I tested the UK's first-ever cordless carpet cleaner – it's lightweight, convenient and perfect for a quick carpet refresh

While there's no denying that the best carpet cleaners can deliver impressive results, they tend to be big and bulky, and come with the added hassle of wrestling the power cord around each room. So, when I learned that the VAX ONEPWR Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner was the UK's first-ever cordless carpet cleaner, I was very excited to put it through its paces in my busy family home

With five of us under one roof, and over half the floors carpeted, it's fair to say this machine had its work cut out – and it didn't disappoint. It's not perfect, but it's a huge step forward in the world of carpet cleaners.

In a nutshell

It's fair to say carpet cleaners are not known for being lightweight or sleek – until the VAX ONEPWR Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner came along. After testing it for three weeks around my busy family home, I was impressed by its general cleaning power, and the dirty water tank was proof of that!

It's very easy to use and manoeuvre, and its three cleaning modes make it versatile. The automatic Wash-Dry mode in particular is ideal for everyday refreshes, leaving carpets noticeably cleaner without much effort. The 35-minute battery capacity is also decent; it's more than enough for a cleaning session. And the carpet cleaner’s brush bar has an antimicrobial treatment, which helps prevent bacteria build-up – a non-negotiable in busy family homes.

That said, it's not quite as effective on deep-set stains or stubborn marks. In some cases, I had to revisit them once the carpet was fully dry to completely shift them. The Dry-Only mode helps to speed up the drying time, but the process does still require a bit of manual effort, and I think the overall cleaning process could be quicker. For the price, it would also be great to include a spot-clean or upholstery attachment.

Overall, for busy homes looking for a lightweight, cordless carpet cleaner for regular refreshes and general upkeep, this is a brilliant option. But if deep cleaning is your main priority, you might be better off pairing it with a dedicated spot cleaner or opting for a corded carpet cleaner instead.

Specifications

• Weight: 6.1kg (without battery)
• Run time: 35 mins
• Number of modes: 3
• Clean water tank capacity: 2.3L
• Dirty water tank capacity: 1.8L
• Dimensions: H 109 x W 26 X D 45 cm
• In the box: Removable battery, charger, antibacterial solution, pre-treatment solution
• RRP: £299

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three young children!). I've tested a range of floor care appliances, including mops, spot cleaners and steam cleaners.

I tested the VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner on the carpets in my three-bedroom home in Manchester. I carried out controlled tests using carpet samples, which involved throwing tea, tomato sauce and apple juice on it.

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner lived up to its name, arriving in neat, compact, cardboard packaging. At just over 6kg, the box was surprisingly lightweight, so I had no trouble carrying it from room to room.

Inside, everything was carefully arranged and securely protected, with minimal plastic packaging. The parts were all encased in layers of cardboard, which felt both sturdy and eco-conscious. Admittedly, I did end up with quite a lot of cardboard lying around – but as it's recyclable, it didn't feel wasteful.

The box contents were refreshingly minimal, containing the carpet cleaner itself, an instruction manual, a removable battery, a charger, a pre-wash treatment and an antibacterial treatment. The carpet cleaner arrived in separate parts, but without even consulting the user manual, I could see it was simple to assemble. The clean water tank slotted into the main base of the machine easily, and the handle locked securely on top.

As it's a cordless carpet cleaner, the battery comes separately and is wrapped in protective plastic packaging. When I first picked it up, it did feel heavier and bulkier than I was expecting (I did try to look up the exact weight but had no joy). It's a rechargeable battery, and it pairs with the charger that's included. Before first use, the manual instructs to charge the battery fully as failure to do so may impact its long-term performance.

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Charging the battery was straightforward – I simply slid it onto the charger and plugged it into the mains. There are four battery lights which flash white to indicate it's charging, and once fully charged, all of the lights switch off. Once it was fully charged, after three hours, I inserted it into the back of the machine. I opened the plastic cover and slid the battery into place until I heard a satisfying click, before closing the cover. It's worth noting that the battery cover can only be opened when the carpet cleaner is upright.

To assemble the rest of the machine, I inserted the handle into the main body, which clicked securely into place. The nozzle arrives separately, so first I had to remove the dirty water tank using its built-in handle. From there, it was just a case of hooking the tabs on the bottom of the nozzle into the slots at the base of the machine, then lowering it backwards until it clicked into place. The whole set-up took less than five minutes.

One of the first things that struck me once the VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner was fully assembled was its compact and sleek design. Compared to many bulkier carpet cleaners on the market (which are typically between 8-10kg), it felt refreshingly lightweight and easy to manage.

Using the VAX Cordless Carpet Cleaner

My living room, stairs, and most of the upstairs floors are carpeted, and with three children in the house, keeping them clean is a constant challenge. Day-to-day, I rely on this quick-fix stain remover for little accidents, and I also treat my carpets to a professional clean twice a year. But if I can find a cheaper, hassle-free alternative I can use at home, then I'm here for it.

To get started, I removed the clean water tank and filled it with warm water up to the indicated fill line, as instructed. There is a second line for the cleaning solution, which looked deceptively small, but once I started pouring it used up most of the supplied bottle. That did leave me a little concerned with how often I'd need to buy refills (especially as there's a clear instruction printed on the tank to remove the water after each use). By comparison, I own the Bissell SpotClean HydroSteam, which has two fill lines, so you can measure based on how much surface you need to cover – a feature I thought would have been useful here.

On the plus side, once the water and solution were mixed together, the liquid turned a cloudy colour, which was reassuring and suggested it was ready to get to work.

The VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner has three modes to choose from: 'Wash' for everyday cleaning, 'Spot' for tackling stubborn stains and spills, and 'Dry Only' to leave carpets dry in as little as one hour.

Switching the machine on was really easy; I simply pressed the power switch on the handle, and the LED screen lit up, displaying the 'Wash Dry' mode as the default setting. The plus and minus buttons alongside it make it easy to cycle between the modes, so I decided to experiment with each one, starting with 'Wash Dry'.

Using it like a vacuum, I began by pushing the cleaner forward and backwards. While heavier than my vacuum, it still felt smooth and light to manoeuvre, which was a promising start. As the machine moves forward, it releases the cleaning solution onto the carpet, and the LED display reads 'Wash'; pulling it back switches the display to 'Dry' as it vacuums up the residue. Watching the dirty water being suctioned into the tank felt weirdly satisfying, as I could instantly see the results of the cleaning.

In terms of drying time, using the default 'Wash Dry' mode, the carpets only felt lightly damp afterwards and took approximately 5 hours to completely dry.

I also tried using the 'Dry Only' mode afterwards around the room, and this made a huge difference to the drying time – they were dry approximately one hour later.

I then used it on my conservatory rug, which is a plush, deep-pile material, and this is where the results genuinely impressed me. The rug sits in a high-traffic area, and truth be told, I can't say I've deep-cleaned it since buying it three years ago. With no specific stains to target, I opted for the 'Wash Dry' mode to give it a general clean. The cleaner glided effortlessly over the rug (just as easily as it did my carpets), and it only felt slightly damp to touch afterwards, which was a bonus.

It took between 3-4 hours to completely dry, and it looked visibly brighter and cleaner afterwards. While I wouldn't say it looked brand new, it definitely gave the whole space a fresher, revitalised feel.

After seeing how well the VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner freshened up my rug and carpets generally, I was keen to see how it tackled tougher, deep-set stains. To test its stain-removing power, I threw tomato ketchup and tea on separate carpet samples. I left each one for 24 hours to give it the best chance of settling into the fibres before cleaning.

I started with the tea stain by spraying the VAX pre-wash solution over the affected area, then left it to soak for a couple of minutes. I then turned the cleaner on and switched to 'Spot' mode before sliding the machine back and forth over the stain. After a few passes, I could see the stain beginning to lift, but it wasn't quite as instantaneous as I'd hoped. I repeated this process for a couple of minutes before switching to the 'Wash Dry' mode to see if that improved the results.

By this stage, the carpet sample was much wetter than when I'd used the machine for a general clean, as using 'Spot' mode for longer resulted in a higher concentration of solution being applied. Although to be expected, I was a little dubious about how long it was going to take to dry.

By the time it had lifted, the clean water tank was almost empty. The manual recommends refilling the tank with just water to help extract excess moisture, a step I initially skipped as I was keen to see how long it would take to dry naturally. However, after a few hours, it was still extremely damp, so this extra rinse step is definitely worth doing.

Next, I tackled the tomato ketchup stain using the same process. This time, the results were more impressive. It took around a minute for the stain to lift while using the 'Spot' mode. That said, the carpet sample was soaking wet, so I switched to the 'Dry Only' mode to speed the process up. The manual doesn't specify how long to use this mode for, so I stopped after around a minute, as I was mindful that it drains the battery quickly.

By this point, the clean water tank had emptied again, so I refilled it with warm water to help extract any remaining moisture. This made a difference, and the sample was still quite damp, but no longer soaking. Again, as I'd used the carpet cleaner over a concentrated area, it did take a while to dry, and it wasn't fully dry until 24 hours later.

Although for each of these tests, the stain was significantly lifted, it was still slightly visible once the sample was dry.

Finally, I tested a third carpet sample with apple juice, which I deliberately only left for a couple of hours before cleaning. The difference compared to the other tests was immediately noticeable. Using the 'Spot' mode, it only took three passes for the stain to lift completely. I then switched to the 'Dry Only' mode for a few passes, which left the sample slightly damp, and it was dry within a couple of hours.

This test showed that while the VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner can struggle with stains that have been left to set, it's highly effective when it comes to tackling fresh spills. If you're able to act relatively quickly, it does an impressive job at restoring carpets to a clean, refreshed state with minimal effort.

Cleaning and maintenance

It's fair to say I was shocked by the colour of the dirty water tank after using it on my living room carpets! When the tank is full and needs emptying, the CHECK TANKS icon lights up – but with a generous capacity of 1.8L, I never reached the point where it was completely full. And since VAX does instruct to empty and rinse out the tanks after each use, it's a step you'll be doing regularly anyway.

Thankfully, cleaning the dirty water tank couldn't be easier. It has a built-in handle, which makes pulling it off the carpet cleaner simple. Then, I just lifted and unhooked the clip to release the lid.

The lid comes off easily, and it has a filter underneath that twists to remove with the float. I emptied the dirty water tank down the sink, then rinsed the tank and components. It was easy enough to pop the filter back into place and hook the lid back on. I then pushed the clip up and hooked the latch onto the tank lid. I pushed this inwards until it clicked back into place.

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I could see a buildup of dirt and debris in the carpet cleaner nozzle after using it a few times, so I knew it was time to give it a clean. The same way I'd inserted them, I removed both water tanks and tilted the machine back. I unhooked the nozzle tabs from underneath the machine to remove it and rinsed it under warm water as instructed in the manual. One niggle I had was that I really struggled to clean in between the two layers, particularly as it's where dirt and debris can easily get clogged up. If you get into the habit of regularly rinsing it, though, it's easy enough to clean.

Cleaning the brushbar is also straightforward – there's a tab on the side to remove, and it's a case of rinsing it with warm water. I did notice a build-up of hair wrapped around the brush, which was easy enough to remove.

How does it rate online?

The VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner only launched a few weeks ago, so there aren't many reviews available yet. At the time of writing, there are no reviews on other retailer sites, but it has clocked up 13 5-star reviews on VAX's website.

Customers praise its lightweight, easy-to-use design and cordless feature, making it more manageable to manoeuvre. The three cleaning modes, including the automatic Wash-Dry mode, stand out as particularly convenient, and many reviews highlight the impressive battery life.

How does it compare to similar models and its predecessors?

The VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner marks a significant milestone as the UK's first cordless carpet cleaner. It 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, so it had big shoes to fill.

Although lighter than the Platinum Smartwash, the clean water tank is slightly smaller, so you'll need to refill more frequently. Compared with the Spotwash, it offers a much longer battery life (35 minutes vs 15 minutes), making it better suited for longer or more frequent cleans.

Looking at other brands, our team has tested the Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Pro and the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro, which are both corded and not as lightweight. However, for a similar price point, they both include spot clean or upholstery tools, a feature the VAX cordless currently lacks.

Verdict: Should you buy the VAX Cordless Compact Carpet Cleaner?

If you're looking to make light work of everyday refreshes, the VAX ONEPWR Compact Cordless Carpet Cleaner is well worth considering. It's cordless, lightweight design takes the hassle out of cleaning with a bulky carpet cleaner, and it's ideal for maintaining carpets in busy households – especially if you prefer to clean little and often rather than tackle big, deeper cleans.

It's easy to use with handy cleaning modes for different jobs. While it delivers impressive results when it comes to freshening up carpets and rugs, it's not as effective on tougher, more set-in stains. You'll need to apply a bit of elbow grease for more stubborn marks and be patient with drying times.

If you tend to deal with stubborn marks regularly, a corded model or dedicated spot cleaner might be more suited. But for regular maintenance cleans, quick refreshes and general family life mess, this cordless design is a great option.