Best wet and dry vacuum cleaners for tackling every kind of mess

Tested by Mumsnet editor Jenny Wonnacott: Read our in-depth Bosch Unlimited 7 Aqua 2-in-1 Vacuum & Mop review

One of the pricier wet-and-dry vacuums on our list (though still a relative bargain compared to our most premium pick, the Dyson V15s Submarine), the Bosch Unlimited 7 Aqua is quite an investment. However, you're essentially getting three appliances in one - mop, vacuum, and handheld vacuum. Add in the fact that you can use the battery with other Bosch appliances, and I think it actually offers great value for money.

Day to day, I found it really easy to use. The flexible joint on the main body meant I could easily glide under sofas and furniture, and the handheld function is a real standout. It’s lightweight but powerful, ideal for everyday family chaos - think glitter explosions, crumbs under the table, stray bits of Play-Doh, beach sand, or the dreaded summer-holiday car seats test.

The mop function is another highlight. It uses rotating pads and a small water tank, and I liked that I could switch from tiles to wood without changing anything over. It coped well with everyday mess, and while it doesn’t quite replace a deep clean, it definitely rivals some steam mops I’ve used in the past - especially since it vacuums and mops at the same time!

The main drawback is battery life. On eco or auto mode, you’ll get around 40 minutes - plenty for a decent once-over of a ground floor. Switch to turbo, though, and you’re looking at closer to 10 minutes. That’s fine for a quick blitz, but not enough for the whole house in one go. If you’ve got more space to cover, a spare battery is well worth the extra spend.

If you are looking for a cheap wet and dry vacuum cleaner for all the messy jobs, then this own-brand vac from Wickes fits the bill.

Granted, it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing vacuum cleaner we have ever seen, but the Wickes Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner With Blower should not be judged on appearances. It makes light work of dust, plaster, grit and even liquids, which makes it perfect for cleaning garages, workshops and clearing up after builders. There’s a blower function too, which is handy for clearing fallen leaves off your decking come autumn, or even for pumping up airbeds when guests come to stay.

It’s lightweight and portable, thanks to the wide-stance castors which help prevent the vacuum from toppling over, plus a long 2.4-metre hose will help you get into all those tricky nooks and crannies. The vacuum also comes with a floor nozzle, crevice tool, three cloth filters (for dry use) and one foam filter (for wet use). 

Tested by Mumsnet floor care editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review

There's been a lot of buzz around the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Wet Dry Vacuum - and with good reason. The original Dyson V15 Detect is already a favourite amongst Mumsnetters, and this newer wet-dry model takes things a step further with the addition of a mop head designed to keep hard floors spotless, whether you’ve got wood, tile, vinyl or anything in between.

In testing, the vacuum mode was the real highlight. It had no trouble at all with the usual household messes - cereal, flour, coffee grounds, hair - and the Fluffy Optic head’s green laser was both clever and mildly alarming, highlighting dust I didn’t even know was there. The digital display, which shows exactly what’s being collected (yes, including dust mites), also made the whole process strangely satisfying - albeit horrifying!

The mop feature is useful, but it has its drawbacks. Stubborn marks need extra passes, and during longer cleaning sessions I did notice the roller leaving behind a faint trace of dirty water. You also can't use the mop and vacuum function together like the Bosch Unlimited 7 Aqua.

For me, the vacuuming is where the Submarine really shines. The mop head is a nice extra, but I don’t think it justifies the extra £150 on top of the already hefty price tag of the V15 original. If budget isn’t an issue and you like the idea of one device that does it all, it’s a clever bit of kit, but the dry function is definitely the star of the show when it comes to everyday cleaning.

Check out this big blue beast. If you thought the original Henry HVR160 Vacuum Cleaner was made of tough stuff, then Charles is Henry on steroids.

Chunky Charles, with his powerful, long-life 1060W motor, can handle pretty much anything thrown his way - even blocked sinks and showers. Charles comes with a selection of tools for every job, including a MultiFlo wet pick-up tool, upholstery tool, double taper hose/tool adaptor, slide-on brush for upholstery, two extension tubes, crevice tool, combination floor tool, soft dusting brush, three HepaFlo filter bags and a 2.4m NuFlex threaded hose. 

Yes, he’s huge, and this may prove a problem storage-wise. But if you do have the space, then the virtually indestructible Charles will give you many, many years of happy vacuuming.

There is lots to love about the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner. As well as vacuuming and mopping all at once, it has a continuous self-cleaning system that helps prevent dirt from being redeposited back on your lovely clean floors. The HydroVac comes with a bottle of its quick-drying multi-surface cleaning solution, which is formulated with Odour Neutraliser Technology, helping to get rid of unpleasant pongs and leave your home smelling fresh as a daisy.

That said, the Shark HydroVac only has a 25-minute run time when fully charged and, annoyingly, you can’t use the vacuum on its own without the mop function. The HydroVac is a little bit pricier than some of the other options on our list, but if you want to save a few pennies and don’t mind being tethered to the wall, the corded version is currently available on Amazon for just under £200.

We all know that Kärcher is responsible for one of the best steam cleaners around, but did you know they also make excellent wet and dry vacuum cleaners, according to Mumsnetters?

The Kärcher Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner WD 2 Plus packs one hell of a punch and makes light work of fine and coarse dirt, including mess left behind by builders. Unlike some vacuums on our list, such as the Wickes-own vac, the Kärcher has a one-piece cartridge filter, allowing it to suck up both wet and dry dirt without having to change the filter in between.

The WD 2 Plus also comes with a crevice tool, so there’s really no excuse for not giving the car a good clean. However, we do wish the power cord was slightly longer.

If you’re a fan of a good old-fashioned upright vacuum, then the BISSELL CrossWave 3-in-1 Multi-Surface Floor Cleaner will be right up your street. There’s no faffing around waiting for the vacuum to charge up - just plug it in and off you go. 

The CrossWave vacuums, mops and dries all in one fell swoop, with an innovative multi-surface brush roll that scrubs to remove debris and prevents hair wrap. Although the CrossWave is great for light, daily cleaning, previous buyers say it is less suited to deep cleans or stubborn stains, including muddy paw prints. However, if you do have a pet that likes to shed hair everywhere and brings half the back garden indoors with it, then the BISSELL CrossWave Pet may be a better choice for you.

If you’re after a budget-friendly handheld that can handle everyday chaos, this Black + Decker Dustbuster is worth considering. Priced just under £50, it’s a no-frills option that makes light work of family messes and spills without you needing to haul out a full-size vacuum.

It’s kitted out with a wide nozzle and handy attachments, including a crevice tool for fiddly corners, a brush for crumbs, and even a squeegee for liquid spills. Whether it’s juice on the counter, biscuit crumbs on the sofa, or wet, muddy footprints trailed through the hallway, this little vac is designed for those small disasters that can’t wait.

The catch? Battery life isn’t huge. You’ll get around seven minutes of power, which means it’s best for quick blasts rather than big jobs. Recharging takes a while too, but the wall-mounted dock is a smart touch, keeping it charged and within reach when you need it.