5. Wessex 18L Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner – Best Budget Buy (UK Only)
If you’re looking for an inexpensive wet/dry vacuum as a shop vacuum for a garage or other indoor/outdoor hard flooring area, this Wessex model might be for you. It does not clean floors with water or cleaning solution. Instead, it’s only there to vacuum up wet spills, dust, and large debris.
It comes in three sizes: 18, 20 and 30 liters. We tested the 18 liter model on sawdust, dust, dirt, mud and a water leak and found it powerful and effective. It has 18,000Pa suction and comes with a main brush head, a crevice tool, and a hose adapter that will connect to the outlet of some power tools. It has a 1.5m hose and a 5m power cable.
You can use it on wet or dry spills, but keep in mind that you’ll need to add or remove the bag, filter, and a locking nut depending on the task, so it’s not as simple to use than more expensive models. You can also use it as a blower, but that also requires adjustments.
As you might expect given the price, there are some compromises when it comes to build quality. It is almost entirely made of plastic, there is no angle adjustment on the floor brush and its bags are made of flimsy paper. You’ll be able to replace these with universal bags, although you can buy ones designed for the vacuum cleaner from Toolstation for £4.98 for a pack of three.
It’s not a model to buy for life, but if you need something inexpensive, it’s a good option.
