If you want to freshen up lightly soiled hard floors regularly, a cordless floor cleaner could suit you, as long as you’re happy to empty and clean it after every use. If you also need to pick up hair or small bits of debris, consider a wet and dry vacuum with tested suction performance. Keep a separate vacuum cleaner and mop if you need to vacuum dry, clean carpets or regularly tackle stubborn stains. UFC-Que Choisir reports that floor cleaners have limited effectiveness against tough stains.
If you mainly want to remove light marks between full cleans, a wet floor cleaner could be right for the job. However, UFC-Que Choisir found that floor cleaners have limitations when it comes to tackling stubborn stains in its tests.
If this kind of dirt regularly needs clearing up when you wash your floors, look for a wet and dry vacuum that can pick up debris from your type of flooring. Check how easy it is to access the roller and look at suction test results for the specific model, rather than relying on an ‘anti-tangle’ claim alone.
A quick clean doesn’t mean you can skip emptying the dirty water or maintaining the parts listed in the instructions. Check how easy it is to access the roller, filters and tanks, and whether compatible accessories are available.
Worth considering: for frequent wet cleaning of lightly soiled hard floors.
Limitation: according to UFC-Que Choisir, these cleaners’ suction generally isn’t a substitute for a dry vacuum cleaner.
Worth considering: if small bits of debris and wet spills often end up together on your hard floors.
Limitation: assess the vacuuming and washing performance separately for the model you’re considering, as Les Numériques does in its test procedures.
Worth considering: if you also vacuum carpets or regularly need to tackle stubborn stains.
Trade-off: vacuuming and then mopping takes two steps, but you can tailor each one to the surface and the type of dirt.
| Factor | What to check | What matters to me |
|---|---|---|
| Stains | Compare tests using dirt similar to yours and the same type of flooring. UFC-Que Choisir tests mud, coffee and mustard, among other things; its overall conclusions are cautious when it comes to stubborn stains. | I mainly want to remove small, fresh marks, or I often have dried-on stains that need a separate treatment. |
| Suction | Tell the difference between picking up water and genuinely vacuuming debris. Check the model’s suction test results and which surfaces the instructions say it can be used on. | There are often crumbs or hair on my floor before I wash it. |
| Maintenance | Check how to empty the dirty-water tank and remove the roller. If there’s a self-cleaning cycle, find out what you still need to do once it’s finished. | I plan to use the appliance often, so emptying and cleaning it after every use needs to fit into my routine. |
| Consumables | Check which rollers, filters and detergents are compatible, and whether they’re available. UFC-Que Choisir says these consumables are generally specific to each brand. | I’d like to be able to find replacement parts without having to replace the appliance. |
| Surfaces | Check the instructions for your specific flooring. If you also have rugs or carpets, make sure you have a suitable way to vacuum them. | Hard floors aren’t the only surfaces I need to clean at home. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that, on some floor cleaners, suction is mainly used to pick up water. It doesn’t replace vacuuming dust and debris from a dry floor.
If you want to pick up crumbs before washing, check this feature in the instructions and in a test of the model, or keep a separate vacuum cleaner.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that floor cleaners have limited effectiveness against stubborn stains.
Choose based on the kind of dirt you usually deal with. For dried-on marks, look for tests involving similar stains and keep a suitable stain-removal method to hand.
Emptying the tank, cleaning the roller and checking accessible parts are all jobs to plan for, even if the appliance has a self-cleaning cycle.
Before buying, check how to remove the roller and open the dirty-water tank. Also check the model’s drying instructions.
These tasks take time after every use. For example, Tineco recommends cleaning the brush on the FLOOR ONE S5 COMBO PLUS after use.
UFC-Que Choisir says that rollers, filters and detergents are generally brand-specific and need replacing.
Find out which parts are designed for the model you’re considering, and check that the rollers, filters and any other parts you might need are available.
The cordless FC7 is an example of a roller-based cleaner designed for hard floors.
The X-Clean range includes cordless wet and dry vacuums for hard floors, with features varying by model.
The Floor One range includes wet cleaners, with instructions that vary by model.
The F25 Steam is featured in Les Numériques’ guide to floor cleaners.
Dyson’s floor cleaners include the WashG1, Clean+Wash Hygiene and PencilWash.
These three appliances combine wet cleaning and vacuuming for everyday hard-floor care. Check that they’re suitable for your flooring, and don’t assume they’ll replace vacuuming carpets or removing ingrained stains.
Image unavailable
Designed to vacuum and wash hard floors as part of your regular cleaning routine. The product description lists edge cleaning, self-cleaning and 35 minutes of run time. Check the conditions for achieving this run time, and remember to empty the dirty water after use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to vacuum and wash hard floors with one appliance. The product description mentions a self-cleaning system, but you’ll still need to maintain the appliance as instructed. For dried-on stains, look for test results for this model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you need to clean underneath low furniture: the product description lists a 180° recline and a height of 13 cm. It also claims FlashDry self-cleaning at 70 °C and 40 minutes of run time. Check the conditions of use and make sure it’s suitable for your flooring.
Not if you regularly need to vacuum dust and debris from dry floors, rugs or carpets. UFC-Que Choisir explains that floor cleaners are designed primarily for washing hard floors, and that their suction may mainly be used to pick up water.
A wet clean may help with a recent, light mark, but don’t expect it to remove every dried-on stain. UFC-Que Choisir tests coffee, mustard and jam, among other stains, and finds that these cleaners have limitations when tackling stubborn marks. Look for test results that reflect how you plan to use the appliance.
Empty the dirty water and clean the parts listed in the instructions for your model. If the appliance has a self-cleaning cycle, also follow the guidance on checking and drying the roller. The cycle won’t necessarily replace every maintenance step.
No. Check the instructions for your model to see which products are approved. UFC-Que Choisir advises against using detergents that aren’t designed for the appliance, particularly because they can create excess foam or leave marks on the floor.
Find out which rollers, filters and cleaning products are compatible with the model you’ve chosen, then check that they’re available. UFC-Que Choisir says these consumables are generally brand-specific.