Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop Review

When Ryobi announced the second-generation 18V One+ SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop, I jumped at the chance to put it to use. I recently moved into a new home with a little more than 1700 square feet of hard floor surfaces and was looking for a way to keep them clean more efficiently. Ryobi’s newest version promised its time-saving design to go with some meaningful upgrades, so I put it to work in my own home.

In this review, I’ll share what I learned from using the new design, how it compares to the previous model, and help you decide whether to pull the trigger.

Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop: New vs Old

After checking with Ryobi, the suction power is the same between the two units since they didn’t change the motor. However, they determined that 47 IOW was a more accurate rating.

As you can see, the main difference between the two is that the base now has a built-in charger. So, if you have the previous model, most of my impressions from this review will apply to it as well.

Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop Performance

Vacuuming

With most multi-speed vacuums I’ve used, I roll my eyes at lower speeds and blow them off as irrelevant. That’s not the case with this model, though.

It’s primarily because of the plush front roller. Since it has better surface contact with the floor, it does a far better job of drawing in small pieces of sand and other light debris that standard rollers can leave behind at lower suction levels.

I did have to slow down compared to my normal vacuuming style, though. It wasn’t drastic, but taking a little more time allowed the vacuum to collect debris on the first pass more effectively.

Unsurprisingly, I prefer the noticeably higher suction power of Max mode. I was able to vacuum more quickly and spend less time bending down to reach under the dining room table and chairs.

One interesting thing is that the front roller pulls the vacuum forward, giving it an almost self-propelled feel. I wouldn’t say that it necessarily makes the vacuuming easier, since you still have to pull back against it, but it might take you by surprise the first time you use it.

Note that when you turn on the vacuum, it defaults to the mopping function, whether there’s fluid in the tank or not. I’d prefer for the pump to default to off, since we tend to vacuum the floors more frequently than mopping them. When you’re just vacuuming, be sure to hit the mop button and verify on the LED display that the function is off so the pump isn’t trying to deliver from a dry tank.

Mopping

One of the things I love about the Ryobi Swiftclean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop is that you don’t have to vacuum before you mop. It’s a huge time-saver.

For mopping, I prefer cleaning in standard mode. I tend to naturally move more slowly, so I can give the front roller more time to dislodge sticky taco sauce and other debris that dried on the floor. Plus, this extends the runtime so I can cover more area on a charge.

The tables turn a bit for wet messes, though. If you have something like a milkshake or a bowl of cereal that falls on the floor, working in Max mode is the better call to make sure you collect that heavier or bulkier mess more effectively. Once it’s up, you can engage the mopping function in standard or Max mode to deliver cleaning solution and leave the floor spotless.

The same goes for floors with heavier debris on them. My kitchen is a good example. Whether I’m mixing bread or cookie dough in my KitchenAid, preparing a multi-course dinner, or hosting our church group after Sunday worship, larger, heavier debris builds up there. When I need to vacuum and mop at the same time, it’s much more time-efficient in Max mode.

One positive is that the vacuum has a built-in protection to keep the water level from getting too high in the dirty tank. However, when it triggers, it sounds like the hose popped loose. It’s a little disconcerting at first, but don’t worry, it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to. Just empty the tank and get back to work.

Runtime

With the 4.0Ah battery that comes in the kit, Ryobi says to expect up to 19 minutes using Max mode or 30 minutes in the standard mode. On Max, I was able to run for 18:41. Standard mode netted 33:09.

But what does that actually mean for how much area you can clean?

Rather than simply letting the vacuum run and record a time, I decided to surprise my wife and get the vacuuming done that she normally has to do. I didn’t rush or move any of the dining chairs or other furniture before I got started. I vacuumed exactly the way I normally would.

In Max mode, I was able to cover about 1100 square feet. In standard mode, it was enough to hit all 1700+ square feet of hard flooring in our house with some battery left over. Since all the bedrooms are carpeted, a different vacuum gets to deal with the rest of the house.

Like most Ryobi product owners, I have more 18V One+ tools and batteries in my home, so grabbing a second battery to clean all the hard floors in Max mode doesn’t bother me one bit.

Noise Level

Ryobi rates this vacuum at 65 decibels. I didn’t have access to our SPL meter since I did this review at my home, but I was impressed with how low the noise level was, considering the suction power it was delivering. My initial impressions were confirmed when my wife used it for the first time and made a point of telling me how happy she was with the sound levels.

In standard mode, the noise is low enough to talk to other people in the room. It’s a little louder in Max mode, and conversation was more challenging, even though it was still quieter than other vacs I’ve used with similar power.

Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop Design Notes

Maneuverability

As I worked around various furniture in the house, I was very happy with the vacuum head’s ability to easily pivot and steer around obstacles. Compared to other high-capacity stick vacs, it’s a step up in that department.

The head is also short enough to get under more furniture than I expected. However, I wish you could lower the handle more before the head tilts up and loses contact with the floor. It was most noticeable when I was cleaning under the dining room table and wanted to reach further through and avoid having to work both sides.

It’s possible that’s a necessary trade-off to ensure the floor cleaner properly sprays, but something worth noting nonetheless.

Stand

I absolutely love that the new stand design charges the battery without having to remove it from the vacuum. I don’t mind managing separate chargers in the garage, but they’re irritating if you have to find a spot in the house. With the charging stand design, I just found an outlet in the laundry room where the vacuum can live out of the way.

Like the previous version of the ShiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop, the stand still allows for self-cleaning and holds a spare roller and filter. To activate self-cleaning, press the button on the front right of the stand, and it’s all automated from there. The entire process only takes about 60 seconds.

One Request

I’d love to be able to swap the front roller for a standard roller and vacuum the carpets. I’m not a vacuum engineer, so I have no idea if this is even possible with a design like the Ryobi SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop design.

I also realize that means someone would probably try to mop their carpets or suck up the coffee they spilled on it, and this vacuum isn’t designed for that kind of wet cleanup. Still, having that capability would mean I could clean the entire house’s floors with just one vacuum.

Additional Highlights

• Improved Solution Distribution: Distributes cleaning solution more evenly than the previous generation
• Edge Cleaning Design: Gets the roller close to the edge of walls and cabinets for a more complete cleaning
• Tool-Free Roller Removal: Easily remove the front roller for cleaning and drying
• Bright LED Light: Reveals debris on the floor and illuminates dark areas

Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop Price

You can grab this vacuum at Home Depot for $349 as a bare tool or $399 as a kit. The kit includes a 4.0Ah High Performance battery, but you get the charging station either way. Still, getting the battery for just $50 more is a solid deal, so I recommend you go that route unless you have plenty of batteries already.

Here’s what comes in the package:

• PBLUV748 Wet Dry Vacuum Mop
• Self-Cleaning Charging Stand
• 2 Filters
• 2 Plush Roller Bars
• 8-ounce Hard Surface Advanced Cleaning Formula
• Charger

Ryobi backs the vacuum with a 3-year warranty.

If you like the job Ryobi’s cleaning solution does, a 32-ounce bottle is $12.39, and a 64-ounce bottle is $22.97 at Home Depot. You only need a couple of ounces with each tank fill.

Should You Buy It?

Someone in our office (who will remain nameless) offered to take the Ryobi 18V One+ HP SwiftClean Wet Dry Vacuum Mop off my hands if I didn’t like it. That’s not going to happen. It’s earned a permanent position in our home, and we have no intention of going back to other hard floor cleaning products.

It does a genuinely excellent job of dry vacuuming, wet cleanup, and mopping, and its ability to vacuum and mop at the same time saves a lot of time. It’s also easy to use and clean. If you’ve been looking for a way to keep your hard floors clean more easily and efficiently, Ryobi gets two thumbs up from me.

However, note that it’s not suitable for vacuuming carpet, so you’ll still need a separate vacuum for those chores.

Also, keep in mind that you may need a second battery to cover the entire house, depending on how large your home is. But with more than 300 products that all work on 18V One+ batteries, if this vacuum is your first Ryobi purchase, I’m guessing it won’t be your last, and you’ll be adding more batteries as you expand your collection.