Rumour has it they’re now oddly addicted to cleaning.
Between busy work schedules, allergy flare-ups, and the never-ending battle against dust and pet fur, cleaning often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list. And let’s face it—vacuuming and mopping? Most of us barely have the energy for one.
After being pleasantly surprised by this budget-friendly cordless vacuum in our last review, we were excited to see what Hitachi’s latest model could do. So when they wanted to send us their new PV-XHW4P Wet & Dry Stick Vacuum, we passed it to someone who actually lives in the kind of chaos this thing was made for.
Enter our writer, Lester—who shares a home (and cleaning responsibilities) with his wife and their spirited 1-year-old mini dachshund. With fur tumbleweeds, allergy flare-ups, and a packed weekly schedule, we figured that if this vacuum could survive their home, it could survive anything.
About Lester and his home
Lester (L): My wife and I moved into a 4-room rental HDB with Kirby (our mini dachshund) about six months ago. The major furniture is in, and the space feels liveable — but honestly, we still have unpacked boxes in corners we pretend not to see.
Between our full-time jobs (at least one of us works from home daily), we just haven’t had the time or mental energy to fully settle in, much less keep everything spotless.
We already own a wet-and-dry vacuum from another brand, plus a robot vacuum that now mostly sits and collects dust (ironically), but neither has really made cleaning feel easier.
Hitachi’s PV-XHW4P in Wet & Dry Vacuum mode (left) and Dry Vacuum mode (right)
That’s why we were genuinely curious to see how Hitachi’s new PV-XHW4P Wet & Dry Stick Vacuum would hold up. Could it finally be the solution we’d been hoping for — something that actually fits our schedule, lifestyle, and low tolerance for cleaning?
Here’s what we were up against, and how this vacuum handled it.
Problem #1: There’s always fur — and it gets everywhere
L: Kirby regenerates fur like it's her full-time job. We’d vacuum in the evening, only to wake up and find fur clinging to corners or floating across the floor like tumbleweeds.
After the first use of the vacuum in Dry Vacuum mode, what surprised us was how much it picked up. The LED light exposed a whole layer of fur and dust, and for the first time we could actually see how dirty the floor was. This was a game-changer as it has made cleaning feel way more purposeful (and honestly, oddly satisfying to see the fur/dust gone in a few strokes).
We didn’t have to stop and detangle the brush head every few minutes, and it was easy to switch between the different nozzles. Even Kirby was unfazed — a big contrast from our old vacuum, which she used to run from the moment it powered on.
Problem #2: Cleaning (normally) feels like a full-on workout
L: I’m a captain of a run club, but somehow vacuuming the house feels more exhausting than a 5km run. It’s the kind of chore that mentally drains you before you even start — especially if the vacuum is heavy, clunky, or awkward to manoeuvre.
That wasn’t the case with this vacuum. It’s surprisingly lightweight (less than 2kg in Dry Vacuum mode), and with the motorised head gliding across the floor, it didn’t take much effort to cover the whole place. I managed to vacuum my entire home in under 15 minutes — without breaking a sweat.
Digital display of suction mode and remaining operating time in each mode makes it very intuitive to use.
Battery-wise, it can run for up to 45 minutes in stick mode, which is more than enough for most homes. Realistically, I don’t think we’d ever want to vacuum for that long in one go anyway. It’s made quick cleanups during the workday feel doable — even satisfying — instead of something we keep pushing off.
Problem #3: Switching between vacuuming and mopping is usually a hassle
L: Wet-and-dry vacuums sound great in theory, but in our experience, the execution is often clunky. Switching functions usually involves digging through attachments or struggling to fit pieces together, and trust me – it is the last thing you want to deal with when the chore is already so mentally draining.
That’s why we appreciated how easy it was to switch modes with this vacuum. Attaching the wet and dry unit was quick and straightforward. We could go from vacuuming to mopping in one smooth transition, which made light cleanups feel less like a chore and more like an easy add-on.
This button allows you to switch between dry and wet modes, for flexibility during your cleaning.
While the mop attachment did allow us to vacuum and mop at the same time, we actually preferred using the dry unit attachment for vacuuming because of the LED light.
Overall, it’s not a full replacement for deep cleaning, but it worked well for our day-to-day needs — especially in high-traffic areas where dust and light dirt build up quickly.
Problem #4: Cleaning the vacuum is almost worse than cleaning the house
L: With most traditional vacuums, emptying the dustbin feels like undoing all your hard work — dust flies everywhere, particles get kicked back into the air, and for people like us with sensitivities, it usually ends in sneezing or itchy skin.
The vacuum made this part surprisingly painless. Its one-touch disposal function meant we didn’t have to come into contact with anything — just press, release, done. No clouds of dust. The dust case is also fully washable and comes with a small brush for clearing out trapped bits, which is a nice bonus.
We appreciated the detachable component within the dustbin, which minimised our contact with dust when removing debris.
That said, the dustbin is on the smaller side, so we did have to empty it a bit more often. But considering how lightweight the vacuum is overall, we saw it as a fair trade-off — and a small price to pay for less back strain and easier handling.
Would we recommend it?
L: Short answer: yes — if your cleaning routine needs to be fast, fuss-free, and allergy-conscious.
The PV-XHW4P isn’t just another vacuum gathering dust in the corner (looking at you, robot vacuum). It’s genuinely become part of our daily rhythm. It’s intuitive, easy to handle, and removes the usual friction between “this place is a mess” and actually cleaning it.
It’s not perfect — the dustbin is on the smaller side, and the wet mode isn’t meant to replace a full deep-clean — but for what it’s designed to do, it delivers. After a week of testing, we’re seriously considering making the switch as we feel that it’s a solid investment for a smarter, simpler cleaning routine.
Here are my recommendations, based on what worked for us:
| Great for those who: | Not so great for those who: |
|---|---|
| Live with pets and deal with fur on a daily basis | Prefer larger dustbins that don’t need frequent emptying |
| Have dust or skin sensitivities and want minimal contact with dirt | Needs a device for deep cleaning or scrubbing |
| Want a vacuum that’s easy to carry, lift, and store | - |
| Prefer quiet cleaning tools that won’t startle pets or disturb family | - |
| Appreciate intuitive controls and simple setup | - |
| Are looking for a multi-tasker that doesn’t feel bulky or overcomplicated | - |
Good news — Qanvast readers can score the Hitachi PV-XHW4P at an exclusive $599 (inclusive of GST and free delivery). Honestly, with this price, it’s getting harder not to make the switch.
Simply use the promo code QANVAST599 at checkout to snag the deal. But heads up — this offer is online-exclusive and only valid from now till 14 July*. Ready to shop? Click below to check it out or find out more.
*While stocks last.
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