Hoover Ultramatt handheld vacuum cleaner review

Apparently there can be up to 10 million dust mites in a typical mattress – the thought of which makes my skin crawl, and I’m sure I’m not alone.

It’s one of those household problems that I try not to think too much about but, as my five-year-old son suffers from eczema, I really want to try a multi-pronged approach to help his condition.

The creams and oils are all well and good, but it would be great to be able to eliminate a possible source of skin irritation – and help make me feel like my sofa, bed and blankets aren’t crawling with microscopic bugs.

• Does your toddler have asthma?
• Babies with eczema – causes, treatments and triggers
• 8 of the best creams, oils and lotions to treat eczema in babies

Hoover has recognised the need for a solution to the dust mite problem, with its cute and compact Ultra Matt vacuum, that uses UV rays to kill the beasts, while cleaning up the allergy-inducing dust mite proteins, which basically come from its poo.

It has been awarded the British Allergy Foundation’s Seal of Approval, so with its mini size, handheld operation and easy-empty bin, can the Ultra Matt pack a punch when dealing with my family of four’s soft furnishings?

At £149.99, it is almost half the price of Dyson’s V6 mattress vacuum (£269.99), but that is a cordless vacuum, although there are cheaper products on the market, like the Silentnight UV bed vacuum (£59.99), although this only has 300W power, compared to the Ultra Matt’s 500W.

Buy the Hoover Ultra Matt from Hoover and Amazon.

First impressions

The Hoover Ultra Matt looks neat, smart and easy to use, and is more compact than I thought it would be – so it’s going to be easy to store. It looks high-quality and I like the classic burgundy and cream colourway, which taps into Hoover’s traditional reputation.

Watch the Hoover Ultra Matt in action on a child's mattress

How easy is the Hoover Ultra Matt to set up?

Super easy! I opened the box, pulled out the Ultra Matt and could plug it straight in and start using it.

How many parts does it have?

Four – the main body of the vacuum, the filter and the bin that catches the dirt, plus the bin lid.

How is the suction?

It feels powerful enough to vacuum up dust and dirt, but I liked that it wasn’t so strong that it would pull the mattress covers out of shape or get out of control when vacuuming blankets, cushions and pillows.

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Tell us about the different modes of use

There are three different ways to use the Hoover Ultra Matt, depending how you want to clean. It’s got the basic vacuum function, but this can’t be used on its own, only with one or both of the other two features.

The ‘rotating agitator’ function is a long cylinder that goes across the underside of the Ultra Matt, and is fitted with lots of mini brushes that loosen dust and dirt, which is then vacuumed into the bin.

But, for me, the really exciting part of the Ultra Matt is the UV-C lamp mode, which can be used with just the vacuum function, or the vacuum and rotating agitator.

It’s gross, but the ‘germicidal’ UV-C lamp emits radiation that kills dust mites and bacteria, which can then be vacuumed up.

So the Ultra Matt can be used as vacuum, rotating agitator and UV-C lamp, or as vacuum and rotating agitator, or vacuum and UV-C lamp.

It’s really easy to switch between the different modes using the mode selector button on the top of the handle – though personally, I think the uniqueness of the Ultra Matt is down to the fact it has the agitator and UV-C lamp, so would probably only use it with all the functions working.

What makes it different from using a regular handheld vacuum for mattresses and soft furnishings?

Well, unless your regular vacuum cleaner has a special feature called a HEPA filter, the vacuuming process can apparently simply spread the dust mites around further. The handheld nature of it, and its light weight (2.2kg) also means it is easier to manoeuvre and lift.

What do you think of the germicidal UV-C lamp?

I really like the idea behind the UV-C lamp, as it does concern me to think about the dust mites lurking in our soft furnishings. Because my son suffers from eczema, a product that can potentially help eliminate a possible irritant is really exciting for me.

According to Hoover, the UV-C lamp can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria, allergens and dust mites – and helps to prevent them coming back!

My main concern about it is the radiation aspect, but the Ultra Matt instructions are very clear on not concentrating the lamp in one place for a long time, and to avoid watching the bottom of the machine when it’s in use.

Plus it will automatically switch off if the Ultra Matt is held more than 10cm from the item being cleaned, or at an angle of more than 30 degrees, so I felt confident I couldn’t cause any damage!

What do you think of the length of the power cable?

The Hoover Ultra Matt’s power cable is 5m long, or around 16ft, which I found easily long enough to reach across the room from the plug socket.

I had initially thought the Ultra Matt would be a cordless vacuum, but I’m guessing that the mains power cord means that it has more effective suction. It was certainly long enough to reach across our rooms, and cover the whole surface of a king-size mattress if needed.

I loved that I didn’t have to unplug it to vacuum both my son’s mattress and my daughter’s on the other side of their room, saving me a few valuable seconds!

How do you empty the Hoover Ultra Matt?

Like everything about the Ultra Matt, emptying it is a doddle. At the base of the bin is a button handily marked ‘push to release’, and the bin pops off the main unit. The lid then unscrews and you can empty the dust and gunk straight into the bin.

Is the Hoover Ultra Matt easy to clean?

The Hoover Ultra Matt parts can be cleaned in warm water, including the filter, but you can’t use really hot water or detergents. Once you remove the bin, it can be emptied and rinsed out, and the filter removed and rinsed.

To detangle the rotating agitator, you do need to undo a screw that holds its cover in place, then you can take it out and remove any hairs and threads that have got caught in it.

The UV-C lamp can be cleaned using a soft cloth, once its cover is taken off by undoing two screws.

Do you think the product is robust/durable?

It feels really well made and all the parts fit together easily, with no pushing and pulling required, so I can see it lasting a long time. I was a little worried when reading the instructions that the glass UV-C lamp would be quite delicate and potentially easy to break, but was relieved on closer examination that it’s safely encased under a strong plastic cover.

Is it noisy?

No, not at all. It’s much quieter than a regular vacuum cleaner, so I wouldn’t be concerned about using it if my toddler daughter was asleep in the next room.

Who would the Hoover Ultra Matt be most useful for?

Anyone concerned about dust mites and allergens – so it would be really handy for people suffering from allergies and skin conditions like eczema. I could see myself using it on the kids’ beds as part of a regular cleaning routine as it is so easy to use and I love the idea behind it.

Is it good value for money?

At £149.99, it is quite a pricey product but, if it helps to solve my son’s eczema and tackles my husband’s allergies, then it would be well worth the outlay. There are plenty of retailers stocking the Hoover Ultra Matt for £99.99, so it can be picked up more cheaply.

What’s in the box?

• Hoover Ultra Matt vacuum
• Storage bag
• Instructions

MadeForMums verdict:

A neat and easy to use gadget that can be used to vacuum most soft furnishings and could tackle the dust mite allergens that cause asthma and eczema. It’s easy to store, looks good and has been well thought out, with its long cable and powerful suction.

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