Vacuum cleaners are not immune to technological advancement. You only need to look to the robot vac as evidence of their evolving functionality – these floor favourites now have mopping capabilities too.
But sometimes, often – in fact, technology is not all it’s cracked up to be. The robot vacuum gets stuck in a corner, unable to turn itself around, your cordless vac runs out of battery mid-cleaning, and you think back to an age in which you could simply do your household chores quickly and easily.
And it is that nostalgia – and the desire for function above all else – that means Henry remains the UK’s best-selling vacuum. When you don’t have time to waste, Numatic’s reliable range of friendly suction devices is on hand for the big jobs.
This is certainly what led me to George. I had some work done in my flat and needed a vacuum to handle the industrial-level debris. Henry’s noble companion caught my eye – and not just for his green hue. The wet and dry vacuum cleaner tackles carpet cleaning alongside the typical functionality of his red friend.
Here’s what I thought of the George Numatic GVE370 Wet and Dry Vacuum.
Tech specs
- Special feature: Wet, Dry
- Included components: Dusting brush
- Capacity: 15 litres, 9L wet capacity
- Surface recommendation: Upholstery, floor
- Voltage: 1200 Volts
- Item weight: 8.8 Kilograms
- Wattage: 1200 watts
- Cleaning Range: 26.8m
- Weight: 14.68kg (Machine & kit)
- Dimensions: 360 x 370 x 510mm
- Motor Power: 1000w
- Power: 230V AC 50/60Hz
Set-up
Once you open the George, you will see why the box is so sizable. The vacuum cleaner comes with a wealth of attachments that are frankly quite overwhelming at first glance. Bar the vacuum itself, there is all the gear for carpet cleaning - a tank, detergent, hoses, scrub tool - as well as different nozzles to optimise suction-powered cleaning, such as brush, precision and crevice heads and a dusting tool. This is a lot to store, but it covers all the bases for a full-house spruce. A professional kit ready for professional jobs.
Design
Henry’s hoovers are without a doubt the friendliest household appliances on the market. The smiley face really does elevate the cleaning experience. George comes in a green shade and a beaming appearance that feels like he loves every moment of making our homes look spick and span. In my household, he is known as George (zhORsh), always said in a French accent to add a level of sophistication.
It is a cumbersome piece of tech, especially when compared to my dinky cordless Dyson, so consider storage before purchase. George is also corded, which means you need a plug socket in the proximity (although you have a very long 10-meter cable). The handle can be made short or very long, which makes it adaptable for different heights - no breaking your back required with this vacuum.
Functionality
Pure functionality has earned the Henry collection its stellar reputation among the houseproud, and George is no different. The suction power is strong - it feels even more so than Henry - so very little effort is required to scoop up household grime. During the work I mentioned above, the vacuum proved its prowess in scooping up the smaller pieces, but it did struggle with some of the larger bits of debris and left some sawdust in its wake. But that’s where its ability to do carpet cleaning comes into play.
Setting up the carpet cleaning requires filling the tank and switching out the innards. The picture-based instructions included in the box are not the easiest to follow - accompanying words would have been helpful - but after a fiddly first go, we were up and running. The first thing to notice was the sound. This is not the type of cleaning you can do while the baby is asleep. It also takes muscle power to operate. You need to be very diligent with ensuring that the water is effectively suctioned from the carpet, especially in a hallway like mine without external windows, as, if left damp, it will lead to a very unpleasant smell. Beyond carpet cleaning, George can unblock sinks and suck up wet spillages too.
This is a bagged vacuum, which is suitable for those with allergies. Do factor in the cost of replacing the bags (£15.99 for 10 on Amazon), which should be around one to three months according to the brand, but will very much depend on usage. It is super easy to change the HepaFlo bags that have a self-seal tab to prevent dust flying everywhere.
George’s wide stance can be a little awkward on staircases, especially the narrow ones in my old Victorian-style home, but this should not be a problem for those with landings. I also found that the top sometimes opens even after hard-pressing the clips at the side. Perhaps a future iteration could have a sliding lock?
Verdict
George Numatic GVE370 Wet and Dry Vacuum
There is a reason why Henry hoovers are the vacuum of choice for professionals. Pure functionality has earned the Henry collection its stellar reputation among the houseproud, and George is no different. The suction power is strong - so very little effort is required to scoop up household grime.
I had some work done in my flat and needed a vacuum to handle the industrial-level debris. Henry’s noble companion caught my eye – and not just for his green hue. The wet and dry vacuum cleaner tackles carpet cleaning alongside the typical functionality of his red friend.
Once you open the George, you will see why the box is so sizable. The vacuum cleaner comes with a wealth of attachments that are frankly quite overwhelming at first glance. Bar the vacuum itself, there is all the gear for carpet cleaning - a tank, detergent, hoses, scrub tool - as well as different nozzles to optimise suction-powered cleaning, such as brush, precision and crevice heads and a dusting tool. This is a lot to store, but it covers all the bases for a full-house spruce. A professional kit ready for professional jobs.
Henry’s hoovers are without a doubt the friendliest household appliances on the market. The smiley face really does elevate the cleaning experience. George comes in a green shade and a beaming appearance that feels like he loves every moment of making our homes look spick and span.
It is a cumbersome piece of tech, especially when compared to my dinky cordless Dyson, so consider storage before purchase. George is also corded, which means you need a plug socket in the proximity (although you have a very long 10-meter cable). The handle can be made short or very long, which makes it adaptable for different heights - no breaking your back required with this vacuum.
Setting up the carpet cleaning requires filling the tank and switching out the innards. The picture-based instructions included in the box are not the easiest to follow - accompanying words would have been helpful - but after a fiddly first go, we were up and running. The first thing to notice was the sound. This is not the type of cleaning you can do while the baby is asleep. It also takes muscle power to operate. You need to be very diligent with ensuring that the water is effectively suctioned from the carpet, especially in a hallway like mine without external windows, as, if left damp, it will lead to a very unpleasant smell. Beyond carpet cleaning, George can unblock sinks and suck up wet spillages too.
This is a bagged vacuum, which is suitable for those with allergies. Do factor in the cost of replacing the bags (£15.99 for 10 on Amazon), which should be around one to three months according to the brand, but will very much depend on usage. It is super easy to change the HepaFlo bags that have a self-seal tab to prevent dust flying everywhere.
George’s wide stance can be a little awkward on staircases, especially the narrow ones in my old Victorian-style home, but this should not be a problem for those with landings. I also found that the top sometimes opens even after hard-pressing the clips at the side. Perhaps a future iteration could have a sliding lock?
Buy now £254.75, Amazon
