Review
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I tried Bosch’s new vacuum-mop combo – it’s ultra-lightweight and has two big perks that make it effortless to empty
Watch it work in the video above
I TRIED Bosch's new vacuum-mop combo gadget, and it's a breeze to clean - you don't even have to empty any dirty water.
The Aqua Unlimited 7 - the first of its kind from Bosch - is perfect if you need a silver bullet for both picking up debris and wiping muddy footprints.
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The gadget, which hit shelves in early April, comes with two detachable heads: a vacuum brush and a mop attachment.
And at just £499, it's much cheaper than alternatives, like the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine which has a £799.99 price tag.
Vacuum
The first thing I'll say about the Aqua Unlimited 7 is that it's incredibly lightweight.
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At just 1.4kg, the gadget curves round corners with ease.
As someone who lives with chronic back pain, the lightweight and cordless nature of the vacuum is a dream.
Gone are the days of wrestling with my Mr Henry and its enormous trunk (which decapitated a beloved plant of mine not long ago).
It being cordless means it's battery powered, and comes with a discrete charging station.
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The Aqua Unlimited 7 vacuum dons a nifty torch light that illuminates hair and dust in hard-to-reach places, like the dark underbelly of the sofa.
This is particularly handy as the vacuum can fold into an L-shape to reach beneath big furniture.
It's also very easy to empty, and can be done without inhaling a dust bomb - which is obviously a pleasure.
Hands on with the Dyson Wash G1
There are three different vacuum modes you can choose from: Eco, Turbo and Auto.
The Eco setting lacks the oomph that other modes have, because it is designed to consume less battery.
That being said, it still gets the job done.
According to Bosch, the battery is supposed to last about 40 minutes.
When using it on the Automatic setting, I can get roughly an hour out of the battery before needing to recharge it.
But for larger houses, you may need more fuel.
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Mop
Unlike the traditional mop and bucket, the Aqua Unlimited 7 mop head has an automatic water supply feature which avoids any pooling.
The mop head consists of two circular pads that spin towards each other to remove stubborn stains.
One bonus is that there isn't any dirty water to collect or empty - so maintenance is easy
The pads are washable, and can be removed via a tag which means you can detach them without getting your hands grubby.
Then you can sling them into the washing machine with other cleaning rags, or you can hand wash them. But they'll need a good rinse.
The tank is only 250ml, so if you've got a large home, or simply a lot of hard flooring, you might need a larger machine.
Or, you can settle on refilling it more than once during a cleaning spree - which really is no hassle at all.
One bonus is that there isn't any dirty water to collect or empty - so maintenance is easy.
The Unlimited 7 Aqua has a dust pickup channel - like a mini vacuum - that picks up debris before the mop pads get dirty.
This means you don’t need to empty a dirty water tank when you’ve finished cleaning - just tear off the pads and stick them in the wash.
I'm used to putting a little elbow grease into mopping, depending on what level of stain I'm handling.
So the thought of not being in control of the pressure or the technique of the mopping, at first, had me puzzled.
And lo, the stress test was born:
I threw some coffee on the floor (yes, very fun) and let it partially dry before putting the mop to the test.
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Honestly, it held up pretty well - as you can see in the video above.
There was a little bit of smearing, but eventually, the floor looked shiny and clean - and that's all we can really ask for.
Bosch Aqua Unlimited 7: Verdict
I like Bosch's Aqua Unlimited 7, but I did find that it scuffs quite easily.
I don't think I'm that much of a violent cleaner, but the gadget makes it look like I am.
It could also have a longer battery, and a bigger water tank - but all of that would only add to the weight.
And its lightweight nature is a huge reason why I love it, and why picking it up doesn't make chores feel so arduous.
All things considered, it's a great bit of tech that really gets the job done.
And for the price - in comparison to others on the market - is a steal (a whopping £300 less than Dyson's alternative, at that).
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