How well does the Ultenic FS1 clean carpets?
The brush head is fitted with two rollers - one for carpets and one for hard floors, and we found it to be just as effective across both surfaces. Although it’s worth bearing in mind that If you’re using it exclusively on carpets, it’s unlikely that the battery will last a full hour.
It’s better at dealing with smaller debris like household dust than larger scraps - you’ll need to go over the surface a few times to pick up bigger bits.
It’s excellent at edge cleaning though and proficient when switching from wooden floors to rugs.
Read next: The best steam cleaners, tried and tested
How well does the Ultenic FS1 clean hard floors?
The Ultenic FS1 performed well across wooden floors and dealt with kitchen debris (herbs, garlic skin, Cheerios) effectively. We found it satisfying to see the dust collect in the transparent canister.
The included tools are useful - the brush attachment is handy for curtains and the crevice tool makes it easy to shift dust from hard-to-reach areas like the back of the sofa.
How well does the Ultenic FS1 deal with pet hair?
It does a decent job of getting rid of pet hair, particularly when dealing with clumps of hair on hard floors and shifting stray hair from upholstery. You’ll need to put a bit more effort into eliminating hair from pet bedding though.
Note that it isn’t fitted with an anti-tangle feature, so you may find that hairs will need to be removed from the brush on a regular basis (a brush cleaning tool comes as standard).
Related: The best robot mops for shiny floors without lifting a finger
Does the Ultenic FS1 offer value for money?
Our guide to the best cordless vacuum cleaners features models that range in price from £130 to £600+ so the Ultenic FS1 sits neatly in the middle. It works well as a standalone cordless vacuum cleaner but the value is built into its innovative self-emptying docking station, a feature that you’d pay double for if investing in the similarly designed Samsung Bespoke Jet Pro. It’s on the pricey side as a basic cordless vac - we rate the Tower VL100 Optimum as a brilliant budget buy - but we think it’s worth the money if the self-emptying element appeals to you.
How we tested
Tester, Justine, put the Ultenic FS1 through its paces over the course of several months. She used it on wooden floors and rugs throughout her flat and tested its ability to deal with dust, debris, kitchen mess (including Cheerios) and pet hair. She assessed how easy it was to set up, move around, empty, clean and store, awarding a score for each element and benchmarking it against other cordless vacuum cleaners we’ve tested in-house.
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About the author
Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on product reviews, homeware roundups and family travel.
She’s written buyer’s guides for publications including Expert Reviews and Coach as well as reviews and features for the Guardian, TripSavvy and Visit London.
As a mum of two, she’s always on the lookout for products that make life easier at home and loves putting appliances and gadgets to the test to highlight best buys for families.