REVIEW – We’ve been using a wet/dry vacuum weekly (or at least we try to) for a couple of years, and though it’s still going strong I’m always interested in trying out new and different brands and models. I also use an Ultenic T10 robot vacuum that I reviewed 2 years ago, and it’s held up well, so when the offer came in to try out the Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner I was happy to volunteer.
What is it?
The Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner is a lightweight wet/dry vacuum, as the name implies. It’s suitable for any hard floor (wood, linoleum, vinyl, tile, etc.), and can be used as a regular dry vacuum, a mopping wet vacuum, or to clean up wet messes with a water absorption mode. It has a longer-than-average claimed battery life, and useful functions like self-cleaning and a charging storage dock.
What’s in the box?
- Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner
- Charging and storage base
- AC adapter
- Cleaning solution
- Extra HEPA filter
- Cleaning brush
- Manual
Hardware specs
- Dimensions: 43.3″L x 10.82″W x 8.66″H
- Filter type: HEPA
- Capacity: 0.68 quarts
- Noise level: 80 dB
- Weight: 9.48 lbs
- Self cleaning: Yes
- Runtime: up to 50 minutes
- Clean water tank capacity: 650 ml
- Dirty water tank capacity: 500 ml
Design and features
At first glance, the Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner looks like nearly any other “stick” or upright vacuum. It has a roller brush at the front, a suction motor inside, and dirty and clean water tanks for mopping while vacuuming. It sports a black and white colorway, and is much lighter than the last wet/dry vacuum we’ve been using.
The large LCD display up top is easy to read and conveys useful information including battery life and mode, as well as any warnings (like a water tank removed). There are also loud voice alerts that can be turned off.
On top-front of the handle we have the power button and mode switch button.
On top of the handle is the self-cleaning button, which you should do while the vacuum is resting on the storage/charging base. Any gunk that flies off the roller brush while cleaning will be contained in the base instead of on your floor.
The clean water tank is located on the back, and has a decent 650 ML of storage. You can use hot or cold water, with or without cleaner. It detaches with a simple button and is easy to get on and off. A small rubber plug allows for filling, but it can be a bit hard to get cleaner and water in – you might want to use a small funnel when doing so. I always filled it over the sink so I wasn’t worried about drips.
The dirty water tank is on the front of the vacuum, and also easily detaches with a button. It can hold 500 ML of dirty sludge. At first I was confused by the difference in capacity between the clean and dirty water tanks, but I think it’s due to some of the clean water being left behind on the floor being cleaned (and simply evaporating after).
The HEPA filter is accessible at the top of the dirty water tank and can be removed for cleaning or replacement. A replacement filter is included in the box.
The roller brush primarily serves as a spinning mop, but also helps to pull loose debris into the vacuum.
The roller brush cover is removed easily so you can then remove the roller brush itself to clean further (if needed), and to dry it out. Because we have a dog, I did have to pull off some extra hair after the self-cleaning cycle.
A warning sticker informs the user not to lay the vacuum down horizontally, or the dirty water can backwash into the vacuum’s internals. No one likes backwash.
Setup
Setup is as simple as plugging the base in, and then setting the vacuum into the base. A charging display indicates charge level as it charges. When you’re ready to clean, you then detach and fill the clean water tank, replace it, and hit the power button which will default to “Smart” mode. The smart mode reliably kicked up the suction power higher every time I got to high-traffic areas in our kitchen and dining room.
Performance
The Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner reliably cleaned as well or better than our previous wet/dry vacuum, which is to say that it’s a better clean than simply vacuuming or using a lightweight push mop, but not as good as a scrubbing mop (though it’s a LOT less effort than properly mopping). We like to do a deep mop once a month, then use a wet/dry vacuum like this weekly to keep things somewhat clean, and the Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner fits the bill perfectly.
I like that it cleans nearly to the right edge, so as long as you remember to follow walls with the right side of the vacuum it does a good job of getting almost everything. Our main floor hardwood and vinyl areas are about 750 square feet, and the battery doesn’t even register a single bar lost by the end of each cleaning.
The picture below shows the aftermath of a single cleaning, if you have pets then expect to use the included brush to help clean out behind the roller brush after each use:
Finally, a warning about the next picture, this was the result of one cleaning on floors that looked fine to my eyes:
What I like
- Worked great, cleans well
- Long battery life
- Lightweight – easy to use
What I’d change
- It is a bit pricier than most non-wet stick vacuums, but if you want your floors cleaner than just vacuuming without breaking your back this might be a good option.
Final thoughts
The Ultenic Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner has supplanted our previous wet/dry vacuum as our main hard floor vacuum. With a toddler (and said toddler’s eating habits), it’s already proved invaluable for frequent cleanings that a dry-only vacuum wouldn’t be suitable for.
Price: $299.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Ultenic
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$80. on Amazon, so price in range or lower than some others.. Amazon best seller Tineco iFloor Breeze(279), any opinions?