Hoover FloorMate FH40010B

Click to see on Amazon

Avg. consumer rating = 77/100 

This Hoover machine has been designed to vacuum, wash and dry floors.  It’s an ambitious idea that Hoover almost pulls off - almost.  Owners give this unit fairly average ratings and while some feel it does a good job washing floors a number also highlight shortcomings in its vacuuming/washing/drying capabilities.  It is reasonably priced however and can often be found for between $100 and $150.

Consumer Ratings and Insights
This machine has many owner reviews and ratings.  This leads to a very large sample size and results in what we feel is an accurate score.  The table below highlights the sites where almost 2000 consumer ratings were found.  These generate a score of 77.3 out of 100, or about 3.85 stars out of 5.  This is a bit on the low side compared to most vacuums we look at but admittedly we haven’t reviewed many combo vacuum & hard floor cleaners.  (We do note though that the Hoover F5914-900 cleans both carpet and hard floors and gets a better score.) 

A review of owner comments yielded a list of FH40010B likes and dislikes:

PROS
- some folks feel it cleans hardwood and tile well
- cleans tile and grout (with the right cleaning solution)
- good for spills
- tanks/brushes easily removed and reattached

CONS
- designed for hard surfaces only (not carpet)
- some owners feel the brushes are not close enough to the floor
- heavy and cumbersome
- loud
- vacuum suction is poor
- lengthy cleaning times
- does not clean up tight to the baseboards
- construction quality is not particularly good
- often does not remove all residual water

Three modes selectable via switch

In reviewing the many consumer comments there are a few other common themes (than those above) worth highlighting.  A number of owners report that the cleaning and maintenance required for washing a floor with the FH40010B just takes too long.  More than one indicates that they will go back to using a broom and a mop because it is simpler and faster.  However there is no mention of whether the broom/mop combo cleans as well.

The unit reportedly does a respectable job cleaning grout however some folks are using tile and grout cleaning solution which must be ordered separately.  The multi- floor cleaning detergent provided with the FloorMate is more of an all purpose cleaner and isn’t specially formulated for grout (although it will clean it to some degree).

There is also some disappointment in the quality of the manual as it is not particularly detailed.  You can take a look at the owner’s manual here.  It does cover the basics but may be lacking in some areas.

In addition, there are quite a few comments alluding to the inadequate performance of the machine in ‘Vacuum” mode.  The inability of the vacuum to effectively pick up dust and debris indicates that one may be better off vacuuming with a regular full-size vacuum cleaner.  Also, in “Vacuum” mode the FloorMate is not designed for carpet – only hard floors.

On the upside, some owners do report that this machine leaves floors sparkling and squeaky clean and it does this at a reasonable price.  The Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub FH40010B is not especially expensive and can usually be found for less than $150.

Collapsible handle

Operation, Specifications and More
When you unbox the FH40010B you should have the following:
- Main body of the unit
- Handle
- Floor nozzle
- Package of 30 multi-surface floor wipes
- 16 oz bottle of multi- floor cleaning detergent

Assembly is fairly simple and involves snapping the handle into place and attaching the nozzle to the bottom of the unit.  That’s it.

The Hoover FloorMate FH40010B has been designed to vacuum, wash and dry hard floor surfaces.  It can be used on the likes of vinyl, linoleum, laminate wood, sealed wood, marble, grout and tile but do not use this on unsealed wood floors.  One of the most common questions regarding this machine is “Can it be used on carpet?”.  The answer is NO.  This is designed for hard floors only.

The machine is powered by a 6 amp motor and has 3 modes – “Vacuum”, “Wash”, and “Dry” which can be selected via a switch (see image).  The concept behind the FloorMate is to vacuum an area first, removing any loose dirt and debris, then to wash and dry it. 

In “Vacuum” mode the cleaning brushes are lifted up off the floor and turned off (they will not spin).   Suction pulls up debris which is then collected in the dirty water tank.  This tank operates as the dust canister when vacuuming and the dirty water receptacle when washing.  It is best to empty this tank/canister after vacuuming and before switching to “Wash” mode. 

It is also important to note that you should not squeeze the solution trigger on the handle when vacuuming if you happen to have any water/solution in the clean water tank – this will release cleaning solution onto the floor.  Also, there is no HEPA filter with this machine unlike many other full size vacuums today – part of the compromise of a unit that tries to do everything in our opinion.

Removing the clean water tank

To wash the floors the unit is switched to “Wash” mode which lowers and activates the counter-rotating brushes in the nozzle. The clean water tank is filled with a mixture of warm water and detergent.  The cap of the clean water tank conveniently doubles as a measuring cup to ensure you add the right amount of detergent. A trigger on the handle allows you to release the cleaning solution onto the floor surface as you move the nozzle back and forth.  The FloorMate has separate clean water and dirty water tanks that ensure more effective washing as you are always using clean water on the floor.  It should also be noted that there is an automatic shut-off switch that will engage if the dirty water tank gets too full.  This stops any possible overflow.  Should this happen you need to turn the unit off (and unplug it) then empty the tank.

Removing the dirty water tank

After washing you can select “Dry” mode.  This turns off the brushes and applies suction to the floor pulling up the water left behind.  Also a built in squeegee (on the front of the nozzle) helps to remove additional water from the floor surface.  When drying it is important not to squeeze the solution trigger as this will expel cleaning solution on the floor.

After cleaning one should empty the water tanks and clean both the nozzle and brushes.  Both are easily removed for maintenance.  In addition, there is a reusable washable filter that resides on the top of the dirty water tank which should be cleaned.  To remove the filter simply remove the dirty water tank, then remove the tank lid and clear filter cover.  The filter can be washed clean with water.  Hoover suggests allowing it to air dry before replacing it.

Hoover provides a good video instruction guide for the Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub FH40010B.  It covers assembly, operation and maintenance and is worth a look if you have any questions or issues regarding these areas.  You can find it here.

The FH40010B has a cleaning path width of 13 inches.  This is good for cleaning large open areas but not great for getting into tight or narrow areas.  The 27 foot power cord provides a respectable cleaning reach.

The machine is not lightweight and with tanks empty is still weighs about 16 lbs.  A number of owners complain that it is a bulky machine that can be a chore to move – especially with tanks full.  It does have soft rubber wheels however that ensure the cleaner does not scrape the floor surface when it is moved.  The unit has a fairly large footprint so even with the fold-down handle it takes up some closet space when stored.

Finally, the Hoover FloorMate carries a 1 year limited warranty and is ETL listed.  ETL is a group that performs electrical and reliability tests on products to ensure they meet US product safety standards. They also audit the manufacturing site and require that the applicant agrees to future factory inspections to ensure continued adherence to the standards.

Video
The following video is really a commercial from Hoover but it does show the vacuum at work and gives you an idea what it looks like and what it is designed to do.

	Nigel Russco has been writing for Vacuum Cleaner Advisor for years and has a background in business and engineering, as well as a keen interest in anything related to vacuum cleaners. Connect with Nigel on Google+

POST YOUR COMMENTS