Vax Steam Mops Review
Vax has become a household name for home appliances in Australia. Along with being a specialist in vacuum cleaners with its iconic orange tub, Vax also has an extensive line of steam mops. It aims to offer a comprehensive range, while keeping the budget in mind. Let’s dive in and review the specs and features on offer, to see if Vax steam mops are worth the money.
Vax Steam Mops
One of the main advantages of Vax steam mops is the brand’s Twin Tank Technology. This function allows you to separate the detergent from the water in the case of wanting to just use steam to clean without detergent. Although you may find this feature useful, it’s not available on all models. There are several Vax steam mops that keep it simple without any extra attachments but if you are looking for a steam mop to help clean the whole house, there are a number of multi-functional steams mops in the Vax range as well. On all Vax steam mops you will find a 1 year warranty for a peace of mind and most of the models come with two reusable microfiber pads.
Vax Steam Fresh Combi Steam Cleaner VX24
The Steam Fresh Combi is a 2-in-1 steam mop that has a detachable handheld steam cleaner. It has 10 attachments for cleaning floors and above floor surfaces from tiles and grout to windows and taps. The accessory bag includes:
- Carpet Glider
- Hose
- Grout Brush
- Metal Brush
- Small Plastic Brush
- Large Plastic Brush
- Detail Nozzle
- Scraper Nozzle
- Window Tool and cloth
- Concentration Nozzle
This model uses Twin Tank technology, giving you the option to turn the detergent on and off. This feature also helps to provide a fresh scent while you clean. Although scent has a minor impact on the cleaning itself, it may be worth considering for helping to neutralise bad odours around the home.
Vax claims the Steam Fresh Combi leaves floors dry in 3 minutes, which you may find particularly useful if you have pets or children running around the house. With 1600W of heating power, it is claimed to heat up in 20 seconds and provide up to 15 minutes of cleaning time. Its total weight is 3.7kg and it is equipped with a 0.3L water tank capacity as well as an 8m cord length.
The Steam Fresh Combi is designed for all sealed hard floors including stone, tile, wood, laminate and with its additional carpet glider, it can also be used to refresh carpets and rugs. It has variable steam control, which gives you the ability to adjust steam output depending on the type of flooring you are cleaning or if there is any particularly sticky mess requiring more steam. It comes with a built-in compact scrub brush that pops out from the floor head to help remove tough stains. Additionally it comes with two microfiber cleaning pads and 250ml Vax Cleaning Detergent.
Vax Steam Fresh Pet Steam Cleaner VX23
The Steam Fresh Pet steam cleaner is designed for pet owners. It comes with a microfiber Pet Pad to help remove hair and a 250ml bottle of Vax Pet Steam detergent, which is aimed to kill bacteria and neutralise pet odours.
It weighs in at 3.3kg and provides 1600W of heating power. It is claimed to have a heat up time of 20 seconds and provide approximately 30 minutes of steaming time. It comes with a 9m cord, giving you an ever greater reach from the power switch compared to the above VX24 model.
It uses Twin Tank Technology to auto mix steam with detergent or you can simply leave the detergent out and use the benefits of steam cleaning on its own, similar to the above model. The capacity of the water tank is 0.5L and for the detergent tank it is 0.3L. It can be used for both sealed hard floors and carpets with its additional carpet glider attachment. It is also designed with a compact scrub brush and a steam burst function.
Vax Steam Fresh Steam Cleaner VX22
This steam mop is a simpler model in the Vax ‘VX’ series and has one of the lowest price tags. It’s a fairly lightweight model, weighing in at 3kg. Despite the lack of additional accessories, it is claimed to provide up to 15 minutes steam time and only requires 20 seconds to heat up with its 1600W of heating power. Its Twin Tank is designed with 500ml water tank capacity and 250ml detergent tank capacity. The Vax Steam Fresh features a carpet glider attachment to refresh carpets and a 7m cord length. It comes with two microfiber cleaning pads and Vax Steam Detergent, which is claimed to naturalise odours and kill bacteria.
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Vax Steam Fresh Reach Steam Cleaner VX36
One of the most advanced models in the Vax series is the VX36 – a 3-in-1 steam cleaner that combines a steam mop with a handheld cleaner and reach wand. It comes with a 15 piece multi-purpose tool kit and accessories that includes the following:
- Steam Cleaner
- Carpet Glider
- Grout Brush
- Metal Brush
- Small Plastic Brush
- Large Plastic Brush
- Detail Nozzle
- Scraper Nozzle
- Window Tool and cloth
- Concentration Nozzle
It comes with 240ml Vax Detergent and two microfiber cleaning pads. It also has a wall bracket the hang up the steam model when not in use as its not free standing. As there is no in-built space for additional attachments on the steam mop, it comes with an accessory bag to fit everything in.
Vax claims its VX36 steam mop heats up in 20 seconds for up to 20 minutes of steam time. Additionally, the floor head is designed with a steam boost function and a compact scrub brush to help with removing dirt in high foot traffic areas. It weighs in at 3.5kg and has as Twin Tank with 300ml water tank capacity and 160ml detergent tank capacity. It uses 1600W of heating power and has an 8m cord.
On the handle you will find variable steam and detergent control, giving you the ability to adjust steam pressure and the use of detergent. It’s designed for all sealed hard surfaces as well as refreshing carpets. The Steam Fresh Reach steam mop has an easy transition between each mode – steam mop for the floors, the long reach wand for hard to reach places and the handheld cleaner for detailed cleaning – to further help clean windows and showers, taps and stove tops, upholstery and grout.
Vax Duet Master Steam Cleaner VSTDUET1600
This model is known as the Duet Master by its 2-in-1 steam mop functionality, converting to an integrated handheld steamer for above floor surfaces. The handheld steam cleaner detaches from the body by the click of two buttons. With its 1600W of heating power, it is claimed to have a 60 second heat up time and provide up to 12 minutes per tank of steaming time.
It has a very nifty 8m cord, which reduces the amount of power switches you will need to use. It’s also fairly lightweight and compact compared to other Vax models, coming in at 2.7kg with a 400ml water tank capacity. It comes with two reusable microfiber floors pads and the following attachments:
- Steam Cleaner
- Accessory adapter
- Hose
- Grout Brush
- Metal Brush
- Small Plastic Brush
- Large Plastic Brush
- Detail Nozzle
- Scraper Nozzle
- Window Tool and cloth
- Concentration Nozzle
- Measuring Jug
- Resting Tray
- Shoulder Strap
One attachment not included with this model is a carpet glider. Nevertheless the versatile tool kit may help with a variety of other tasks including cleaning windows, upholstery and tiles.
Vax Hard Floor Master Steam Cleaner VSTM1500
With a little less heating power of 1500W, the Vax Hard Floor Master is claimed to provide about 10 to 15 minutes of steaming time with a 30 seconds heat up time. It is designed with a triangle head for easy manoeuvrability as well as tight corners and features a jet of steam to help break down on grime.
This model can be used for tiles, laminate, lino and sealed wood flooring. It includes a carpet glider, funnel and measuring jug, and a reusable microfiber floor pad. It weighs in at 3.2kg with 500ml water tank capacity and 6m cord length, which can wrap around the cleaner.
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Vax Duo Master Steam Cleaner VSTDUO1600
Similar to the VX36 and the VSTDUET1600 steam mops, this model can switch between floor cleaning and a handheld mode for above floor surfaces. You may find this dual-functionality useful to help clean the kitchen as well as the bathroom and furniture. With a Twin Tank it also allows you to use steam and detergent together or simply leave the detergent out.
It’s one of the lightest designs in the Vax pack coming in at 2.6kg, giving you easy manoeuvrability or as Vax claims, “reducing user fatigue when moving it around”. It has a fairly standard 400ml water tank capacity and a 7m cord. With 1600W of heating power, it is claimed to heat up in 30 seconds and provide up to 15 minutes per tank of steaming time.
It is designed with a wide swivel floor head to help cover ground and squeeze into corners. No other attachments besides a carpet glider are available with this model.
Vax Home Master Steam Cleaner VSTHM1600
For an ultimate clean that leans towards an industry style cleaner rather than a simple domestic steam mop, Vax Home Master provides you with the tools for large jobs like upholstery, pet beds and ovens. It features a jet of steam and a 16 piece attachment kit, which includes:
- Steam Cleaner
- Metal Brush
- Small Plastic Brush
- Large Plastic Brush
- Detail Nozzle
- Scraper Nozzle
- Window Tool
- Upholstery Tool
- Concentration Nozzle
- Measuring Jug and funnel
- 3pc Extension Tubes
- Floor-head connector
The Vax Home Master comes in at a whopping 4.7kg but is designed on wheels for easy manoeuvrability. Additionally, it’s in-built with a large 1.6L water tank to provide up to 40 minutes of steaming time. With 1600W of heating power it does take approximately 12 minutes to heat up but still may provide a lot of convenience when you can steam for a longer time compared to other Vax models. It’s equipped with a 1.6m hose and 6m cord length.
Are Vax steam mops worth the money?
In the Vax steam cleaner range, you may find several models priced under $100, but on average most Vax models sit around the $200 mark. There are a number of functionalities that you get with a steam cleaner around this price over a traditional mop. For example, with the Vax Steam Fresh Reach Steam Cleaner, it combines a steam mop with a handheld and reach wand device as well as a carpet glider. So with just one product, you are able to steam sealed hard floors, carpets and above floor surfaces.
Vax is generally one of the most premium brands when it comes to steam mops. You will find cheaper appliances out there, but you will likely have to compromise on features and accessories. Your decision will likely come down to your budget and cleaning requirements. For a better understanding on how Vax compares to other brands, follow the link below to our online ratings page.
*Prices taken from Appliances Online and respective retailers, correct as of October 2017
About the author of this page
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Content Producer Luciana Lawe Davies. She writes about streaming, appliances and consumer products and services. Luciana enjoys bringing readers the best in what’s on TV and at the shops, including the best deals and latest reviews.
What do customers think about Vax Steam Mops?
In 2017, Australian customers gave Vax 3 out of 5 stars for Overall Customer Satisfaction for Steam Mops.