October 10, 2024, 10:58 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Mop vacuums or 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners promise to simplify two tedious household chores at once. They vacuum the floor and mop it, too. They also dry it at the same time. In this article, myHOMEBOOK reveals whether and how this works and what you should look out for before buying.
Mopping the floor with classic floor cleaners and mops has a weak point. The clean mop water gets dirty the second time you put the mop in the bucket. So you are mopping the floor with dirty water. This is precisely what c, also known as mop vacuums, aim to prevent.
How 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners work
In terms of their function, 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners can be described as vacuum cleaners with a mopping unit. Instead of a motorized carpet brush, users run a damp cleaning roller over the hard floor. This is kept wet with fresh water via a pump. The appliance’s suction function not only picks up loose dust while working but also dries the floor. The extracted water ends up in a dirty water tank on the appliance.
Advantages and disadvantages of mop vacuum cleaners
The advantages of 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners include:
- Greater hygiene compared to classic mopping: Cleaning is always done with fresh water. Most appliances give owners the choice between adding a detergent and using pure water. The self-cleaning function offered by most models is also hygienic. The brush or cloth is cleaned with fresh water in a “docking station.” Users then only have to empty and rinse the water tanks.
- Time-saving: As vacuuming and mopping combine, there is no need to vacuum before mopping. There is also no need to rinse and reapply a mop repeatedly. The appliances, therefore, save twice as much time.
- High cleaning power: Thanks to the mechanical support, the appliances remove even heavy soiling quickly and more easily than is possible with a conventional mopping appliance.
The disadvantages include:
- High price: Compared to the purchase of a simple mop and bucket, vacuum sweepers make bigger holes in your wallet.
- Repurchase of consumables: Items such as special cloths or brushes, as well as special cleaning agents, need to be purchased regularly.
- “Blind spots”: For technical reasons, there is always a small edge on the wall when working on the floor, which cannot be reached with the mopping function. What’s more, the mopping unit of even compact appliances is significantly higher than a mop. So, working under a cupboard or couch usually doesn’t work.
- Not suitable for every floor: The floor covering should be sealed to prevent moisture from penetrating when mopping. You should, therefore, be particularly careful with parquet flooring.
These appliance types are available
The range of 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners is constantly growing. Three basic designs are available on the market:
- Cable-operated mopping vacuum cleaners: These appliances usually offer particularly high suction power. In addition, users do not have to worry about battery life and can, therefore, clean large areas. However, the appliances also require a power socket nearby.
- Battery-powered 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners: Like other cordless tools, these are very flexible. As users don’t have to worry about the cable when working, the more compact and lighter vacuum cleaners are also suitable for hard-to-reach areas such as stairs.
- Robot mops: The first autonomous robot mops are now also available. As with the vacuum-only models, they do the housework all by themselves.
Devices that have a steam function, i.e., combine vacuuming with the advantages of a steam cleaner, are rather rare.
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What to consider before buying a 3-in-1 vacuum cleaner
- With or without cable: First, a basic decision must be made regarding the drive. Would you prefer classic via mains power or cordless? For cordless appliances, a quick-charging function or, better still, a second battery, if it can be removed, would be desirable.
- Service life and range: Manufacturers specify a maximum runtime for battery-powered devices. The longer, the better. However, the limiting factor is often not the power supply but the dirty water tank. Ideally, this should be the same size as the freshwater supply.
- Suction power: Is the vacuum cleaner primarily used for mopping, or is it also intended to replace the classic vacuum cleaner?
- Self-cleaning function: The 3-in-1 vacuum cleaners usually have a self-cleaning function. Once mopping is complete, the part that has been in contact with the floor is cleaned with fresh water in a type of docking station or tub. Before buying, you should take a look at how well this works and how time-consuming it is.
- Cold or warm: Some appliances heat the mop water internally. This is supposed to increase cleaning performance but at the expense of power consumption. Alternatively, the freshwater tank is filled with warm water.
- Cleaning width: An important purchase criterion is the working width. The wider the floor attachment, the quicker the job is done. However, it is almost as important to know how much distance is left to a wall or skirting board due to the design of the appliance. After all, this edge usually has to be reworked manually.