TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Spills happen. Somehow they seem to happen even more in the summer months. Whether it’s little ones being home from school or more opportunities to lug food and drinks in and out to your patio set, summertime spills are a frequent occurrence. That’s why it’s important to have the best tools for cleaning up afterwards. We’ve found that nothing seems to work better than a well-made wet/dry vacuum. These convenient cleaning devices can handle just about anything that you can put in front of them, which is why we recommend you always have one close at hand.If you’re shopping for a good deal on a new wet/dry vac, then there are probably no better retailers than Amazon and Walmart. Both have a wide selection of vacuum cleaners of every type, and their wet/dry vac models run the gamut of capabilities and prices.What is a wet/dry vacuum?A wet/dry vac is different from a standard vacuum cleaner in a few different ways. The first of these is probably the most important. These vacuums manage liquid and other debris very differently than most traditional vacuum cleaners. Internally, they have a number of waterproof components, not present on standard vacuums, that allow you to clean up mud, water, and any other liquid you need to remove. While standard vacuums could easily short out or stop working altogether, a wet/dry vac is built for moisture and can easily store liquid in its drums without any issues whatsoever.Secondly, wet/dry vac motors have a different design than traditional vacuums. They have what’s called a bypass motor, which utilizes two separate air paths. One path provides suction while the other one cools the motor. Because of this design, there’s no risk of moisture or liquid entering any of the vacuum’s electrical components. It’s a way to protect the electronics of the machine without limiting what you’re able to clean. Traditional vacuums, on the other hand, use a single airflow model, which both cools the motor and carries dust and dirt. If you were to vacuum water with such a design, the vacuum would likely stop working almost immediately.The final difference between a wet/dry vac and other models is how the hose and filter work. A wet/dry vacuum typically has an extra-wide hose that’s totally unobstructed, as well as a large open drum. They usually have a capacity of up to 14 gallons. Because the hose and the drum are both so spacious, they can also easily pick up larger types of debris and store them quite easily. Standard vacuums, however, tend to have far smaller hoses and a smaller storage bag or drum. This limits what they’re able to pick up as well as what they’re able to store.Wet/dry vacs offer far more versatility than most standard vacuums. That’s because they can do all the same dry vacuuming that a traditional model can do, but with an added bonus. The fact that you can vacuum your living room carpet, and immediately roll a wet/dry vac over to the kitchen and clean up a spilled drink is immeasurably valuable. The convenience you get with a wet/dry vac just can’t be matched by most standard vacuum cleaners. What’s more, because most wet/dry vacs have 360-degree spinner wheels at the bottom, they are easy to move around the house and to store in a hurry. Standard wet/dry vacsCraftsman Peak Wet/Dry Shop Vac
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Check price at AmazonDeWalt Stealthsonic 5-Gallon Wet/Dry Vac
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Check price at AmazonVacmaster 4-Gallon Household Wet/Dry Vac
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Check price at AmazonVacmaster Professional Beast Series Wet/Dry Vac
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Check price at AmazonWorkpro Wet/Dry Shop Vac
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Check price at WalmartAlternative wet/dry vacuum optionsAbove, we shared the most typical wet/dry shop vac styles. However, there are other types of wet/dry vacs from which to choose. If you already have a traditional shop vac and want to buy something a little different, then you may want to check out one of these. Whether you’re looking for something smaller for travel use or additional features beyond a standard shop vac, we think you’ll find it with one of these picks.Roborock Wet/Dry Standing Vacuum Cleaner
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Check price at AmazonDreame Aero Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum Mop
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Check price at AmazonNexpow Handheld Cordless Wet Dry Vac
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Check price at WalmartZouyue We/Dry Handheld Vacuum
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Check price at WalmartEureka Corded Wet/Dry Standing Vacuum Cleaner
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