Numatic Hetty Vacuum Review – Henry’s Sister

Last Updated on 09/05/2024 by Susie Greene

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Hetty (short for Henrietta) has been around since 2007 and is Henry’s little sister. Primarily marketed towards women, Hetty is effectively the same vacuum cleaner as Henry, with the same specifications, attachments and tools. Hetty also costs about the same – although you might occasionally find her on sale.

Don’t let Hetty’s pretty eyes and cute smile fool you, however – she’s a very capable vacuum and will keep your home spotless. Hetty always comes in pink, and her face differs from Henry’s in that she has eyelashes – she adds a nice feminine touch to your home.

In this article, we’re going to go through all the pros and cons of buying a Hetty hoover, and where you might want to skip buying Hetty and go for another of the Numatic vacuums instead.

Numatic Hetty Review Summary – Pros and Cons

In a hurry? Check out our summary of the full review below.

Pros

• Hetty, like her brother, is built strong to last long. You won’t be replacing Hetty any time soon if you look after her – which is a big plus.
• Hetty is fantastic for cleaning solid flooring such as vinyl and wood – as well as cleaning your car.
• Hetty is rather quiet, much like her brother – the single speed motor provides a lot of suction without making a huge amount of noise.

Cons

• Hetty, like her brother, struggles a bit on thick carpet. This is because of the nozzle – if you want a better hoover for thick-piled carpet, you should look at the Henry Xtra which comes with the rotating AiroBrush attachment. Of course, you could always buy one separately.

Our verdict

Our rating – 5 stars

While Hetty has her pitfalls, she is a very, very capable vacuum. A slightly more stylish alternative to Henry, she’ll make sure your home is kept clean for a long time to come. For families and couples she’s perfect – although if you’ve got pets, I’d suggest going for the Henry Pet.

Check out some of our reviews of other Numatic vacuums!

James

Henry

Specifications

In this article, we’re looking at the consumer Hetty HET160 model. There are bigger models of Hetty – specifically the HET200. We’re also not looking at the Hetty Quick in this article – that’s one for another review.

Below we look at a full list of Hetty’s specifications.

Capacity	8 litres
Suction	2300mm H20
Cleaning Range	26.4m
Weight (machine and attachments)	6kg
Dimensions	340mm x 365mm x 360mm
Motor power	620W
Power	230V AC 50/60Hz

Specifications for all Numatic models are available in each one of our reviews. Alternatively you can go to myhenry.com and search for specifications for your desired model of Hetty.

Tools and Attachments

Hetty comes with exactly the same tools that her brothers Henry and James do. Therefore, if you’ve already got one of these, none of the following will be of any surprise to you. 

Hetty comes with the following:

Mattress and Upholstery Nozzle

As the name would suggest, this is for cleaning bedding, mattresses, sofas and more. Specifically designed in such a way that your Hetty won’t choke on bed linen and delicate upholstery, this tool is fantastic for keeping your bedding, cushions and other soft furnishings spotlessly clean.

Crevice nozzle

A standard with most hoovers nowadays, Hetty’s crevice nozzle allows you to get deep into areas where crumbs and debris have fallen – it’s great for DIY projects, for cleaning your car and for cleaning up after pets.

Dusting brush

The standard dusting brush is great for those hard-to-reach areas where other tools can’t reach. 

Combination floor nozzle

The combination floor nozzle is the classic floorhead included with every Numatic hoover, except the Xtra which comes with rotating brush attachments. It allows you to quickly switch between having the brushes down for hard floors, and the brushes up for carpets and rugs. While the brushes don’t rotate, Hetty has more than enough suction power to get the dirt out of your floors.

Are Hetty’s attachments good quality?

Like everything Numatic produces, Hetty’s attachments are of excellent quality. Yes, they are plastic – but they are built strong and won’t break easily. Hetty was first produced in 2007, and given the quality of every Numatic cleaner I would be surprised if most of them aren’t still around today.

Hetty also comes with a series of extension tubes, meaning you can reach areas further away than you otherwise could. These are all made of aluminium and they are of excellent quality – so you should not worry about these causing you any kind of problems.

Use Cases

So why would you buy a Hetty over a Henry or other models in the Numatic range?

Put simply, you’d buy a Hetty if you wanted something that performed a little better than James, but didn’t need any of the extra features of some of the higher-end Numatic models such as the Henry Wash, the George or the Henry Pet. Whether you then choose a Hetty or a Henry is entirely up to you – she is identical to Henry except in colour. It’s simply a matter of personal preference.

Performance and quality

Hetty’s performance, as we’ve said, is identical to that of her brother. The Numatic TwinFlo motor isn’t deafeningly loud, but is loud enough to reassure you that Hetty is doing her job. Her 620W of power is plenty to ensure that it can lift even the most ingrained dirt from your carpets and hard floors.

Like all Numatic vacuums, Hetty’s construction is simple but effective – effectively just a plastic tub with a motor and a bag to catch all the dirt. Because of this, Hetty has very little about her that can break, and as Numatic makes their products to such a high standard, it’s extremely rare that anything significant will go wrong with Hetty. It’s worth mentioning, however, that Hetty isn’t indestructible, and if you do something daft like suck up water with her, you will experience problems. 

In terms of build quality, let’s put it simply – in any commercial environment the most likely vacuum you will find is a Numatic vacuum of some description – be it a Hetty, a Henry or a James. This speaks volumes about the quality and performance of these vacuums – and if you a buy a Hetty, she will be no exception.

How does Hetty do on carpets?

To be honest, Hetty struggles a bit on thick-piled carpets. This isn’t really anything to do with the machine or the motor itself, but more to do with the brushes. See, standard Hetty comes with a normal dust nozzle, which doesn’t include any rotating brushes. This nozzle is absolutely fine for short piled carpets and you will notice excellent performance from Hetty if you have these in your home.

However, on longer pile, Hetty does struggle a bit. What you can do in this case is purchase Hetty with the optional AiroBrush attachment, which will fit onto the end of Hetty’s suction tube and will provide you with these rotating brushes which are perfect for pulling dirt out of thick piled carpeting.

How does Hetty do on hard floors?

Hetty really shines when it comes to hard floor cleaning. You simply switch the nozzle from carpet to hard floor mode and watch her pick up almost anything. Her powerful suction and excellent sized head means that she’s particularly good at covering larger areas, as well as those which are covered in fine dirt and debris.

One problem, however, with the standard Hetty nozzle, is that it does suffer a little bit from what’s called snowploughing – which means that she tends to push dirt along the front of the head rather than picking it up. To make sure this doesn’t happen, if you have a lot of dirt, you should angle the head back slightly to ensure all of it gets sucked into the machine. This shouldn’t be an issue unless your floors are really, really dirty, however.

Car cleaning

Hetty really shines when it comes to car cleaning. Her range is 26 metres, meaning you probably won’t even need an extension cord if your car is close enough to your house. Additionally, the tools and attachments that come with Hetty, specifically the crevice nozzle and the brush attachment, make her perfect for cleaning even the toughest dust and dirt from your car.

The only drawback here is that she’s corded – which is fine if you have a garage, but not so much if you’re running cables out of the window into the street. What you should do in this situation is have a look at the Henry Cordless – because he provides almost identical performance to regular Henry, but he runs on batteries and not cords. I wouldn’t recommend the Hetty Quick for car cleaning, as normal Hetty’s hose makes it a lot easier to get into all the nooks and crannies where dirt might have fallen.

Ease of use

Unfortunately, this is where those with reduced mobility might struggle with Hetty a little bit. We’ve spoken about this before in other reviews, but it’s a simple fact that small, bagged vacuums like Hetty aren’t as easy to use as cordless, stick vacuums – like the Hetty Quick. The Hetty Quick is a lot more expensive than normal Hetty, but she is far lighter and easier to use than the normal Hetty.

Hetty is a little bit bulky, and storage isn’t the best – especially since there’s not really anywhere to put the hose while you’re not using her. That being said, a Numatic vacuum is a compromise – and what you lack in terms of accessibility and ease of use, you more than make up for in terms of performance and build quality. Most people will have absolutely no issue using Hetty, but she won’t really be suitable if you struggle with everyday tasks. 

Bags

Hetty uses the standard Hepa-Flo bags that all models in the Numatic range use – but just make sure you purchase the right size. Any bags made for the standard Hetty or Henry will fit both the HET160 and HET200 models.

Cost

Hetty isn’t the cheapest or the most expensive model that Numatic makes – the cheapest model is James who we’ve reviewed before. That being said, Hetty does provide fantastic value for money – because the performance you get for the money you pay is really remarkable. When you consider what else is available at the same price point, you really do get your money’s worth, and this is why Numatic vacuums are so popular.  

How Hetty compares to other Numatic models

For homes on a budget – James

James is one of our favourite vacuums as he’s almost as capable as Henry or Hetty, but comes in at a lower price. A favourite among commercial customers, James is a great starting vacuum for someone looking to get into the Numatic range.

For homes with pets – Henry Pet

Henry Pet comes with the powerful EcoBrush attachment, designed for getting deep into your carpets and removing pet hair and dander for a cleaner home. Henry Pet used to be called Harry – but in our opinion the newer Henry Pet is a far more effective cleaner.

For those who struggle with movement – Hetty/Henry Quick

Hetty Quick is a revelation in Numatic cleaner design, and is designed for those who would struggle to use a standard Hetty cleaner. Hetty Quick is exactly the same as her brother, Henry Quick!

For those who need more than a hoover – George

George is another one of our favourite cleaners, as not only is he a dry cleaner, but a wet one also, meaning you can refresh and revitalise your carpets and upholstery as well as ensure your home is sparkling clean!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Numatic Henry and Hetty?

Effectively, there is no difference – each Henry and Hetty are identical machines. The only difference is that Hetty is pink and Henry is red, and Hetty has eyelashes and Henry does not. This applies across the range – whether you have the 200 series Hetty or Henry, the 160 series, cordless or the Xtra.

You may find minor differences with things like the attachments or the specification, but this is likely due to the age of the machine. For example, a Henry that came out 20 years ago will likely have a dual speed motor, whereas if you go and buy a Hetty from Amazon today, she will likely come with a single speed motor. This applies across the Numatic range and isn’t specific to any particular model of cleaner.

Are Hetty and Henry bags the same?

Yes, they are. Hetty shares all her internal components with Henry, so not only are the bags the same, but also the motor, filter and other attachments are identical. Just make sure you’re buying the correct size Hepa-Flo bag. 

How do you stop a Hetty from smelling?

One of the main causes of a smelly Hetty or Henry is that someone used it without a bag. Hetty will not smell if you replace the bag as and when it needs to, clean out the filter regularly and when changing her, cleaning out the drum for any particles of dust that did not get caught in the bag.

We’ve written a full article on how to deal with a smelly Numatic cleaner – which you can read here.

Does Hetty need a bag?

Absolutely – like all Numatic cleaners, Hetty needs a bag. The bag is intended to catch all the dust particles that are sucked up into your Hetty. If you don’t use a bag, those particles end up directly in the filter, which will block your filter and will stop Hetty from sucking as well as she did before. Additionally this will make Hetty work harder than she needs to, and you’re likely going to find that her motor burns out or overheats. 

Can you empty and reuse Hetty’s bags?

Hetty’s bags are not designed to be reusable. Once you remove them from the cleaner they’re designed to be sealed and disposed of. There isn’t really a way you can empty the bag without destroying it anyway – and if you were to reuse the bag it would likely start to smell due to the volume of old dust and debris inside the bag.

However, some companies make aftermarket bags that are reusable and even washable. Some of these have good reviews, so it’s worth checking them out online if this is of interest to you. In my opinion, however, I’d stick with the original Numatic bags.

 

So, should you buy a Hetty?

I really don’t think you can go wrong with any of the Numatic vacuums, and Hetty is no exception – she is an excellent cleaning companion no matter the flooring or upholstery in your home. There aren’t really any specific use cases you’d specifically pick a Hetty for – she’s just a very capable, very reasonably priced vacuum cleaner.

If you need extra power, or you have pets, you might want to look more into the Henry Pet or Henry Xtra range – the main advantages of which are getting the AiroBrush attachment and more power. However, if you only have short pile carpet this is likely to be a waste of money, and Hetty will perform admirably for years to come!

Final verdict on the Numatic Hetty

Our rating – 5 stars

While Hetty has her pitfalls, she is a very, very capable vacuum. A slightly more stylish alternative to Henry, she’ll make sure your home is kept clean for a long time to come. For families and couples she’s perfect – although if you’ve got pets, I’d suggest going for the Henry Pet.

If you want to see more reviews of the Numatic range, such as Henry, Henry Xtra, Henry Pet, Henry Wash and Henry Quick, check out some of our other content below!