Cecotec Conga Popstar Aqua&Collect: a self-cleaning upright vacuum cleaner

Greetings to all readers of this project! This review focuses on the Cecotec Conga Popstar 29600 Aqua&Collect cordless upright vacuum cleaner. This unit is suitable not only for wet cleaning, but also for floor cleaning. It can also be used for dry cleaning, specifically for picking up various types of debris from hard surfaces and low-pile carpets. Below, I'll take a detailed look at and test the Cecotec Conga Popstar, after which I'll express my opinion on whether this cordless upright vacuum cleaner is worth buying. The price at the time of writing is approximately $300, which is quite reasonable for this type of equipment. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The vacuum cleaner is packed in a branded box like this:

It contains:

1. Main block.
2. Charging platform.
3. Removable handle.
4. Power adapter.
5. Battery.
6. Operating instructions translated into several languages.

The kit is minimal. There are no spare parts, maintenance tools, or branded cleaning solution included.

Appearance

Let's take a look at the design of the Cecotec Conga Popstar. First, I'll show you the cleaning module. The cover housing the roller is removable, making cleaning the vacuum cleaner much easier. The roller itself is made of fairly soft bristles. It's a bit thin compared to the rollers on other wet/dry vacuum cleaners I've reviewed. However, it's important to note that the water sprinklers are distributed along the entire roller, rather than in specific locations, as on many other vacuum cleaners. This design allows for even wetting of the roller along its entire length. A rubber squeegee is located on the underside of the roller to remove any residual liquid from the floor.

The vacuum cleaner has two tanks: one for clean water and one for dirty water. The dirty water tank holds 350 ml. It contains a filtration system consisting of a mesh and foam filter, as well as a float. The clean water tank holds 400 ml and also has a mesh filter at the outlet.

The battery compartment is located above the tanks. The battery capacity is standard—2500 mAh. The handle houses three mechanical control buttons: power on/off, power adjustment, and water pressure control. Pressing the power adjustment button for a few seconds on the charging station activates the vacuum cleaner's self-cleaning mode.

Here's what the charging and self-cleaning station looks like:

Overall, I was pleased with the build quality of the Cecotec wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The plastic is high-quality, all the fasteners work well, and there were no paint leaks.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Cecotec Conga Popstar 29600 Aqua&Collect, as declared by the manufacturer:

Power consumption	265 W
Vacuum	up to 7000 Pa
Battery	Li-Ion 2500 mAh
Battery life	up to 35 minutes
Charging time	up to 240 min
Clean water tank	400 ml
Dirty water tank	350 ml
Weight	3.45 kg

It's worth noting that the Cecotec Conga Popstar is relatively lightweight for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. However, the water tank capacity is slightly smaller than that of similar models.

Testing

A detailed video review of the Cecotec Conga Popstar 29600 Aqua&Collect, including all tests, has already been prepared and published on the channel. I recommend watching the full review:

Battery life

And finally, let's move on to the tests. First, we tested the Cecotec Conga Popstar's runtime at maximum power. It managed 19 minutes of operation. This is a fairly standard result, and I think the battery will last for a full floor cleaning cycle.

Suction power

Since the vacuum cleaner can also be used for dry cleaning, as long as you don't turn on the water supply manually, let's check its suction power. In its maximum setting, the Cecotec Conga Popstar can suck up dirt from crevices up to 10 mm deep, although not completely. Its power is comparable to that of an average upright dry vacuum cleaner. And that's not a bad thing!

Dry cleaning

Speaking of dust collection performance in dry mode, it's not very high. This is due to the small gap between the roller and the suction hole. It's also worth noting that this vacuum cleaner struggles to pick up debris along baseboards and in corners.

The same goes for carpet cleaning. The Cecotec Conga Popstar is capable of this, but it's far from perfect. At least, it can do that. Some wet vacuum cleaners supply water automatically when turned on, making dry cleaning impossible.

Wet cleaning

Now, let's test how well the Cecotec Conga Popstar performs at its primary task – cleaning floors. We'll run through several tests, ranging from simple to more complex.

In my opinion, it handles everyday wet cleaning well. Water flows generously onto the roller when you press the button, the trail is even, and any remaining water is easily sucked back into the dirty water tank. I have no complaints in this regard.

The suction is strong enough that the vacuum cleaner can even collect sand from tiles, including cleaning the seams.

It also handles picking up liquids and already liquid mixtures. For example, I cracked a raw egg and vacuumed it up without any problem.

The Cecotec Conga Popstar also does a good job of removing dried-on dirt, but it doesn't do it as quickly as I'd like. It's still capable, but the small roller diameter requires several passes. I find it lacks more contact with the surface.

And, in fact, this was confirmed in the latest test. The wet/dry vacuum cleaner had a hard time removing stubborn dried-on coffee and jam stains. It took over five minutes of walking over them before the roller could even get the stand off.

After testing, all the dirt was collected in the tank. We drained the water, replaced the tank, filled the second tank with clean water, and turned on the self-cleaning function. The self-cleaning performance was generally good.

Personal opinion

The Cecotec Conga Popstar 29600 Aqua&Collect was thoroughly reviewed and tested. I'll share my thoughts on this upright wet/dry vacuum cleaner. I liked the following:

1. Suitable for dry and wet cleaning.
2. Copes with everyday floor washing and liquid collection.
3. High quality assembly.
4. Light weight.
5. Ergonomic design.
6. Removable battery.
7. Self-cleaning function at the station.
8. The suction power is on par with standard budget-class upright vacuum cleaners.
9. Availability of warranty and service.

Among the disadvantages I would note:

1. It removes difficult stains with difficulty.
2. Poor equipment.
3. There is no provision for automatic water supply to the roller (if necessary).
4. Does not clean a small area along the baseboard.

Ultimately, I recommend this cordless wet/dry vacuum cleaner for everyday wet cleaning and home maintenance. It's not capable of removing tough stains, but it's perfectly adequate for simple, everyday tasks that are more pressing. Furthermore, its lightweight design is a key advantage, which can be a deciding factor for women. Therefore, it's up to you to decide whether it's suitable for your specific needs and conditions.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping. Bye!