Electrolux UltimateHome 700 EFW71711

DON'T THROW YOUR MOP AWAY Retailing for $699, the Electrolux UltimateHome 700 Wet & Dry Vacuum promises to pick up to 99% of dry debris on hard surfaces and to leave floors dry and streak-free in under a minute. It’s important to stress – this type of vacuum is strictly for hard surfaces only (like tile, vinyl, and sealed wood) and must not be used on dry carpets or rugs.

Instrumental to delivering on this promise is their recommended floor cleaner. But believe it or not, it’s not included in the price. I thought the store must have forgotten it, so I wrote to Electrolux, who replied, 'A trial bottle of specialised floor detergent is not included for the EFW71711 model in this region.' They didn’t advise how much it is or where to purchase it, and I can’t even find it listed on their website at all.

Now, this is a highly competitive market where the average retail price for similar products is around $399. So, what do you get for the extra $300 of your hard-earned money?

According to Electrolux: 1. Smart Dirt Recognition – Automatically changes water flow & suction according to the level of mess. 2. Self-Cleaning Cycle – Cleans and flushes the brush roller in under 2 minutes. 3. Antibacterial Tanks – Separate clean and dirty water tanks. 4. Battery Life – Up to 35 minutes of continuous runtime. 5. Design – Bagless structure.

Other than ‘smart dirt recognition’, the list of features is the industry standard. As for this dirt recognition function, I have no idea how this is achieved, nor have I seen any evidence of it. I find myself having to manually press the +/- button to boost the power and stop the vacuum from moving forward so the roller keeps revolving on the same spot.

I recommend filling the water reservoir with warm water, as this will deliver a better result.

Plus, I don’t understand why Electrolux uses the word ‘dry' when it only operates as a ‘wet’ vacuum. In fairness to Electrolux, I note that their competitors do the same???

Is it worth the extra $300 over the competition? – I say no. Would I recommend it? – I say no.

Fortunately, I managed to buy mine from Bing Lee on promotion for $199. But the reality is that at the end of the day – this is a fancy mop with vacuum suction.