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Dyson's Slimmest Cordless Vacuum Now Has a Swiffer-Like Cousin. I Tried It

I got to test out Dyson's new PencilWash, which resembles the brand's slim PencilVac but with mopping capabilities.

Headshot of Ajay Kumar
Headshot of Ajay Kumar
Ajay Kumar Editor
Ajay has worked in tech journalism for over a decade as a reporter, analyst, product reviewer, and editor. He got his start in consumer tech, breaking Android news at Newsweek before going to PCMag, where he reviewed hundreds of smartphones, battery packs, and chargers as a Mobile Analyst. He also worked at Lifewire, a Dotdash Meredith brand, as a Tech Commerce Editor, putting together tested best-of lists and assigning product reviews across categories including smart home, uninterruptible power supplies, generators, and automotive tech. Most recently, he was Section Editor, Mobile at Digital Trends, spearheading his team's coverage of breaking news, features, reviews, roundups, deals, and more across a variety of mobile products, including phones, wearables, VR headsets, batteries, and chargers. If you want Ajay's advice about anything tech, especially solar panels, UPS, batteries, EVs, and charging technology, you can reach him at ajkumar@cnet.com.
Expertise 13+ years of experience in consumer product reviews, buying guides, best lists, and tech news across a variety of tech categories. As a homeowner, Ajay is also familiar with the unique electrical issues that can crop up in a prewar apartment building.
Ajay Kumar
2 min read
Dyson

Dyson's PencilVac was one of the most intriguing cordless vacuums I've used in years because of its ultralight, ultraslim design, which made it feel more like a broom than a vacuum. The new Dyson PencilWash retains the same style but adds mopping functionality for $349. 

I got to try it out at Dyson's Soho store to clean up some messes, and I was impressed by how easy it is to use. 

The thinnest wet vacuum I've ever used

The PencilWash next to the Submarine cleaner head and a couch on a light wood floor.

The PencilWash weighs less than 5 pounds and is just as thin as the PencilVac.

 Dyson

According to Dyson, the new PencilWash weighs just 4.9 pounds and features a 1.5-inch-thick handle that houses all the key components, including the motor and battery. To me, using it felt pretty similar to the PencilVac in terms of maneuverability and its ability to get under furniture and around tight corners. Battery life should last around 30 minutes. 

The only difference is that the PencilWash comes with Dyson's Submarine cleaner head, which incorporates a mop roller, water tank, cleaning solution and a dirty water tank into the brushhead. Despite the added components on the brush head, using it didn't feel much heavier to me than the PencilVac's Fluffycones cleaner head. I certainly liked using it more than the heftier Dyson WashG1, which comes with a bigger water tank, but it feels more like a chore for a quick cleanup. 

The Dyson PencilWash lying flat under a piece of wood furniture.

The Dyson PencilWash can lie flat to get under low furniture because it doesn't have a bulky water tank. 

 Dyson

In terms of cleaning ability, I didn't have a chance to do comprehensive testing, but Dyson let me scrawl the CNET logo on the wood floor with a marker, then let me use the PencilWash to scrub it off. It did it without a hitch. After I was done, I couldn't tell there had ever been a mark. 

As with Dyson's other wet cleaners, the PencilWash uses a mix of hydration, agitation and extraction to clean hard surfaces. It's not technically using suction, as many wet-dry vacuums do, so it's more of a powered roller mop than a vacuum, similar to the Hizero F300 we tested.  

According to the company, it always uses fresh water to clean floors, and the high-density microfiber roller has 64,000 filaments per square centimeter, allowing it to remove both wet and dry debris. No filter is required, so there's nowhere for dirt or odors to be trapped or for performance to be reduced by clogging.  

Price and availability 

The Dyson PencilWash cleaning a spill off a tile floor.

Everything is contained in the Submarine cleaner head, including the mop roller, clean water, dirty water and cleaning solution. 

 Dyson

The Dyson PencilWash will run you $349, making it even cheaper than the $600 PencilVac. It's also less pricey than the Dyson WashG1, which starts at $770. At this price, I can see the PencilWash as a more capable alternative to a Swiffer and a more versatile option than bulky wet-and-dry vacuums.Â