What slot do wet and dry vacuum cleaners fit into your life? A good car vacuum cleaner is an essential in any home. But it’s only so useful when you turn to your garage or a mucky car interior. What you need is a good wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Normal vacuum cleaners may be good for spilt crisps and dust bunnies, but won’t be able to tackle larger debris or spillages.
Wet and dry vacuum cleaners may seem to be excessive for cleaning your car at first glance. You may think that you own a perfectly good mop for any spillages and a vacuum for everything else. But a proper wet and dry vacuum cleaner will not only transform how you clean your car. But also your garage but your home as well.
Even the very best cordless vacuum cleaners for your home are a bit out of depth cleaning your garage. A typical garage will have the remnants of DIY tasks (like sawdust), larger debris and sometimes even liquids that will need to be vacuumed up, something that will ruin a traditional vacuum cleaner. The same can be said for cleaning your car. A regular vacuum will be good for light tasks, but if you want to make your interior look better than new or the car is extremely mucky, then a simple vacuum will not cut it.
The best wet and dry vacuum cleaners at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Charles Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best budget wet and dry vacuum cleaner: Draper 20515 – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best wet and dry vacuum for beginners: Kärcher WD2 Wet and Dry Vacuum – Buy now from Amazon UK
Wet and dry vacuums are designed to be tougher and more robust, meaning you’ll be able to tackle larger jobs with no worry at all. Not to mention, it can be used on spillages safely, too. It makes sense to own one if your car does get partially muddy on the inside, as a good wet and dry vacuum cleaner will be more effective on the mud while also keeping your carpet cleaner in good order while it spot washes your cabin.
The best wet and dry vacuum cleaners:
Editor's choice
Rrp: £179.99
Rrp: £179.99
The main reason this is our top wet and dry vacuum cleaner is because of the quality, power and operating radius. Henry has a reputation for being tough, and the Charles cements this reputation further with a very robust feeling to every surface. Power is supplied by a 1060-watt motor, which should be more than enough for any domestic duty. Best of all, however, is the massive operating radius of 26.8 metres. It's by far the largest here and welcome news for anyone without the luxury of a garage or even driveway who doesn't want to rely on a handheld unit to clean their car.
Aside from that, we also like the HEPA filter (allergy sufferers will appreciate this), easy-to-empty self-contained dust bags and the smiley face too. While it is one of the more expensive domestic wet and dry vacuum cleaners, the quality and incredibly ergonomic design make it worth every penny.
Pros
- HEPA filter
- Long cable
Cons
- The cable does not retract into the machine
| Capacity | 15 litres |
| Power | 1060W |
| Operating radius | 26.8 metres |
| Weight | 9kg |
Best budget wet and dry vacuum cleaner
Compared to the Charles, it represents really good value for money, even if the design isn't quite as ergonomic. While it may lack the fancy HEPA filter and ginormous operating radius, the capacity is larger, and the motor is more powerful. If you're after something really tough and don't want to break the bank, then this Draper is the way to go.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Selection of attachments
Cons
- Hose length could be longer
| Capacity | 20 litres |
| Power | 1250W |
| Operating radius | Five metres |
| Weight | 4.5kg |
Best wet and dry vacuum for beginners
Rrp: £67.99
Rrp: £67.99
We'd recommend this one for beginners because of its reasonable price and simple filter system. Kärcher has a solid reputation for quality, and the WD2 Plus is designed specifically for tough jobs, including cleaning the car, garage and even the garden.
While it lacks the power and operating radius of the Charles and doesn't come with any of the extra features you get with premium wet and dry vacuum vacuums, it's still a solid choice and exceeding easy to use thanks to the clever cartridge filter system. It is our top choice for beginners.
Pros
- Well-designed attachment storage
- No need to switch filters for wet or dry cleaning
Cons
- The cable is shorter than expected
| Capacity | 12 litres |
| Power | 1000W |
| Operating radius | Four metres |
| Weight | 4.25kg |
Best semi-portable wet and dry vacuum cleaner
The 1000w motor is as powerful as the Kärcher's and offers an impressive 90m³/hr airflow. It also has a handy blow function, which means it doubles as a leaf blower. While you'll need to change the filters for wet and dry vacuuming, it's still a great portable choice, especially if you're rather limited for space.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight and portable
- Handy blow function
Cons
- Doesn't perform as well as more powerful machines
| Capacity | 12 litres |
| Power | 1000W |
| Operating radius | Four metres |
| Weight | 4.6kg |
The best heavy duty wet and dry vacuum
Rrp: £102.00
Rrp: £102.00
Primarily, it's designed for cleaning sheds and garages, hence the high power output. So, for cleaning our dirt in your car, you might find the UniversalVac 15 slightly overkill, but it remains a useful wet and dry vacuum cleaner for deep cleans inside your vehicle.
Pros
- Good quality vacuum and attachments
- Plenty of suction power
Cons
- Cord length is too short
| Capacity | 15L |
| Power | 1000W |
| Operating radius | 5 Metres |
| Weight | 6.9kg |
The best value wet and dry vacuum cleaner
Rrp: £65.99
Rrp: £65.99
All of this is exceptional value for money when you consider the vacuum next to its rivals. You also get a 12-month warranty which is extra nice, considering it's not a premium vacuum cleaner. You also get a blower function, which for clearing leaves, is mightily useful.
Pros
- Comprehensive vacuum for the money
- Comes with 12-month warranty
Cons
- Build quality not as great as Karcher WD range
| Capacity | 15L |
| Power | 1250W |
| Operating radius | 5 Metres |
| Weight | 4.8kg |
What you need to know about wet and dry vacuum cleaners
Price
There are plenty of very good models for less than £100. The £150 mark and over will get you an exceptional wet and dry vacuum cleaner. They’re roughly the same sort of price as a handheld vacuum cleaner, so similar principles apply. Budget for the best you can afford, and also look at what extra features are available and how much of a premium they are. If, for example, you’re needing a carpet cleaner as well, look at a wet and dry vacuum cleaner with a built-in shampooer. Not only could this save you some cash in the long run, but it’ll also cut down on storage space.
Suction power
Another top consideration for wet and dry vacuum cleaners. Wet and dry vacuum cleaners aren’t subjected to maximum power rules. This means they’ll undoubtedly be more powerful than a regular vacuum cleaner. We found this out for ourselves when testing the Karcher WD2 Plus. This means they can clean deeper than a regular vacuum. It’s also worth noting that most wet and dry vacuums have different capacities for solids and liquids. Finally, factor in how easily the vacuums can be emptied. The best wet and dry vacuums will have a drainage tap for liquids.
Extra features
The Bosch UniversalVac 18 has loads of them. And some premium wet and dry vacuum cleaners will also offer extra functions beyond vacuuming, which is well worth considering. Several models we’ve selected include a blow function, meaning your vacuum doubles as a leaf blower. This is a welcome feature for any keen gardener, and it’ll mean you won’t need a dedicated leaf blower to take up room in your garage. Looking past the £150 mark, some wet and dry vacuum cleaners will offer a detergent option. This means they double up as carpet cleaners. If you’re wanting to remove stains without the bulk of a separate stain remover, they’re worth considering. Just remember the added cost and weight.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tool Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. He also contributes to What’s The Best.
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