During my two-year stint as TechRadar's Homes Editor, specializing in floorcare appliances, I learned two big things. One: that people are way more keen to discuss floor-cleaning gadgets than I would have anticipated. Seriously, there are opinions. And two: you don't necessarily need to spend loads of money to get an appliance that'll satisfy your cleaning needs.
I tested dozens of different options, of all different shapes and sizes, and from a wide range of brands. There were plenty of ultra-expensive appliances that I fell in love with. A vacuum with sensors that'll tell you exactly what it's sucking up? Yes please. A robovac that can retract its navigation puck it enable it to clean under my sofa? Genius — sign me up.
But in real life I don't have several hundred pounds going spare to spend on that level of gadget, and I'll also concede that not all those fancy features are essential for my cleaning needs. The good news is that a handful of much more budget-friendly picks have really blown me away, and below I've picked my three favorites.
All three come in under £200. I know that's still a bit of an investment, and there are even cheaper options that you might be able to get away with if your cleaning needs are relatively light. However, these are all really solid buys that I think deliver over and above their asking price.
Top floor cleaners
On the vacuum front, the standout is the Dreame R20; a cordless vacuum with impressive suction, a pleasingly lightweight and nimble build, and a handful of advanced features to help elevate it from its affordable stablemates.
The same brand is behind my favorite affordable robot vacuum: the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2. There's no auto-empty dock, and the mopping will require you to manually attach and detach a water tank and mop pad, but this robovac cleans well, never loses its way, and is perfect for hiding under a bed in your spare room. It's one of the best cheap robot vacuums on the market.
For wet cleaners, I loved the Hoover HW3. It maneuvers well, offers a solid cordless runtime and cleans effectively, plus there's a useful self-clean cycle to flush the system through and take care of some of the maintenance for you. It's great if you have a lot of tiled or vinyl flooring and need something that's a step up from a mop and bucket.
