Note: The Hetty is short for the Numatic Henrietta, so if you see people talk about the Henrietta this is actually the same vacuum. Overview of the Hetty Hoover Some people prefer the ability to wind the cable in and James allows you to do that. He also has a caddy in which he can nicely store away and attachments. A plugged cable means it is pretty easy to replace the mains cable. Henry is the stalwart of this range: tough, durable and easy to use. There may be lighter and sleeker models available, but it is by no means too cumbersome and its impressive storage capacity, means you’ll have plenty of time before you need to change the bags. Once again, on the curtains, it was really useful, and I feel like I particularly gave the top of them a really good clean with this attachment. I used two of the extension tubes to reach the very top. The cherry on top is that it is an energy class A. Plus the Airobrush and the extra attachment for hard floors.

The Henry with the most versatility is probably the George. It cleans your curtains, cushions, carpets, hard floors, your car, your drains, and probably everything else in your life. Beyond that, the Henry vacuum cleaner range has a pet hair model, a wet/dry model, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The range is versatile within itself. I tested it out predominantly on the skirting boards in our home, which had been neglected for quite a long time, I am ashamed to say. I was really impressed with it, and this tool is in fact something I use everyday because it is just so useful. Crevice Tool Before and After This model of Numatic Henry comes with the same wand that features on older models; it’s a series of three metal poles that connect together. The curved section has an air vent on it, too, which is used to decrease suction power – the vacuum cleaner has just an on/off switch. Like most Numatic vacuums, Hetty comes with a cable rewind function. This saves a lot of time, although we would have liked an automatic rewind function. You would expect him to be cheaper than a regular Henry. Does extra storage space make up the extra in cost?Older versions of Hetty came with a green switch for controlling suction power, giving you the option of either high or low power. But due to restrictions on the motor power of vacuum cleaners first introduced by the EU in 2014, Numatic heavily reduced the motor power that the new Hetty model has, which has resulted in the newer versions of Hetty no longer having a suction control switch. Instead there is just a simple on off switch. Hetty has a useful handle attachment, meaning you can attach the tools you need when cleaning and access them nice and easily. Some Hetty models come with an extra extension hose, which enable you to take the suction point right to the top of the stairs with Hetty sat at the bottom. Even if you don’t get the extra extension hose, Hetty already has a very long hose that is longer than most cylinder vacuums. As we mentioned above, the standard Henry bags (Numatic NVM-1CH) are self-sealing, and capable of storing up to five times more intake than conventional bagless hoovers. Trying It Out I measure the raw power of all vacuum cleaners in AirWatts, which is a combination of airflow and suction power. This is a true measurement of power that lets us compare the performance of different models.

In Britain the Hoover became synonymous with the word vacuum cleaner. Around about the same time as this was happening (the mid-80’s) was when Henry vacuum cleaners were first making a rise. We will forever have the Henry as a result. What’s the best Henry for dog and cat hair? An additional versatility with the Henry range are the bags. You can use the same set of bags throughout the majority of their machines. The wet and dry, the pet hair, and the larger models all use a one-size-fits-all-capacities bag. It makes it easier to shop. Durability & Reliability​Over seven million Henry hoovers have been made since it was first put into production by Numatics International in 1981. In the time that has since passed, they’ve made some minor iterative improvements, but – for the most part – the Hetty today is the same as the Henry we first met almost four decades ago. The Henry vacuum cleaner range covers a number of price points. The more expensive models, like the George, do more things than the models that don’t cost as much. Adversely, the cheapest Henry Vacuum is likely to be the original version. You would think that you paid less for less dustbin capacity (like what you get with the James, where you sacrifice dustbin space for storage) but this isn’t the case. What is a Class Rating? When the time does come to change it, it couldn’t be simpler. All you have to do is push two clips on the side of the machine outwards and then lift off the head of the machine (which contains the motor), remove the filter, and then replace the bag with a fresh one. The old one should then be discarded in your wheelie bin. The handle can be folded down for storage. This isn’t a major feature, but makes the vacuum a bit easier to store.

It can clean wet spills, dry dust, scrub carpets, and clean upholstery. Essentially it is a 4-in-1 carpet cleaner and vacuum. I was expecting there to be more dust and debris removed from the very centre of the floor head, but surprisingly, the entire width of the floor head seemed to vacuum up the dirt evenly. Upon closer inspection, it appears that there is a clever channel designed into the head, which ensures that debris flows up through it from the entire surface area.The PETH200-11 is the pet version of the Hetty. It’s a more expensive vacuum cleaner, but comes with an EcoBrush for cleaning pet hair from carpets. The addition of a powered brush makes the vacuum much more effective for hair and stubborn dirt, so we recommend the PETH200-11 if you have pets. It has a useful hi/low feature which allows you to switch seamlessly between the more powerful 1,200w and a lower 600w mode. It’s a great way to manage your electricity use. For most jobs, 600w will be more than enough power to get the job done, but occasionally, for really stubborn tasks, you might want to switch up to the more powerful 1,200w. This allows you to do just that. In the light of recent European legislation, though, Numatic have released a less powerful 620w model, but they’ve put in a huge effort to tune this up so despite the power drop you still get excellent performance – capable of meeting any job. That being said, there are areas where Hetty shines. In smaller houses, for families with small children, and even for those that need a great car cleaner, Hetty is an ideal choice. The overarching feeling that I am left with after reviewing the Hetty is that it will likely last for decades, which is exactly what I was looking for in a new vacuum cleaner for our home. However, while it’s designed for the wet, this also excels in the dry. An impressive 15 litre storage capacity when dry makes it an ideal option for professional cleaners, but it is also light at only 7.1kgs and will be easy to get around the home.