Gtech Multi MK2 review: the handheld for stairs and cars, and why it is the wrong one for crumbs

Verdict

What it is

The powered head is the point

Most handhelds are suction and a nozzle. That lifts crumbs and dust from hard surfaces well and struggles on carpet, where dirt and hair are worked into the pile. A powered brush head spins a brush against the carpet, the same principle as a full-size vacuum’s floor head, and that is what lifts embedded dirt from stair carpet and car mats. On upholstery and pet beds it does the same job for hair.

The extension tube matters as much. Fitted between the body and the brush head, it turns the Multi into a short stick: you can reach the back of a stair tread and the riser above it, or under the front seats of a car, without kneeling. Together they make it the most complete kit among the handhelds we cover.

Run time and charging

Gtech gives 20 minutes. For a handheld that is long — the handhelds in our roundup run from 8 to 30 minutes on their makers’ figures — and it is the number that lets the Multi finish a staircase or a car interior on one charge rather than stopping halfway. Gtech does not split the figure by mode or by tool, so assume the powered head uses the battery faster than the crevice tool.

The charge is the catch: four hours from a wall charger, with no dock. A handheld that lives on a base is always ready for the spilled cereal; the Multi needs putting back on charge after a big job, and a forgotten charge means waiting until the afternoon. Treat it as a tool you take out for a job, not one that sits on the worktop.

Bin and filter

The 0.4-litre bin suits the jobs: a staircase’s worth of dust, a car’s footwells. Pet hair is bulky and fills a bin faster than its litres suggest, so a shedding dog and a carpeted staircase may mean emptying halfway. The filter is washable, which keeps running costs down; the guide from Which? on handhelds makes the point that a clogged filter costs more performance than a weak motor, so wash it and let it dry fully before refitting.

Weight and size

At 1.5 kg the Multi is the heaviest handheld in our roundup, two to three times the weight of the lightest. That is the honest trade for the powered head, the tube and the bigger battery. For three stairs it does not matter; for a whole staircase held at arm’s length, or reaching up to cobwebs in a corner, you notice it and switch hands.

Its 38.6 cm length also decides where it lives. It does not fit in a kitchen drawer or a car’s door pocket. A shelf in the hall cupboard or the boot of the car, near a socket for the charger, is the right home.

Guarantee

Gtech gives two years, in line with most handhelds in our roundup. A battery is the part that wears first, so if you plan to keep the Multi for many years, check what a replacement costs before buying.

Who should buy it

• A house with carpeted stairs, cleaned in one go with the powered head and the tube.
• A car owner who wants footwells, seats and the boot done on one charge, with a headlight for the corners.
• A pet that sheds on carpet and upholstery, where a powered brush lifts what suction leaves.

Who should not

• Worktop crumbs and spilled cereal. A light handheld on a charging base is quicker to grab.
• A small kitchen drawer or a car glovebox. At 38.6 cm it does not fit.
• Anyone who wants the vacuum always charged. Four hours on a wall charger, no dock.
• Light hands or a sore wrist. 1.5 kg is a two-hand tool for long jobs.

Sources