The best wet dry vacs of 2024
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A standard vacuum cleaner works great for cleaning up dry messes on carpets, hardwood floors, and car interiors, but traditional vacuums can struggle with liquids. A wet-dry vacuum cleaner is a specialized tool that can clean up wet and dry materials with greater ease. They’re great to have in a garage, basement, workshop, or anywhere else you might encounter wet or dry messes that need cleaning. Wet-dry vacs can also be used for cleaning up spills outside of the home. You can toss a portable unit in your truck bed or trunk for cleaning versatility at a job site or just out on the go. Which wet-dry vac is right for you will depend on your cleaning needs. Do you need portability or more power? Some wet-dry vacs have 3-in-1 functionality that allows them to be used as a wet vacuum, dry vacuum, and blower simultaneously. Here are the best wet-dry vacs that are currently available at Amazon.
$226.59 at Amazon
Key Features
4-gallon capacity
32-foot hose
12 amp motor
Includes 7 attachments
Limited 2-year warranty
The BISSELL Garage Pro Wall-Mounted Wet Dry Car Vacuum/Blower includes 7 versatile attachments and a 4-gallon semi-translucent dirt tank. It features a 12-amp motor and a 32-foot hose for those hard-to-reach areas. This vacuum is great for carpets, floors, and upholstery but is best suited for industrial use by professionals or those with very large homes.
$119.95 at Amazon
Key Features
5 gallon capacity
Patented cyclone design to prevent clogging
Collapse-proof bucket
Cordless
Compatible with 1.5” to 2.5” hose fittings
This Oneida Air Systems Dust Deputy Cyclone wet dry vacuum cleaner features a patented cyclone design. This design removes fine dust and bulk debris from the airstream while preventing dust from reaching your filter bag. It has a 5-gallon collapse-proof bucket and a snap-on bucket lid. It has adjustable hose fittings ranging from 1.5” to 2.5.”
$46.99 at Amazon
Key Features
2.5 gallon capacity
3-in-1 capability
2 horsepower
Easy-carry handle
14 foot cleaning reach
This Vacmaster 2.5 Gallon Shop Vacuum Cleaner is recommended for cleaning hard surface floors. It has a cartridge filter and a 2.5-gallon capacity. It has a cleaning reach up to 14 feet. Its compact design makes it easy to carry and mounts to a wall if necessary. This vacuum is great for cleaning garages and shops.
$72.39 at Amazon
Key Features
4 horsepower
6-gallon capacity
3-in-1 function
16 ft hose
300-hour runtime
1-year warranty
This Stanley Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner excels at cleaning carpets, hardwood floors, and upholstery. It features a 4-horsepower motor and a large capacity of 6 gallons. The hose can reach up to 16 feet and has a 10-foot power cord. This 3-in-1 vacuum is suitable for home, commercial, and industrial use. There is a 1-year warranty included for this product.
$53.32 at Amazon
Key Features
2.5 gallon capacity
On-board accessory storage
2-in-1 capability
Crevice nozzle and utility nozzle
Easy to store
3-year limited warranty
This CRAFTSMAN Wet/Dry Vac is portable and lightweight making it a great option for at-home use. It has a 120-volt motor that provides 1.75 horsepower and a 2.50-gallon capacity. It features an onboard accessory storage and a 5-foot hose. This product comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
What is the difference between a wet dry vacuum and a regular vacuum?
A regular dry vacuum cleaner is meant for cleaning up dry debris and dry dirt from dry surfaces and is the best option for homeowners. Wet dry vacuums can clean just about anything on the ground and may have 3-in-1 functions that allow them to be used as a blower. Wet dry vacuums also offer more suction power and come with a higher price point than traditional vacuums.
What can a wet dry vacuum be used on?
A wet dry vacuum can clean many types of services and keep them looking clean. They can be used to clean dirt, dust, mud, sand, sawdust, pet hair, water and food crumbs.
Are there any drawbacks to using wet dry vacuums?
As great as wet dry vacuums are, they have a couple of flaws to them. Generally, they can be bulky and heavier than your average vacuum and limits their maneuverability. Another disadvantage is that they don’t clean deeply into the surface its being used on, it just removes the water from them. They also have higher noise levels and may emit a bit of dust on occasion.
