The Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Company was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1909, by Fred Wardell. For well over a century, Eureka has made various types of vacuum cleaners, ranging from upright and canister models to stick vacuums to robot vacuum cleaners.
I recently had the opportunity to test the newly-released Eureka RapidWash Cordless Wet/Dry Vacuum, which has a tangle-free brush head, as well as several other noteworthy features, including self-cleaning and self-drying functions, and an LED display. The Eureka RapidWash is also self-propelling, which makes it easy to maneuver.
I tried it out in my home for over a month to see how it compares to our list of the best wet/dry vacuum cleaners.
Terri is a freelance writer living in Birmingham, AL. She has tested hundreds of products, including kitchen appliances, vacuums, bedding, furniture, luggage, and tech gear. Terri has bylines at Architectural Digest, Forbes, Popular Science, CNN Underscored, NBC News, The Daily Beast, USA Today, US News & World Report, Tech Radar, Homes & Garden, and Tom's Guide. Follow her adventures @Territoryone.
Terri has tested dozens of vacuums from Dyson, LG, Tineco, Bissell, Miele, Sharp, Roborock, and Eufy. She tested the Eureka RapidWash for several weeks, evaluating design, user-friendliness, performance, and cleaning. Terri was allowed to keep the vacuum cleaner for ongoing use.
Eureka RapidWash: Price & availability
The Eureka RapidWash is priced at $279 at Amazon, and it’s the same price on the Eureka website. This is relatively affordable for a wet/dry vacuum with other models I've tested (Dyson V15 Detect Submarine) being more than double this price.
Eureka RapidWash: First impressions
The Eureka RapidWash arrived well-packed in a Eureka branded box, with several stickers and a packing slip on the top of the box. The molded cardboard inside did a good job of keeping everything cushioned and in its place.
Inside of the box: the body of the vacuum cleaner (which includes the dirty water tank and roller brush), docking station, clean water tank, 2-part handle, adapter, cleaning brush, filter, cleaning solution, and manual).
Eureka RapidWash: Design
Some cordless stick wet/dry vacuum cleaners can be quite bulky, and this is understandable, since they have to hold a motor and both a clean water tank and a dirty water tank. However, Eureka has managed to design a model that looks sleek and modern.
The vacuum was easy to put together. Without looking at the directions I was able to assemble it and start the charging process. It takes four hours for the vacuum to charge – and Eureka recommends fully charging it before the first use.
It’s a smart vacuum as well, and the voice function is the default option, but it can be turned off.
I tend to keep it on, because I enjoy voice commands (which are a soothing backup if I’m not paying attention).
The large display shows the three modes (Turbo, Eco, and Dry), as well as the battery status, self-cleaning/drying function, charging mode, and when the dirty water tank is full.
Eureka RapidWash: Key specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Product Model | NEW430BL |
| Power | 230W |
| Run time | Up to 60 minutes |
| Noise level | 70.3 dB |
| Dimensions | H44.09 x W11.1 x L10.63 inches |
| Weight | 8.15 lbs |
Eureka RapidWash: Performance
For such a lightweight wet/dry vacuum, honestly, I was expecting performance to be rather light as well. However, I was pleasantly surprised. After the Eureka RapidWash was fully charged, I filled the clean water tank with water and added two capfuls of the included Eureka Refresh Clean solution. Note: according to the instructions, the cleaning solution can be added, “if desired,” which implies that it doesn’t have to be used.
After putting the clean water tank back on the vacuum cleaner, I press the on/off button. There are three modes to choose from. It defaults to Eco mode, which helps to save battery life. Eco mode is great for regular cleaning. However, there’s also a Turbo mode when I need stronger suction to remove dirt. The third mode is Dry mode, which is designed for dry waste and residual water.
In the photos, you can see how the Eureka RapidWash dispenses water (and solution) on the floor, which is quickly used to clean the floor. In the kitchen, I use the Eco mode, since my kitchen floors don’t get that dirty. However, in the bathroom, I use Turbo mode since I certainly want a cleaner result in a bathroom—especially since my guests use it).
Since it's self-propelled, there's no strenuous activity required on my part. It actually feels like the vacuum cleaning is leading me around.
The tangle-free brush roll keep hair from getting tangled around it—and I was glad I didn’t have to stop for tedious hair-removal chores.
The Eureka RapidWash also provides edge-cleaning, so I was able to vacuum/mop right up to the sides of my baseboards and underneath cabinets for a more thorough clean. I’ll admit that I did miss the LED lights on the front, which are found on some other wet/dry vacuums—but they also include a hefty price tag. The 25-minute run time is average.
The voice assistant also alerts me when the dirt water tank is filled, so I can stop and empty it.
Eureka RapidWash: Maintenance
One of the best features of the Eureka RapidWash is the self-cleaning feature. I removed the dirty water tank and poured out the water, then cleaned the tank and filter. Then, I put the vacuum cleaner on the charging base, pressed the Mode button, and the vacuum enters self-cleaning mode, and then drying modes, and then it dries the brush roll.
However, keep in mind, as with all self-cleaning wet-dry vacuum, there’s still some labor on your part. I needed to remove the roll brush and clean it – and the roll brush cover under running water (not the floor brush—just the roll brush and roll brush cover), and then wipe away any type of stains on the suction nozzle.
The roll brush and filter should be removed and cleaned each time the wet/dry vacuum is used, and they should be removed every 3 to 6 months.
Eureka RapidWash: User reviews
This is a new release, and at the time of publication, the Eureka Rapid Wash only has 17 reviews on Amazon, with an average 4.8 rating. Buyers refer to the wet/dry vacuum as being amazing, very good, and state that they’re quite satisfied with their purchase. Currently, there are no reviews on the Eureka website.
Should you buy the Eureka RapidWash?
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Price & availability | Relatively affordable and loaded with features | ★★★★ |
| Design | The user-friendly vacuum is smart, with a large display, tangle-free brush, and is designed to clean and dry itself | ★★★★ |
| Performance | It’s self-propelled to eliminate strenuous activity, and cleans well – even along edges | ★★★★ |
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How does the Eureka RapidWash compare?
I still maintain that the Eufy Mach V1 Ultra is the most impressive wet/dry cordless stick vacuum I’ve tested. I love the steam function that reaches 230 degrees F, so it can eliminated various types of germs. In addition, the Mach 1 has an auto-cleaning and auto-drying system. However, It’s expensive at $774.99.
The Dyson V15 Detect Submarine is another option, but at $879.99, it’s even more expensive than the Eufy Mach V1 Ultra – and it isn’t even self-cleaning. However, the V15 Detect Submarine has three different roller heads and two attachments, so it can be used in various scenarios. In fact, you can swap out the wet roller head and drip tray and use it as a regular vacuum cleaning on hard floors, carpet, and then use the combination and crevice tools to clean vehicles, HVAC vents, furniture, and more.
How I tested the Eureka RapidWash
I tested the Eureka RapidWash in my home for several weeks. Using it on a regular basis gave me the opportunity to assess the quality of the build, ease of use, performance, and ease of cleaning.
I routinely tried the three various modes to see how they performed in day-to-day scenarios.
Read more about how we test.
