6 Top-Rated Wet-Dry Vacuums That Will Clean Up After Pets and Kids Effortlessly

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Tineco GO HammerHead Mess Detect Complete Floor Washer — Credit: Tineco

In my extremely biased opinion, no house is complete without a pet. They make every space warmer and more lively! Still, when you cohabitate with a four-legged friend, dirty paws traipsing across your hardwood floors or cat hair nestling into your area rugs are pretty much unavoidable side effects of having fur children. Not to mention, the bigger the space usually means the bigger the mess. Luckily, a wet-dry vacuum can make all the difference, and we’ve reviewed our fair share of them here at Apartment Therapy.

A wet-dry vacuum is exactly what it sounds like: It’s a cleaning tool that mops and vacuums to tackle two different types of mess. These machines include a water chamber and a roller brush to not only suck up dirt, hair, and debris, but address any mud, spills, or pet accidents along the way. Below, we’ve rounded up a few excellent corded and cordless models that combine the cleaning power of a vacuum and a mop into one tool that will keep up with you and your furry family members.

6 of the Best Wet-Dry Vacuums for Pet Owners With Large Homes

From our partner: Best for a comprehensive clean

Tineco FLOOR ONE STATION S9 Scientist Pro Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner

$1,199

For a completely tricked-out wet-dry vacuum, pet owners will dig the S9 Scientist Pro from Tineco. This sleek tool combines a high pressure water jet and intense suction to lift and remove stains and residue, and it features an auto-detect sensor to adjust the intensity depending on the mess. All you need to do is maneuver the tool around your space, empty the dirty water tank, and let the self-cleaning Scientist Pro wash up after itself using the included hot water chamber. And, instead of sitting there getting stinky and damp, this pick from Tineco even dries itself using a super quiet (<40db) drying system. It also lays flat 180 degrees so you can slide it under couches and tables with ease. Last but not certainly not least, the extensive, 100-hour runtime means you’ll be able to cover your entire home in one go.

$1,199 at Tineco

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Best for paw prints

Dyson WashG1 Wet Cleaner

$770$40048% off

Former AT Senior Shopping Editor, Britt Franklin, put the Dyson WashG1 to the test, and had great things to say about its ability to keep up with a big household with kids and pet hair. “I use mine routinely for high-traffic areas — specifically the entryway, bathrooms, and an open space that’s designated as the ‘lounge’ area in my home,” she says. “The WashG1 does a great job picking up stray debris and removing the top layer of film and dirt that you wouldn’t typically notice with the naked eye.” Key features of the Dyson Wash G1 include its cordless design (great for large spaces!), light weight (10 pounds), and three cleaning modes that let you control how much water you’re using in mop-mode. It’s also another self-cleaning machine for added ease.

$400 at Amazon

Best for pet hair

NARWAL S30 Pro Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner

$550$45018% off

This pick from Narwal was tested by former AT Cleaning & Organizing Editor, Savannah D. Lebreton, who put the Narwal S30 through its paces after spilling a massive pot of pasta water (yikes). “Since then, I’ve also used it in place of my normal sweep-then-mop routine, and it has handled everyday crumbs, dust, and light spills effortlessly,” she says. She also adds that it comes with a nifty voice prompt system to keep you in the loop when it’s time to change the water or return to the charging dock.

$450 at Amazon

Best for messes you didn't even know you had

Tineco GO H2O HammerHead Mess Detect Complete Floor Washer

$449$390

Another pick from Tineco, the Hammerhead Mess Detect Complete Floor Washer is a more budget-friendly alternative to the Tineco S9 Scientist Pro, above. As a result, it doesn’t have as many nifty features, but pet parents love its deep cleaning, zero-tangle brush, and the included anti-odor cleaning solution. It also features Tineco’s Mess Detect Technology and self-cleaning ability. Savannah also tried this tool when cleaning her painted patio, and was extremely pleased with the result. “I was honestly shocked by how well it worked,” she says. “Years of dirt, dust, and debris lifted in just a few passes, and everything stayed contained within the vacuum. What would have taken serious scrubbing (or a hose I don’t have) felt almost effortless, and the floor was cleaned in around 15 minutes.”

$390 at Tineco

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Best for suction power

Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Wet Dry Vacuum

$350

As convenient as cordless vacuums are, when you have a large space and a dirty job in front of you, a corded wet-dry vacuum is still the more powerful option. This 3-in-1 tool from Bissell steams, washes, and vacuums up wet and dry messes on tile, hardwood, and rugs. It also includes two chambers to keep the clean and dirty water separate for an optimal clean. Sure, plugging and unplugging your vacuum as you move room to room can feel like a hassle. But if you’re cleaning up after pets in a large home, the suction power that comes from this 25-foot corded machine (and the fact that you don’t have to worry about battery life), might just make that extra step worth it.

$350 at Amazon

Best budget friendly

Roborock F25 GT Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner

$300$170

For an even more budget-friendly pick, check out this option from Roborock. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the other options on this list, but the F25 GT’s roller brush does a great job of cleaning up wet paw prints, and the zero-tangle roller eats up hair without jamming. At 35 minutes, it does have a shorter runtime than the Scientist Pro from Tineco, but if you have a smaller space that might be plenty of time. Plus, this is another self-cleaning option that uses high heat to cleanse the brush and features a built-in drying system.

$170 at Roborock

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6 Top-Rated Wet-Dry Vacuums That Will Clean Up After Pets and Kids Effortlessly

6 of the Best Wet-Dry Vacuums for Pet Owners With Large Homes

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