What is a wet-and-dry vacuum, and do I actually need one?

A wet-and-dry vacuum is a kind of floor cleaner that combines mopping and suction for a thorough clean on hard floors. In this article, I'll dig more into exactly what a wet-dry vacuum is, what it can and can't clean up, and who would benefit from having one.

If you decide this is the appliance for you, head to TechRadar's roundup of the best wet-dry vacuums for our top-rated picks.

Who should buy a wet-and-dry vacuum?

If you have pets or young kids who are prone to spilling, dropping or otherwise creating messes on your hard floors, a wet-and-dry vacuum can be a major effort-saver.