Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Cleaner (FH40160): An In-depth Review

The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is a popular cleaning machine that allows users to scrub and vacuum dry hard floors. While the Hoover Floormate’s appearance is similar to that of an upright vacuum cleaner, it also offers the convenience of all kinds of hard-surface floor cleaning.

Before You Read On... Hoover's FloorMate series have more than one models, i.e. FH40150, FH40160, FH40165, FH40170 and FH40190. In this review, we focused on FH40160 and listed the differences with other three.

[toc]

Who is the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Ideal For?

As with any household tools, Hoover FloorMate Deluxe isn’t necessarily the best choice for everyone. However, it does have a lot to offer certain people. Here are just a few of the ways to tell if this vacuum cleaner is an option you should seriously look into.

You are looking for a convenient all-in-one style tool that will work on multiple surfaces.
A significant amount of your home has some sort of hard flooring, be it tile, vinyl or hardwood.
You don't have the time, or unable to spend hours scrubbing floors on your hands and knees.
You can't stand the idea of moving dirty water around your floor, with a traditional mop and bucket.

Why We Like It

Honestly speaking, the first moment we saw FloorMate Deluxe, we thought it to be “bulky” and, god it’s foot is big…

For a cleaning machine that you may carry it around in your house, don’t you think it should be slim and tight, just like Bissell’s Crosswave™ pet pro and all-in-one, or cordless models from Shark and Dyson do?

Well, taking a closer look, we found reasons to justify the chubby design and, you could read our reviews of other brands and models before making a decision.

Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro (2306A)

Bissell Crosswave All-In-One (1785A)

Shark Apex VS Dyson V8

Comparison of Dyson V6 and V8

So, why we like FloorMate Deluxe FH40160?

With the Hoover Floormate itself, users have a choice of two different sets of brushes that attach to the nozzle. The durable rubber wheels and the impressive furniture guards make it easy to use on a wide array of surfaces without causing damage.

You might think that the brushes for tile flooring look “dirty”. In fact, the brushes for wood floor look whiter only because their bristles are softer. Also, bristles of tile brushes are longer and feel more rigid.

Hoover FloorMate Deluxe has a removable handle. When the handle is removed, the cleaner easily fits in most closets, while still leaving lots of room for shelves or clothes.

The cleaner is delivered to you in a box and you need to use a long screw that comes with it to fix the handle to the base.

Hoover is a highly established brand that has developed unique and innovative technology.

The FloorMate Deluxe features the company’s patented ‘SpinScrub’ brush technology, which features multiple brushes that spin both counterclockwise and clockwise at the same time, in order to achieve maximum coverage and efficiency.

Houses get messy – especially if you have pets or children, and not all of those messes can be easily cleaned up.

Hoover FloorMate Deluxe offers a ‘Clean Boost‘ that allows you to release additional solution for areas where the mess requires some extra attention. This will enable you to clean even the more challenging parts of your home without having to change tools.

The detergents used with the cleaner is free of any harsh chemicals, making it an excellent option for those with children or animals. Unlike with other detergents, you won’t have to worry about your baby’s play mat coming in contact with harsh and potentially dangerous chemicals anymore.

In fact, it’s not necessary to add clean solution. Clear fresh water is enough for everyday light cleaning from time to time.

Hoover FloorMate Deluxe FH40160 has a water tank capacity larger than many other brands. This is the reason that it looks chubbier, but you don’t need to change water frequently.

Another decent feature is that the dirty water tank has a flexible crank float. It shuts off the suction when the dirty water tank is full. While this is handy, many users were unaware of this feature and had to spend some time figuring it out upon their first couple of uses.

If you found that the cleaner stopped picking up and the sound of motor changed, go check the dirty water tank first.

Because the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is a multi-surface cleaner, it is designed to cut down on the necessary cleaning time. No longer will you have to switch from tool to tool.

How Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Works

Any vacuum, mop or multi-surface cleaner is going to be slightly different, be it in how the controls are laid out, the settings, or it’s abilities, it is essential to know how the product you are thinking of buying works, as well as it’s capabilities in each area.

If you’re a “visual person” and prefer to watch videos, here is the one showing you exactly how to use Hoover FloorMate Deluxe FH40160. But we still explained the detail after the video.

In order to use the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe as a vacuum, all you have to do is switch the dial to the dry vac setting.

Now, the vacuum function is not as strong as a lot of upright vacuum cleaners. However, this is not an upright vacuum; it is a multi-surface cleaner. Essentially, in order to get three cleaning options, some are not as impressive than if you were to use that tool on its own.

It does have decent suction. However, furniture guards and squeegee tend to make it difficult for the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe to pick up larger pieces of debris.

The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe has a really great mopping function. When it is in wash mode, all you have to do is press the trigger downside the handle bar, in order to release the cleaning solution.

The brushes spin more than 325 times per minute, and this ensures that whatever surface it is cleaning, be it hardwood, tile or vinyl are cleaned thoroughly. At the end of cleaning, the liquid that was used is held in a separate collection tank, that is easy to pour out.

It should be noted that some stuck-on substances may require additional pass-overs. However, overall, merely pushing the unit back and forth across the floor while occasionally pressing the trigger will do a proper and thorough job of cleaning up most messes.

Once the floors are clean, they have to dry. Luckily, with the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe, you no longer have to worry about blocking off a room for half an hour after you wash it.

Instead, the unit allows you to soak up any excess liquid and dry your floors quickly. This setting can also be used to clean up small spills – making an excellent option for parents.

Maintenance

As with any kind of appliance, it is vital that it is taken care of properly and routinely. One of the things that we love about the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is how easy it is to maintain, and how it doesn’t have to be a daunting chore.

Both the clean and dirty water tanks need to be rinsed and cleaned. This only takes a few minutes, like the other pieces described here, they can air dry after. It should be noted that the dirty water recovery tank should be cleaned thoroughly after use in order to avoid smells.

The filter is one of the parts of the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe to maintain. That said, doing so is quite easy. Simply tap the filter so that any excess debris falls out (rinsing it will also work).

Since the filter is basically a piece of loose sponge, it dries quikely.

Things like the brushes, nozzle, and other accessories can be easily removed for proper cleaning. All that you have to do is clean them using a mild detergent and then let them air dry for a couple of hours. Brushes and tools are removable and can be cleaned using a mild detergent.

Things that Might Cause a Buyer to Pause

Compared to what we may be used to paying to mop our floors, the price of the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe might seem extravagant.

At the time of writing, the Hoover FloorMater Deluxe Cleaner is listed for above $120 on Amazon.

While the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe did a marvelous job on hard floors, it can not scrub a narrow area where the brushes do not reach. You may need to turn the head to a certain angle, or grab other tools such as a mop or towel to get a satisfactory result.

The reality is that the dry pickup feature, while decent, is not outstanding. So much so that many customers have stated that they find it necessary to either pick up large pieces of debris or sweep prior to using the vacuuming option.

Although some similar products are unable to really handle bigger messes, Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is an excellent option for those who do not wash their floors every day.

Once the floor is swept and debris is picked up, Hoover FloorMate Deluxe can take on any sticky or set in messes that it might face.

The Competetion

We all know that the current market is saturated with different kinds of multi-surface cleaners. So how are you supposed to figure out which one will best suit your needs? With brands like Dyson, Bissell, Hoover, and Shark all known for their top-of-the-line and durable products, the list of choices can sometimes seem overwhelming.

So, we decided to break it down a little bit. Here are comparisons between the FloorMate Deluxe family, as well as Hoover FloorMate Deluxe and Bissell Crosswave.

Comparison of FloorMate Family

Series	FloorMate	Deluxe	Deluxe	Deluxe	FloorMate Edge
Model	FH40150	FH40160	FH40165	FH40170	FH40190
Tank size (Qt)	0.75 x 2	1.5 x 2	1.5 x 2	1.5 x 2	1 (clean) + 0.75 (dirty)
Weight	14 lbs	14 lbs	14 lbs	14 lbs	13 lbs
Brush set	1	2	2	2	1
Brushes per set	4	4	4	4	5
Folding handle	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Cord length	20 in	20 in	20 in	20 in	26 in
Operating mode	2 (hand control)	2 (hand control)	2 (hand control)	3 (hand control)	2 (foot control)
Clean boost	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cleaning detergent	1	1	2	2	1
Price	Check Now	Check Now	Check Now	Check Now	Check Now

Hoover FloorMate Deluxe vs Bissell Crosswave

	FloorMate Deluxe	Bissell Crosswave
What surfaces can it clean?	Multi-surface	Multi-surface
Does it dry the floor?	Yes	No
Does it store easily?	Yes	Yes
Is it easy to clean?	Yes	Yes
Cord length	20 in	25 in
Separate clean and dirty water tanks?	Yes	Yes
Does it work well on carpets?	No	Not for deep pile carpets
Weight	About 14 lbs	17.2 lbs (Pet Pro) 11 lbs (All-in-one)

The two mode cleaning (wash and dry) is among one of the biggest and most popular features of the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe. This feature makes the task of cleaning and drying hard floor surfaces quicker, and more accessible than the Crosswave.

The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe also has larger tanks, which means that it can hold more water and solution. This is wonderful as it reduces the number of necessary refills.

Finally, the convenient removable handle means the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is easier to store away and requires less space for storage than the stand right Crosswave.

*It’s possible that Hoover was selling FH40160 and FH40165 on Amazon. Customers used to have the option of “foldable handle”. At the time of this article, however, the configuration status is “Without Foldable Handle” only, meaning that you can only buy them at different pages.*

The Crosswave is by far a more versatile option out of the two cleaners. This is for the simple reason that it can be used to clean significantly more floor surfaces than the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe. These surfaces include thin carpets and rugs.

Many customers also state that the Crosswave is easier to move than the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe. It is also able to reach under low furniture. The Crosswave also has a 25 ft cord, whereas the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe has a 20ft cord.

The filter in the Bissell Crosswave can also be removed, which is vital to keep it running smoothly, especially if you have pet hair to clean up.

Check out our Bissell Crosswave reviews: Bissell Crosswave Pet Pro (2306A) and All-In-One (1785A)

In Conclusion

The Hoover FloorMate Deluxe is a fantastic option for those with multiple hard floors throughout their house. While it is on the pricey side, the many benefits that it offers help to justify the overall increase.

You will no longer have to worry about harsh chemicals, animal hair, or having to get down on your hands and knees to ensure your home is clean and ready for surprise company.

That said, if you want more powerful suction, Bissell Crosswaves are better choices.

Comments

Koos Saayman

August 17, 2020 at 12:21 am

We bought the Hoover Fllormate Deluxe brand new about five years ago. The lower suction hose has alreeady failed twice and upon trying to source a replacement for it, the part is shown as “discontinued”, so when the hose breaks again – and it certainly will because of poor design and material quality – the machine will have to be thrown away.
But, before the hose can fail again the surround on the suction side of the motor corroded away completely to the point where it disintegrated and damaged the suction motor. This is not a replacement part so that is the end of the unit. Imagine fabricating two really critical parts using inferior material, and then blaming “non-Hoover approver chemicals” for the failure, because that is certainly what the answer will be.
It worked well enough when it did, but paying AU$400 for something you will have to throw away every two years is asking a bit too much, so this is my last Hoover.