Can the Mova M50 wet and dry vacuum produce spotless results?
27/7/2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
Pictures: Stephan Lamprecht
Wipes along edges, gets under furniture and even cleans up spills on the kitchen floor? The Mova M50 wet floor cleaner could be just the thing I need for everyday life. But to find out whether it actually works, I have to put it to the test.
At a PR event hosted by Mova, I had the chance to try out the wet and dry vacuum for the first time, though it wasn’t really a proper test: the two square metres of laminate flooring were probably the cleanest floor in all of Berlin, since ten of my colleagues had already cleaned it. Mova then sent me the device so I could test it in everyday use. I incorporated it into my daily routine for six weeks and here’s what I found.
Quick to start
The wet and dry vacuum cleaner arrived almost ready to use. The fresh water tank (800 millilitres) and the wastewater tank (700 millilitres) were already installed. All I had to do was plug the handle into the motor unit and find a space for the base station, since it needs to be plugged into an outlet within a 1.50-metre radius. I placed the M50 on the station, and a loud voice announced that charging had started. The small display also shows the battery level as a percentage.
I’ll still need to use my old vacuum cleaner for the few rugs I have, because the mop is designed exclusively for hard floors.
I put the vacuum aside to begin with and checked the manual. Thanks to the clear illustrations, I immediately understood how to use it. You can adjust the volume and language using a button on the handle. The Mova arrives at your home already partially charged, so the charging process is complete in just under a quarter of an hour.
Warm up: kitchen, bathroom and hallway tiles
First, I detached the fresh water tank, which sits directly on top of the roller. It’s made of black-tinted plastic, which complements the device’s elegant design. I noticed, however, the design isn’t very practical because it’s hard to tell how much water you’ve put in it.
I then added ten millilitres of the included cleaner (500 millilitres) to the tank. I chose the kitchen for my first port of call with the M50. With just one press on the power button, the vacuum cleaner started moving slowly. It took hardly any effort to steer, and the operating noise isn’t any louder than that of my Dyson vacuum cleaner.
You can use the second button on the handle to choose between three modes. I prefer «Smart Mode»: a sensor in the roller unit automatically controls the fresh water supply and suction power. There’s also «Max Mode», which I tried out after, and a suction-only mode. But the latter is only for spilled liquids on the floor.
The vacuum actually cleaned almost all the way to the edge of the skirting board. It missed just a few millimetres of floor, but it’s not noticeable. My ageing Bissell mop (CrossWave Pet Pro) doesn’t even come close. The first two sessions were fun: the floor looked clean, and there was just a little residual moisture left that I’d describe as a touch more wet than «damp». At one point, the M50 detected that the floor was a bit dirtier. The engine revved up slightly, and a red bar appeared on the display.
But I was slightly disappointed. Unfortunately, the vacuum cleaner couldn’t quite reach all the way under the shadow gaps of my kitchen cabinets. They’re from IKEA and are the standard height of ten centimetres. It managed about half the distance, but then stopped because the fresh water tank curves upwards slightly. And just like that, the vacuum was scratched and my enthusiasm took a knock.
When you turn off the vacuum cleaner, it doesn’t stop immediately; instead, the suction power increases briefly one last time. This is how Mova prevents visible damp patches remaining on the floor in a particular area. I like the idea. It always annoyed me when the roller on my old wet and dry vacuum would leave a mark.
The M50 also did a splendid job on the tiles in the hallway and bathroom. There, I tried out Max Mode, which, according to the manual, is supposed to provide a «particularly thorough cleaning». In this mode, a tad more water remained on the floor. Personally, I’d find that too risky on hardwood or laminate flooring.
Fits under almost any cabinet
I continued with Smart Mode in the living area, where the M50 offers another advantage: you can fold the handle down completely flat onto the floor. This way, the wet and dry vacuum could fit under my couch and under the bed, too. Bear in mind, the furniture must be at least 15 centimetres tall, though; otherwise, it’d get stuck.
I was satisfied with the cleanliness. Everything looked clean, and the cleaning solution left behind a barely noticeable, fresh scent.
And I did all this on my first battery charge – it managed to clean 60 square meters of hard flooring, and fill the dirty water tank. So there was no option other than taking it back to the base station.
Self-cleaning and wastewater disposal
After mopping, Mova and I split the work. With the push of a button, the self-cleaning cycle is started, and you can choose between two modes again. In standard mode, the whole process is completed within five minutes: Mova rinses the roller, spins it quickly and then dries it with air heated to 85 degrees, according to the manual. The vacuum also features an optional deep-cleaning mode. This takes longer because the roller spins more slowly and the blower runs more quietly.
My part of the job was to empty the wastewater tank. I’ll be honest, the filter’s a bit gross – that’s where hair, dust flakes and larger particles end up. In theory, you could just rinse it off with water. Over time, however, that’ll likely clog the drain. One solution would be to use a sieve. But I don’t have one of those.
So I was left with no choice but to clean the filter with a cloth and paper towels. It’s not exactly pleasant, but it’s still better than dipping your hands into a mop bucket. The dirty water can just be poured out.
Finally, I rinsed out the tank and filter with clean water. A bottle brush is included to help remove residue from the bottom of the tank. After that, my Mova was ready for use again.
The ultimate test: a kitchen crime scene
Anyone who’s ever baked with kids in the kitchen will be familiar with the mess it makes and that’s exactly the kind of chaos I decided to recreate. I picked up two expired raw eggs from my favourite late-night store. I spread them out on my kitchen floor along with the shells and some sugar, flour and cocoa powder. This would be the moment Mova really shows what it can do in Ultra Mode.
After just one sweep, there was almost no trace left of the unsightly mess on the floor. By the second sweep, everything had gone. I’ll spare you a photo of the wastewater tank.
I then gave the rest of the kitchen another once-over using the Ultra setting. Once the floor had dried, I ran my hand over it: nothing felt sticky. Even the roller looked like new after going through the intensive self-cleaning cycle. Now that’s what I call impressive!
In a nutshell
Great wet and dry vacuum for all hard floor types
I’m impressed with the Mova M50. It’s easy to use, and thanks to its self-propulsion, it requires little effort to manoeuvre. It wipes thoroughly, almost all the way to the edges. It effortlessly cleans up even tough stains, such as spilled food. I also really like how thoroughly the device cleans itself. However, your cabinets, beds and other furniture must be at least 15 centimetres off the floor for effortless mopping. For households with mainly hard floors, I’d highly recommend buying this appliance.
Pro
- Impressive cleaning performance
- Easy to use
- Self-cleaning roller
Contra
- Fresh water tank is a bit tricky to fill
- Prone to scratches
Header image: Stephan Lamprecht
Hamburg local, bookworm, and ice hockey fan. Dad and granddad. Constantly tinkering around with my smart home setup. I love DIY, the outdoors, fashion, and cosmetics.
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