Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner review: revitalises beds and sofas too

T3's Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner review in a sentence: A dedicated handheld vacuum for the bedroom that works brilliantly on soft furnishings too.

One of the more curious vacuum cleaner products I’ve tried is this, the new Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner, which is an interesting variation on the theme. It’s not an area I’ve really considered before but, as it turns out, there are all manner of options when it comes to the best mattress cleaners. In fact, all of the popular brands seem to have a model or two, so Vax, Tower, VonHaus and other lesser-known companies all have them as part of their product portfolio.

Before getting the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner in for review, I’ve tended to either vacuum my mattresses using an attachment connected to a standard model, or bundle them outside and pat them down in the back garden. The former option is quick and easy while the latter certainly isn’t. And, now that I’ve tried it, the Hoover 4in1 Mattress Cleaner makes much more sense as it’s a dedicated appliance that sits on your mattress and gets the job done in situ.

It also means I don’t have to use vacuum heads that have been used on other surfaces like grubby floors and carpets. If you’ve spent good money on one of the best mattress brands out there then, like me, you’ll want to keep it in tip-top condition. The Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner is therefore ideally suited to anyone with a keen eye on cleanliness and keeping their bedroom as spick and span as possible.

As always, if you think this is a needless cleaning accessory then check out the best Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners, best vacuum cleaners or best robot vacuum guides instead.

Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner: Price and availability

The Hoover 4-in-1 Corded Handheld UV Mattress Vacuum Cleaner HMC5 Handheld, to use its full product description, is available directly from the company via the Hoover website, or from the usual outlets. The official price is £99 but doubtless if you shop around, you might be able to get a discount online. Hoover is also currently offering 10% off when you buy two or more products from HooverDirect.

Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner: Is it any good?

Now that I’ve experienced the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner I think that, even if you’ve only got one bed in your property, it's worth considering this appliance. It’s a really practical idea that can be used right out of the box, with no setting up to be done. There’s a lightweight design, which is just 2.2kg and it’s handheld too with a comfy handle that anyone can easily get to grips with.

Size-wise, the design is compact with a width of 311mm, a depth of 240mm and a height of 194mm. The added bonus of that is the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner can be stored away without fuss, even if you’re short on storage.

The appliance comes finished in a stylish white plastic and the overall build quality is just as good as any other Hoover product I’ve experienced. It’s also easy to clean, with an underside that can be refreshed without problems, while the small 0.6-litre bin section of the appliance is also easily removed and cleaned.

There’s a small filter system too, which I’m assuming Hoover sells replacements for via its website or official outlets. A manual is included but the appliance needs very little in the way of explanation, with control options displayed on the top front of the unit, just below the power button.

Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner: Performance

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner, but it turns out to be an excellent and very portable machine that gets the job done brilliantly. Hoover reckons that the appliance is specifically designed to deep clean mattresses and other soft furnishings like sofas and can be used to remove bacteria, mould and a host of allergens. Despite its compact size, there’s plenty of performance and I like the way there’s mains connectivity, which means there’s no diminishing power that comes with some cordless machines.

Using the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner is a doddle, with a power button that falls conveniently under the thumb, while the moulded plastic handle is very comfortable and suitable for anyone to hold. There’s very little to do when using this machine too, with four functions happening automatically during the cleaning process. The front display shows the level of humidity on what you’re cleaning and also indicates UV Light, Mite and Drying functions all of which happen on the go.

Although I was a little suspicious of how best to quantify the cleaning process of the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner, the built-in LED actually turns from red to green as the appliance gets the job done. It’s a neat touch that makes you feel like you’ve got somewhere even if the little bin doesn’t look like it’s got all that much contained inside.

Hoover states that the roller spins 4200 times per minute, usings its bristles to beat your mattress dirt into submission. The reality wasn’t quite as dramatic as that while I used it, but it does feel powerful. It’s quite clever too, with a UV light function that only activated when it’s in contact with the material. I also really like the way the appliance uses 50-degree hot air to get the damp mouldy feel out of mattresses where folks might have been sweating.

The bin is quite small, but using the Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner isn’t quite the same as a floor cleaner where larger amount of fluff and detritus collects. So, in that respect, the 0.6-litre bin is more than suitable. I also like the way the appliance is quick and easy to clean, with no real maintenance to perform as such, although I assume regular replacement of the small white filter on the bin connection is worth doing to ensure optimum performance.

Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner: Verdict

The Hoover 4in1 Mattress Cleaner is a cracking little appliance that deserves your attention if you get in a fluster when it comes to keeping your bedding clean. I like the way it also works really well on soft furnishings, especially things like sofas and cushions. Granted, the bin is quite small, but this machine doesn’t work in quite the same way as a dedicated floor vacuum. It’s also very easy to use and the auto functions means the appliance does everything for you, bar emptying the bin and cleaning the filter from time to time.

The cyclonic suction is impressive, the appliance sounds like it’s got plenty of power and suction plus there’s the compact design. Being so light and easy to hold means it will be well suited to anyone who struggles with bulkier appliances. There’s a very generous 5 metre power cable too, which means it’s easy to tackle even king size mattresses using a power socket by the wall in the bedroom.

Hoover 4-in-1 Mattress Cleaner: Alternatives to consider

While there are a few alternatives out there when it comes to mattress cleaners, this arena is largely dominated by conventional vacuums. Pet owners should therefore investigate the Hoover H-Upright 300 Pets model or the Hoover HF9 Cordless Vacuum.

There's also the Tower VL100 Optimum Cordless 3-in-1 vacuum cleaner and the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute if you’re a fan of that brand. Lookout too for the Gtech AirRAM Platinum, which is another excellent stick solution.

Alternatively, the Shark Anti Hair Wrap IZ202UK is another well-respected brand that comes with Anti Hair Wrap tech. This uses a series of prongs to prevent long hair and threads from wrapping around the cleaning roller, so it's good for tackling something like pet hair too.