Craftsman Compact Wet Dry Vacuum, 6-Gallon

Last updated: April 20, 2023


We looked at the top Wet Dry Vacuums and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Wet Dry Vacuum you should buy.

Product Details

In our analysis of 57 expert reviews, the Craftsman Compact Wet Dry Vacuum, 6-Gallon placed 16th when we looked at the top 18 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Our Expert Consultant

Vicki Liston 
Home Improvement Expert

Vicki Liston writes, produces, and narrates “On The Fly…DIY,” an award-winning home improvement and DIY show of unique project tutorials for the casual DIY’er.

Home improvement and all things DIY have been Liston’s passion since she bought her first house in 2007 and she started making video blogs in 2014. She’s performed hundreds of DIY projects, from small ones to major, wall-smashing renovations and can teach you how to make a trendy DIY barn door for cheap. The proceeds earned from “On The Fly…DIY” are donated to no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

One of the highlights of this super cleaning machine is that it is bagless and has a filter which minimizes any excess dust, so as well as being hygienic, the bagless function means you will save money.
Portable, stable product, from a reputable company.
With a long hose and two extension wands, it has more than 17 feet of reach.
A 3-peak horsepower motor that will help in cleaning your indoor and outdoor areas powers this Craftsman model
This Craftsman also boasted the easiest to remove filter, with a screw cap which was more intuitive than the usual twist-and-pull dance we had to deal with on other models.
Craftsman definitely took this into consideration when it added full 360-degree swiveling casters – finally, no more pulling and yanking on the hose and knocking the whole thing over when you’re twisting around trying to get into tight spots.
The machine has a large on/off switch which fires the motor up in seconds, and the hose is easy to remove and reattach as needed.
TheCraftsman 12004 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum comes with a long-lasting 6-gallon polypropylene water tank that can easily be moved around.
The Craftsman 12004 comes with a 3 peak HP motor, which is powerful. The motor will effectively capture dirt, debris, and water around your home, in a short time.

What reviewers didn't like

Wheels don’t lock onto body.
Shorter cord and lower HP than some competitors.
At 96 dB, this vacuum is noticeably louder than its competitors.
The only weak spot was the Craftsman's lack of attachments. It comes with two extension wands, a floor squeegee for wet pickup, and a utility nozzle. That covers wet and dry pretty well—but some of the competition came with more.
A bit bulky for storage, and no option for wall mount.
On the downside, there is no plug on the 12004, so when you vacuum water, you’ll actually need to dump this one.
Power cord and hose are not very long.
View our Wet Dry Vacuum buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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