DIY & Tools · Review

Cleva wet dry vacuum Review

4.2 out of 5 stars· 47 reviews

Intro

Every home accumulates messes that a standard vacuum cleaner was never designed to handle. A knocked-over drink in the living room, potting soil scattered across the patio, sawdust from a weekend DIY project in the garage, or the aftermath of a pet shaking mud across the kitchen floor — these are the moments when a conventional cleaner falls short. Wet spills risk damaging the motor, coarse debris can block the hose, and fine dust clogs filters in minutes. A wet and dry vacuum designed for home use bridges this gap, offering the flexibility to switch between liquid spills and solid debris without fear of breakage. The best home-oriented models are compact enough to store in a cupboard, light enough to carry upstairs, yet powerful enough to make short work of the messes that real life creates. Add a blower function for clearing leaves from the driveway or dust from workshop surfaces, and you have a tool that earns its keep all year round.

Generalities

When shopping for a home wet and dry vacuum, the balance between power and portability is everything. Tank capacity needs to be large enough for the jobs you actually do — a 12- to 15-litre tank covers most household spills and garage cleanups without becoming too heavy to carry. Suction power, measured in both input wattage and air watts, tells you how well the machine will perform on different surfaces. The included accessories make a real difference too: a good multi-surface floor nozzle saves you from swapping tools between rooms, while a blower port turns the vacuum into a leaf clearer for outdoor use. Vacmaster, manufactured by Cleva, has carved out a niche in this mid-range home and garage segment by offering feature-packed machines at accessible prices.

In this review, we put the Vacmaster VF408B through its paces across the scenarios a typical homeowner faces: indoor liquid spills, garage dust and debris, pet hair and dander, outdoor patio clearing, and car interior cleaning. We assess its suction performance, the usefulness of its 11 included accessories, the practicality of its blower function, and whether its 12.7-litre tank strikes the right balance between capacity and portability.

Description

The Vacmaster VF408B is powered by a 960-watt motor that delivers 125 air watts of suction and moves air at 65 cubic feet per minute (CFM) — a solid performance figure for a compact home vacuum. The 12.7-litre collection tank is sized for household use: large enough to handle a major spill or a full garage sweep without constant emptying, yet small enough to keep the overall unit portable. A standout feature at this price point is the integrated blower function — simply attach the hose to the exhaust port and the vacuum transforms into a powerful blower for clearing leaves, grass clippings, and workshop dust from hard surfaces. The cartridge filter system is complemented by an included foam sleeve for wet pickup and dust bags for fine particulate.

Visually, the VF408B stands out with its bright red body and upright, canister-style form factor. At 43.7 × 33.8 × 44.5 centimetres, it has a tidy footprint that fits easily into a garage corner, utility room cupboard, or under a workbench. Weighing just 6.35 kilograms, it is light enough to carry one-handed up stairs or out to the patio. The four-wheel base — two fixed rear wheels and two front castors — provides stable movement across hard floors, though the smaller wheel diameter is less suited to rough outdoor terrain than larger professional models. The tank latches are simple and secure, and the top handle makes lifting and carrying straightforward.

Everyday usability is where the VF408B shines for its target audience. The combined cord and hose give a cleaning reach of roughly 7.6 metres from a single power outlet, which covers most rooms and garage bays without needing to unplug and relocate. The 2.1-metre hose is on the shorter side, but the lightweight body means moving the whole unit is never a chore. Switching between wet and dry modes takes seconds: remove the cartridge filter and dust bag, fit the foam sleeve, and you are ready for liquid spills. The on/off switch is large and accessible, and the blower port is clearly marked so there is no confusion when switching functions.

The VF408B comes with an unusually generous accessory package for its price. The 11-piece kit includes a 2-in-1 utility nozzle that combines a brush and crevice tool, a multi-surface floor nozzle that transitions smoothly between hard floors and carpets, an extension wand for high or deep reach, a round brush for upholstery, and a concentrator nozzle for focused suction. For pet owners, a dedicated pet cartridge filter helps trap hair and dander more effectively than standard filters. The inclusion of both a foam sleeve for wet vacuuming and disposable dust bags for fine debris collection means you are equipped for every cleaning scenario right out of the box.

Build quality is appropriate for a home-oriented machine — the plastic body is sturdy enough for regular domestic use, though it does not have the industrial ruggedness of pricier professional models. The power cord is generously long and the onboard storage for accessories is functional if not particularly elegant. Customer feedback on Amazon.fr confirms broad satisfaction: the VF408B holds a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from 47 reviews. Users particularly praise its versatility across wet and dry tasks and the value offered by the blower function and extensive accessory set. The 120-volt power specification is worth noting for European buyers — a step-down transformer is required for use with standard 230-volt mains outlets.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Versatile wet and dry pickup handles everything from spilled drinks to sawdust — a single tool replaces multiple cleaners around the home
  • Integrated blower function adds outdoor utility for clearing leaves, grass clippings, and workshop dust at no extra cost
  • Lightweight at just 6.35 kilograms — easy to carry between floors and out to the patio without strain
  • 11-piece accessory kit includes a 2-in-1 utility nozzle, multi-surface floor nozzle, pet cartridge filter, foam sleeve, and dust bags — exceptional value out of the box
  • Multi-surface floor nozzle glides from hard floors to carpets without stopping to swap tools, saving time during whole-house cleaning
  • Pet-specific cartridge filter traps hair and dander effectively — a practical bonus for households with cats or dogs
  • 7.6-metre combined cleaning range from cord and hose covers most rooms and garage bays from a single power outlet

Cons

  • 12.7-litre tank capacity is on the small side — larger spills or full garage cleanouts require frequent stops to empty
  • 120-volt power specification means European users need a step-down transformer — this is an unusual and inconvenient requirement for an Amazon.fr listing
  • The 2.1-metre hose is quite short, limiting reach into deep corners or vehicle interiors without moving the whole unit
  • 72-decibel noise level is noticeable — loud enough that household members in adjacent rooms will hear it running
  • Plastic body construction is adequate for home use but lacks the durability of metal-tanked professional vacuums for heavy workshop environments

Use cases

The Vacmaster VF408B is a compact, feature-rich wet and dry vacuum designed for homeowners who want a single tool to tackle indoor spills, garage debris, pet hair, and outdoor clearing — with the added bonus of a built-in blower function.

Household Spill Management

From a tipped-over vase in the hallway to a child's juice spill on the kitchen floor, the VF408B switches to wet mode in seconds. Pop in the foam sleeve, remove the dust bag, and the 960-watt motor pulls up liquids without risk of motor damage. The compact tank empties easily into a sink or drain, and the unit is light enough to grab from a cupboard at a moment's notice.

Garage and Patio Cleaning

Garage floors collect a stubborn mix of dust, leaves, cobwebs, and the occasional oil drip. The VF408B handles the dry debris with the cartridge filter and dust bag, then the blower function clears leaves and grass clippings from the driveway and patio without needing a separate leaf blower. The 7.6-metre combined reach means you can cover a single-car garage from one outlet.

Pet Owner Cleanup

Homes with dogs or cats generate hair, tracked-in mud, and the occasional accident. The included pet cartridge filter is designed to trap fine hair and dander without clogging — a meaningful upgrade over standard filters. The upholstery brush and crevice tool reach into sofa cushions and along skirting boards where pet hair accumulates, and wet mode handles muddy paw prints on hard floors.

Car Interior Detailing

The VF408B is portable enough to carry out to the driveway for car cleaning sessions. The crevice tool fits between seats and into door pockets, while the round brush gently lifts dust from dashboard surfaces and air vents. The short 2.1-metre hose means you will need to bring the unit close to the vehicle or reposition it for larger cars, but the lightweight body makes this less of an inconvenience than it sounds.

DIY Project Dust Control

Weekend woodworking, sanding furniture, or drilling into drywall creates fine dust that lingers in the air and settles everywhere. The VF408B picks up sawdust and plaster dust efficiently with the cartridge filter and disposable dust bag, which traps the finest particles and keeps them from escaping back into the room. The blower function is also handy for clearing dust off workbenches and tools before packing up.