The 9 Best Wet-Dry Vacuums of 2024, Tested by Real People
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Our top pick is the Bissell TurboClean Wet-Dry Vacuum for its effective cleaning, maneuverability, and user-friendly features
People / Henry Wortock
Vacuuming and mopping are two chores that most of us do everything in our power to put off.
That’s why a wet-dry vacuum combo is a game changer. Not only does it completely eradicate one step, but it also minimizes the amount of equipment you have to stuff into a closet. Depending on things like the layout of your space, whether you need a special vacuum for pet hair or allergies, and how many people live in your home, the features you’ll get the most out of will vary.
Deal Alert!
Looking for some great deals on wet-dry vacuums? Two of our favorites — Tineco Floor One S5 Cordless Wet-Dry Vacuum (with coupon) and Roborock Dyad Pro Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaner — are discounted now for Memorial Day.
We’ve taken out the guesswork by putting a wide variety of wet-dry vacuums (23 to be exact!) to the test, rating them on their ease of setup, noise level, effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, capacity, ease of emptying, and value.
After thorough testing across multiple surfaces and messes, these are the best wet-dry vacuums of 2024, recommended by PEOPLE.
Best Overall: Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner
Star Qualities
Effectively cleaned wet and dry debris simultaneously
Easy-to-use self-cleaning function means minimal manual clean-up
Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Red Flags
Small water tank
Struggled with larger debris
The Bissell TurboClean won our vote for best overall because of how easy it is to maneuver and how well it transitions between wet and dry messes.
During testing, it effectively cleaned up both wet and dry debris, and although it struggled with vacuuming up larger food pieces, it still cleaned up the messes in each test. While you’re cleaning, water is dispensed automatically while in use, so you can both sanitize and vacuum surfaces at the same time. During testing, we used the Bissell cleaning solution that you can purchase separately, and although it’s not required, we found that it was useful and elevated the experience. The sleek design and self-propelled steering were also a big reason this one won us over.
After cleaning, emptying out the waste tank was just as easy. Although water and debris go to the same place and have to be emptied altogether, the vacuum comes with a tool to strain out food, so you can pour water down the sink drain and throw the rest in the trash. The self-cleaning feature was also quick to use.
The main drawback we found with this one was that the tank that keeps the dirty water is pretty small, so depending on the size of your home, you may have to interrupt your cleaning process throughout to empty it. However, the sleek design and user-friendly features make this one well worth it, especially at the under-$150 price.
Weight: 8.37 lbs. | Dimensions: 27.44 x 13.03 x 10.67 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 17 ounces
Best Overall, Runner-Up: Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 Wet Dry Vacuum
Star Qualities
Easily moves from surface to surface
Battery-operated
Affordable yet effective
Red Flags
Noisy when in use
Difficult to use on carpeted areas
Besides the easy setup that took just under two minutes out of the package, the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 has dual tanks that separate fresh water from dirty water so that you aren’t using dirty water while cleaning. From tile to hardwoods, the suction was excellent and managed to not only clean up liquid messes but also suck up heavy debris within the first 30 seconds of going over any given spot on the floor. We did notice that for more oily or sticky spots, the button to release extra water and cleaning solution was needed and came in handy.
One con that we noticed was that it was a little bit harder to use on the carpet and needed a little more force of hand. Aside from that, we found that when the vacuuming feature was on, it let out a high-pitched whirring noise, and that could get annoying, especially if you have a lot of ground to cover. However, this vacuum has a lot of great features that we love, from the self-cleaning bristles to the easy-emptying water reservoir and the battery-operated motor.
Weight: 10.03 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.63 x 11.61 x 44.10 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 39 ounces
The More You Know
There are a lot of bonuses to a wet-dry vacuum, like fewer appliances to store and fewer steps in your process. If you like the idea of robot vacuums, consider getting one with wet-dry capabilities. In our testing, they all generally did a good job of cleaning up messes, but we didn’t find any to be as effective as using a mop or vacuum on its own. However, if you like the idea of minimizing cleaning supplies and have hardwood or tile floors in your home, vacuum-mop combos are a functional option that will get the job done.
Best Budget: Black & Decker Wet Dry Vac BXUVXA02
Star Qualities
Strong suction that efficiently cleaned hard surfaces
Quiet motor means you can watch TV or have a conversation while using it
Maintained a charge throughout testing, even though it was on the highest setting the whole time
Red Flags
Vacuum setting isn’t as strong and doesn’t transition from wet to dry easily
This vacuum from Black and Decker won our vote for the budget category because, although it’s on the cheaper side of the vacuums we tested, it performed remarkably well. We were impressed by the strength of the suction and how efficiently it cleaned up all messes during testing, even on textured surfaces like tile with grout. Although the self-cleaning feature is a bit loud, while it’s in use to clean, the motor stays relatively quiet. Throughout the testing process, it maintained a charge and only lost about 25 percent of battery power, even though we kept it on the highest setting the whole time.
The biggest drawback with this one is that transitioning from the mop to vacuum settings is a little tedious. If you’re going from wet to dry, you have to empty the tank and clean it; otherwise, you’ll get your carpet wet. This prolongs your cleaning process and would be especially frustrating if you had a lot of carpet in your home. This would be better suited for people who won’t use the vacuum setting as much, like homes that have mostly hard floors with a couple of rugs throughout. Considering the excellent battery life and strong suction, we found the $200 price to be a steal.
Weight: 11 lbs. | Dimensions: 11.41 x 10.55 x 42.52 inches | Battery Life: 25 minutes | Capacity: 20 ounces
Best Smart: Tineco Floor One S5 Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Star Qualities
Thorough on all surfaces
Easy to empty and clean
Cordless and has a strong battery life
Red Flags
High price point
Hard to fit into tight corners and under furniture
The Tineco Floor One S5 did a great job at picking up wet and dry messes at the same time. Between soggy cereal, slimy egg yolks, and crunchy egg shells, this vacuum performed extremely well for all our tests, even in hard-to-reach places like tile grout lines. We also liked that it easily slid under the table and around chairs and table legs.
With that being said, there were some places, specifically along the edge of low furniture, where the suction wasn’t as strong as we would have liked and would’ve required manual cleaning with a rag. Although it was not the best with awkward corners and angles, we barely used 20 percent of the full battery life during our tests, so you can easily get several cleaning sessions out of one charge.
We also loved how simple aftercare is on all fronts — emptying the bin was very easy, and we barely got our hands dirty. We also tried out the self-cleaning process, which made the manual deep-cleaning process even easier. Features like the self-cleaning mode were a huge time saver and made overall maintenance of the device easier. This vacuum is at a higher price point that may not be for everyone, but if your budget allows for the luxury price point, the advanced technology makes it worth the purchase.
Weight: 17.37 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.75 x 10.24 x 43.31 inches | Battery Life: 35 minutes | Capacity: 27 ounces
Best Cordless: Roborock Dyad Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Star Qualities
Strong suction across tile and hardwood
Sleek design makes it easy to get under furniture and tight corners
Strong battery life
Red Flags
Rollers are difficult to adjust when there are obstructions
Mobile app is difficult to use
The Roborock Dyad Pro won our vote for Best Cordless, in large part because of its excellent battery life. It managed to keep a charge throughout all of the cleaning tests, and once we were done, it was still just under 80 percent charged, so it could easily do several other cleaning sessions on a single charge. We were also impressed by how well it did on all the surfaces we tested, from grout to hardwoods to tile. We also noticed how easily the vacuum maneuvered around different pieces of furniture, from the dining room table to the sharp turns around the edges of a bookcase.
The main con we noticed was that whenever there was a blockage in the canister, the rollers were hard to remove to clear whatever the obstruction was. Additionally, Roborock has an app that is meant to allow you to control different features of your device from a distance, like self-cleaning and self-drying modes. However, we couldn’t get the app to successfully work, so we were unable to test this feature.
We found that this vacuum worked nicely across varied hardwood surfaces and had a strong suction that cleaned up both wet and dry messes with ease. It doesn’t work on carpets, so you’ll have to use a regular vacuum as well if your home has carpeted areas.
Weight: 10.58 lbs. | Dimensions: 14.2 x 12.7 x 45.7 inches | Battery Life: 43 minutes | Capacity: 30 ounces
Most Versatile: Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Plus Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac
Star Qualities
Works well on carpet
Quickly cleans hardwoods and tile without vigorous scrubbing
Moves from surface to surface and around furniture with ease
Red Flags
Motor is loud while turned on
Cord gets in the way while cleaning
The Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam did a great job of moving from surface to surface. It took just under 40 seconds to clean up the mess on the tile, and although there were some pieces of cereal left behind on the hardwoods that were stuck to the floor, it took less than two minutes to clean them.
Moving onto the carpet, it did even better than the Ecowell. It also moved around furniture with ease — from chair legs to corners to couches, it slid from surface to surface without too much hassle. It also left the carpet fully dry after cleaning, so we were able to walk on it immediately.
The main cons we noticed were pretty big ones. The vacuum itself is remarkably loud. It was so loud, in fact, that nobody in the room could have a conversation or watch TV while it was running. Also, it is a corded model, which means you’ll have to carefully choreograph your movements so as not to get caught up while cleaning.
Weight: 12.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 11.61 x 13.78 x 26.14 inches | Battery Life: N/A | Capacity: 28 ounces
Best Design: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro Smart Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Star Qualities
Excellent suction across both tile and hardwood floors
Lots of high-tech features
Quiet motor
Red Flags
Pretty expensive
Small water tanks have to be emptied frequently
If you’re looking for a wet vacuum with lots of bells and whistles, you’ll love this one from Tineco. It has excellent suction across both hardwood and tile floors and manages to detect the type of mess it’s cleaning up without any user input required to change settings. Whether it’s oily mayo or crunchy cereal, we found that it didn’t take much to effectively clean each surface.
It also has high-tech features, like the ability to determine what direction you’re going with the vacuum and adjust the wheels to make movements easier. While there were some moments where this feature made using the device a little bit awkward, it is a cool feature to see put into practice. Even with all these qualities at work, the vacuum still manages to stay relatively quiet.
The biggest con was the small water tanks. Throughout the test, we had to either empty the dirty water or refill the fresh water every few minutes, so you’ll most likely experience disruptions while cleaning, depending on the size of your home.
Weight: 11.31 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.43 x 10.24 x 43.7 inches | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Capacity: 29 ounces
Easiest to Maneuver: Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac
Star Qualities
User-controlled solution dispenser limits product waste
Easy to guide around sharp corners and edges of furniture.
Works well on carpets
Red Flags
Lacks a brush roll dryer which means waiting between cleaning wet and dry messes.
Suction levels struggle in the deep grooved surfaces
We all know what it’s like to have to endure the slog of using a big and bulky vacuum and how tiring it is. But the Bissell CrossWave X7 makes that a thing of the past! For one, the user-controlled solution dispenser means you’re in control of how much cleaning solution you use, which eliminates wasted product. Also, the design of the vacuum itself made it very easy to steer. During testing, we were able to turn the head about 60 degrees without changing hand positions so that we could clean around chair legs, which is often an impossible task.
While the suction worked well in general across all the tests, we did notice that it struggled in the deep grooves of the hardwood floor, so the milk spill seeped deep inside and was hard to fully clean up. Also, while it does work on carpet, we did find that it struggled over certain spots, especially because the brush rollers were still wet from the previous cleaning session. If you’re switching from vacuuming to mopping across different floor types, this is something to keep in mind, as it will definitely prolong your overall process.
Weight: 10.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 10.5 x 9.5 x 25 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 12-15 ounces
Best Investment: Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
Star Qualities
Did a nice job cleaning up wet messes on hard floors
Strong suction on carpet cleaned up messes with ease
Easy to maneuver around and under furniture
Red Flags
Struggled to suction larger food debris on hard floors
Shut off at certain points when the tank was clogged with food debris
This wet-dry vacuum by Dyson won our vote for those looking to make a bigger investment. The mop feature did well on the tile and hardwood floors when it came to liquid spills, but it struggled with bigger food debris like cereal and egg shells. We suspect this happened because the waste tank is on the smaller side, got full quickly, and lost suction power the fuller it became, even shutting off at certain points. This works okay as a wet vacuum, but it’s definitely better suited for liquid spills as opposed to bigger messes. Aside from that, we liked that the display screen tells you exactly how much water is left in the tank as you’re cleaning.
While the wet setting didn’t wow us, we were impressed by the dry vacuum. The suction was so strong that we were able to efficiently clean the carpet in under 30 seconds on the lowest setting. Throughout all of our tests, the minimalistic and lightweight design made it easy to maneuver under furniture and around tight corners.
This is definitely one of the more expensive vacuums we tested, but we had to include it on our list because of how well its dry vacuum setting works — it could easily replace a regular vacuum in your home.
Weight: 9 lbs. | Dimensions: 49 x 10 x 10.6 inches | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Capacity: 26 ounces
Our Verdict
Since we first published this story, we have continued testing new products and found a couple new standouts to recommend. For example, the Bissell TurboClean won our vote for Best Overall for how easy it is to maneuver and its ability to transition between wet and dry messes with ease. We also found a new favorite budget option from Black and Decker, which manages to have superior battery life and suction power at just under $200. Finally, we found our new favorite for those looking to make a big investment with the Dyson V15s. Its strong suction makes vacuuming up dry messes quicker and easier than ever before, and its lightweight and simple design makes it easy to maneuver from room to room. As new products emerge on the market, we will continue to update this story accordingly, so you can be as informed as possible when shopping
What to Know About Wet-Dry Vacuums
Noise Level
A noisy vacuum is frustrating for a lot of reasons, and a quieter vacuum can make a world of difference. It’s also a sign that your vacuum is of higher quality — quieter vacuums are generally made with better parts and more advanced technology, so if it isn’t too noisy, it’s most likely built to last. This is something you should think about when purchasing a new vacuum. The Black and Decker Wet-Dry Vacuum is a great option if the noise level is a concern for you, as it was by far one of the quietest vacuums we tested.
Portability
Nobody likes having to lug a heavy vacuum around, especially if your home has multiple stories. And if you live in a smaller space or just don’t like clutter, something light that’s easy to put in a closet or in a corner will impact how your home looks and feels. If any of these situations apply to you, then you should focus on the dimensions and weight of the vacuum you’re considering, so you can have a clear picture of how much space it would take up or how it would feel to carry it around your home.
Effectiveness
Regardless of your priorities, everyone wants a wet-dry vacuum that’s effective and cleans up messes thoroughly. Besides researching user reviews and looking to PEOPLE Tested for the lowdown on your next big purchase, there are certain specs you can look at on a product’s page to determine how effective it will be. For example, in the case of wet-dry vacuums, important considerations are the capacity of the water tanks and suction power. If a vacuum has a smaller water tank, it will empty faster, which means you’ll have to pause frequently throughout the process to refill. The suction power of a vacuum determines how effectively it can deep clean. Some models automatically adjust the suction power based on the mess.
We're going to be honest: We were somewhat impressed with the wet-dry vacuums we tested, but if you have space in your home (and your budget) to invest in a great vacuum cleaner and an easy-to-use mop, those two devices will give you a better deep clean than a wet-dry vacuum on its own. If you really want to splurge, consider upgrading to a steam mop.
Surfaces
Can you use a wet-dry vacuum on all surfaces? What about carpet? Good questions. It depends on the product. We found that many models with the capability to work on hard surfaces and carpets struggled between the two and were not equally effective on both floor types. Our most versatile pick, the Bissell CrossWave, worked equally well on carpet and hardwood and moved effortlessly between surfaces. It also left the carpet fully dry after cleaning, which is a big plus. Check the wet-dry vacuum you’re considering to make sure that it's appropriate for the flooring in your home.
Capacity
The tank capacity will determine how frequently you’ll need to refill (and empty) your wet-dry vacuum tank. The capacity of the tank is an important consideration, depending on the size of your home. Some wet-dry vacuums have a single tank, while others, like the Ecowell Lulu Quick Clean P05 Wet-Dry Vacuum, have two tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty water.
Price Range
All of the wet-dry vacuums we tested cost between $150 and $950. Things like power source, features, size, weight, and brand name all factor into the cost. However, this is more of a luxury item, so you should expect to spend at least a couple hundred dollars.
People / Eric Brockob
Behind the Scenes
We tested each wet-dry vacuum with carefully thought-out simulations of how it would feel to use a vacuum in your home, from start to finish.
Effectiveness: We tested for effectiveness by cleaning up wet and dry messes across a wide range of textures, like cracked eggs, mayonnaise, milk, cereal, and coffee grounds. We set a one-minute timer and cleaned as much as possible in that time frame, and if the mess was not cleaned up before then, we measured the additional amount of time it took to clean the floor fully. We did this on both tile and hardwood for every single wet-dry vacuum we tested.
Maneuverability: We did the same test with coffee grounds and rice cereal for wet-dry vacuum models that also work on carpets. To test for maneuverability, we trailed coffee grounds around pieces of furniture, like dining chairs and buffet tables, and reviewed how easy it was to get around tight edges and corners.
Cleaning: We also went through the process per the manufacturer’s instructions for emptying and cleaning each wet-dry vacuum itself. All of this was used to evaluate each model’s overall quality.
Related: The 14 Best Washable Rugs of 2024, According to Our Tests
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Olivia Avitt has written about a wide range of subjects, including the best car vacuums, area rugs, ceiling fans, and mattresses. For this piece, she thoroughly reviewed the insights provided by the PEOPLE Tested team to give you the lowdown on the pros and cons of each product so you can save time shopping and find the perfect vacuum for your needs. All of our tests included detailed, methodical simulations that closely mimicked real-life use, so we could provide the most realistic and thorough reviews possible. Each vacuum was rated for ease of setup, noise level, effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, ease of cleaning, and value.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
Up Next: The 7 Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floors of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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