A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
Updated on Oct. 16, 2024
Our Product Testing Team took the Dreametech H12 wet and dry vacuum into the Testing Lab to see how this upright machine actually performs.
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If you’ve been searching for a way to simplify your cleaning routine, then your first step should be investing in a vacuum-mop combo. These machines, which are a genius combination of the best vacuums and the best mops, literally cut cleaning time in half. We’ve put dozens of these vacuum-mops to the test, and a few really stood out. In fact, of all the machines we’ve tested, the Dreametech H12 wet and dry vacuum earned the Best Overall spot.
This cordless machine earned our top spot for its powerful suction, dual cleaning modes, auto mess detection, self-cleaning feature and long runtime. But before we bestowed such an honor, we had our Product Testing Team take it into the Testing Lab for closer inspection. Once our testing was complete, we compiled all of our findings in this comprehensive Dreametech H12 review.
The Dreametech H12 wet and dry vacuum is an upright machine that vacuums and mops sealed hard floors at the same time. It’s lightweight, easy to maneuver and has a self-clean function to save you even more time and prevent you from getting your hands dirty. It’s also the quietest machine we tested, which is a huge bonus to those who are sensitive to loud noises or use baby’s nap time to get the household chores done. Another plus? This machine is equipped with a light-emitting diode (LED) screen that displays battery life, dirt level, mode and a host of other useful information.
The LED screen also displays the machine’s two cleaning modes: Auto, for everyday cleaning, and Suction, which allows you to suck up messes without mopping. The Dreametech H12 also features intelligent mess detection, which automatically identifies dirt and grime and adjusts suction power accordingly.
Once you’re finished cleaning, return the Dreametech H12 to its charging base and press the self-clean button. In just two and a half minutes, it’s clean and ready for another mess. The base even has spots to hold your brush roller and filter when drying.
The brand also makes the Dreametech H12 Pro, a wet and dry vacuum with hot air drying capability and an upgraded water tank, among other extras that the regular model doesn’t have. From there, the Dreame H12 Dual takes it a step further by becoming a detachable vacuum-mop, converting into four different versions to clean nearly every crevice of your home. Deciding which one to get depends on your cleaning goals.
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Thanks to its wet and dry cleaning capabilities, this machine tackles all kinds of messes, including spills.
First things first: Our Product Testing Team began by charging the Dreametech H12 wet and dry vacuum and found that it takes four hours and 45 minutes to reach full battery life. According to the manufacturer, this machine can run for over 30 minutes on a full battery. Our testers were able to run it for 37 minutes and five seconds on Auto mode before the battery died.
With a fully charged battery, it was time for our team to do their dirty work. They started by spilling breadcrumbs on the floor and setting the machine to Suction mode to test its edge-to-edge cleaning capabilities. The end result? An impressive score of five out of five. Our testing team was also impressed by Dreametech’s maneuverability. “The machine self-propels, auto-adjusts suction power (a feature that actually works pretty well) and swivels decently,” notes the Product Testing Team.
Next, our expert product testers spilled cereal and milk, dirt and egg with shells over vinyl flooring. It’s worth noting that some vacuum-mop combos can be used on sealed hard floors and low-pile area rugs. According to our testers, the manual for this machine doesn’t specifically state any incompatibilities with carpet. But since all the product pictures on the box only show hard floors and tiling, they only tested this machine on vinyl flooring.
After everything was spilled over the floor, our testers ran the vacuum-mop over each mess for three passes and evaluated how much had been cleaned. Overall, they were impressed with this machine’s performance and by how little water it left behind. It sucked up the egg and shells in one or two passes, and cleaned up all of the cereal and milk in three passes, automatically changing suction power to best clean the mess. However, they noted that it took multiple passes to clean up the dirt. “More like five or 10 swipes, depending on how stuck the mud is to the floor,” the Product Testing Team explains.
Once the floor was clean, our testers got to cleaning the Dreametech H12. They utilized the machine’s self-cleaning function, which is activated by pressing a button when the vacuum is resting on the charging base. Just note the vacuum must be charging and must be above 15% battery to operate the self-cleaning function. Our testers were impressed by how well the self-cleaning function worked compared to other machines they’ve tested. “This was one of the better ones,” says the Product Testing Team. “They all function fairly similarly, but we observed it kick some debris loose from the inside of the roller-head cover and suck it up. After the vacuum was through with the cycle, the roller head cover was almost entirely clean. A huge improvement from the others.”
In addition to the self-cleaning function, the manufacturer recommends cleaning the brush roller cover, brush roller and water tank every three to six months. Our testers, however, disagree with that assessment. “It should probably be cleaned after every use, especially if you’re cleaning food,” advises the team.
At Reader’s Digest, we know how important it is to find quality products that help you work smarter, not harder. This especially applies to cleaning products, as our editors and testers all have homes full of pets, children and guests to keep clean. We have years of experience testing the best vacuums and mops on the market, including popular models from Shark and Dyson to the best vacuums on Amazon.
Our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent hours in our Testing Lab getting up close and personal with a variety of vacuum-mop combos, including the Dreametech H12 wet and dry vacuum. Our goal is to recommend only the very best products using honest and fair testing and reporting practices, and we will never recommend a product we don’t stand behind.
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This smart machine does the work for you by automatically identifying messes and responding accordingly.
