If you have a doggy household that's wreaking a campaign of fluff and destruction, then a VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design spot cleaner may well be the solution. A spot cleaner is a powerful wet cleaning vacuum designed to loosen and lift stains. Use on small areas of carpet, upholstery and hard floors to remove muddy paw prints, spills and messes.
Spot cleaners come with specialised tools and cleaning formulas to remove light to stubborn stains, plus neutralise odour and eliminate bacteria.
Tested
Best overall spot cleaner
Yours.co.uk/Natalie Knowleswww.vax.co.uk
Pros
- Tools have antimicrobial protection, so bacteria won't grow on them
- 30% more cleaning power when you use it with the SpinScrub tool
- Eliminate pet odour with VAX's cleaning solutions
- Powerful corded electric spot cleaner with a long cable and hose
- When you buy directly from VAX you get a FREE stain removal kit that's worth £30
Cons
- A bit heavy and noisy; louder than a vacuum cleaner
| Includes: | 1x VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design, 1x SpinScrub Hand Tool, 1x Wide Path Tool, Wide Path Tool Attachments - 1x Multipurpose, 1x Hard Floor, 1x Messy Clean Up Tool, 1x Messy Clean Up Tool Attachment, 1x Crevice Tool, 1x 500ml SpotWash Antibacterial Solution, 1x 250ml Pet Stain & Odour Remover |
| Weight: | 5.5kg |
| Clean water tank capacity: | 2.8L |
| Dirty water tank capacity: | 2.2L |
- The hose is 1.7 metres with an 8.55-metre cleaning reach
- 6.5-metre power cable
- Free next-day delivery when you buy directly from VAX
- 2-year guarantee
What is the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design spot cleaner?
The VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design spot cleaner is the most powerful in VAX's range. It comes with cleaning solutions and interchangeable tools that are aimed at households with pets. Its outstanding feature is the motorised SpinScrub tool that adds 30% more cleaning power by agitating and removing stains from rugs, carpets and upholstery.
When used in conjunction VAX's cleaning fluids, such as the Antibacterial Spot Washer Cleaning Solution, the spot cleaner eliminates 99.9% of bacteria and removes smells. This is one of VAX's cleaning solutions that has Oxy ingredients, which VAX Senior Product Manager, Faye Doolittle, tells us are effective at "lifting tougher household stains stains such as coffee and ketchup."
Right now, when you buy the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design directly from VAX you receive a FREE stain removal kit that's worth £30.
Key features:
• 30% more powerful suction*
• SpinScrub tool removes stubborn dirt and stains
• Double the tank capacity for less refilling**
• Tool attachments designed to target high-traffic areas
• Self-clean function
• Compact design and cable storage
*Compared to existing Vax SpotWashers
**Compared to existing Vax SpotWashers tested to fill lines
Who tested it?
Commercial Content Writer, Natalie Knowles, is a specialist in domestic appliances. She has tested and reviewed washing machines, fridge freezers, vacuum cleaners and a whole host of small kitchen appliances for Yours and A Modern Kitchen. Having tried and tested several spot cleaners, Natalie concluded that this was the best overall.
When she's not considering the fizziness of sparkling water makers, Natalie is an artist. This involves getting messy at the art studio, building large scale installations. The studio floor is a testament to the spillages that have occurred over the years in this dusty, saw-dust riddled environment. So, this was the ideal opportunity to try out the stain-removing capabilities of the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design at the studio – and maybe tidy up a bit...
How was the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design tested?
The VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design has been used over the course of six months at home on carpets, hard floor and upholstery. In addition, Natalie took the spot cleaner to the art studio where she did some intensive tests on 10-year old carpet tiles and 13 years' worth of studio grime.
After being consistently delighted with the VAX's cleaning results at home, this was an extreme test to see how much grime this SpotWash Max Pet-Design really could shift.
What were the results?
I'm evaluating the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design based on its build, performance and usability, but first, a brief price analysis: A quick comparison of the price and features between VAX spot cleaners we tested, shows the basic Vax SpotWash Spot Cleaner is £129 and the mid-range Vax SpotWash Home Duo Spot Cleaner is £169.99. The VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design is £149.99 (was £229.99). It's more powerful and has a wider range of cleaning tools. Plus, unlike the older Vax SpotWash Home Duo, the Pet-Design has a self-cleaning function. Additionally, it has larger water tanks and the unique motorised SpinScrub tool.
Build
It is a portable spot cleaner with neat cable storage hooks on the reverse to keep the cable tidy when it's not in use. It will easily store in a utility cupboard. While it is compact, some individuals may find it a bit heavy. It's 5.5kg without water.
Assembly is simple as all the sturdy plastic water tanks and tools slot and click into place. Plus, the instruction booklet is clear with annotated diagrams to follow. The interchangeable tools allow you to clean practically any surface, just be careful not to use cleaning chemicals in areas where you prep food.
All of the components are a doddle to rinse clean after use. There's an antimicrobial coating on the nylon bristles and I find that debris and tangled hair just rinses off. I let the tanks and tools air dry.
To get started, fill the clean water tank to whichever fill level you want, depending on the size of the cleaning job. Then, top it up with cleaning solution. Both the clean and dirty water tanks are detachable so you don't have to lift the entire appliance to the sink.
It's a step up in design from the basic SpotWash and Home Duo models. Specifically, I found the clean water tank a lot easier to fill, as the entire top section lifts off, whereas on the Home Duo you have to unscrew a stopper on the base and it was tricky to get it under a tap.
Performance
Having tested a fair few spot cleaners now, I can tell you that it is the combination of the cleaning detergents with the power of the spot cleaner that makes them effective. I have an allergy to some types of detergent so I have tried using the spot cleaner without cleaning fluids and the results just aren't as great. VAX's cleaning solutions are excellent and include a range of antibacterial and pre-treatment formulas that are tailored to homes with pets. Plus, importantly for me, they did not trigger my allergy.
Whilst there are cordless spot cleaners on the market, if you have pets or are frequently dealing with spills and stains, go for a corded electric unit. The technology will get there eventually, but at the moment I've yet to use a cordless spot cleaner that matches the power of a corded model.
I used the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design spot cleaner to deep-clean a medium-pile carpet and lift some embedded stains around the home. I sprayed the stains with Vax Pre Treatment which came in a bundle of cleaning solutions along with the spot cleaner.
I attached the Extra-Wide tool as I thought this was best suited to the carpet cleaning job. There's a trigger in the hose that sprays an arc of water from the clean water tank. The combination of cleaning solutions, water and suction loosen and lift embedded dirt and hair. This is sucked up through the hose into the dirty water tank.
I swapped to the SpinScrub hand tool and found this made cleaning a lot easier. Its stiff brushes and motorised action make it considerably more effective at picking up debris and hair. The other tools require more effort and are not designed for cleaning a large area.
I could not believe how much hair and grime was extracted from a couple of test patches, as such I ended up cleaning the entire carpet and more besides. I found that the Crevice tool was great for cleaning skirting boards and I was able to clean that awkward space between the fridge and the washing machine.
I noticed a significant improvement in the air quality of the room, thanks in part to the Antibacterial Spot Washer Cleaning Solution, which is odour-neutralising and has a citrus burst scent.
The 'Black Square' test
Next, an intensive test at the studio. First, I sprayed a taped off area of hard flooring with a pre-treatment. Then, I added an Oxy-Lift solution to the clean water tank along with water; the solution turns opaque as it mixes. It has a pleasant fragrance, which would be welcome when dealing with more unpleasant messes.
I initially used the Extra Wide tool and rubber hard floor attachment – it lifted but needed a lot of elbow grease. Next, I attached the SpinScrub tool – which takes care of the heavy scrubbing – and within seconds, heavy grime was lifting. Just be sure to lubricate a hard floor with plenty of water by squeezing the trigger. It literally lifted 13 years of studio grime.
In addition, I used the Crevice tool to clean the edges of the 'Black Square'. Again, it lifted dirt with astonishingly good results. Albeit, both the Crevice and SpinScrub tool do not feel purposely designed for use on hard flooring. The SpinScrub tool was a bit too abrasive and the brush head of the Crevice tool was warped out of shape after intensive use.
Faye Doolittle, explains when the Crevice tool really comes into its own: "[A] bristled crevice tool will fit more easily into awkward grooves and edges such as the bottom of skirting boards or the seams of sofa arms and seats."
Usability
As I've been using the spot cleaner around the home for a few months, I've found it's particularly good for doing a deep-cleaning job. The dual water tanks are large so you clean for ages with a single tank of water and not have to worry about emptying and refilling.
The interchangeable tools detach and click in with ease. They can be used on tiles, laminate, curtains – don't think it's just limited to use on floors. I used the Crevice tool to brighten up the seal around my bath, then swapped to the Extra-Wide tool to clean the tiles. But, I do not use the cleaning solutions around bathing and kitchen surfaces as they are irritant chemicals. You should wear protective gloves when handling cleaning solutions and certainly when emptying the dirty water tank, as you may have to put you hands it to pull clumps of hair out.
Using the tools
The Extra-Wide cleaning tool is particularly effective on my tiled bathroom floor and laminate kitchen floor. I use a combination of tools to deep clean bathroom areas behind the pipes. I used the Crevice tool to loosen and apply the cleaning solution. Then, I swapped to the Messy clean-up tool to suck up excess dirty water. Floors are visibly sparkling and hygienically clean.
With the SpinScrub, Wide Angle, Messy Clean-Up and Crevice tools, the knack is to angle the cleaning head to engage the suction. When angled forward, the tool sucks up the dirty water and loosened dirt. Naturally, some tools take more elbow grease if you're cleaning a larger area.
The only usability issue I've found is that the trigger sticks sometimes, and when it does, the attachment constantly spurts water – which drains the clean water tank and saturates the surface. You need to unstick it by squeezing it again.
Carpet tiles test
At the studio, I tried out each tool on a different coloured carpet tile. These carpet tiles were embedded with hair and dirt (and probably other things, besides!) They were freebies that were being given away by the art studio and are around 10 years old.
SpinScrub hand tool – this tool is unique to this model, the SpotWash Pet Design CDSW-MSXP
The SpinScrub tool is designed to lift stubborn stains and marks. It is particularly effective at lifting dirt, without the need to use force. Use the trigger to apply water and agitate the stain by moving the brush-head back and forward, the motorised action will take care of loosening dirt. Then, tilt the suction nozzle forward to remove the excess water and grime.
Extra-wide 2-in-1 wash tool
The Extra-wide has a 75% wider cleaning path and comes with two brush attachments, for multi-purpose and hard floors specifically. It can be used on carpets, rugs and upholstery. Faye Doolittle, from VAX, explains the application of this tool: "Extra-wide upholstery tools will clean larger areas faster, handy for a deep clean of your furnishings."
I found this glided over the carpet tile much faster than the SpinScrub tool and there's a satisfaction in seeing all the dirt and hair being sucked up the cleaning nozzle. I guess this was because the pile of this carpet was much less thick than my carpet at home.
Messy Clean Up tool
The blue carpet tile has been sprayed with pre-treatment and water was applied using the trigger on the Messy Clean Up tool. Used with the bristle brush attachment this gave amazing results. You can see the strip in the carpet like a before and after. It's worth using the pre-treatment spray because it helps to loosen ground-in dirt and remove odours.
For hygiene, you could keep the Messy Clean Up tool as a dedicated brush head for cleaning up pet mess. In the instruction booklet, it's described as: "A smaller, spare cleaning tool to keep messy clean ups separate from every day cleaning."
Crevice Tool
One wouldn't typically use the Crevice Tool on big area of carpet as the softer bristles will lose their shape like a well-used toothbrush over time. But what I did notice was how incredibly good this brush-head was at rejuvenating a red carpet tile that was covered in fine hair and dust. You can see the colour difference in the before and after photos.
Using the self-cleaning function
After you've finished cleaning and have a tank of dirty water, use the self-cleaning function to remove debris from the hose. Having tried-and-tested an older VAX spot cleaner which doesn't have the self-cleaning function, I think it's a feature that's worth having as it's a fast way to empty the clean water tank and clean the hose. It is a much more hygienic method of cleansing a spot cleaner of waste water.
There's a self-cleaning slot into which you insert the hose and hold it there. Press the Power button and it automatically empties the remaining water from the clean water tank into the dirty water tank – as such – cleaning the hose. Keep an eye on the hose to see when it's clear of tangled hair and dirt. The process only takes a few minutes, then you can pour the contents of the dirty water tank down the loo.
Final verdict
I recommend the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design for its powerful cleaning performance. In particular, the SpinScrub tool is especially good at picking up hair and removing tough stains from carpets without applying any extra elbow grease.
The power cable length (6.5 metres) is ample for cleaning a whole flight of stairs or plugging into a garage plug socket and cleaning the car. Compared to the battery-powered Ryobi 18V ONE+™ Cordless spot cleaner this Vax model has a lot more power. Plus, with a corded model, you're not limited by battery life.
Additionally, the range of tools and cleaning fluids are top-quality and tailor-made for tackling any stains or spillages around the home. Households with pets will find these tools indispensable for cleaning up shed fur or bedding, messy accidents and muddy paw prints.
Rating 4.5/5
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Tested
Best small spot cleaner
YoursThe Vax SpotWash is a well-built and budget-friendly spot cleaner. Though it has a smaller tank and feels less powerful, it performs 90% as efficiently and includes a hard-floor attachment for wood and tile. Its standout feature is the self-clean function, which flushes out dirt and debris to keep it hygienic.
Tested by Yours.co.uk Editor Claire Tapley: "Not only is it great at removing stains and spills from upholstery but is also brilliant at giving an overall clean to grubby carpets and hard floors. After some very messy and dusty house renovations, I used this device to bring my dust-coated sofas back to life.
"It’s not too big so is lightweight to carry around and easy to store. Best of all, it could save you having to purchase a new sofa! It's well-designed with hose storage, and so easy to set up and use. I was very impressed with the big cleaning power of this little cleaner."
Pros
- Good value for money and offers great cleaning performance
- Compact and smaller than the other VAX models – doesn't take up a lot of space
- Convenient and hygienic self-clean function
- Versatile – thoroughly cleans carpets and upholstery, plus has a hard floor attachment
Cons
- Slightly less powerful than the larger models
| Includes: | 250ml Spot Washer Solution, Hard Floor Scrub Attachment, Multi-purpose Attachment |
| Weight: | 3.9kg |
| Clean water tank capacity: | 1.6L |
| Dirty water tank capacity: | 1L |
Tested
The Vax SpotWash Home Duo Spot Cleaner handles bigger stains with its extra-wide 2-in-1 antimicrobial tool, offering a 75% wider cleaning path than the standard Vax SpotWash Spot Cleaner. It works on upholstery, carpets and car interiors, plus, the antimicrobial crevice tool reaches tight spots. The Messy Clean Up Tool separates pet messes from regular cleaning. Overall, it's a powerful and versatile spot cleaner, albeit it lacks the self-cleaning function and range of tools the Pet Design model has.
Our tester tried this spot cleaner on laminate flooring and rubber mats. They said: "It feels robust, albeit the downside is that it feels quite heavy too. The detachable dual water tanks effortlessly fit onto the machine with a neat click. The clean water tank is filled from a bottle neck on the bottom. It's sturdy and the tanks are secure.
"It comes with three cleaning tools. The Extra Wide 2-in-1 has two interchangeable brushes for use on soft and hard surfaces. It has a long power cable, so you can reach most places around the home.
"I tested in on bathroom and kitchen areas to see how effectively it loosens and picks up debris. It's extremely noisy with a powerful suction. Best not to use it at 9am on a Sunday morning as it will certainly wake up the neighbours. I found it was particularly effective on rubber matting using the extra wide tool, and for getting into corners and skirting boards with the crevice tool."
"The cleaning tools are really easy to clean. Unlike the newer models, the Home Duo doesn't have a self-clean function. The hose needs to be submerged in a bowl of clean water. It sucks the water up and this rinses through the pipe. The process is very fast. Just take care with residual water that can be left in the hose. I recommend doing the cleaning process in the bath or outside."
Buy directly from Vax and SAVE £90 | USE CODE: MSEHDO at checkout.
Pros
- Powerful suction, we found it was really effective on hard floors and rubber mats
- Wide 2-in-1 cleaning tool is great for larger stains and cleans a larger area faster
- Antimicrobial tools maintain hygiene
- Long power cable and no battery life limitations
Cons
- No self-clean function
| Includes: | Includes 250ml bottle of VAX Spot Washer Antibacterial Solution |
| Weight: | 4.5kg |
| Clean water tank capacity: | 1.1L |
| Dirty water tank capacity: | 720ml |
VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design FAQs
Why is the VAX SpotWash Max Pet-Design spot cleaner a good choice for pet owners?
VAX Senior Product Manager Faye Doolittle says: "Pet owners might look for spot cleaners with duplicate tools so that one set can be used to hygienically deal with toilet training mishaps, sickness and muddy paws."
Are VAX spot cleaning solutions pet-safe?
Yes, VAX says their SpotWash solutions are pet-friendly.
Can I use any cleaning solution with a spot cleaner?
No, VAX recommend that you only use their range of SpotWash cleaning solutions because other cleaning fluid may cause excessive foaming.
Can I use hot water in a spot cleaner?
No, but you can use warm water up to 40°C. Hot water may damage the spot cleaner.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances. When she's not testing sparkling water makers, she flexes her creative flair as an artist.