I tested Dyson's newest (and most affordable) wet floor cleaner – the performance won me over, but there's a catch

The Dyson PencilWash joins the brand's growing line-up of wet floor cleaners, and it comes at a much more accessible price point than Dyson's other models. After seeing how much the Dyson PencilVac impressed Ideal Home's Cleaning and Floorcare editor, Lauren, I was keen to see if the PencilWash would follow in its footsteps.

I put it through its paces in my busy family home, to see how it compares to other hard floor cleaners I've tested (including the best mops and vacuum mops). My verdict? There's plenty to like, but its biggest flaw is one you'll face every time you use it.

In a nutshell

I’ve tested my fair share of hard floor cleaners, and while the Dyson PencilWash proved itself a capable cleaner for everyday messes in my family home, it did take some getting used to. Its lack of suction felt like a drawback at first, but its roller system did a solid job of lifting dirt and grime, and it even handled a surprising range of challenges - from my toddler's mushy Weetabix to stubborn toothpaste stains.

One of the standout features for me is its sleek, lightweight design, which makes it incredibly easy to manoeuvre. Compared with some of Dyson’s more premium wet floor cleaners, the Dyson Wash G1 and the Clean + Wash Hygiene, the PencilWash feels more accessible - not just in price, but in day-to-day handling. It’s quick to grab, simple to use, and ideal for those fast daily clean-ups when you don’t want to haul out a bigger machine. The battery runtime and clean-water tank size are also sufficient for multiple cleans, so it's easy to tackle more than one room without having to recharge or refill.

The maintenance process is where things start to feel less refined. There isn’t a self-cleaning mode, so I had to take the whole cleaning head apart after each use, which quickly became fiddly and time-consuming. The roller also needs a full 24 hours to dry before being reassembled, which isn’t ideal if you clean your floors frequently, as I do.

So while the PencilWash does deliver in performance for its price, it isn’t flawless. It’s effective and affordable by Dyson standards, and it definitely grew on me the more I used it. But the cleaning and drying routine feels pretty inconvenient.

Dyson PencilWash Specifications

• Weight: 2.2kg (full machine) 380g in hand
• Dimensions: H: 115.5cm x L: 26.7cm x W: 19.8cm
• Clean water tank capacity: 0.3 L
• Dirty water tank capacity: 0.34 L
• Handle size: 38mm
• Run time: 30 mins
• In the box: Wand charging dock, clip-on drip tray, cleaner head
• RRP: £299.99

How I tested

Rebecca Lawton

I'm Rebecca. I write freelance content for Ideal Home, and I'm always on the lookout for home upgrades that make my home life smoother (especially with three children!)

I've tested a range of hard floor cleaners for Ideal Home, and tested the Dyson PencilWash on the hard floors in my three-bedroom home.

While Dyson kindly sent the product for me to test, I followed our dedicated testing process, to provide an honest, impartial review.

Unboxing, set up and first impressions

The Dyson PencilWash arrived in a slim, rectangular cardboard box, which was lighter than I expected and easy to carry single-handedly. Inside was a second, branded box, featuring the Dyson logo and product image. After sliding it out of the outer packaging, I opened the box and was pleased to see everything compactly arranged.

The components and accessories were neatly secured between layered cardboard inserts, with a user-guide sheet resting on top. The guide included simple setup images and a QR code, with the instruction 'scan to get started'.

This took me to the App Store, where I downloaded the MyDyson app. It only took a couple of minutes to set up and register, and once connected, you can access a range of useful guides and features. There's a short video on 'Getting Started' - ideal if, like me, you don't always like reading through a full instruction manual. The app also includes a clear 'How to use' guide, plus handy cleaning and maintenance tips and care instructions to keep the PencilWash in good condition. It's not essential, but it's a useful extra layer of support.

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I did what I always do, and laid everything out once I'd taken it out of the box. I was pleased to see Dyson had kept plastic to a minimum - the floor head was wrapped in a paper-tissue material, which, after a quick search, I found is recyclable. There were also a couple of plastic bags marked with the PE symbol. While these are recyclable, they need to be taken to a supermarket soft-plastic collection point rather than the kerbside recycling. It's a small inconvenience, but I appreciated the packaging overall felt considered rather than wasteful.

The contents of the box included the handle, cleaner head, battery, clip-on drip tray and wand charging dock. Once everything was unwrapped, the Dyson PencilWash made a strong first impression. It has the signature Dyson look - sleek design, premium matte finish and a lightweight body that feels more refined than many typical wet floor cleaners.

Assembly was refreshingly straightforward. Firstly, I clicked the battery into the top part of the wand, which locked into place easily. Before attaching the cleaner head, the manual instructs to charge the wand fully, so I popped it onto the charging dock. Once plugged in, a battery icon on the LED screen lights up, indicating that the device is charging. It took 3.5 hours to fully charge, which is around average for a floor cleaner.

Once the unit was charged, I removed the wand and inserted it into the cleaner head. At this point, I could take in the PencilWash in all its glory - and I've got to say, as far as floor cleaners go, it stands out from the crowd. The sleek design is impressive, though it doesn't stand on its own, so you need to lean it against something if you pause mid-clean.

The only thing left to do was to fill up the water tank. I started by removing the wet roller cassette from the main body - this holds the roller, clean water tank and waste tray. The quick-release button makes it simple in theory, but I found it quite fiddly. You need to hold the floor head level and upright while pressing and sliding the cassette out.

With the cassette out, I turned the clean water tank so the cap faced upwards and unscrewed it. Filling it to the MAX fill line, I was pleased to see it felt generously sized, a promising sign I wouldn't need to refill frequently during cleans. You can include a cleaning solution, but as Dyson doesn't include any with the product, I decided to stick to water initially.

I also gave the roller a rinse under warm water before first use, as the manual recommends it. Putting the cassette back in required a bit of attention - I had to make sure it clicked securely into place, or it wouldn't sit correctly and could leak. It wasn't difficult, but it definitely pays to take your time and double-check everything is aligned properly.

Using the Dyson Pencil Wash

General Cleaning

I started with a general clean of my laminated kitchen and conservatory floors. With three kids in the house, I normally rely on my Shark Steam & Scrub Automatic daily - and even if my floors look clean, the colour of the mop pads tells a different tale.

I turned on the machine using the power button on the LED screen and waited 10 seconds, as per the manual instructions, for the roller to be fully hydrated.

There are two modes: Standard, which the machine defaults to, and MAX for an extra water boost when you need to tackle more stubborn or obvious mess. A quick press of the MAX button triggers a five-second burst, while pressing and holding it gives you up to 60 seconds of power.

Initially, I decided to use the Standard mode, and as soon as I turned it on, I was struck by how lightweight and easy it felt to manoeuvre. It sounded quieter than other wet floor cleaners I've tested, too. That said, the glide feels noticeably different to machines with suction.

It sweeps so smoothly over the surface that it almost feels like you're just rolling a plastic casing across the floor. I could see the water being released in a clean streak, but actually found myself checking that the roller was fully engaged because I expected it to feel softer or more cushioned.

Even on Standard mode, I was surprised by how much water was left on the floors after just a couple of passes. It made it a little tricky to tell exactly how clean they were, but once the floors dried fully (after about 10 minutes), they looked fine. I didn't use any cleaning solution, but I did think it would have helped bring out a bit more shine.

One thing I really liked was how flexible the PencilWash is. I have a low sideboard in my conservatory that's usually a real pain to clean, but I could easily reach the awkward back corners without crouching, so I took that as a win.

Cleaning wet and dry spills

I then put the Dyson PencilWash through a series of controlled tests to see how handle more obvious spills and messes.

For the first test, I squirted some tomato ketchup on my kitchen floors. I switched to the MAX cleaning mode to tackle this, and I've got to say, I was really impressed with how much of the ketchup the PencilWash lifted on the very first pass. It did smear some of the sauce further along the floor, which seems to be fairly common with other wet rollers I've tested, but it still managed to completely remove every trace within a few passes.

The only downside, was the lingering smell of ketchup left on the roller. I knew it would only get worse if I didn't wash it straight away, so I popped the cleaner head onto the drip tray and carried it over to the sink to disassemble and rinse all the parts thoroughly.

As the PencilWash doesn't have a vacuum suction, I was keen to see how it would tackle bigger debris. My one-year-old's post-breakfast (mushy Weetabix) turned out to be the perfect test. Using MAX suction mode, the PencilWash lifted most of it in a single pass.

The main challenge was cleaning the roller and head. I made the mistake of not using the drip tray, and quickly regretted it when there was dirty water dripping everywhere. The roller had Weetabix stuck to it, which came away easily enough when I rinsed it straight away, but I imagine it would have been trickier to clean if I'd left it longer.

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The bathroom was another big test for the PencilWash - mainly thanks to the kids' toothpaste explosions. Our vinyl floors were in an embarrassing state, so I wasn't convinced how well it would cope. It took a few passes over the worst areas, but it eventually lifted every trace of toothpaste, without me needing to apply any extra elbow grease.

Bath time is always very messy in our house, so I also ran it over the water puddles left behind. It handled the wet patches effortlessly, leaving the floors streak-free and almost dry to the touch. Overall, I was really impressed with how it performed in a space that normally needs the most hands-on cleaning.

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Cleaning, storage and maintenance

Unlike many wet floor cleaners that come with a self-cleaning mode and drying dock, the Dyson PencilWash is designed to be taken apart so that each component can be washed and dried individually after use. Dyson recommends cleaning the machine after every use, which makes regular maintenance feel quite hands-on.

After detaching the cleaning head from the wand, the head sits in the drip tray to avoid any dirty water dripping over surfaces. The roller, clean water tank, and waste tray are housed in a cassette that slides out with the red quick-release button.

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The long red cover must then be removed to empty the waste tank, allowing the cleaner head to be fully taken apart.

Every part of the cleaner head - except the neck - can be washed with water and a diluted anti-bacterial solution. You do need to take care not to get water on the neck, though, and with regular use, I think that may be quite tricky.

Once everything is rinsed, the roller has to be left a full 24 hours to air-dry before reassembling. If, like me, you need to clean your floors daily, this could be a bit of a drawback.

How does it compare to similar models?

The Dyson PencilWash isn't the first wet floor cleaner the brand has released - it joins the Dyson WashG1 and Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene - both of which have been tested by Ideal Home's Cleaning and Floorcare Editor, Lauren Bradbury.

The biggest difference is that both the WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene are considerably bulkier and come at a higher price point. They do, however, have a self-cleaning function, making maintenance easier and faster.

The PencilWash, by contrast, is smaller, simpler and more affordable. Dyson seems to have taken inspiration from its popular PencilVac, offering a compact floor washing option that performs well but requires more hands-on maintenance.

It's also worth comparing to a few other wet floor cleaners - particularly if you're after both vacuuming and mopping in one. The Bissell CrossWave OmniForce Edge, has been crowned Ideal Home's best overall vacuum mop, combining suction with wet cleaning in a single pass, and doesn't require much intervention.

I've also tested the Shark HydroVac Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner, which features built-in LED headlights and odour-neutralising technology give it a clear edge - although it isn't as sleek or as lightweight as the PencilWash.

How does it rate online?

On the brand's website, the Dyson PencilWash currently holds a 3.9-star rating out of 126 reviews, although annoyingly, you can't actually read the individual reviews, which makes it harder to gauge what readers think in detail.

I couldn't find any other reviews online, but as it was only very recently released, that's not surprising. So it will be interesting to see how the ratings and feedback develop over the coming months.

Verdict: Should you buy the Dyson PencilWash?

After testing the Dyson PencilWash for two weeks in my busy family home, I would recommend it for anyone who wants a capable, everyday wet floor cleaner without breaking the bank. If you have a busy household with kids, pets, or frequent spills, it handles messes reliably and is light and easy to manoeuvre around tight spaces.

It’s also a good choice for people who clean intermittently rather than multiple times a day - its 24-hour roller drying time and fiddly maintenance might frustrate those who want a daily, grab-and-go routine. Likewise, if you’re used to vacuum-mop hybrids with suction, it’ll take a little adjustment to get the most from the PencilWash.

Overall, it’s ideal for someone looking for a practical, affordable Dyson option that tackles messes well, but who doesn’t mind spending a bit of time on upkeep. For households where convenience is critical, the extra effort required might be a dealbreaker.