Draper Vacuum tested

By Kim Adams

May 2011

Price: from £198

Turn your garage into a valeting bay with this versatile new cleaner from Draper. Hung on a wall bracket, the Wet & Dry vacuum can tackle most garage problems, including wet and dry spills, and be used to blow away light debris.

Unlike the slender GarageVac (Issue 1,153), this is a workshop cleaner that happens to have wall fixings, rather than one designed specifically for hanging. This means it sticks out around 40cm from the wall, but also that it can be quickly unhooked and used elsewhere. Plus, the five-metre power lead allows you to venture a long way from your power supply.

For cabin cleaning in the garage, the seven-metre hose is three metres shorter than the GarageVac’s. But in performance terms, it’s on a par, with the powerful motor and big-bore hose easily lifting typical grit and grime. There’s also a decent choice of brushes and nozzles.

Crucially, there’s storage for all the attachments – even the foam sock for liquid spills. It’s a bit fiddly, but it does work and keeps the kit together.

At nearly £200, the Draper Wet & Dry is double the price of some garage cleaners. However, it’s a step up in power, and you do get a lot for your money.