Deerma DEM-VX96W: a washing upright vacuum cleaner with two rollers and an automatic mode

Hello to all readers of this project! In this review, I'll be looking at the Deerma DEM-VX96W cordless upright vacuum cleaner. The device's main feature is its dual-roller cleaning module, which should improve floor cleaning and dirt removal efficiency. Additionally, it features an automatic suction boost mode, reaching 15,000 Pa, and a water disinfection function. For such a comprehensive package, you'll need to pay around $180, which is quite reasonable. Below, I'll thoroughly test the Deerma DEM-VX96W, highlight its pros and cons, and then offer my opinion on whether this cordless upright vacuum cleaner is worth buying. Let's get started!

Equipment

The vacuum cleaner arrived in a box like this:

The package includes:

1. The vacuum cleaner itself.
2. Base for charging and self-cleaning.
3. Clean water tank.
4. Removable handle.
5. Two spare rollers.
6. Two spare HEPA filters.
7. Vacuum cleaner cleaning tool.
8. Power adapter.
9. Operating instructions.

The package is good! I was pleased to see spare parts included! Let's move on!

Appearance

Now let's take a look at how the Deerma DEM-VX96W works. The operating principle is quite familiar: clean water is supplied to the rollers as they rotate, after which the waste water is collected by scrapers and sucked into the dirty water tank.

As mentioned earlier, the cleaning module is equipped with two rollers that rotate towards each other. On one side, the rollers extend to the edge of the housing, ensuring a blind spot between the edge of the rollers and the baseboard no more than 6 mm.

The rollers are held in place by a clip on the side. They are standard size and made of soft bristles.

4 small rollers on the bottom of the housing help it glide over the surface.

A 600 ml dirty water tank is located above the cleaning module. It contains a HEPA filter with a mesh screen, an electronic water level sensor, and a coarse filter.

The clean water tank is located above. It also holds 600 ml. The tank lid is equipped with a mesh filter for coarse water purification.

The handle contains three mechanical control buttons: power on/off, switching between operating modes and starting the self-cleaning function at the station.

There are three operating modes: a pre-disinfection mode for water before starting, an automatic mode in which the Deerma DEM-VX96W automatically adjusts suction power depending on the degree of floor contamination, and a suction mode without water supply, which is useful for collecting liquids from the floor.

Below the buttons is a display that shows the selected operating mode and a colored ring indicating the battery level and errors. It's a bit inconvenient that there's no charge indicator in percentage or even divisions.

Speaking of the base, the vacuum cleaner only charges and self-cleans on it. There's no air-drying function for the rollers.

And finally, it's worth noting that the device is equipped with voice prompts in Russian. Here's how it speaks:

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of Deerma DEM-VX96W, as stated by the manufacturer:

• Power: 160 W.
• Suction power: up to 15,000 Pa.
• Working time: up to 30 min.
• Noise level: 77-80 dB.
• Clean water tank: 600 ml.
• Dirty water tank: 600 ml.
• Weight: 5.5 kg.

The manufacturer doesn't specify battery capacity. I personally tested the noise level, and it's slightly elevated compared to similar devices.

Testing

A detailed video review with all tests has already been published on the channel:

And finally, let's move on to the tests. The Deerma DEM-VX96W performs well in everyday floor cleaning, both on laminate and tile. It doesn't leave streaks and, when used correctly, won't damage delicate flooring.

This device can be used not only for cleaning floors but also for vacuuming liquids. And, as in my case, the vacuum even passed the now-traditional test of picking up a mixture of raw egg and flour.

The Deerma DEM-VX96W can also be used to clean slightly dried-on dirt. As you can see, there are no marks or streaks left behind. The floor is perfectly clean.

The only caveat is that the roller doesn't extend all the way to the edge of the cabinet, leaving a very narrow, unwashed strip along the baseboard. Its width is approximately 6 millimeters, as stated by the manufacturer. Most similar products are 15-20 mm wide.

This vacuum cleaner was able to remove even the toughest dried-on coffee and sauce stains. As with similar products, it took some time to remove the sauce stains. In my case, it took about 5 minutes to remove all the main stains. I didn't use any detergent, as the manufacturer doesn't include one. Even with plain clean water, the device performed faster than many cordless wet/dry vacuum cleaners I've tested.

The Deerma DEM-VX96W can also be used to pick up various types of debris, but there's a catch. This wet/dry vacuum cleaner can't be used solely for dry cleaning. If the tank is empty, it will immediately go into error mode, and if you pick up debris in suction mode, without water supply, the suction system quickly clogs. Therefore, the test was conducted in automatic mode with water supply. The rollers capture various types of debris, leaving only a small blind spot in the corner where the rollers can't reach.

Cleaning carpets without a dry mode is not practical with this vacuum cleaner. I tried cleaning a low-pile carpet in suction mode, and the Deerma DEM-VX96W failed because the suction hole became clogged. Therefore, this vacuum cleaner is only suitable for cleaning hard floors.

Finally, I'll demonstrate the self-cleaning function. We drain the dirty water from the tank, fill it with clean water, and place the vacuum cleaner back on the base. I was surprised that the self-cleaning process lasted a full eight minutes. Moreover, the rollers were rinsed thoroughly with water several times and their rotation direction was reversed.

After self-cleaning, we see that even after a difficult test with dried stains, the roller is well cleaned!

Personal opinion

The Deerma DEM-VX96W upright vacuum cleaner was thoroughly tested. I'll highlight its pros and cons, then share my personal opinion. I liked the following:

1. Cleaning module based on two rollers.
2. The vacuum cleaner is capable of removing difficult stains faster than its analogues.
3. The rollers extend closer to the edge of the body to clean the floor closer to the baseboards and furniture.
4. Automatic power increase mode.
5. High-quality self-cleaning of rollers and suction system at the station.
6. Good equipment.
7. Built-in voice assistant.
8. Optimal price, considering the capabilities and design.

And it's worth mentioning again the water sterilization feature, which many may consider a plus. Since I can't test its effectiveness, I haven't added it to the list of pluses.

As for comments, there are quite a few of them as well. Here are some that we found:

1. There is no drying of the roller on the base.
2. Non-removable battery.
3. There's still a small blind spot between the roller's edge and the baseboard. It's minimal, but it's there.
4. There is no possibility to regulate the power level and water supply.
5. Inconvenient charge level indication.
6. Increased noise level during operation.
7. The vacuum cleaner is not suitable for dry cleaning.
8. Also, the device is not suitable for cleaning carpets.

Ultimately, I can say that yes, there are some criticisms. But some are typical for the sub-$200 price range, and as for dry cleaning and carpet cleaning, these aren't really the primary purposes of wet/dry vacuum cleaners. It's generally not practical to clean carpets with such devices, despite what many manufacturers claim. The main thing is that the Deerma DEM-VX96W cleans floors effectively, removes tough stains, and self-cleans well. Therefore, I have no compelling reasons not to recommend this device. For the price, it's truly a worthwhile purchase.

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