Dyson W1 PencilWash review: a terrific lightweight power mop with marathon runtime

Date:
Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:03:03 +0000

Description:
Dyson has upgraded its super-slender wet floor cleaner with extra scrubbing power, easier emptying, a bigger water tank, and incredible battery life.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Dyson
W1 PencilWash: 30-second review Dyson has updated its lightweight wet floor cleaner with a redesigned floorhead and extra-long battery life, without increasing the price. The second-generation PencilWash takes the best
features of the original its lightweight build, ease of use, and effective wet cleaning and adds thoughtful features that add up to make it an even better everyday cleaning tool.

The cleaning heads plush-feeling roller is now sprinkled with stiffer
bristles to tackle welded-on stains effectively without scuffing your floor. The upgraded clean water tank is larger and fully detachable, and emptying soiled water is less messy too. After mopping, your floors will be dry and ready to walk on almost immediately. Look closely and you'll see rows of
small red bristles embedded in the W1 PencilWash's upgraded microfiber roller (Image credit: Future) Its an excellent package, but before buying, note that Dyson has now cut the price of the original PencilWash to just $199.99 / 179 in the US and UK respectively. Thats great value, and it could be all you
need if you want to spruce up a relatively small home. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Dyson W1 PencilWash at Amazon for 299 For
me, the only real drawback of the W1 PencilWash was that hair tended to get wrapped around one of the wheels underneath the floor head, rather than sticking to the roller and being scraped off by Dysons new metal comb.

Note that the PencilWash isnt a vacuum cleaner, and has no suction. If youre looking for a slim and lightweight vacuum, take a look at the Dyson PencilVac instead. Dyson W1 PencilWash: price and availability Went on sale in October 2026 List price $349.99 / 299.99 in the US and UK Not yet available in Australia, but likely to be AU$549 Dyson announced the W1 PencilWash at its Dyson Unveiled event in September 2026, and the product launched globally in October the same year nine months after the original PencilWash.

It has a list price of $349.99 / 299.99, which is the same as the original PencilWash at launch, though you may also be able to find it cheaper (for example, Dyson is offering a $100 discount in its US store at the time of writing). The W1 PencilWash isnt yet available in Australia, but I would expect it to be AU$549 when it arrives. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

That's relatively expensive for a wet-only floor cleaner, and there are several excellent wet-and-dry vacuums available for about the same price. For comparison, the Bissell Crosswave HydroScrub wet/dry floor cleaner is $369.99 (about 280 / AU$540), while the Shark HydroVac Cordless WD201 / WD210 is $359.99 / 329.99 / AU$399.99.

What you're paying for here is the light weight and compact design, which
will be better suited to apartments and other small homes than a bulky
wet-dry cleaner. Value score: 4/5 Dyson W1 PencilWash: design New stiffer bristles in microfiber roller Clean water tank is larger and fully removable Emptying waste water is less messy At first glance, the W1 PencilWash looks very similar to its predecessor, with a slender handle (this time colored indigo rather than copper), and one of Dysons Submarine floor heads. A tank
at the back of the floorhead dispenses water onto a microfiber roller, and a squeegee-like blade squeezes dirty water out, and dispenses it into a
separate tank inside.

On closer inspection, however, there are a few significant differences. The most obvious change is the floorheads microfiber roller, which is now scattered with stiffer fibers to more effectively scrub away stubborn dirt. There is also a new metal comb designed to detangle and scrape hair off the roller. (Both of these features are borrowed from the bulkier Dyson
Clean+Wash Hygiene wet cleaner, which launched at the start of 2026.)

The head disassembles into more parts, as you can see below. Most significantly, the clean water tank is now fully removable, making it easier to fill at the sink, and has a significantly larger capacity so you can keep cleaning for longer. Dyson PencilWash floorhead comparison Dyson W1
PencilWash Original Dyson PencilWash The dirty water collection tank has also been reworked, and is now much less prone to spills during emptying. Its
still wise to hold the whole floorhead over the sink when removing the cassette, but I found the process much less messy than the original PencilWash.

Note that the W1 PencilWash has different docks in the US and UK. The UK model, which I tested here, has a charging stand that holds the PencilWashs handle, and a separate holder for the floorhead. The UK version of the W1 PencilWash has a charging stand for the handle, and a separate holder for the floorhead. The US model has a magnetic charging stand called the Dok that holds both together. (Image credit: Future) The US model has a magnetic charging stand called the Dok, which holds the whole PencilWash with its floorhead attached. This seems slightly more convenient, and will save a few seconds during cleaning. Design score: 5/5 Dyson W1 PencilWash: performance Excellent cleaning on dried-on spills Much easier to fill and empty than previous model Battery lasted over two hours in testing Hair wrapped around wheel underneath floorhead In use, the W1 PencilWash feels very much like its predecessor. The handle is light in the hand, and its plush microfiber roller propels it forward so you barely need to apply any force when cleaning.

I tested it with a variety of stains and spills, including dried-on juice, ketchup, dried toothpaste (to simulate spills in a bathroom), flour, and
hair.

You can use the PencilWash with plain water, or a cleaning fluid. I tested it with Dyson 02 Probiotic Hard Floor Cleaning Solution (which is specifically recommended for the companys wet floor cleaners) diluted according to the instructions on the bottle. Image 1 of 3 Dyson's probiotic floor cleaning solution is specifically designed for use with its wet floor cleaners, but
you can use a different brand, or just plain water instead (Image credit: Future) The handle of the W1 PencilWash can lie almost flat, making it easy
to maneuver under low furniture (Image credit: Future) The reworked floorhead has an easily removable cassette for simple cleanup (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 3 View Original Image 2 of 3 View Original Image 3 of 3 View Original The W1 PencilWash fared well in all my cleaning tests, clearing up flour, dried juice, and ketchup on a single pass. Congealed toothpaste proved the toughest challenge, taking about four passes to completely remove, but I was impressed that the roller system removed all the mess and deposited it in the waste tank, leaving no streaks when I continued cleaning the rest of the floor. The new stiffer bristles work well to scrub away dirt that would normally require you to get down on your hands and knees to remove, and I was pleased to note their tougher fibers arent rigid enough to damage your flooring.

The floorhead is fully articulated for easy maneuvering, and the handle can
be laid almost flat to clean under low items of furniture. I was able to
clean right between the legs of my dining chairs, which have a crossbar just
a few inches above the ground. The roller cleans very close to furniture and baseboards as well, leaving a gap only half an inch wide. Ketchup cleaning test Before cleaning ketchup After cleaning ketchup Your floors will dry exceptionally quickly as well; after a pass on the regular cleaning mode, my laminate flooring was dry within 10 seconds.

The new metal comb wasnt quite such a success. It does catch hair, and the roller needs less hand-cleaning after use, but quite a lot of hair became caught in one of the small wheels on the bottom of the floorhead during my tests. This didnt seem to affect performance, and I didnt even realize while maneuvering the cleaner, but it was wrapped tightly around the tiny axel and had to be cut free with scissors. Toothpaste cleaning test Before cleaning toothpaste During cleaning toothpaste Its worth noting that the microfiber roller takes quite a long time to air-dry. I placed it near a dehumidifier to speed up the process, but it still took two days before it was dry enough for me to feel comfortable storing it.

The big surprise was the battery life. Dysons specifications claim that the
W1 PencilWash can run for 45 minutes on a single charge (up from 30 minutes for the original PencilWash), but during my tests it ran for an astonishing two hours and 13 minutes and that was during active mopping, not just
running the roller without resistance. I have contacted Dysons press office
to ask whether thats expected performance, but its safe to say that you shouldnt have any problems cleaning even large homes. Image 1 of 2 Hair
became caught in one of the wheels on the bottom of the floorhead (Image credit: Future) The dirty water container is now easier to empty, with less potential for spillage (Image credit: Future) Image 1 of 2 View Original
Image 2 of 2 View Original Overall, Im impressed with the W1 PencilWash.
Dyson has clearly taken on board feedback from the first model (the
detachable clean water tank and scrubbing bristles are highlights) while keeping the fundamentals the same. If you have a large home with lots of hard flooring, or live with pets or children, then this new model would be a great choice. If, on the other hand, your home is relatively small and you want something for everyday maintenance, the original PencilWash might be the smarter choice at its newly reduced price. Performance score: 4.5/5 Should
you buy the Dyson W1 PencilWash? Swipe to scroll horizontally Dyson W1 PencilWash score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Same price as the original PencilWash at launch. Relatively pricey for a wet floor cleaner; you're paying for light weight and compact design.

4/5

Design

Redesigned floor head is a huge improvement especially new water tanks.

5/5

Performance

Great cleaning performance on stubborn stains and remarkable battery life,
but hair can get caught in wheels.

4.5/5 Buy it if

You have lots of hard floors

With its incredible battery life, the W1 PencilWash can mop your entire home on a single charge.

You want to clean little and often

The W1 PencilWash is quick to use and floors dry rapidly after cleaning, so it's very convenient for daily mopping. Don't buy it if

You have long hair

Although the metal comb is designed to catch hair, I found it tended to get caught on one of the wheels under the floorhead.

You have unsealed floors

Neither version of the PencilWash is suitable for unsealed flooring. Dyson W1 PencilWash: also consider If the Dyson W1 PencilWash isn't the right wet
floor cleaner for you, here are two other options to think about.

Dyson PencilWash

The original PencilWash is still a great option, and has received a serious price cut since the launch of the W1. Well worth investigating if you have a small home.

Read our full Dyson PencilWash review

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub

If you want a full wet and dry cleaner, check out Bissell. The CrossWave HydroScrub isn't small, but it's a great all-rounder and about the same price as the W1 PencilWash.

Read our full Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub review How I tested the Dyson W1 PencilWash I tested the Dyson W1 PencilWash on sealed laminate flooring,
using Dyson 02 Probiotic Hard Floor Cleaning Solution and tap water. I used
it on common household stains including dried juice, dried toothpaste, ketchup, flour, and human hair.

I emptied the floor head cassette, and cleaned the tank, comb, and microfiber roller using plain water.

I fully charged the W1, then used it to clean the floors, moving it backwards and forwards as in normal use, and timed how long it took for the battery to run flat.

First reviewed November 2026 Dyson W1 PencilWash: Price Comparison 299 View voucher gift 299 View 299 View voucher gift 299 View 299.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices powered by



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