Dyson is still the king of vacuum cleaners, but it has recently been busy expanding its range of wet floor cleaners. For a long time, we only had WashG1, but now there’s also Clean+Wash Hygiene, and Dyson just announced a third addition to the line: Dyson PencilWash. That’s not to mention the newly expanded fleet of Submarine 2-in-1 vacuum cleaners.
If you’re wondering which of Dyson’s wet cleaners to invest in, I’m here to help. I tested both WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene, and also looked at the specifications of the new model to discover the key differences between them. Below you can learn which Dyson mop I would recommend for a variety of priorities.
However, keep in mind that right now the WashG1 is getting some serious discounts in both the US and UK, bringing it down to about half its price. That alone makes it a very compelling proposition – I think it’s a little pricey at list price, but with that kind of discount you get a lot for your investment.
If your priority is maneuverability…
PencilWash seems like the clear winner in this category. It is specifically designed to be ultra-maneuverable, with the motor and battery reduced in size to fit in the handle and compact water tanks hidden in the floor head.
It is a sister model of the Dyson PencilVac, which is very similar but changes the mop head for a vacuum cleaner head. I’ve used the PencilVac and it spins and maneuvers like a dream, which bodes well for the PencilWash.
Where Clean+Wash Hygiene might have the advantage is in the fact that it can lie completely flat against the floor; There’s even a mini wheel on the back of the handle that allows you to guide it smoothly across the floor. In this mode it measures 4.44 inches/11.3 cm high and is perfect for cleaning under low furniture. The PencilWash can also get pretty close to the ground, dropping at 170 degrees and a height of 5.9 inches/15 cm, but it won’t go as low as the Clean+Wash.
Don’t count out the WashG1 though, because as far as wet cleaners go, I found this one super nimble and easy to maneuver. Due to the location of the water tanks, the handle here is bulkier, while the head is more streamlined. In use, I found it spun more smoothly than the Clean+Wash Hygiene.
If your priority is minimum maintenance…
Both WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene have a self-cleaning cycle that can be activated when the machine is docked. Runs clean water through the system to remove any remaining dirt and refresh the roller.
Where Clean+Wash has the advantage is that it also has a self-drying mode, where the base will blow hot air onto the roller to ensure it is dry. Conversely, it’s probably best to remove the rollers from the WashG1 and take them out to dry somewhere, or they’ll start to smell musty pretty quickly.
PencilWash does not have any type of self-cleaning cycle, so you will need to rinse and dry the roller after each mopping session.
What about long term maintenance? Well, Dyson claims that one of the biggest problems with wet and dry vacuums is that they suck solid and liquid waste through small tubes and into a handle-mounted wastewater tank. As a result, the tubes are prone to clogging, causing bad odors.
All three of Dyson’s hard floor cleaners aim to offer a solution to this problem, but in different ways. With the WashG1, solid waste is filtered and stored in a tray in the floor header, so only dirty liquid travels through the pipes.
Solids are also filtered out in Clean+Wash Hygiene, but all waste is contained within the floor head, so nothing has to travel anywhere. In the PencilWash everything remains in the head again, but the solids and liquids are not separated.
You’ll have to decide for yourself how worried you are about potentially dirty pipes. The one thing that stood out to me during testing was that the WashG1’s waste tank was really easy to clean. It’s wide enough to put your hand inside and there are no crevices where dirt can accumulate. In contrast, the Clean+Wash reservoirs are impossible to access and PencilWash looks the same.
If your priority is price…
At list price, the WashG1 costs $769.99 / £599.99 / AU$999, the Clean+Wash Hygiene costs £429.99 (not yet available in the US or Australia) and the PencilWash will have a list price of $349 / £299.99 (no AU price yet).
What gets interesting though is that the WashG1 is heavily discounted in both the US and UK. In fact, it’s easy to get it for about half the price in both territories; You’ll find the best current deals below. While the following is just speculation, I would associate those types of discounts with a product that is about to be discontinued.
In the case of the PencilWash, you’re paying a premium for the compact form factor. If you live in a smaller home and need something super snappy, that might be reason enough to make it worth the splurge. However, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, at current prices, I think the WashG1 is your best option, at least in the US and UK.
If your priority is more versatility…
In the pantheon of hard floor cleaners, none of Dyson’s models are feature-rich. Both WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene have three hydration modes and a Boost mode for more water, while PencilWash is simpler, with just two hydration options and no Boost. If you’re looking for advanced modes like steam cleaning or auto adjustment, as well as suction, my guide to the best wet and dry vacuums has much more complex options to explore.
Of course, if you want the most versatility in a single Dyson machine, an argument could be made for choosing the Submarine model over all of them. These take one of Dyson’s flagship vacuums and pack it into a mop head (to me, this part looks a lot like the bottom of the PencilWash). You can then swap them out to convert the appliance into a mop or vacuum cleaner as needed.
Another aspect to consider is the size of the water tank. PencilWash tanks are super small, which rules out that model for homes with lots of floors that need mopping. For larger areas, a WashG1 or Clean+Wash Hygiene is best. Dyson suggests that due to better water control, the latter will actually provide more cleaning per tank, even though said tanks are smaller than those of the WashG1.
Compared specifications
| Header cell: column 0 |
Dyson pen wash |
Dyson LavadoG1 |
Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cleaner size (height x length x width): |
45.6 x 10.5 x 7.8 inches / 115.8 x 26.7 x 19.8 cm |
44.9 x 8.9 x 11.8 inches / 114 x 22.5 x 30 cm |
43.1 x 9.6 x 11 inches / 109.6 x 24.4 x 28 cm |
|
Weight (empty): |
4.9lbs/2.2kg |
10.8lbs/4.9kg |
8.4lbs/3.8kg |
|
Clean water tank volume: |
0.3L |
1L |
0.75 liters |
|
Dirty water tank volume: |
0.36L |
0.8L |
0.52L |
|
Maximum execution time: |
30 minutes |
35 minutes |
45 minutes |
|
Dock Features: |
Load only (separate drip tray) |
Charging, self-cleaning |
Charging, self-cleaning, hot air drying |
|
Maximum cleaning coverage: |
100m2 |
290m2 |
350m2 |
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