The Best Wet And Dry Vacuum Cleaner

UPDATED: Mar 07, 2020.

From the sawdust covers in your garage after a handy woodwork project to the pools of water that might have leaked around your taps, a wet and dry vacuum cleaner is a great tool to own.  In fact, a wet-dry vacuum is also called a dirty vac, a garage vac, or a DIY vac.

It isn’t meant to replace your upright vacuum cleaner, but it is worth hanging around your house in order to clean large messes that your mop and your household vacuum can’t handle. The wet and dry vac is designed to make light of these messes.

Therefore, if you are looking for the best wet and dry vacuum cleaner, then you have come to the right place. I have covered the top 10 models on the market today to help you make an informed decision when selecting your preferred wet-dry vac.

At a Glance: The 10 Best Wet And Dry Vacuum Cleaner Discussed in Our Roundup:

• Shop-Vac Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum (Top Pick)
• Stanley Wet/Dry Vacuum Steel Tank (Top Rated)
• Shop-Vac Wet Dry Vacuum (Editor Choice)
• Shop-Vac Wet/Dry Portable Vacuum
• Yesker Craftsman Wet/Dry Vac
• Vacmaster VJH12111PF Wet/Dry Vacuum
• Bissell Garage Wet Dry Car Blower/Vacuum
• Vacmaster VFB511B 0201 Wet/Dry Vacuum
• Shop-Vac All Around Wet/Dry Vacuum
• Vacmaster Wet/Dry Floor Vacuum

Reviews of Top 10 Wet-Dry Vacuum Cleaners for 2020

What is the best wet and dry vacuum cleaner? Here are the top 10 wet and dry vacuum cleaners on the shelves today:

1. Shop-Vac 5989300 4.5 Peak HP 5-Gallon Stainless Steel Wet Dry Vacuum

 First on the list is the 5989300 Wet-Dry Vac from Shop-Vac. This product has a 5 gallons stainless steel tank for storing a huge amount of dirt. It also boasts of a 4.5 peak HP motor that enables it to suck even the roughest of messes from your floor.

With a full circumference dolly, the vac is easy to maneuver and the side and top carrying handles make it easier to carry. The vacuum cleaner also features an accessory and onboard cord storage that improves its portability.

Also, the vac comes with a lot of accessories that makes your work even easier. These include a rear blower port and a positive lid latch. Other accessories include a 7 feet hose, a crevice tool, 3 extension wands, a cartridge filter, a filter bag, a foam sleeve, a gulper nozzle, and a floor nozzle (all are 1.25 inches in diameter).

Adaptable and powers, the 5989300 Wet-Dry vac is your go-to product for cleaning all huge house messes.

2. Stanley SL18115 4.0 HP 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Steel Tank

Another wet-dry vac that will do the trick of cleaning large messes is the Stanley SL18115. Just like the Shop-Vac’s model above, this cleaner comes with a 5 gallons steel container that holds a lot of dirt to ensure that you clean more and empty less. It also comes with a 4.0 HP motor that is strong enough to collect most dirt.

Just like the Shop-Vac’s model, this cleaner comes with a rear blower port. It also comes with a long 10 feet power cord that allows you to reach the furthest corners of your garage or other rooms. What’s more, it has a built-in cord wrap that makes it easier to store.

It is quite easy to maneuver the vac thanks to the swiveling canister that ensures easy movement. Other accessories provided include 2 extension wands, a gulper nozzle, a crevice nozzle, a foam filter, a dust bag, a cloth bag with a clamp ring, a floor brush, and 1¼ inches x 5 feet hose.

3. Shop-Vac 2021000 1.0 HP 1-Gallon Micro Wet/Dry Vac Portable Compact Micro Vacuum

This is a portable and lightweight wet/dry micro vac that features a 1.0 HP motor and a 1 gallon that. Hence, this is not a product for cleaning large spaces since it has a limited capacity. Other features of the product are the ergonomic collapsible top carry handle, convenient cord wrap, and wall bracket that saves you space when storing it.

A versatile product, this Shop-Vac comes with all the things you will need to start cleaning. These include a crevice, a tool holder, a 4 feet hose, a gulper nozzle, and a foam sleeve, and a tool holder. This model is ideal for any quick cleaning in your workshop, car, garage, and home.

All-in-one multi-surface and accessories, the product was created to be convenient, efficient, and powerful. And you can easily fold it down to allow you to carry it easily. Also, it has a wall bracket that enables wall mount storage.

4. Vacmaster VJH12111PF 0201 12-Gallon Beast Professional Series Wet/Dry Vacuum

Best in its class, the Vacmaster VJH12111PF has a strong suction power as well as air flow to handle tough jobs around the shop, job site, garage, and other places. It comes with an integrated hose, power cord, and accessories organization that saves you space when storing it.

The three features also assure convenience as well as hassle-free storage of your vac cleaner. Another feature of the product is the 7 feet 1½ inches kick-free hose that reaches every corner of your cleaning area. Other accessories include a crevice tool, a floor nozzle with brush and squeegee, a utility nozzle, 2 extension wands, a foam filter, an air and noise diffuser, and a fine dust cartridge filter.

What’s more, the vac is able to provide over 27 feet of cleaning due to the 20 feet power cord and 7 feet hose. These allow you to reach a further distance (you can also add the 2 extension wands to reach even further).

5. Bissell Garage Pro Wall-Mounted Wet Dry Car Blower/Vacuum

This is a 12 Amp wet/dry vac cleaner that collects both dry and wet messes in the workshop, garage, car, and other places. It can easily convert to blower thanks to the helix cleaning system. The product suctions up dry and wet debris with ease, leaving your floor clean.

Moreover, the vac comes with 7 versatile accessories and attachments including carpeting, as a bag, upholstery, and many more. It is a product that will come in handy when cleaning messes around your home.

Another great thing about this product is the 4 gallons semi-translucent collection tank. It is large enough to allow you to clean for hours without it getting filled up. And it provides 2 levels of filtration to ensure that the dirt is separated when in the tank.

You might love to learn that the vac cleaner has a wall mounting kit that makes it easier to store. It also comes with an extra-long hose that reaches up to 32 feet.

6. Vacmaster Beast Series VFB511B 0201 Professional Wet/Dry Vacuum

The Vacmaster VFB511B has a superb suction power as well as air flow that allow you to clean tough messes around your home. The product also comes with an intergrading hose and power hose that is easy to organize to enable a more convenient storage.

Furthermore, the vac comes with a utility nozzle, a car nozzle, a crevice tool, a kink-free hose, a foam wet filter, a fine dust cartridge filter, and a noise and air diffuser. These features all function together to provide you with the ultimate experience when cleaning your home.

What’s more, the cleaner is able to provide you with about 25 feet of cleaning reach. This is made possible by the 18 feet power cord and the 7 feet hose that allow more reach than most vacs out there. It also easily changes to a blower for garage, shop, and job site cleanup.

7. Shop-Vac 5870400 4.5 Peak HP 4-Gallon All Around Wet/Dry Vacuum

This wet/dry vac provides space-saving construction and is ideal for vehicles, carpets, boats, RVs, stairs, kitchen, shop, and upholstery cleaning. It comes with a strong 4.5 peak HP motor as well as a large 4 gallons tank for collecting dirt.

To allow easier movement, the cleaner comes with 2 large rear wheels. Other accessories that come in handy include 2 extension wands, an 8 feet lock-on hose, carpeted and bare floor nozzles, 10 inches wet-dry nozzle, round brush, gulper nozzle, cartridge filter, tool basket, and crevice tool.

Quite powerful and highly versatile, this wet/dry cleaner is all you will need to clean your home. It is also an affordable product that will surely offer value for your money and make your cleaning easier.

8. Vacmaster 5 Peak HP 4 Gallon Wet/Dry Floor Vacuum

If you want a powerful vac that will clear all the messes around your home, then the Vacmaster 5 Peak HP unit might be what you need. The vac comes with an onboard storage that conveniently stores all the accessories.

Another feature of the product is the secure fit hose. This means that the vac will never leak dirt out when cleaning your floors unless the cartridge is missing or it is damaged. So, it is always a product that you can depend on when you have it at your home.

Another feature is the large on/off dust sealed switch that you can use to turn the vac on or off, depending on what you want to achieve. And that’s not all; it comes with a 15 feet cord and an auto cord rewind that will make storage easier.

9. Yesker Craftsman 12004 3 Peak HP 6-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac

A powerful wet/dry vac, this product comes with a 3 peak HP motor that will clear most messes from your garage, workshop, and other places. It also comes with a large and durable 6 gallons polypropylene collection canister that will ensure you clean more without needing to empty your vac cleaner.

And the best part, you can easily convert the cleaner into a blower for the shop, patio, or yard – very handy indeed. Another feature is the large dust seal on/off swift that makes it easier to control the cleaner. So, there is no dirt that will leave the tank when you are cleaning your floors.

It also comes with a top carry handle, meaning that you will have an easy time transporting your cleaner from one room to the other. The vac is able to reach at least 17 feet when cleaning your floor and this is made possible by the 10 feet cord, 7 feet x 1-7/8 inches secure fit hose, and 2 extension wands.

10. Shop-Vac 2030100 2.0 Peak HP 1.5-Gallon Wet Dry Vacuum

Next, we have the Shop-Vac 2030100, which is a small vac that is meant for cleaning fewer messes. Easy to carry, the vac comes with a collapsible top carry handle that is firm enough to allow carry it for long distance. Also, this cleaner is easy to mount of the wall, unlike most vacs which cannot be mounted.

Another great feature of the unit is the portable and lightweight nature. This means that in addition to carrying it with ease, you won’t get a hard time when cleaning your home. Also, it comes with reusable filters (foam sleeve and dick filter), meaning that you don’t have to keep on replacing them.

Its hose power is a bit low when you compare to other models in this review, standing at 2.0 HP. Also, its tank is a bit small and can handle only 1.5 gallons of the stuff. Other accessories include a crevice tool, a gulper nozzle, and a 4 feet x 1.25 inches hose.

Wet/Dry Vac Cleaner Buying Guide

Wet and dry vacuum cleaners come with a wide range of attachments and features. With that said, you need to consider the following things when buying your cleaner:

Reaching messes – Your cleaner should be able to reach all the messes in your workshop, garage, or other places.

Water filtration – This is to ensure that you get clean air and make your cleaner easier to switch from dry to wet filtration.

Capabilities beyond vacuuming – Some of the products function like deep carpet cleaners and floor scrubbers.

 Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner FAQs

Q: What is the right size of a wet-dry vacuum cleaner?

A: Generally, these products come in large, medium, small, and mini size. A smaller model takes up less space when storing and is easier to move around while a larger model has a big capacity and offers better performance.

Q: Why does my wet/dry vacuum blow dust backward?
A: There many reasons for this such as a hole in the filter, dust being extremely fine, and issues with installation. Check these things and your vacuum will work effectively.

Q: Which is the right filter for the wet surface?

A: You should use the foam sleeve for wet places and you can even add an extra tear-resistant collecting bag.

Q: Why is my wet/dry vacuum losing suction power?
A: There are many reasons for this but the main one is a blockade in the airflow. Ensure that everything is working effectively and the hose is not obstructed.

Q: Are wet/dry vacuum expensive?

A: It will depend on the model you choose and where you buy it. Some models can be quite expensive while others are affordable. The features will also determine the price of the vacuum.

Q: Which surfaces can I use my wet/dry vacuum?
A: You can use it to vacuum different floors including laminate, hardwood, tile, concrete, and other places.

Final Words

Wet/dry vac cleaners are some of the most comprehensive and complex cleaners out there. If you want a budget-friendly unit that can clean all your floors, then get the best wet and dry vacuum cleaner. It is a handy product.