Dremel Versa Power Cleaner
The Dremel Versa occupies the interior of our vehicle and then our kitchen.
advantages
handheld and lightweight
Splash guard accessory
Good assortment of pads
cons
short battery life
The backsplash will collapse
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The Dremel Versa Power Cleaner offers 2200 rpm of rechargeable power and four interchangeable cleaning pads. It comes with a plug-in adapter for charging and a special rubber protector to prevent the pads from spraying water and cleaning solutions. As of this writing, the Dremel Versa is available on Amazon for around $60.
For this review, we tested it on our office vehicle, a 2016 Fiat 500X, and then on my stove at home, which was a disaster. Based on the feedback from other customers, the Dremel Versa is better for smaller jobs around the house or garage, and we agree with that. Under heavy use, such as cleaning a stove or bathtub, the Dremel Versa’s short battery life is its main drawback.
Dremel Versa Cleaning Pads
The Dremel Versa comes with four different cleaning pads, depending on the task at hand.
White foam eraser: Use this multi-purpose pad for harder surfaces like countertops, glass, baseboards, and non-stainless steel appliances. The erasing pad has microabrasive characteristics, so using it on a softer surface could cause scratches. For example, it is not recommended for wood, copper, or stainless steel. However, you can use it to shine your shoes.
Heavy Duty Brown Abrasive Pad: This pad is for deeply embedded dirt and grit. It can handle a number of metal items from outdoor furniture to uncoated cookware.
Blue Microfiber Anti-Scratch Pad: This pad is the “starting point” for most things around the house, including pots, pans, appliances, outdoor tools, and lawn equipment.
Black Nylon Bristle Brush: This is for heavier jobs like the brown pad. For car enthusiasts, this is the accessory to use for cleaning tires. This brush is the ticket for anything that requires an excessive amount of effort.
How to assemble the Dremel Versa
Assembly of the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner is easy, and the individual pads attach with what appears to be durable Velcro. The “backing pad” holds the cleaning pad in place, which attaches in just seconds to the Versa itself. Dremel recommends charging the unit before and after each use and advises against running it while plugged in.
The funnel-like accessory is the rubber splash guard, which has two positions: extended and retracted. When it spreads, it will keep the throwing and spraying of water and cleaning solution to a minimum. If you clean a hard-to-reach area, the splash guard will retract. If necessary, the splash guard can be completely removed.
The backsplash is useful and does its job, but it can be flimsy depending on what you’re cleaning. If you move the Dremel Versa correctly, the splash guard will collapse.
The Versa and those dirty interior panels
I have plenty of applicator pads and soft towels for the exterior of my vehicle to get that “showroom shine” look. However, I prefer to avoid cleaning my interior, meaning I am less enthusiastic about detailing my interior. This is where the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner was most beneficial for me.
For example, my shoes (and my passenger’s shoes) hit the bottom panels directly inside my vehicle during exit and entry. That part of the interior doesn’t take long to get very dirty, especially during winter or after a series of rain showers.
Before
After
With the white foam erasing pad and a few sprays of Rain-X Interior Detailer, I was able to remove the excess dirt and grime that accumulated on the lower interior panels. Normally I would scrub with a towel, but it’s much easier to let the Dremel Versa do the work (just guide it up and around the curves of the panel). From there, I made the passenger side interior panels, dash, and center console.
On the driver’s side door panel, it had a particular smear of dirt (who knows how it got there) too ingrained for regular towels. As with the lower panels, I sprayed the area with some Rain-X Interior Detailer sprays and ran the Dremel tool over the surface, removing the dirt spot in a few seconds.
The Dremel Versa pressure washer works well on harder interior plastic surfaces that are dirty (though, resist the urge to “push down” the unit when using it). In this case, with White Foam Eraser Pad, I was able to remove a stubborn dirt stain on my door panel. Similarly, the Dremel Versa should quickly remove a soda or coffee stain on any interior plastic surface.
The Versa and the stove
After my vehicle’s interior, I tackled another area I often overlook: my nasty stove.
The burners on my stove had these hardened brown rings around them. At this point, they are so far into the surface that rubbing by hand is honestly a waste of time. The scope of cleaning my stove is to run a soapy rag over it, removing any immediate residue but not removing all the dirt. According to Dremel, the Versa Power Cleaner was designed for this kind of dirty job, so I thought I’d give it a try.
I started with the blue microfiber scratch pad, which removed about 70 percent of the grit. From there, I switched to Brown Abrasive Heavy-Duty Pad to remove the rest of the dirt.
Using both pads, I slowly applied the Dremel Versa Power Cleaner, holding it over the trouble spots for a moment to let the pad work. The slower you go, the more effective it is on something like a sloppy stove. I used Bar Keeper’s Friend, but regardless of which cleaning solution you choose, use the backsplash in the extended position to keep everything from flying around the kitchen.
The total time to clean my stove was about 15 minutes, which killed a good chunk of the Versa’s battery.
Dremel Versa Power Cleaner Uses and Pad Suggestions:
- Outer grill (anti-scratch)
- Stove and Countertops (Draft)
- Inside the oven (not scratched)
- Pots/Pans (Heavy Duty) (Draft)
- Vehicle Wheel Hub (Bristle Brush)
- Bathtubs and glass shower doors (draft)
- Shower tile grout and sink faucets (bristle brush)
- Metal Patio Furniture – Rust Removal (Heavy Duty)
Tips for the Dremel Versa Pro
- Clean and dry the unit after each use.
- Resist the urge to “push” the unit, which will cause it to shut down.
- When dealing with stubborn spots and stains, apply light pressure and keep the Dremel Versa positioned directly over the area. The pads will eventually do their job.
- When fully charged, the Versa runs for around 15 to 20 minutes, which should be enough to get most smaller jobs done.
- Extended use will require additional charging time. A full charge, according to the owner’s manual, takes about two hours.
Is the Dremel Versa worth the money?
The Dremel Versa is a useful tool around the house or garage and is reasonably priced. If you have grip problems or arthritis, the Dremel Versa should avoid excessive rubbing or elbow grease. As of this writing, it’s available on Amazon for around $60. If you need replacement pads, an eight-pack is available on Amazon for $10.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He is a member of the board of directors of the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, a former president of the Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal fan of the Detroit Lions.
