If you’ve ever wondered, “Can Henry hoover up water?” then the answer is Henry can’t but Charles can. Charles is one of Numatic International’s dry vacuum cleaners which also has wet functionality – the other being George. This multifunctional design makes him a very versatile vacuum to have at your disposal, capable of jobs ranging from delicate dusting to cleaning up after flooding. abc
In this review, we will take an in-depth look at the features and potential drawbacks of the Charles, helping you to determine if it’s the best choice for your carpet cleaning needs.
What Makes Charles Different
Numatic Charles is a versatile, large capacity and multifunctional vacuum which comes with all the attachments for all day-to-day vacuuming tasks around the house or worksite. What sets Charles apart is his large 15 L capacity and he can be easily converted into a wet vacuum to tackle spills, clean hard floors and even unblock the sink with no problems at all.
Pros
- Perfect for DIY
- Large capacity
- Has wet functionality
Cons
- Heavier than other Henrys
- Not a carpet cleaner
- Large to store
Our Verdict
Charles is a fantastic vacuum cleaner with an uncomplicated design making it easy to switch from dry to wet. This extra feature makes him stand out from other Henry models and there are definitely situations where this wet feature comes in handy, if not essential. Sure, it does take a couple of steps to change from wet to dry mode and back again, but it’s pretty simple and quick to do.
Like all Henry vacuums, his suction is impressive and he comes with all the right tools to tackle any vacuuming task around the house. Retailing around £180 he is an affordable wet-dry vacuum cleaner for use around the home
Specifications
| Capacity | 15 litres dry, 9 litres wet |
| Weight | 9.0kg |
| Motor Power | 1060W |
| Suction | 2400mm H2O |
| Attachments | – Standard Henry Kit – Wet Hard-Floor Tool |
| Filter | Standard Henry 2-stage filtration |
Tools and Attachments
For all your carpet, upholstery and car cleaning needs, Charles has the perfect tool.
Attachments include:
- Fishtail tool for carpet cleaning
- Upholstery tool for car valeting and use on upholstery
- Dual scrub hard floor tool for use on all hard floor types
- Combi floor tool
- Crevice tool
- Mattress/upholstery tool
- Dusting brush
Multiflo Wet Hard Floor Tool
This floor head has a narrow profile and lightweight design consisting simply of 2 rubber squeegees that trap and guide the liquid into the floor head where the powerful suction takes it into the collecting drum. Just like most Numatic Henry’s the design is simple but effective. Not only can it clean up wet spills , it also leaves the floor dry.
Combination Floor Tool
The combination floor nozzle for Charles is a versatile tool that seamlessly transitions from hard floors to carpets. With Charles’ powerful suction, it provides consistent and effective cleaning on any type of flooring. A simple flick of the switch on the tool allows you to adjust between modes, raising or lowering the brush as needed.
While the floorhead works well for general vacuuming, it may not be as effective in removing pet hair. This is because it relies solely on suction and does not have a rotating brush to agitate and collect stubborn hair from carpets.
Dusting Brush
Charles’ dusting brush is perfect for reaching those tough spots that are often overlooked by other cleaning tools. It excels at tidying shelves, blinds, and delicate surfaces which tend to collect allergens
Mattress and Upholstery Tool
This tool is perfect for deep cleaning sheets, mattresses, and couches, perfect for getting rid of those pesky dust mites. It is also gentle enough to use on delicate materials, keeping your furniture free of dirt and stains. The specialised mattress attachment from Charles effectively removes dust and allergens, creating a more hygienic living space.
Are Charles’ Attachments Good Quality
Charles’ attachments, like all Numatic products, are constructed from strong plastic designed to withstand frequent use without easily breaking.
This consistent level of quality guarantees that Charles will continue to be a dependable cleaning partner for many years. You can confidently tackle any cleaning job knowing that the durability of the attachments won’t be an issue..
Features
Charles is a versatile cleaner with the ability to function as a dry vacuum with all the other features and attachments of a standard Henry, as well as converting to a wet vacuum for wet spills.
Ready for Wet and Dry
He is not only restricted to carpet cleaning in wet mode – any wet spills can be dealt with. In emergencies such as flooding (natural or self inflicted), his wet vacuuming functionality is specifically designed to extract moisture from carpets, and he can rapidly suck water from the carpet – and hard floors – to prevent any long-term mold and mildew issues.
To make this conversion, the HEPA-flo bag and Tritex filter need to be removed and replaced with the ball valve. That’s it – he’s good to go. He can be used like this to vacuum up wet areas.
The float valve prevents overflow and water reaching the motor once the reservoir has reached its maximum level. It’s obvious when this occurs due to a change in noise and a lack of suction, alerting you to empty the reservoir.
If used to scrub hard floors, then the combi floor tool is simply and easily switched over for the hard floor tool.
A Tool For Every Job
Although built for the big jobs, Charles comes with all the accessories in a Standard Henry Kit, so functions essentially the same as a Henry vacuum cleaner – the dusting tool is ideal for hard to reach places, the crevice tool is great for nooks and crannies, and the upholstery brush is great for the sofa, stairs and mattresses.
In wet mode he has one attachment which is the wet hard floor tool used for cleaning up spills and drying hard floors. This tool doesn’t need to be used exclusively as water can be sucked up directly through the hose without any attachments.
Large capacity
Charles has an extra large 15L capacity when used in dry mode and 9L when used in wet mode, meaning large jobs can be completed without interruption, and less time spent changing bags and changing water.
Dust Free Emptying
Just like Henry, dry-mode Charles boasts a two-stage filtration system that is designed to keep your home free of dust, debris and dander. The first stage is the extra-large capacity HEPA-flo bags which also allow for dust free emptying due to the self sealing tabs. The second stage is the TriTex filter which sits between the HEPA-flo bag and the motor, ensuring trapped allergens, dust and dirt stay trapped within the drum.
Easy and Clean Emptying
Charles’ self sealing tabs on the Hepa-flo bags ensure dust free emptying. An added feature to Charles, is the addition of a handle to the bucket. This makes it a lot easier to carry the bucket full of water, and tip it down the sink, drain or garden.
Storage
Charles is larger than Henry and requires a large storage area. It is also recommended that he is disassembled during storage to make sure any trapped moisture dries. This is worthwhile to prevent moisture seeping into the motor, but is another step and can be cumbersome.
Charles only has one extra accessory – the hard floor head – compared to a standard Henry, so not too much extra storage space is needed for the accessories.
The improved cord winding system with two hooks instead of one is a major improvement and makes him easier to store as well.
On-board storage is also accounted for with Charles there being 4 slots where accessories can be attached for quick access.
Ease of Use
Charles is really simple to assemble, essentially the same as regular Henry. Turning him on is super simple as there is only one button to power him in wet or dry mode.
However when he is used in wet mode, he does need to be set up differently because water can’t go through the dry filter, and a ball valve needs to be put in to protect the motor.
The switch from dry mode to wet mode by removing the filter and placing the ball valve in is simple and intuitive. The manual is pictorial and comprehensive for helping you figure out how to make the switch.
When making the switch, the 15 litre Hepa-flo bag needs to be removed. This can be replaced, but if it is not full, it can be unsealed and placed back on when ready to go back to dry mode. This has the advantage of being less wasteful of bags, but the disadvantage of being exposed to more dust and potentially spilling some collected dust and dander.
Charles’ rubber wheels are the same as on other Henry models and glide smoothly on carpet and hard floors. But like all canister vacuums, getting Charles to follow you around the house and not get caught on table legs and walls can be an art form.
Because Charles is large and can have an additional 9L of water, he is definitely heavier and trickier to maneuver, especially in wet mode, however considering this, he is still obedient enough to follow behind you as you pull him along.
A difference to other Henrys is that he doesn’t have a rubber bumper running around the outside, just plastic instead. This means that when you do bump into furniture and walls, is is more likely to result in scuffing
However, Charles only weighs 1.5kg more than Henry, so he is manageable to carry up and down stairs, but too heavy and large to carry while you clean the stairs. Although he has a long cable and a long wand, it is not long enough to do all of the stairs, and only able to reach the bottom 7-8 steps. He is too big and heavy to safely rest on a step so to do the remaining top stairs you can place Charles at the top and work down, but you will need to be extremely careful not to pull the machine down the stairs and topple you over
The carry handle is convenient and essential for moving him around the house.
Charles has an attached handle on the receiving bucket which makes it easy to carry and dispose of the dirty water with less change of any major spillages.
After use the bucket needs to be cleaned and dried before storage. This is easy enough – the bucket itself is easy to disconnect from the motor unit and is light to carry. It can be rinsed in the tub, shower or sprayed down with a garden hose, and that is the extent of the cleaning required. It is probably best if it is stored disassembled in this manner so it can completely dry.
Use on Carpet
Charles has a powerful 1060W motor which is one of the most powerful in the Henry range. His suction on carpet is very effective, and can sometimes be too strong for some people, especially on long pile carpet. The power can be adjusted by opening and closing the valve on the wand
The combination floor tool does a great job and although it doesn’t have rotating brushes, this is not essential in most cases due to the amount of power and suction that Charles produces – He works more by power than agitation.
All Henry attachments can be use on Charles as well, so if you do have soiled carpets or pets, then the airo-brush would be a useful addition
Use on Hard Floors
The combi floor tool is excellent on hard surfaces and is easy to switch from carpet to hard floors by depressing the button on the floor head, lowering the brushes whenused on hard floors.
The multiflo wet floor tool is unique to Charles and really comes into its own when needing to clean spills on hard surfaces. The two rubber squeegees direct spilled liquid into the suction pathway to effectively and easily suck liquid into the machine. It’s simple and effective and leaves the floors instantly dry.
The downside is that there are no bristles for scrubbing – it’s only function is cleaning up spills. So if your floors needed cleaning or scrubbing, you may need other attachments for this task
Car Cleaning
Charles has all the tools which make him super handy for cleaning the car. The mattress tool and the crevice tool are ideal for getting into the hard to reach places, and the dusting tool is great for cleaning around those awkward spots around the gearstick, handbrake and dashboard.
His super long reach and long cord make it possible to clean your car without using an extension cord as well.
Comparison to other Henry Hoovers
Henry Wash
Henry Wash is a similarly large sized wet vacuum, but he is restricted to being a carpet cleaner only. He cannot be used as a vacuum, and does not have any attachments for this. Although a ‘carpet cleaner’ he is not restricted to this – being able to valet the car, clean up wet spills, scrub hard floors and just like Charles, unblock the sink.
George
George, just like Charles, is a dry vacuum which also has wet functionality. The difference between a Charles and a George hoover is that George is more versatile and can perform a lot more tasks than Charles – specifically carpet cleaning, along with scrubbing and drying of hard floors. George has a lot more specialised attachments, whereas Charles only has one specialised attachment which is the hard floor tool
| Model | Charles | Henry Wash | George |
|---|---|---|---|
| Features | | | |
| Capacity | 15L Wet, 9L dry | 9L | 15 L Wet, 9L Dry, 6L Extraction |
| Weight | 9.0kg | 12.7kg | 14.7kg |
| Motor Power | 1060W | 1000W | 1060W |
| Suction | 2400mm H2O | 2400mm H2O | 2400mm H2O |
| Tools | – Standard Henry Kit – Wet Hard-Floor Tool | – Fishtail Tool – Upholstery Tool – Hard Floor Tool | – Standard Henry Kit – Fishtail Tool – Upholstery Tool – Hard Floor Tool |
| Filter | -Standard | – No filter | -Standard |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Should You Buy a Charles Hoover?
Charles is the perfect vacuum if you need the added functionality of sucking up liquid. Water from flooding, burst pipes, and overflowing sinks can be dealt with quickly by Charles before they cause long term problems. This is why he is also a popular choice for tradesmen as well. Along with the fact that he is a great dry vacuum for day to day vacuuming.
His wet functionality is only a feature if it gets used, and if it doesn’t you’re left with a large and heavy vacuum compared to other Henry models. So if you don’t feel the need to use the wet function, or don’t have situations where you would need to use it, then he may not be the best option, and maybe you should consider other smaller vacuums in the Henry range.
Keep in mind that although he does have wet functionality, he isn’t a carpet cleaner – so if this is your intention, getting either a George or Henry Wash would be a better option.
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Jonno
Jonno is a homeware and vacuum geek who has tried them all, but always comes back to Henry hoovers for their performance and reliability. After helping Suzie get her blog up and running, he developed a (healthy) interest/obsession in learning and trialing the vacuums and loves contributing everything he has learned.
