Vacuum mops are here, and they’re here to stay. And Tefal seems to agree with me, as I had the pleasure of testing their hot-off-the-press new appliance, the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop, RRP £349.99 on Amazon, which was released just last month.
I tested it for two weeks in my home to see whether this new gadget could compete with the best vacuum cleaners and the best mops around. And while I don’t think it’s the perfect vacuum mop, I'd go as far as to say it's almost perfect and well worth the investment.
In a nutshell
When I think of Tefal, I tend to think of non-stick pots and pans. But what a lot of people don’t realise is that Tefal is becoming a huge player in the floorcare game - and the fact that they’ve jumped on the hottest floorcare appliance trend of the year, the vacuum mop trend, is proof of that. They’ve done a very good job of it, too.
At first glance, the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop doesn’t look too dissimilar from the many other vacuum mops and hard floor cleaners on the market. But with an impressive running time of 50 minutes, it stands out from the crowd. In fact, it offers the longest running time of any other vacuum mop I’ve tested so far. And I’ve tested a lot.
Couple that with a roller that offers targeted edge cleaning, a self-cleaning function, a large clean water tank, and the fact that this mop left my floors wet but not soaking (making it suitable for all floor types), I was overall very impressed with this new appliance.
My only niggles were that the automatic dirt detection, which should auto-adjust the cleaning power depending on the cleanliness of your floors, was a little inconsistent during testing, specifically for smaller messes and stickier residue. It thrived with bigger, messier spills, though, so I can see it being a great addition to a family home with kids.
Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop product specs
- Weight: 4.3kg
- Max. run time: 50 mins
- Bin volume: 730ml clean water tank
- Charge time: 4.25hrs
- Modes: 3 (Eco, Auto, Max)
- In the box: Wet dry cordless vacuum cleaner, additional soft cleaning roller, side brush, dry and anti-crash foam filters, charger, charging and cleaning base, cleaning brush.
- RRP: £349.99
How I tested
Unboxing, setting up and first impressions
The Tefal X-CLEAN 4 arrived in a pretty large box - big enough to be a slight struggle, but not so big that I physically couldn’t move it on my own. It was just a little awkward, and about the same size as a large vacuum cleaner box.
The box itself was recyclable, but I was a little confused when I came across the smaller components inside the box. They were all wrapped up in plastic that read, ‘This plastic bag contains at least 50% of recycled materials. Please sort it into the appropriate bin.' However, it didn't actually tell me whether it could be recycled or not.
After doing my own research, I discovered my local authority doesn’t accept this type of plastic in the recycling bin. So, this was a shame, but I do have to give Tefal credit for at least trying, as some people should be able to recycle it.
Nevertheless, I unwrapped everything and laid out the wet-dry cordless vacuum cleaner, additional soft cleaning roller, side brush, dry and anti-crash foam filters, charger, charging and cleaning base and cleaning brush in front of me. There were also two instruction booklets.
Assembly was super easy, and all you have to do is click the handle into the main unit, and then pop the whole thing on the charging/storage dock. I loved the fact that the cleaning brush had its own home on the dock, too, so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing it.
Then, I filled the clean water tank with water and added a little bit of white vinegar, which has become my go-to DIY floor cleaning product. But I must admit that I would have liked Tefal to provide a cleaning solution, as I’ve tested numerous vacuum mops now that come with one provided, so you know for sure that it’s safe to use with the appliance.
However, Tefal doesn’t provide one, and the instruction booklet simply says, ‘The addition of household detergents to the water tank is your responsibility. Tefal cannot be held responsible for any problems associated with their use.’ So, adding anything extra is a risk that rests on your shoulders.
Using the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop
Although we have specific testing protocols at Ideal Home, we also like to test products based on how they will suit the average customer. So, I always start by giving my floors a once-over to mimic the everyday, general cleaning routines of most people.
One thing that immediately struck me was how easy the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop was to push. In fact, the self-propelled functionality made it seem as though it was weightless, and that’s something I think people of all ages will appreciate.
For general cleaning, the mopping process is quick and efficient, and the appliance leaves floors visibly wet (which is nice proof that it’s actually doing its job), but not so wet that they look sodden, or could potentially damage your floors by leaving too much standing water on them. Within two minutes, actually, my floors were bone dry again.
The one thing I did struggle with was the ‘Smart Sensor Cleaning,’ as I found the sensitivity of this to be quite inconsistent. Some days, it was incredibly sensitive and would auto-adjust without any issues as soon as it came across debris that needed an extra boost. Other days, it took a little longer for it to register the change in cleanliness.
I didn’t find this to be too much of an issue as I tend to go over my floors a couple of times to ensure an efficient clean anyway, but it's something to keep in mind if you prefer short bursts of cleaning and want to feel confident that it’s done its job.
I did appreciate that the auto-adjustment was obvious and easy to spot, though. Not only could you visibly hear the difference, but the colours on the LCD screen also gave you an indication of when it gave itself some extra oompf. Overall, though, I found the auto-aduster seemed to work better when the spills were bigger and dirtier. For everyday cleaning, it wasn’t quite as sensitive.
After general cleaning, I also put the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 through a few more tests, mostly to test how well it really tackles bigger spills and cleaning scenarios. So, I cracked an egg on my floor, squirted a generous dollop of ketchup next to it, and then poured some crushed cereal and milk nearby for good measure.
The vacuum mop instantly auto-adjusted the suction, sucked up the egg (which was pretty gross, if I do say so myself), and the cereal and milk proved to be no trouble at all for the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop. And while it did eventually clean up all of the ketchup, the roller did wipe some of it around a bit before sucking it all up.
There was also a slight tangy scent left over when I was done, but this may be because I only used white vinegar as my cleaning solution. If I went for something with a fragranced scent, I imagine it wouldn’t have been as bad.
After these specific tests, I then continued to use the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop every day or every second day, depending on how dirty I felt my floors were throughout the testing process.
One thing I loved more than anything else was the impressive edge cleaning. The built-in side brush made light work of even the smallest speck of dust on the edges of my room, and I felt confident that nothing was left behind.
Cleaning and maintenance
Cleaning the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 couldn’t be simpler, and I found the instructions to be incredibly easy to follow. And like many other vacuum mops out there, it offers a self-cleaning function that means you don’t have to get your hands dirty.
Instead, all you have to do is pop it on the charging dock, fill up the clean water tank with some more water, and then press the ‘self clean’ button on the top of the handle. The machine then does all of the hard work for you, flushing out any remaining dust or debris from the roller and giving it all a good rinse.
When the self-cleaning cycle is complete, you can then empty the dirty water tank (which was a disgusting shade of brown in my case) and clean that out. There’s a handy cleaning brush included, which you can use to clean every nook and cranny of the tank.
I did find that hair would stick to the side of the dirty water tank, even when I rinsed it out, and that hair would then get caught in the brush, too. I’ve tested other vacuum mops that have a strainer inside the dirty water tank to collect this hair, which is a nice touch for me as a dog mum, but those who don’t have pets or long hair probably won’t have an issue with the fact that the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 doesn’t have this feature.
The charging dock also has a holder to dry out the wet roller, but if you want to continue cleaning straight away, Tefal does provide a spare roller and even a spare filter for when that needs changing.
How does it compare to similar models?
As vacuum mops have become increasingly popular over the past few months, I’ve consequently tested a lot of them. And I’d say that the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 is most similar to the Tineco Floor One S5 Cordless Vacuum Mop. This model also comes with a sensor that detects the dirt on your floor and adjusts the cleaning power accordingly, and I’d argue that they also look like each other.
They’re also fairly similar in price, so I’d be hard-pressed to choose between them. However, there are a few differences. Not only is the Tefal almost half the weight (so easier to manoeuvre), but it also has a much longer run time and is slightly cheaper. So, it would be perfect for those who want effortless, long-lasting cleaning.
If I’m being totally honest, though, I do think the smart functionalities of the Tineco are more advanced and more sensitive. So, if an effective and confident clean is what you’re after, the Tineco might suit you better.
How does it rate online?
The Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop is a relatively new model, so it doesn’t have a huge number of reviews. However, at the time of writing, there are 38 reviews on the Tefal website, giving the vacuum mop an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Happy customers praise it for its self-propelled feature, which takes the heaviness out of what could be a very heavy appliance, and the fact that it cleans hard flooring without leaving it too wet. They also seem to love the self-cleaning function, which takes the hassle out of everyday cleaning.
On the other side, one customer has questioned the use of detergents with the appliance (and potentially using the wrong thing), and another says that it takes a long time to charge, and during that time, they could simply use a mop instead. However, they do say that it ultimately cleans better than a mop ever could.
Overall, though, the reviews are excellent, and 27 of those 38 reviewers gave it a perfect score of 5 out of 5.
Should you buy the Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop?
The Tefal X-CLEAN 4 Cordless Wet & Dry Vacuum Mop has entered a crowded market, as big brands are releasing vacuum mops like no tomorrow. However, I do think this particular model does stand out from the crowd with its impressive 50-minute run time and edge cleaning technology.
Because of this, I would recommend this appliance to those looking for an easy and effective way to clean their floors. Overall, I found it incredibly easy to use and maintain and was incredibly happy with the way my floors looked and felt after each use.
While I would have liked the smart dirt detection to be a little smarter, I also appreciate that some vacuum mops don’t have this at all, so the fact that it has it at all is a major plus. It’s also not overly expensive in the grand scheme of vacuum mops, so I do think it has a place in the market.
