The Numatic Vacuum Cleaner Range Explained – Henry, Hetty, George, Charles, James & More
Numatic International have been making Henry Hoover since the early 1980s, and over the years the range has grown massively.
Henry, Hetty, Harry, James, George, Charles, Edward, Henry Wash, Henry XL… they all look similar, but what is actually different between them?
This guide explains the key differences across the Numatic vacuum cleaner range so you can decide which model is best for your needs.
We only sell Numatic spare parts and accessories on our site, not the vacuum cleaners themselves, so this guide is designed to be as honest and impartial as possible.
New Video: What’s the Difference Between Henry Models? Hetty, Pet, Xtra, XL & More (2025 Guide)
Henry Vacuum Cleaner
The standard Henry Hoover is the classic red vacuum most people recognise instantly.
Over the years Henry has been released in different colours, motor versions and even cordless models, but the basic concept has stayed remarkably similar.
Henry is designed for:
- everyday household cleaning
- business use
- reliability
- simple maintenance and repairs
Red, blue, yellow and green Henry models are mostly just colour variations.
Different named Henry versions include:
- Henry Xtra – includes extra cleaning tools
- Henry Allergy – upgraded filtration for allergy sufferers
- Henry XL – larger capacity version
- Henry Pet – designed for homes with pets
- Henry Wash – carpet and upholstery extraction machine
Hetty Hoover
Hetty is mechanically almost identical to Henry.
The differences are mainly cosmetic:
- pink or yellow colour options
- eyelashes
- slightly different styling
Hetty uses the same:
- motors
- tools
- bags
- filters
- hoses
as equivalent Henry models.
Fun Fact: Hetty was not actually the first female Numatic vacuum. A rare green model called “Wendy” appeared in 1997 in very limited numbers.
John & Lewis / Limited Editions
Some Henry variants were released as limited editions for specific retailers.
Examples include:
- John & Lewis
- Bertie (Screwfix & B&Q)
- Jack (Tesco)
- Wendy (Machine Mart)
These are usually just cosmetic variations of Henry or James models.
Harry Hoover
Harry Hoover was designed specifically for pet owners.
Harry includes:
- Turbo floor tool
- Charcoal odour filter
- Pet-focused accessories
The turbo tool helps lift pet hair from carpets more effectively than a standard floor head.
Harry replaced an earlier model called Henry Hound, which used a motorised brush tool.
Modern Harry brushes are air-powered rather than motorised, making them simpler and more reliable.
Sadly, Harry now seems to be gradually disappearing in favour of the newer Henry Pet range.
James Hoover
James is very similar to Henry but slightly simplified.
Main differences:
- No cable rewind system
- Lighter weight
- Manual cable wrap storage
- Slightly lower price
James often appeals to people who want a lighter machine or prefer simplicity over the cable rewind system.
An earlier model called “Basil” was mechanically similar to James and came in several colours before being discontinued.
Edward Hoover
Edward is essentially a larger-capacity Henry designed for bigger cleaning jobs.
Edward includes:
- Larger tub capacity
- Larger bags
- Standard Henry tools
- Dry use only
Edward uses larger Numatic NVM-2BH bags.
Edward is no longer very common today because the newer Henry XL range effectively replaced him.
Charles Hoover
Charles is Numatic’s lower-cost wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
Charles can:
- vacuum dry dust
- pick up water
- clean wet spills
- help unblock sinks
He is especially popular with:
- plumbers
- garages
- tradespeople
However, Charles is not a carpet shampoo machine.
He can only extract water — he cannot spray shampoo solution.
A very similar model called “Henry Wet & Dry” has now appeared in some countries.
George Hoover
George is one of the most versatile Numatic machines ever made.
George can:
- vacuum dry dust
- pick up wet spills
- clean carpets
- clean upholstery
- spray shampoo solution
Unlike Charles, George includes:
- shampoo pump system
- carpet extraction tools
- upholstery cleaning tools
- wet and dry filters
George is especially popular for:
- carpet cleaning
- car valeting
- deep upholstery cleaning
Henry Wash
Henry Wash is effectively the Henry-branded equivalent of George.
It includes almost all of George’s wet cleaning features, including:
- carpet shampooing
- upholstery extraction
- wet pickup
- solution pump system
The biggest difference is:
Henry Wash does not include the dry vacuum setup that George has.
That means:
- no dry filter
- no dry floor tools
- no dry vacuum bags included
So Henry Wash is purely focused on wet cleaning tasks.
Which Numatic Vacuum Is Best?
Best All-Round Vacuum
Standard Henry or Henry Xtra.
Best For Pets
Henry Pet or Henry Clean Air.
Best Lightweight Option
James.
Best Wet & Dry Vacuum
Charles.
Best Carpet Cleaner
George or Henry Wash.
Best Large Capacity Model
Henry XL or Edward.
Final Thoughts
Although the Numatic range looks complicated at first, most models are based around the same reliable core design.
The main differences usually come down to:
- capacity
- tool kits
- wet cleaning ability
- filters
- pet accessories
Whatever your cleaning needs, there is probably a Numatic model designed for it.
And because most Numatic machines are highly repairable, they often last for many years with basic maintenance and replacement parts.