VAX Platinum SmartWash carpet washer is the UK’s first carpet washer with motion sense technology that kills over 99% of bacteria trapped in your carpet fibres that can cause bad smells. It automatically dispenses the correct mix of clean water and solution when you push forward to wash, and dries when you pull back.
It is easy to use and you can attach the hand tools to clean stairs, upholstery, pet beds and even in the car and hard to reach areas. My first impression of the carpet washer is that it looks very stylish and lightweight (8.6kg) which I can lift with one hand! This washer is a godsend as we recently adopted a dog which naturally increased the wear and tear to the carpets but also as Mabel often suffers from perianal abscess (lot of staining).
Inside the box, it comes with two bottles of 250ml Platinum antibacterial solution, 250ml Pre-Treatment solution, SpinScrub hand tool, 2-in-1 anti-microbial tool (multi-purpose & pet attachments), 2.5m hose, accessory bag, carpet washer and instructions. There is not much assembly required. It took me less than a minute to connect the handle onto the body and to place the water tank in position. The handle can be removed for storage, by simply remove the antibacterial tank to reveal the silver button. Use a pen to poke the button to release the handle.
In this video, I show you each individual accessory and its function, how to use the washer and what I think about it! https://youtu.be/FRfPV8mDs-0
First, let’s take a look at the washer. It comes with a generous 9m long cable which is a good length to avoid having to reconnect to different mains supplies too often. It comes with two advanced FlexForce brush bars set to work agitating the carpet to remove tough stains, dirt and spills, delivering a deep clean seven times more effective than vacuuming alone. A mistake I made is I didn’t vacuum the floor beforehand. I would recommend doing so you don’t pick up as much dirt, like hair or pet furs onto the brush or inside the waste water tank. Luckily, the washer cover is so easy to remove and rinse with water.
It comes with two tanks. One is the clean water tank (on top) and the other is to collect the dirty water tank (below). It is recommended to use warm water (maximum 40 degrees) in the clean water tank. The clean water tank is easy to fill and slot in.
The dirty water tank comes with an easy lift hand to remove and simply remove the clip at the back of the dirty water tank and the top is removed. In my video, I show you how easy it is to remove and install the dirty water tank. Do note the maximum water level marking on the tank. You can remove the dirty water tank without having to remove the clean water tank. They are not joined together.
To attach the hose, just insert the hose onto the washer by lifting out the cap. Then place your hand tool on the other side of the hose. It comes with a 2.5m stretch hose that enables me to reach over half of the staircase! It makes cleaning so easy without having to carry the washer while washing the steps.
I find that the SpinScrub is not easy to remove from the hose as you have to lift the plastic catch above the plastic bump. The hose comes with a trigger button for spraying the solution onto the carpets or any surfaces. It is so easy to use. Use the spray, before you scrub the areas with the brush, and vacuum the waste. The 2-in-1 anti-microbial tool is a lot easier to remove from the hose and swap the clips.
To ensure the washer remains hygienic to use time and time again, the cleaning attachments and floorhead have integrated antimicrobial treatment to help prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Behind the washer is the solution tank for the antibacterial solution. Simply pour in the antibacterial solution into the tank and insert it in. It is recommended to pour back any unused solution back into the bottle. I do find that when I detach it, some of the solution comes flying out. So it is best to fill the exact amount you are going to use, rather than having to pour it back into the bottle when finished. You can use it with or without the antibacterial tank. If you just want to wash with warm water, then take the solution tank out.
It comes with a pre-treatment solution which I didn’t use as I did not need it. It comes with a spray hose to attach. It is recommended to spray on tough stains and for a maximum of five minutes. It is not suitable for use on silk, velvet or water-sensitive fabrics.
The on/off button and the handle release pedal are found behind the washer wheels. I love that it is so easy and convenient to press by using your foot.
It comes with intelligent motion sense technology and it is very responsive too. It is able to switch between the two functions (wash/dry) very quickly.
There is also a ‘dry only mode’ to dry the carpets in as little as one hour. It is so effective and the carpets dried in no time.
I used it with ease on the hard to reach places, and also the staircase and it cleans very well and left the carpet feeling fresh. At 8.6 kg, the washer is not too heavy and I didn’t feel any aches or tiredness from using it.
It is nice that there is not much suction resistance on carpets and I am able to manoeuvre easily, yet it still cleans very well. Overall I am impressed with its cleaning suction, ability to manoeuvre around the house and stylish design. Now I can regularly wash my carpets to keep bacteria at bay and ensure the carpets keep their appearance for longer and smell fresher and cleaner.
You can purchase directly from the VAX website at RRP £299.99 and you get a free Steamer worth £59.99. They are so confident with their products, they are giving you a six-year guarantee.
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however, all thoughts and opinions remain our own.