This is definitely my favourite attachment for the Hetty because it the perfect tool for vacuuming the dirt and dust that accumulates in those really hard-to-reach spots, such as down the side of your sofa or armchair, the gap between the seats and the door in the car, and most importantly, the strip of carpet right next to the skirting boards where the regular floor head can’t quite reach. A true design icon, the Numatic Henry is a vacuum cleaner that’s loved by thousands – including professional cleaners. And all for good reason: it offers a large capacity, it’s well priced, it cleans well, and has a reputation for lasting forever. Here on review I have the latest version of the Numatic Henry. It doesn’t stray too far from previous models, but has been designed to meet vacuum cleaner power limits. Part of the reason for this power is that Henry doesn’t have any motorised tools for agitating dirt. Instead, it relies on good old-fashioned suction power to pull dirt out of carpets and off hard floors. In Britain the Hoover became synonymous with the word vacuum cleaner. Around about the same time as this was happening (the mid-80’s) was when Henry vacuum cleaners were first making a rise. We will forever have the Henry as a result. What’s the best Henry for dog and cat hair?

Powerful, easy to use and designed to last, this model is as enduring as the original. Note that the Hetty cleaner is exactly the same, but comes in pink. Design and Features Over the years we’ve seen his family grow rapidly. We’ve since been introduced to Hetty, Charles, George and James, among others. They specialise in all sorts of jobs whether it’s clearing up troublesome pet hair or devouring spilled liquids. The Harry is the best in the range for cleaning up pet hair. It comes with a special brush attachment meant to lift hair and an activated charcoal filter which will draw out dirt and neutralize foul smelling pet pongs. Where do Henry Vacuums come from? The Henry vacuum cleaner range covers a number of price points. The more expensive models, like the George, do more things than the models that don’t cost as much. Adversely, the cheapest Henry Vacuum is likely to be the original version. You would think that you paid less for less dustbin capacity (like what you get with the James, where you sacrifice dustbin space for storage) but this isn’t the case. What is a Class Rating?Henry is the stalwart of this range: tough, durable and easy to use. There may be lighter and sleeker models available, but it is by no means too cumbersome and its impressive storage capacity, means you’ll have plenty of time before you need to change the bags. I have to admit that it wasn’t immediately obvious to me what use this brush had, as it seemed as though the existing attachments had pretty much covered all of my vacuuming jobs. However, when I read in the manual that it was for delicate items in the home, I set about wandering around looking for areas that require vacuuming, which could be damaged using one of the more heavy-duty attachments. The Henry Eco is very similar to other 6-litre Henry models, with the key difference being an energy-efficient motor – 420W compared with 620W. Reducing the motor power helps save on energy bills, although the suction power is slightly reduced as a result. Once again, on the curtains, it was really useful, and I feel like I particularly gave the top of them a really good clean with this attachment. I used two of the extension tubes to reach the very top. Cordless vacuums have become increasingly popular, so it’s no surprise Numatic have a cordless version of the Henry. It has many of the same features as the corded version, but comes with a 36V battery and is one of the few cordless vacs to have a bagged design.

We found we could easily vacuum a four-bedroom home from top to bottom in a single charge, with power to spare (there are four power levels indicated by LEDs and we never bled out before we were done). Admittedly, this was achieved by using low power on the hard floors (wood and tile) and low-pile bedroom carpets, switching up to high power only for a couple of rugs and the odd dog-hair strewn sofa. The battery life ranges from 14 minutes in high power with the brush on, to 70 minutes in low power with the brush off, which is about the best you can expect from a cordless vacuum of this size. litres dry dust bin capacity, which is a huge amount of space. Wet, the Charles holds 9 litres. An easy-to-operate switch goes between the two. As I moved through different rooms, I tended to tug the Hetty behind me using the hose, which must be why Numatic has made it very tough and sturdy (they claim it is crush-proof). The wheels on the bottom feel smooth, and I barely felt any of the 7.5kg of weight as I moved around, with Hetty trundling behind me. Something that I noticed is that the Hetty has a rubber buffer ring around its circumference to prevent any damage to either the machine or your furniture or doorways as you pull it along (in a similar fashion to a bumper car), so I was confident that it wouldn’t get damaged. The vacuum comes with 26 pods, which is sufficient to last roughly a year, and they’re made from 60% recycled material. Numatic also says it has put carbon offsetting measures in place to ensure its pods are climate-positive, reducing its carbon impact globally. However, the dirt-filled pods will go in your normal household waste and, ultimately, to landfill – so there is a moral conundrum of convenience versus clear eco-conscience to consider. Carbon offsetting is admirable, but not creating pollution in the first place is better.The battery takes 150 minutes to recharge, which again is up there with the best. You can buy an extra battery if you want to double up on cleaning time, but considering we never ran out of juice, we don’t believe it’s necessary for any home with four-five bedrooms or less. He offers two useful features. The first is a dual purpose hairo-brush which is fantastic for scrubbing off stubborn pet hairs and other stains, the second is a carbon filter designed to combat unpleasant smells. The MicroFresh filter activated charcoal filter will minimise the bad smells your pets can create. Crucially, if you have mobility or strength issues, I would opt for another machine that is designed to be lightweight. Similarly, if you have really hairy pets that shed often, try another model. Henry’s little sister is Hetty. She comes with all the same features as Henry, but the introduction of Eco technology helps you to save the planet and your wallet at the same time. A smaller size means she’s easier to store, but a 9-litre bag capacity, means there’s plenty of dust storage room. We have covered just about everything there is you need to know before you make your choice. The Henry vacuum cleaner range is extensive and iconic. There is a high chance that they will be the only thing to survive a nuclear explosion and still work.