Today, I’d like to share my thoughts on the ILIFE W90 upright vacuum cleaner. This device caught my attention mainly because of its price and the promise of 3-in-1 functionality: vacuuming, washing, and mopping. In practice, that means instead of pulling out a separate vacuum and a regular mop, we can grab one piece of equipment and handle all the mess at once—be it dry crumbs or spilled tea in the kitchen.
I have to admit that my first impression was quite positive. A price around 150 euro (and sometimes you can get it much cheaper on promotions) is intriguing, especially when I compare it to competitor models that can cost significantly more.
However, that’s only one side of the coin—along with an attractive price, we also want a device that truly does its job for everyday cleaning. Does the ILIFE W90 deliver on that promise? Let’s find out together!
First Impressions – Solid Appearance and Easy Operation
When I took all the components out of the box, I was surprised by how solid it felt. It’s not a model made of “cheap” plastic that squeaks as soon as you start assembling it. The white housing looks neat, and the orange accents give it a bit of character. Nothing seems like it’s about to fall off—quite the opposite, everything fits together pretty well.
Assembling the device is literally a matter of minutes: take out the main body, take out the handle, slide them together, place the docking station in a convenient spot, plug in the charger, and you’re basically ready to go. The height of the vacuum is fairly standard for upright models, so there’s no need to bend over awkwardly while cleaning.
An extra foam filter, a small cleaning tool, and an instruction manual complete the set, and the whole setup isn’t overly complicated. That’s a big plus, especially for people who don’t like complex electronics.
Water Tanks – Separate Clean and Dirty
One of the most important aspects of this type of washing vacuum is, of course, the division into a clean water tank and a dirty water tank. In the ILIFE W90, there’s a 700 ml reservoir for clean water and a 500 ml tank for dirty water.
Essentially, when the device washes the floor, it doesn’t spread around what it has already picked up; instead, it sucks the dirty water into a separate container. Thanks to this, every inch of the floor is washed with a fresh portion of liquid—not the water that was already collected a few seconds earlier.
At the back, near the top of the device, you can easily fill the clean water tank (the manufacturer recommends relatively soft water to avoid quick scaling). I usually just use water from a filtered pitcher and sometimes add a bit of floor cleaner, although the instructions advise against using high-foaming detergents. It’s important not to go overboard with the cleaning fluid, or you might end up with excess foam inside the device.
In the front, there’s a large, transparent container for dirt and dirty water. You can clearly see when it’s filling up to capacity and empty it in time. Just press the release button, remove the container, and pour the contents into the sink or toilet. The device will also let you know when the container is full—I’ll mention that soon in the context of voice alerts.
Battery and the Bright Status Bar – Simple Signaling
On the housing, right above the big “iLife” logo, there’s a clearly visible status bar. While charging, this bar gently pulses in a color corresponding to the current battery level. Once fully charged, it stays a solid green color, indicating the device is ready for a full session of cleaning.
According to the manufacturer, this should be enough for about 30 minutes of continuous operation in standard mode, although if you turn on extra power (Turbo mode) or use the water-distribution function extensively, the time will shorten.
That said, the advertised 30 minutes isn’t far from reality. During tests, I washed the floors in a 200-square-meter house. The surface? Varied—tiles, panels, and parquet. I had no trouble finishing the cleaning in one go.
Of course, if I kept Turbo mode on for longer, the operating time dropped, but it was still never to the point where I had to stop multiple times to recharge the vacuum during a single cleaning session.
Vacuuming and Washing in Practice – How Does It Perform?
Pure dry vacuuming works quite nicely. The roller spins with adequate force, so the device efficiently picks up dust and crumbs from hard floors. An advantage is that you can simultaneously spray water and “mop” the surface.
However, the manufacturer does not recommend using the ILIFE W90 on carpets or rugs—it’s still a device with a wet-cleaning function, so attempting to use it on carpets can result in a wet carpet. If you have a lot of carpets at home and want to vacuum them, this design won’t be the ideal solution.
The biggest perk (at least for me) is the ability to quickly wash the floor immediately after vacuuming. I pick up scattered cereal from the kitchen, turn on the water spray at the same time, and the floor is cleaned in one pass. I save a lot of time by not having to use a regular vacuum first and then grab a bucket and mop.
Here, with a few passes, I take care of two tasks at once. Plus, it all works quite well—the roller is wide, and the water flow isn’t excessive, so it dries quickly.
Of course, we must remember that this vacuum isn’t a miracle worker. If there’s a dried stain that’s been there for two days, it’s good to soak it first, wipe it with a cloth, or go over the same spot a few times with a well-dampened roller. Still, for everyday upkeep, when you want to quickly clean up tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, or living room, it works great.
Voice Alerts – Loud, but You Can’t Turn Them Off
One thing that’s quite noticeable are the device’s voice prompts. The first time you turn it on, it’s even charming—a pleasant female voice announces that the vacuum is ready, the battery is charging, and so on.
The problem is that these messages are pretty loud and there’s no option to lower the volume or turn them off entirely. If you start the device early in the morning while other household members are still sleeping, you can’t avoid these welcome and farewell phrases.
Over time, you might get used to it, and some users may not mind because they always know what the vacuum is up to at any given moment. In the long run, though, I find this feature a bit stubborn and unnecessarily loud, especially since the rest of the device (the roller operation itself) isn’t that noisy in standard mode.
But alas, that’s the manufacturer’s vision. If you can shrug it off, it won’t bother you too much. If, however, you’re expecting a quiet, discreet clean, you might be disappointed.
Weight and Maneuvering – You Can Get Used to It, But…
A large part of the design is the hefty housing with two water tanks. This means the ILIFE W90 isn’t one of the lightest upright vacuums, which, in practice, means narrow spots or stairs might require a bit more effort to maneuver freely.
It’s not a huge problem—the roller does pull the device forward while operating, so basic cleaning is fairly smooth. But stairs or tight corners around furniture can be a challenge. Older users or people with a smaller build might feel that it’s a bit too heavy for them.
On the other hand, some weight also means good stability. If the vacuum is “locked” in an upright position, it doesn’t topple over, so you can walk away for a moment without worry. In my tests, it never fell over, and the docking station keeps it steady in one place.
Self-Cleaning Brush – A Big Plus
I really like the “One-Click” self-cleaning feature. You just place the vacuum in the docking station, press the button on the handle, and in a few dozen seconds, it rinses and cleans the roller, sucking the dirty water into the waste container. It’s handy because after cleaning, the roller is often just dirty.
You do have to accept that it’s fairly loud while it’s doing this, but it’s short-lived. After finishing the cycle, it’s still a good idea to remove the roller from the body and let it air-dry; otherwise, moisture can quickly build up in the station and cause unpleasant odors.
A lot of people ask if the device dries the mop attachment during self-cleaning. Unfortunately, it doesn’t—it just rinses the roller. Having to manually remove and dry it might be another drawback, and it’s something I miss most in the ILIFE W90. It would be great if the docking station had a built-in drying function, but at this price point, that’s a rare feature.
Minor Downsides – Edges and Lack of Volume Control
During use, I found two more issues. First, the fairly wide border around the brush means the device can’t clean right up against the edges of furniture or walls. There’s about a 2.5 cm gap on the side that the roller can’t reach. For perfectionists, this might be slightly annoying since you’ll have to use a regular cloth or another small tool to clean those corners.
Second—already mentioned—is the total lack of any option to adjust the volume of those voice prompts. There’s not even a slider to turn them down. While in broad daylight, with typical household noise, it’s not a big problem, in the still of night when the family is sleeping, turning the device on is a real wake-up call for everyone. It’s too bad, because a simple “silent mode” setting would solve the problem.
Is ILIFE W90 Worth Buying?
When considering this question, I have to look mainly at its price and functionality. For under 150 euro (sometimes even less on special offers), you get a cordless vacuum that can wash and mop, with a decent battery and a simple but practical dual-tank system.
If your home is mostly covered in panels, tiles, or hardwood floors, the ILIFE W90 can speed up and simplify your daily cleaning. Instead of going over the same spot twice (first vacuuming, then mopping), you can do it all in one go.
However, the device is not without flaws. The weight and sizable build mean maneuvering in tight spaces or around furniture can be more difficult. The loud voice prompts might not appeal to everyone, and the lack of a roller-drying feature can be a bit inconvenient—you have to remember to remove it and let it air out.
But if you’re looking for a straightforward, multi-purpose device that helps with everyday floor cleaning, the ILIFE W90 fits the bill. In particular, washing the floor without constantly changing dirty water and lugging around a traditional mop is convenient and encourages more frequent tidying.
Summary – Everyday Convenience at an Attractive Price
Looking at its price-to-quality ratio, the ILIFE W90 does quite well. Some compromises are inevitable in devices at this price point, so if you can overlook the loud voice prompts and minor issues around edges, you’ll get a versatile 3-in-1 device that genuinely simplifies keeping your floors clean. You’ll especially appreciate how quickly you can pick up spilled liquids or wipe down tiles in the kitchen and bathroom.
I tested this device for nearly a month. In my experience, the ILIFE W90 will work in most households that have predominantly hard floors and lack the time for constantly switching between a vacuum, mop, and bucket.
I wouldn’t expect miracles when it comes to thick carpets or exceptionally stubborn stains, but for typical, everyday tasks, it’s quite decent. I also count its easy assembly and maintenance as a plus—just a few moments are enough to rinse the filter, clean the roller, and tidy up the docking station.
