The most common wet & dry floor cleaner problems, from 1,282 verified buyers

1. The most common wet & dry floor cleaner problem owners report: “Leaves dirt, stains or streaks behind”, raised in 56% of the 1 to 3 star reviews, followed by “Needs a lot of cleaning after each use, or smells” (29%).
2. What happy owners praise most: “Cleans floors well”, in 47% of the 4 and 5 star reviews we read.
3. 76% of verified buyers rated their wet & dry floor cleaner 4 or 5 stars, against 93% across every product type in our study; wet & dry floor cleaners rank 37 of 37 for happy buyers.
4. 16% gave 1 or 2 stars, about 1 buyer in 6.
5. Across the 5 wet & dry floor cleaners with 30 or more ratings, the share of happy buyers ran from 58% to 85%.
6. The cheaper half of these wet & dry floor cleaners (up to £319) had a median of 80% happy buyers, against 67% for the pricier half, so paying more did not buy happier owners.
7. Buyers in the UK were the happiest (80% at 4 or 5 stars), and buyers in the US and Canada the least (71%).

Share of the 312 reviews of 1 to 3 stars that raise each problem, grouped across models. What to check before you buy.

1. 1. Leaves dirt, stains or streaks behind56%
   Came up on 4 models
2. 2. Needs a lot of cleaning after each use, or smells29%
   Came up on 3 models
3. 3. Misses edges and corners13%
   Came up on 3 models
4. 4. Broke down or developed a fault11%
   Came up on 4 models
5. 5. The battery runs down too soon5%
   Came up on 2 models

The problems above, most common first, and how to avoid each one. Our advice; the order comes from the reviews.

1. 1. Leaves dirt, stains or streaks behind (56% of complaints)

   Use the cleaning solution the maker recommends, change the water often and go over sticky spots slowly. Expect them to refresh floors, not to remove old stains.

2. 2. Needs a lot of cleaning after each use, or smells (29% of complaints)

   Check for a self-cleaning cycle and drying, and empty the dirty water tank after every use: left water is what smells.

3. 3. Misses edges and corners (13% of complaints)

   Look at how close to the side of the head the roller reaches, and keep a cloth for skirting boards.

4. 4. Broke down or developed a fault (11% of complaints)

   Faults usually show in the first weeks, so buy from a shop with an easy returns policy, register the guarantee and keep the receipt. A longer maker's guarantee is worth paying a little for.

5. 5. The battery runs down too soon (5% of complaints)

   Look for the battery life at the setting you will really use, not the best-case figure, and whether the battery can be replaced when it ages.

Share of the 222 newest 4 and 5 star reviews we read that praise each point.

1. 1. Cleans floors well47%
   Came up on 4 models
2. 2. Cleans and dries itself on the dock41%
   Came up on 4 models
3. 3. Light and easy to steer38%
   Came up on 4 models
4. 4. Vacuums and mops in one pass, saving time27%
   Came up on 4 models

Regions with 30 or more ratings, by where the shop is. Shops in each region sell different models, so a gap can come from the models as much as from the buyers.