While you can sometimes get away with a quick vacuum, cleaning up big messes or spills can take more time (particularly if moisture is involved). Fortunately, there are plenty of cleaning hacks that can help you save time on household chores and a wet and dry vacuum cleaner is one of the best solutions for cleaning up all kinds of messes on your floors.
If you’re not familiar with them yet, a wet/dry vacuum cleaner can be used to vacuum regular dust and dirt, as well as water or other liquids. So it is basically an upgrade from a regular vacuum cleaner.
But just like any cleaning device, there’s a big difference between models, with the best wet-dry vacuums offering ergonomic designs, easy-to-use features and extras to make both cleaning your home and maintaining the vacuum simple. So, to help you choose one, we’ve rounded up seven top-quality wet and dry vacuums you can buy in Australia right now, based on factors including design, features, extras and customer reviews.
2024’s top wet & dry vacuum cleaners
- V15s Detect Submarine Complete from $1649, Dyson (here’s why)
- Tineco iFLOOR 5 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner from $299 (usually $599), Amazon (here’s why)
- Karcher WD3 S wet and dry vacuum cleaner from $199, The Good Guys (here’s why)
7 best wet and dry vacuum cleaners to shop in Australia 2024
01
V15s Detect Submarine Complete
from $1649, Dyson
Best for: powerful vacuum cleaning
Dyson released its first wet vacuum cleaner in 2023 and has quickly become a major player in this category. The Submarine uses a motorised wet roller that picks up liquids, debris and stains, which are continuously extracted from the roller with each rotation.
As we wrote after testing out the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine: “So, how does it stand up? Let’s just say muddy paw prints, questionable mystery marks, dried honey and even that barbecue sauce I deliberately flung across the floor for the purpose of this review are no match. The roller head effortlessly slurped and mopped everything up, leaving my white tiles pristine.”
For a full rundown of this wet dry vac, you can read our honest review here.
Key features:
- Engineered to clean tile, stone, wood, ceramic, vinyl, linoleum and laminate floors
- Removes mess like pet food and muddy paw prints
- Three powder modes
- The Fluffy Optic cleaner head illuminates dust for easy cleaning
- Picks up long hair and pet hair without tangling
- Up to 60 minutes run time
Also available at:
- $1549 from The Good Guys
- $1549 (grey model) from Myer
02
Tineco iFLOOR 5 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner
from $299 (usually $599), Amazon
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 50 per cent off at Amazon
Best for: a quick, efficient clean
This lightweight, cordless wet dry vacuum cleaner from Tineco is designed to make cleaning up mess easier, with separate tanks for clean and dirty water and an innovative scraper that cleans the brush roller as you go. It’s also got two modes you can switch between and can be used on tiles, marble or hardwood. With a running time of up to 35 minutes, it’s suited to those who want to sparkling clean floors as quickly as possible.
“It typically takes me about an hour to vacuum and mop with my old setup, but with the Tineco i5, I was able to clean the entire floor in just 15 minutes,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on Amazon, where it has an average rating of 4.2 stars from over 2000 customers. Another added: “This is as good as everyone says- completely worth all the hype around it.”
Key features:
- Dual water tank system
- Lightweight and cordless design
- Innovative flat scraper keeps brush roller clean as you use it
- Suitable for sealed hard floors including hardwood, tile, marble, laminate
03
Karcher WD3 S wet and dry vacuum cleaner
from $199, The Good Guys
Best for: wet and dry vacuuming on a budget
This budget-friendly wet and dry vacuum cleaner packs a powerful punch (1000 watts) to tackle dust and debris. It has a cartridge filter for both wet and dry vacuuming, as well as a triple-layered, extremely tear-resistant fleece filter for dry vacuuming. Plus a blower function that can help dry up any remaining moisture.
Customer reviews often mention the powerful suction, convenience and price as positives, with one customer who gave it five stars sharing: “We recently finished an extension to our house and this vacuum did a fantastic job in keeping the internals of the building clean each day during the construction,” they wrote via Bazaarvoice Authentic Reviews on the Karcher website.
“Simple to use yet powerful enough to suck up all types of construction debris. It also does a great job on our tiled patio when clearing excess water and debris following severe storms.”
Key features:
- 19L fleece filter bag capacity and practical blower function
- 4.96kg vac features a pull and push locking system for simple bin emptying
- 2m suction hose, 2 x 0.5m suction tubes, floor nozzle, crevice nozzle and cartridge filter included
- 2 year manufacturer’s warranty
04
Kogan SmarterHome LX16 robot vacuum cleaner and mop
from $199, Kogan
Best for: setting and forgetting
One of the most affordable robotic vacuum and mops on the market, this Kogan model effortlessly handles wet or dry spills on any hard floor surface. Its intelligent room mapping, mopping and powerful suction features also help keep your floors spotless without you lifting a finger.
Customer reviews often mention the floor mapping feature, vacuum suction and ease of use as positives, with over 100 reviews on Kogan.com and a majority (over 70%) giving it five stars.
“Oh how I love this little gadget. Vacuums as well as mops my polished concrete floors beautifully. Had it for two weeks and no issues,” one five-star reviewer wrote.
Key features:
- 360° Intelligent laser navigation
- Control, track and set up virtual walls and zones
- Set restricted areas (eg. restrict carpet for mopping function)
- Anti-fall and collision sensors
- Google Home and Amazon Alexa compatibility
- One-year warranty
Also available at:
- $227 from Amazon
05
Bissell CrossWave 3-in-1 multi-surface floor cleaner
from $456.71, Amazon
Best for: cleaning everything
As well as letting you vacuum up wet and dry mess, the Bissell CrossWave includes a mop function so you can do everything at once. It features separate containers for clean and dirty water, as well as a multi-surface brush roll made from microfibre and nylon multi-surface brush roll to scrub, wash and dry most types of flooring. That includes carpet as well as hard floors.
It also has over 1700 five-star reviews on Amazon.
“Have you ever wished for a magical cleaning solution that effortlessly tackles dirt and grime on your dark floors?” said one five-star reviewer. “Look no further because the [Bissell] CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Cleaner is here to save the day, or rather, your floors.”
Key features:
- Simultaneously vacuums, washes and helps to dry floors
- Suitable for all hard floors and rugs
- Unique brush roll scrubs and washes floors for a deeper clean
- Does not release dirty water back on floors
- Low-profile foot and pivoting floor head for easy manoeuvrability
06
Dreame H12 Pro wet and dry vacuum cleaner and mop in one
from $999, Dreame
Best for: low-maintenance design
Designed to be multi-functional, the Dreame H12 is a reliable and flexible cleaning genius. With edge-to-edge cleaning for both its wet and dry vacuuming and mop capabilities, you’ll always want the appliance out and in use. The best part is, there’s no need to worry about mould or odours once you put it back in the cupboard, with an auto hot air drying feature attached to your brush.
“I was very apprehensive in spending a lot of money for a machine that basically cleans a hard floor when a mop and bucket has been my primary cleaning tool. OMG what a fantastic surprise to see how much dirt was removed from my tiled floors with this Dreame H12 Pro,” one Australian customer wrote in their five star review on Amazon.
“Self cleaning roller and self drying via heated air. Perfectly clean roller and dry . No smells. The floors dry so quick and no streaking. Chemical is very economical at 10ml per fill. I am ecstatic with this machine and so very happy I decided to invest in this Dreame H12 Pro. The spare roller, washable filter and 500ml chemical included is a great bonus as that’s basically 12 months hassle free operation for me. Lot of money but it is worth every dollar.”
Key features:
- Edge-to-edge cleaning extends the brush to hug walls and clean corners.
- Dual-rotation self-cleaning and auto hot air drying help keep the brush free from mildew, mould, and odours.
- A 6x 4,000mAh battery pack provides up to 35 minutes of runtime.
- A high-speed brushless motor wipes up to 520 times per minute for quick and effortless mess removal.
Also available at:
07
Bosch 1000W wet & dry vacuum cleaner
from $109 (usually $155), Amazon
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: Save 30 per cent during the sale period
Best for: easy transportation
Whether it’s coarse dirt at work, fine dust at home, or water on your kitchen floors, this vacuum handles it all. With an ergonomic design, direct dust extraction compatibility with Bosch tools, and a 15L capacity, it’s ideal for day-to-day tasks. Its high suction power, wet/dry capabilities and practical blast air function make it the ultimate all-in-one tool.
“I got this for my car and garage clean up,” said a reviewer who left five stars. “It’s awesome! Great suction and great value for money. So happy they made a shop vac for home use. I used it as soon as it arrived. Will definitely be used a lot!!”
Key features:
- Over 440 five-star reviews on Amazon
- Ergonomic handle and lightweight build make transportation and storage hassle-free
- Includes floor nozzle, crevice nozzle, extraction pipes, hose, filter bag, and more
- Impact-resistant and rust-resistant container ensures durability over time
08
Electrolux UltimateHome 700 wet & dry cordless vacuum
from $499, The Good Guys
BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: This price is only available until December 4, 2024
Best for: wet dry vacuum mop combo
Electrolux’s UltimateHome 700 helps you clean your floors in just two minutes, offering efficient cleaning that’s perfect for busy households, or even quick touch-ups.
“This vaccum mop is so easy to use and does such a great job on our laminate floor boards,” a customer who gave it a five-star rating via Bazaarvoice Authentic Reviews said.
“Self cleaning system is great and even after a full house clean it was sparkling. No streaks, smell, and battery life is perfect.”
Key features:
- Self-cleaning nozzle and innovative self-cleaning function make maintenance a breeze
- The inclusion of floor detergent adds an extra layer of cleanliness to your floors
- An efficient mopping system easily tackles spills and stains
- Antibacterial water tanks eliminate up to 99.9 per cent of tested bacteria
- Powerful suction picks up dry debris, leaving floors spotless
- No residual water is left behind
Also available at:
- $566 (usually $799) at Appliances Online
What does a wet and dry vacuum do?
Also known as shop vacs, these heavy-duty machines are designed to tackle all kinds of tough messes, both wet or dry. In comparison, most traditional vacuum cleaners are great for cleaning up dust and dry dirt, but can’t handle wet mess (and may even be damaged by water).
Equipped with the power to switch seamlessly between vacuuming dry messes and sopping up wet disasters, these tools are the true MVPs of clean-ups. They effortlessly shift from devouring dust bunnies to tackling accidental spills without a hitch. Some even go the extra mile by offering mop and vacuum combos, giving your floors a polished touch that’ll make you wonder why you didn’t upgrade sooner.
What should you look for when purchasing a wet and dry vacuum?
As more wet/dry vacuum cleaners come onto the market, here are five things to keep in mind so you can find the best one for your home and your budget.
- Power – opt for a model that boasts strong suction for both solid debris and liquids.
- Tank capacity – bigger tanks mean less frequent emptying, which is a win in our book.
- Accessories – a trusty selection of nozzles and brushes can transform your cleaning experience from ordinary to extraordinary.
- Cleaning modes – if you’re eyeing a vacuum-mop combo, make sure the mop function is as effective as the vacuum.
- Reliability – look for reputable brands like Dyson and Bissell, known for their innovative home cleaning solutions. Or check customer reviews.
It’s also a good idea to check the warranty information and returns policy, to make sure you know what’s what if things don’t quite go to plan. After that, you should be well on your way to an easier cleaning process for your floors.
Looking to save money on vacuums? Check out our coupon codes for The Good Guys, Appliances Online and more.
Related articles:
- 5 top-rated steam mops for spick and span floors
- The best vacuum cleaners for dealing with pet hair
- 11 best mops for tiles, laminate and wooden floors
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