However, the buggy's awkward fabric and crevices made it difficult to extract much of the cleaning solution, so I switched to the 2-in-1 hand tool instead.

This proved to be a better option. It was much easier to manoeuvre around the buggy's different surfaces, and into tighter spaces, and it successfully removed the chocolate marks. Once dry, I was impressed with how much cleaner and fresher the fabric looked, and the buggy as a whole felt more revived.

Cleaning and maintenance

One of the features that sets the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL apart from its competitors is its self-rinse and storage tray, which flushes hair and debris from the brush roll. It's something many vacuum mops have, and I've always found it to be a genuinely practical and useful feature - especially when it comes to keeping maintenance to a minimum.

Naturally, I was keen to see how it worked on a carpet cleaner. Before running the cycle, the dirty water tank must be emptied as usual, and the clean water tank must be filled with warm water. I did get caught out at this stage, as I'd underestimated how much cleaning solution would remain in the tank, so I had to pour half of it down the drain, which felt quite wasteful.

The machine slots onto the plastic storage tray, at which point the 'self-rinse' indicator light illuminates on the LED screen. I pressed this to activate the cycle. It is incredibly loud as the rollers are rinsed and dirt and debris are flushed into the dirty water tank, and the process lasts around three minutes before the icon switches off once the cycle is complete.

Some additional manual maintenance is required to keep the Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced performing well. While the self-cleaning cycle does a good job of cleaning the system after each use, after a few cleaning sessions, I noticed a build-up of debris and dirt in the floorhead nozzle. Thankfully, cleaning it is simple - it unclips from the front of the machine and can be rinsed under warm water.

I also occasionally needed to remove bits of debris caught in the brush rolls. They detach easily enough from the floorhead, although I found refitting them slightly fiddly. The end caps need to slot in first before brushes can be aligned on either side.

How does it rate online?

The online feedback for the Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced is among the best-rated I've seen for a product review. On the VAX website, it holds an impressive five-star rating and has 24 customer reviews. Customers praise its ease of use and performance, with the majority of users impressed by the results. The self-cleaning function is also noted as an additional useful feature.

It's a similar story on Amazon; there are 17 customer reviews and a 4.9-star rating. Although many users point out its large size, it doesn't seem to be a drawback, with the majority noting how easy it is to use.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced builds on previous popular VAX models, including the VAX Platinum SmartWash and the VAX Spotwash Home Cordless – which our Ideal Home reviewers awarded 5 stars and 4.5 stars respectively. The biggest difference comes down to convenience - the Platinum SmartWash XL features larger tanks and a spot mode for boosting cleaning power when tackling stubborn stains.

It's also worth mentioning the ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner - the most notable difference being that it's cordless (the UK's first cordless carpet cleaner, in fact). The ONEPWR Compact Cordless is much lighter, making it easier to manoeuvre and move between rooms, but the trade-off is that the water tanks are smaller and it lacks the self-rinse function and storage tray. In terms of performance, they deliver similar results on targeted stains, but the Platinum SmartWash XL has the edge for general refreshes.

I've previously tested the Rug Doctor Deep Upright Carpet Cleaner, which feels quite comparable in overall size, though at over 14kg, it's still heavier than the Platinum SmartWash XL. It does have the edge when it comes to performance.

Verdict: Should you buy the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner?

If you're looking for a carpet cleaner that can revive tired-looking carpets, the VAX Platinum SmartWash XL Advanced Carpet Cleaner is a solid choice. It delivered consistently good results through testing, lifting everyday dirt and leaving carpets looking noticeably cleaner and fresher. The large-capacity tanks also make it well-suited to bigger cleaning jobs, as you won't be constantly stopping to refill or empty water.

One of its biggest selling points is its versatility. The included hose and hand tools mean it can tackle upholstery, stairs and spot-cleaning jobs as well as whole-room carpet cleans. While I still prefer using a dedicated spot cleaner for stubborn stains, if you're looking to invest in a single appliance that handles a range of cleaning tasks, the Platinum SmartWash XL makes a strong case.

For homes with limited storage space or for anyone with mobility issues, a more compact, lightweight option might be better suited. It's a sizeable machine, and carrying it between floors can be a bit of a workout. There are also more effective carpet cleaners if you need something to tackle deeper stains.

Overall, its strengths lie in routine carpet maintenance and larger-scale refreshes, rather than intensive stain removal. If that's what you're looking for, the Platinum SmartWash XL offers plenty of useful features and delivers impressive results.