Surface cleaning apparatus

A surface cleaner comprising:

• a surface cleaning head;
• an upright section movably mounted to the surface cleaning head between an upright storage position and a reclined surface cleaning position, the upright section comprises a solid and liquid separation stage, a pre-motor filter and a suction motor, wherein the solid and liquid separation stage comprises a solid and liquid collection chamber,
• wherein, in the upright storage position, the pre-motor filter is positioned above the solid and liquid collection chamber and the suction motor is positioned above the pre-motor filter, and
• wherein the solid and liquid separation stage comprises a liquid porous divider provided in the solid and liquid collection chamber wherein, when the upright section is in the upright storage position, the solid and liquid collection chamber has a lower region comprising a liquid collection region that is located below the liquid porous divider and a solid collection region provided above the liquid porous divider whereby, in operation, liquid passes through the liquid porous divider and solid material collects on the liquid porous divider, and
• wherein the solid collection region and the liquid collection region are separately emptiable.