The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is an affordable, well-designed vacuum cleaner for cleansing your hard floors. Unlike some of the more traditional models found among the best hardwood floor vacuum cleaners, the FloorMate uses water, cleaning solution and spinning brushes to clean a variety of hard surface floors.
Not to be confused with the best vacuum cleaners for home, this type of hard floor cleaner designed to be an all-in-one solution to make your hard floors sparkle, and to remove dirt, debris and grime.
In our Hoover FloorMate Deluxe review, we look at the cleaner in terms of design, features and performance, all to see whether it's something you should consider for cleaning your hard floors, or whether one of the best steam mops would be preferable.
Hoover FloorMate Deluxe review: Design
The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is a water-based floor cleaner, so you should only use it on sealed hard floors If your floor is very dirty. In that case, it's best to sweep or vacuum your floor before using the FloorMate Deluxe.
It's best to consider the FloorMate as more of a standard mop replacement rather than an all-out substitute for the best upright vacuum cleaners or the best handheld vacuums. That said, it has enough suction to pick up dirt more effectively than a standard mop could on its own. We'd also recommend the Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Speed here.
The FloorMate Deluxe is designed with a trigger on the vacuum handle, which releases more cleaning solution when you need to focus on a very stubborn stain. Weighing just under 14lbs, the FloorMate Deluxe is light enough to be carried easily around the home from room to room. This is helpful if you have hardwood floors on different levels of your home, such as in your bathroom and kitchen.
Hoover FloorMate Deluxe review: Performance
When used in Wash mode, the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe releases a cleaning solution onto your hard floor while four counter-rotating, circular brushes spin to break up stubborn stains and marks. Once the brushes finish scrubbing your floor, you can switch the FloorMate Deluxe to Dry mode and watch as it suctions dirty water from the floor. A built-in squeegee helps the floor dry even quicker.
The cleaner holds dirty water in a separate tank from the cleaning solution, so the solution stays dirt-free. Both tanks easily detach from the vacuum for disposal after you finish cleaning.
The FloorMate Deluxe comes with an interchangeable wood floor brush, so if you plan to use it primarily as a wood floor vacuum, you can be confident the brushes will not damage the finish on your hardwood. Hoover also has a hardwood-specific cleaning solution that you can purchase.
Should I buy the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe?
The main advantage of owning a Hoover FloorMate Deluxe cleaner is that it will often do the job of a broom and mop combined, saving you time and hassle. The FloorMate is not a traditional hard floor vacuum, but for many hardwood floor owners, it's a decent choice. However, it is routinely out-performed by more modern machines now.
Because it's a much older model, it's harder to find on sale. The retailers who do sell it often do so at a reduced price, so you could pick up a bargain.
