Cordless vacuum are gaining in popularity due to its convenience and effective combination of wet dry cleaning. Dreame takes the convenience one step with the Dreame M12 Wet & Dry vacuum cleaner that features a 2-in-1 design for an added handheld vacuum functionality. The new Dreame M12 retails for S$997, but there is an early bird promotion from 25 to 31 Oct for just S$857, and you can use code ‘DREATECHM‘ to get additional $35 voucher so that the final price is S$822.
Unboxing
In the box, you’ll find the following items:
- Dreame M12 main body
- Handle
- Charging base
- Spare roller brush
- Replacement filter
- Cleaning brush
- Storage mount
- 2-in-1 dusting brush
- Dust container
- Accessory holders
- Cleaning solution 500ml
- User manual
Design and build quality
Dreame M12 comes in a two-toned grey matte colour, with dark grey at the front and light grey around the borders at the back. The shape of the Dreame M12 body is rounded to give it a clean minimalistic design which looks unassuming when tucked at the corner of the house.
As for build quality, Dreame M12 feels well-constructed. Despite multiple interlocking parts such as for the water tank and the dust container, Dreame M12 still feels like one solid body. The handle also slots in tightly and manoeuvring the vacuum via the handle is sturdy as well. Dreame M12 weighs about 5kg when the water tanks are empty.
Handling and usage
Getting the Dreame M12 to start is very simple. Simply slot in the handle and you are ready to use it for cleaning. Tilt the vacuum from its upright position and once you power on the vacuum it will start to move on its own. There are three buttons on the handle – (1) to power on the vacuum cleaner, (2) to switch between the cleaning modes, and (3) to perform self-cleaning for the brush. There is also a button at the back of the body of the Dreame M12 where you can customise the voice prompt settings, which is quite loud at default.
920ml clean water & 700ml dirty water tank
Dreame M12 comes with a 920ml clean water tank which you should fill before you start your cleaning as the water helps to perform a combination of vacuum and mop in one go.
The dust and liquid messes cleaned from the floor will be deposited in the 700ml dirty water tank. The capacity of 700ml is quite a significant size especially if you compare it to competitors such as the Tineco Floor One S5 which only has a 450ml capacity. Having a larger dirty water tank means you can do more cleaning before getting interrupted to empty it. Both water tanks are easy to remove, refill, and latch back on to the body.
Easy and intelligent cleaning
Dreame M12 features an informative LED screen to keep you updated on your cleaning. At once glance, you can monitor the battery life, cleaning mode, and the degree of dirt cleaned via the colour of the ring as shown below. You are also updated by voice prompts as well.
- Green: Light dirt
- Amber: Medium dirt
- Red: Heavy dirt.
Dreame M12 has two cleaning modes – (1) Auto mode, and (2) Suction mode.
Auto mode is suitable for most wet and dry messes as it simultaneously vacuums and mops. Auto mode as the name suggests, will automatically adjust water flow and suction power based on the degree of dirt detected. This makes cleaning very fuss-free and gone are the days of having to apply more strength and passes when mopping. Suction mode is useful for managing wet messes, such as will drink spills. Suction mode will quickly suck up all the liquid.
Self-cleaning
Having to clean the roller brush manually is troublesome but thankfully the Dreame M12 has a self-cleaning function makes maintenance of the vacuum cleaner so much easier. After docking the Dreame M12 on the charging station, simply press the self-cleaning button. It takes about 2 minutes for the self-cleaning to complete.
Handheld cleaning
One unique feature of the Dreame M12 is its ability to detach itself into a handheld vacuum cleaner, making the Dreame M12 a multi-purpose cleaning tool. Detaching the Dreame M12 into its handheld form is as fast as pressing a button while it is in standing mode and joining the dust container, as shown below.
The handheld Dreame M12 weighs about 1.9kg which to me is quite heavy if I’m doing continuous cleaning. Thankfully, I usually only use the handheld version when I want to quickly get rid of dust collected on my desk or at the corners of my bedroom window. I like how the attachment has an option of using the brush or without it. I use it more with the brush as it is easier to sweep through tight corners or crevices. If you need more power, there is a ‘Turbo’ mode that provides more suction strength.
Performance and user experience
Dreame M12 is very straightforward to use. Even though there are two modes of cleaning, I found myself mainly using the ‘Auto’ mode and it has cleaned well during my use. It can handle all reasonable types of mess on both marble and parquet flooring which I’ve tested. It has really become a quick solution to cleaning my floor especially when it involves sticky stains such as spilled soup or gravy. Do note that the finish of the clean is very slightly damp and dries in a matter of seconds, much faster than using a traditional mop. As for noise, I found the noise level to be an acceptable range. It is definitely quieter than the traditional vacuum cleaner which I was using previously.
Effective and versatile cleaning
Maneuvering Dreame M12 is easy as the vacuum cleaner moves itself, along with the rounded edges of the handle making wrist adjustments comfortable. Dreame M12 has what it calls to-the-edge cleaning brush, where the right blocker is removed. This allows the right side of the roller brush to clean closer to the baseboards for more effective removal of dust at tight corners. For easy to rid dust, I found that even the left side (with the blocker) still performs rather well.
I also like how the Dreame M12 can be detached in a handheld form so that I can continue to use it to each higher places such as cupboards and window ledges. Do note that dust collected from the handheld mode is not mixed with water.
Easy to maintain
When using the Dreame M12 as a full wet & dry vacuum cleaner, I really like how convenient it is to dispose the dirty contents as the dust and dirt are mixed together in water. I don’t have to worry about breathing the dust in when I dispose it. I also like how there is a self-cleaning function to clean the roller brush, which saves me time. As there is no drying function, you might have to occasionally remove the roller brush to dry under the sun to prevent foul smell after prolonged use.
Battery life
Dreame M12 has 6x 4,000mAh battery which can provide 35 minutes of cleaning from a full charge. During my time of testing, I have not exhausted the battery from its full charge since my room/house is not that big. Your mileage will vary. If you run out of battery, it does take a fair amount of time of 4.5 hours to fully charge it from 0%. On handheld mode, the Dreame M12 can be used for a continuous 60 minutes from full charge.
Conclusion
Cleaning of my room/house does involve areas that are not just the floors, so the ability of the Dreame M12 to detach into a handheld vacuum is very convenient to quickly get rid of dust collected such as in areas like top of monitor or shelves. I also like how easy it is to clean with the Dreame M12, as the simultaneous vacuuming and mopping means I can do two cleaning tasks at once.
DREATECHM
for additional $35 off
If you are interested in purchasing, from 25th to 31st Oct where ongoing promotions will bring the final price to S$822 with the use of code ‘DREATECHM‘. Dasher Singapore is the exclusive distributor for the Dreame brand, and every purchase will come with a 2-year warranty.