I spent 3 weeks testing this wet and dry floor cleaner, and I'm finally ready to ditch my mop — here's why

Tom's Guide

3 days ago

Weight: 11.5 lbsClean tank capacity: 24.6 fl ozDirty tank capacity: 21.1 fl ozSettings: 3 cleaning modesRun time: 40 minutesCharging time: 5 hoursNoise: 74 dB(A)
I'm all for making my life easier, and I welcome any household gadget that saves me time, especially if it's a cleaning aid. I already own one of the best vacuum cleaners, and love my cordless upright Shark, but it doesn't wash my hard floors.
It's efficient at cleaning up dust and dirt, but it can't provide that deep-down clean that is needed when dirt is trodden in from my yard, or when drinks are spilled. With four adults living in my home, I need something that works and cuts down on my chores.
Enter Eureka's RapidWash 730 wet and dry vacuum cleaner. It might not work on carpet, so I'll stick to using my Shark upstairs, but it sure comes up trumps on hard floors.
Here's how it held up when I put it to the test for 3 weeks in my busy home.
Wet and dry floor cleaners are an investment, and it's no different for the Eureka RapidWash 730, which is $499 at Amazon. Currently, it's the same price as Tineco's Floor One S6, which I've also tested. However, the company's previous launch, the RapidWash 630 is $379 at Amazon.
However, although it's much more pricey than a mop and bucket, the Eureka RapidWash 730 is significantly less than Dyson's V15 Detect Submarine, which is currently $799 direct from Dyson.
The Eureka RapidWash 730 is similar in design to Tineco's Floor One S6, to the extent that it made it easy to assemble, as it felt familiar. Although, if it's your first time using a wet and dry vacuum, the instructions will give you all the information you need to assemble the floor cleaner.
To begin with, insert the handle into the main body of the cleaner, and then ensure it's charged. For this, sit the cleaner into the base unit and turn the power supply on.
The main body of the cleaner houses the clean water tank to the rear and the dirty water tank to the front, which features a cleaning filter at the top. Both are easy to remove and replace.
Just like the Tineco Floor One S6, the machine comes with only one cleaning head, which is integrated into the appliance. However, you can remove the roller plate and roller for cleaning and maintenance.
I was curious why the roller is split into two sections, so I asked Eureka the reason behind the design, and the company replied, 'On most floor washers, the brush motor sits outside the roller, making one side too bulky to reach edges.
Eureka addressed this by fitting a small secondary brush around the external motor so both sides of the roller can clean right up to walls and baseboards. The result looks like a split roller, but it's actually a design feature for edge-to-edge cleaning.'
The controls are on the handle, just where you place your thumb, and there's a handy LED scene positioned at an angle on the top of the dirty water tank. It allows you to view details about your clean-up while you're cleaning, such as the percentage of charge remaining and the cleaning mode you're currently using.
You can switch between three modes — from Auto mode, which is the default setting, to Turbo mode and Dry suction mode. As you would expect, with turbo mode, the speed of the rollers and the amount of water dispersed are increased to deal with heavier stains on floors. This also means more power is exerted.
Apart from where the appliance is charged, the docking station also has space to store the cleaning brush and roller. Although it does seem a little hefty, it measures 12 (W) x 14 (D) inches.
Overall, it's a smart appliance, and it feels like a well-made quality product.
Having already used one wet and dry floor cleaner, I was familiar with how to set this one up, and it won't take you long to get up and running, once you've charged it for five hours!
You'll then need to remove the water tank, which is positioned on the back of the appliance, and fill it with clean water, which can hold up to 24.6 oz. I'd also advise adding the Eureka cleaning solution that comes with the appliance, but you don't need much.
When the clean water tank is nearly empty, you'll hear a voice prompt to let you know. However, if it does run dry, no water will be sprayed when using auto mode.
Once you're charged up and the clean water tank is filled, step on the floor brush to release the handle from its vertical position. Then, press the 'power' button and the 'mode' button to switch between auto and turbo mode, depending on the desired intensity of cleaning.
You can also select 'dry' mode only, which is particularly handy if you've had a spillage.
It's relatively easy to use, although I did find it quite heavy and I share this information in my initial first impressions of the Eureka Rapid Wash. I felt the same when I first used the Tineco Floor One S6, but in comparison the RapidWash is heavier. Now I've been using the appliance for a while, I don't notice the weight as much, but do consider this factor if you're going to be carrying it up and down stairs.
It also pretty much reclines right to the floor, and has a lie-flat reach of 170°, which is a bonus when you want to extend the cleaner under furniture. An LED light also comes on when you're vacuuming, which highlights less obvious dirty patches.
The Eureka RapidWash 730 is designed for use on hard flooring, and I tested it on two types of laminate wood flooring and kitchen tiles, which have an uneven surface.
I could feel the power of the machine and the suction grip it had on the floor. This did make it harder to maneuver, especially when pulling it back, but it was perfectly feasible. Apart from cleaning up messes, I also noticed how well it removed the excess water, and I was able to walk on the floor straight after cleaning.
I've been using a cordless vacuum for years, but if you're still waiting to make the swap, don't hesitate. They are so much easier to move around and clean, without the hindrance of constantly unplugging wires or avoiding tripping over them.
You'll also be aghast at what the dirty water tank contains. The main debris, hair, and general gunk collect in the top section of the tank, while the dirty water remains below. This makes it easier to separate and empty.
We're a pet-free household, but it still collects a fair amount of hair, and I feel confident that it would be a worthy appliance for pet owners, cleaning up fur and muddy footprints.
I tended to stick to using 'Auto' mode in my main living room, but for my hallway and area near my back door, I switched up to 'Turbo' mode. This gave these slightly muckier areas a deeper clean using more water. However, I didn't notice a difference in water residue despite more water output.
I thought I'd throw in a few challenges during the trial to see how it cleaned up cocoa and coffee grounds. I started by using the 'Dry' mode to clean up the cocoa powder, but then needed to switch to the 'Auto' mode to remove the remaining streaks. The same process was repeated for the coffee grounds. I also tried the 'Dry' mode for a water spill, and it met this challenge without any problems.
The Voice Assistant started to drive me mad after a while, but you can switch this feature off by pressing the button positioned at the rear of the appliance's main body. Every time I finished using the vacuum, it would remind me to empty the dirty water tank and run a self-clean cycle.
However, despite this mild annoyance, it is handy to have the reminder that the dirty water tank needs emptying and whether or not it needs charging.
The appliance features a self-cleaning function that operates once the cleaner is placed on the charging platform and the battery is above 25%. You then need to step on the front of the pedal to the front of the base to start the clean. During this process, the brush roller and body pipe are cleaned, a task that typically takes about five minutes. The parts are then dried, and warm air is blown onto the charging base. It's a noisy process, and I monitored the sound level at 74 dB.
You can also remove both the clean and dirty water tanks, including the filter, to clean them with water. The appliance comes with a brush to access all the nooks and crannies. Just ensure all parts are completely dry before replacing them.
The cover on the roller can also be removed to access the roller, and it can be rotated to remove any debris or hair. The roller, which comes in two sections, can also be removed and cleaned by pulling a tab on the side of the longest section.
There's no doubt that using a wet and dry cleaner will cut your cleaning time in half. You'll no longer need to vacuum first and then clean your hard floor with a mop. So, when it comes to saving time, it's a winner.
It's also easy to assemble and all the parts can be removed, filled, emptied, and cleaned without any issues. And the appliance felt solid, without the worry of becoming damaged from unavoidable knocks and bumps.
However, don't expect this cleaner to remove ground-in stains; they'll need a little extra boost or elbow grease to remove. But it did a great job at giving my floors what I call a 'regular clean' and they felt hygienic.