I jumped at the chance to put Worx’s latest cordless vacuum launch to the test as a contender for the best vacuum cleaner, especially given that their garden appliances have an incredible reputation.
And the Worx WX038 20v PowerShare cordless vacuum did not disappoint in the daily cleaning stakes, cleaning up crumbies and pet hair galore.
In a nutshell
Like most of the best cordless vacuums, the Worx WX038 can tackle a variety of household messes without a problem but it goes one step further with its super lightweight design and manoevrability, making it ideal for quick jobs like cleaning under furniture and giving the stairs a quick hoover. And its powerful suction picks up even the finest of hair (and I have a lot of that flying around my house with my moulting cat and two daughters.) Plus, with the help of its integrated LED headlight, no hair, crumb or pesky tracked cat litter is left unnoticed.
However, it does have a few minor drawbacks, which includes a short battery life with no way of knowing when it’s going to shut off and the need to clear the bin frequently in comparison to some of our other favourite vacuum cleaners from Dyson and Shark.
Keep reading to find out how I got on testing the Worx WX038 Cordless Vacuum over a number of months, and my thoughts on why it’s worth the investment.
Worx WX038 cordless vacuum specifications
- Max. run time: up to 45 minutes
- Bin volume: 0.55L
- Weight without battery: 2.1 kg
- Dimensions: H120 x W23 cm
- Modes: hard floor, carpet, 3 speed control
- RRP: £249.99
Unboxing, assembly, and first impressions
As I sliced through the tape on the packed box, the Worx WX038 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner’s various parts were nestled securely in molded cardboard, each component, from the lightweight main unit to the versatile attachments.
Lifting it out, I was immediately impressed by its ergonomic design and the inclusion of a rechargeable PowerShare battery (compatible with other Worx tools – bonus) and a HEPA filter hinted at the powerful performance ahead.
Alongside the vacuum itself was a well-curated selection of attachments. There’s a crevice tool for those tricky nooks, a brush attachment for upholstery, and a slim wand for reach. Even before the first charge, it was clear this was a smartly designed, no-fuss cleaner – solid but not bulky, and ergonomic.
It was a bit of a breeze figuring out how to put the vacuum together. With everything neatly packaged, the main body is the first thing to lift out. All you’ll need to do is slot the extension tube in place, then attach the motorised brush head for floors, or switch it out for one of the various attachments it comes with to make it more of a handheld vacuum cleaner.
The charging unit, however, needs to be attached to a wall to charge the vacuum up and requires somewhere with a plug socket handy. Once that was all in place though, with the help of a screwdriver, I charged it up and voila, it was ready to roll.
The bin size is relatively small in comparison to others we’ve tested. However, if you don’t mind emptying it frequently and live in a smaller home, you might not be bothered by it. I use it for short bursts of cleaning so I don’t mind it.
What’s it like to use?
Floors
I was pleasantly surprised at how the Worx WX038 glided over my wooden flooring, without the worry of scratching. It zipped around hoovering up all sorts of detritus with its powerful suction, including my greatest bugbear: my cat’s tracked litter, which seems to multiply and I find it literally everywhere.
Although the battery by the handle adds a little weight, it gives it a slight anchor when moving back and forth on flooring and doesn’t feel overly cumbersome.
There’s a one-touch power button and mode button for its three different suction speeds with three little lights so you know which speed you’re using, with no need to hold down any buttons.
As part of our vacuum testing process, I put some of my cat’s litter on the floor to see how good the Worx did at picking it up. It picked up all the bits of litter without a second go. Unlike bulkier cordless models, the WX038 is really nimble, making it easy to zip around and under furniture, especially under our low sofas where lots of crumbies seem to hide themselves.
Upholstery
We have quite thick, hardwearing carpet on our stairs that always seems to hold our cat’s tracked cat litter and I find it really hard to pick it up, even with our trusty Henry vacuum cleaner. I was surprised at how good the Worx was at capturing all these little specks of white, even if it took a number of passes on the higher suction setting to capture all the suckers.
I tested a few of the Worx’s attachments to see which one would get the best purchase to get deep into the pile and the brush tool came up trumps. Although, the crevice tool comes into its own when getting into tricky corners, and for the deeper pile carpet in the bedrooms, the brush roll works wonders.
The Worx rubber brush attachment also works really well as a handheld vacuum on upholstery, picking up cat hair and random debris on the sofa, and the crevice tool is slim enough to get into the hard-to-reach places, like between sofa cushions.
Battery
The Worx WX038 is powered by a 20V lithium-ion battery, a staple of the brand’s PowerShare system, meaning it’s interchangeable with other Worx tools. This is a huge bonus if you already own compatible devices, as you can swap out batteries rather than waiting for a recharge.
The battery slots in neatly at the back, keeping the vacuum well-balanced and easy to manoeuvre. Plus, the charging dock with the other battery is compact, so it won’t clutter up your space which is a great plus for smaller homes where storage is at a premium.
It takes an hour for the WX038 to charge up and its battery life is a little on the short side and in my experience, it’s not as long-lasting as the advertised 45 minutes but this varies depending on the power setting.
However, it lasts long enough for the quick clean-ups I use it for. Saying that, if you are expecting a longer run time, you may find it dies before you reach the finish line and with no battery indicator on the unit, it may come as a surprise. If you’re tackling a larger home, having a spare battery on hand is a bit of a game-changer but Worx has thought of this with the wall-mount charger. While you’re using one battery, the other is charged on the wall mount, so you can switch out and get going again.
Portability and storage
The WX038 is super lightweight and ergonomic, making it easy to carry from room to room and up stairs, as well as vertically to reach lightshades and high-up cobwebs.
Storage is another area where the Worx excels as it mounts neatly on a wall, making it perfect for smaller homes that are short on space. You can store all the detachable components on the neat wall mount too so it’s easy to hide the vacuum in a cupboard, for example. Plus, its dustbin is a breeze to empty, meaning no messy bags or hefty maintenance. Just empty, clean and store with minimal fuss.
Cleaning and maintenance
It’s actually really straightforward to keep the the Worx WX038 cordless vacuum in tip top condition. It has a bagless bin which is easy to empty with a single press of a button under the power button, and debris drops straight into the bin.
The bin can be rinsed under running water, to get rid of dust or odours and the washable HEPA filter is a standout feature, capturing fine dust and allergens to keep your home fresher. You can give this a quick rinse under the tap but you’ll need ot make sure it’s completely dry before reinserting.
Don’t forget to give its motorised brush head some regular attention though as hair and fibres can easily wrap around the brush roll over time and it is easily blocked because of this. You can give it a quick detangle by taking the brush roll out of the attachment.
According to Worx, it’s also crucial to wipe down the charging contacts so you get uninterrupted cleaning sessions.
How does it compare to similar vacuums?
The WX038’s ReadyCharge dual-charging wall mount means you can charge two PowerShare batteries simultaneously so you never run out of power and that’s what makes this cordless vacuum different to others on the market. It’s the only one we’ve come across with this feature and it is a game changer.
Even though the Dyson Gen5detect Absolute currently residing in our best cordless vacuum spot in our buying guide, the Worx WX038 is half the price of the Dyson. The differences are Gen5Detect has a more impressive run time without the need to change out batteries, and has the nifty Fluffy Optic cleaner that finds hidden dust. However, it’s pretty easy to switch out the batteries on the Worx and the LED light is pretty good at showing you what dust you need to pick up so is this worth paying almost £400 more for?
I found the Worx easy to pick up lots of stubborn debris with a few passes needed for the really tricky areas even on full power but it doesn’t quite match the pick-up of the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT, coming highly recommended in our guide too, which our reviewer found to be close to perfect.
Should you buy the Worx WX038?
If you’re looking for a lightweight cordless hoover at a reasonable price and with good ergonomic design, you’re on to a winner with the Worx WX038. Partner that with its unique ReadyCharge batteries to keep going for a good 45 minutes and its powerful suction, it’s a real winner in my eyes.
It’s safe to say I love this vacuum for quick clean ups but there are models out there that perform better than this one, for a potentially cheaper price too. However, it’s a no-brainer if you do bag one at a discounted price or want a battery that’s compatible with over 134+ 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools within the PowerShare family.
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