Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner review: powerful suction for big and small messes

Having tested some of the best wet/dry vacuum cleaners around my home for Top Ten Reviews, I was excited to try Dyson's latest offering.

The Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner is the brand's first dedicated wet floor cleaner. It uses powerful motorized rollers instead of vacuum suction to offer hygienic cleaning for hard floors, effectively removing wet and dry debris in a single pass. It uses clean water throughout the washing process without a cleaning solution and can cover up to 3,121 square feet with just one tank. Its lightweight and ergonomic design allows for effortless gliding and easy maneuverability, even in tight spaces under furniture.

I used the Dyson WashG1 on various floor-cleaning tasks around my home, including everyday cleaning, sticky and dry spills, and ground-in dirt. Find out how it got on and see if it's the best wet/dry vacuum for your household needs.

Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner: Key specs

Dyson WashG1: Price & availability

The Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner is available directly from Dyson and retails for $699.99, placing it firmly at the upper end of the market for wet floor cleaners. If you buy through Dyson, though, you can select a complimentary tool worth $59.99 at checkout; in the case of the WashG1, that's an extra set of Dual microfiber rollers free of charge.

The closest comparison to another Dyson product is the V15s Detect Submarine Absolute, which is currently retailing for $749.99 with a $200 discount. Dyson stresses that the WashG1 is a dedicated wet floor cleaner engineered specifically to wash hard floors instead of a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

At $699.99, the WashG1 is more than twice the price of the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Plus Multi-Surface Wet/Dry Vacuum, which retails for around $299.99. However, you are paying for a brand with a global reputation for excellence in engineering and stunning design. For households with deeper pockets, these factors, plus a generous 2-year warranty on parts and labor, may make the price more palatable.

Dyson WashG1: Setup

The Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner arrives securely packaged in a double box with plenty of cardboard inserts to keep individual components secure during shipping. Everything is recyclable, with no annoying plastic bags or polystyrene packing, so you can comfortably get rid of all the packaging without contributing to landfill.

Inside the box, you'll find the main body of the Wash G1 already assembled, complete with the rollers and debris tray already in place. You do not need to put these elements together; you only have to slot the handle into place with a click.

A charger and charging dock are also included, along with a QR code to scan to download the My Dyson app and add your floor cleaner. If you already have the app, you can search for the Wash G1 and add it to your devices.

Unlike other Dyson appliances, the Wash G1 does not offer smart functionality, such as cleaning data or remote operation. Still, the My Dyson app offers advice and information videos on setting up your new appliance, user guides on operation, care, and maintenance, troubleshooting support, and access to the Dyson community and customer care experts, so it's worth downloading.

Regarding set-up, you're about a minute away from using your brand-new floor cleaner! All I had to do was slot in the handle and fill up the water tank, and I was good to go. My Wash G1 arrived with around 50% charge in the battery, so I could start cleaning immediately. On the side of the box is a simple illustrative guide to inserting the handle and filling the tank, but you can find more info on the My Dyson app or work it out yourself, as it's super easy.

You can detach the water tanks from the shaft of the Dyson Wash G1 by pressing down on the red catch button at the top of the tanks. This removes both cylinders in one go. You can then remove each tank by pushing down on the blue catch at the back (clean water tank) or the red button (dirty water tank). Both have a capacity of 0.21 gallons, which is great, as many similar floor cleaners have a smaller dirty water tank capacity, which requires more frequent stops to empty during cleaning.

Switching on and changing the modes is similarly straightforward. All the controls are at the handle. A circular display panel shows you which mode you are in, whether there are any problems with the device and some basic instructions for using it. You can also switch modes here and turn on the self-clean function.

The battery at the cleaner's base is removable, so you can charge this separately from the Dyson Wash G1 if you wish. This is a handy feature if you need to keep your cleaner in a closet without access to an electrical socket when it's not in use.

Overall, a swift and painless set-up, which is something I've come to expect from Dyson over the years.

Dyson WashG1: Design

As you'd expect, the Dyson Wash G1 is beautifully designed and emphasizes ease of use. It has a stylish colorway and a reassuringly expensive finish.

The shaft of the handle is a shimmering ultra-blue that screams luxury, while the handle and display screen are gray and black. As always with Dyson, important clipping mechanisms are highlighted in contrast colors, in this case, red.

The 65-inch cord attaching the charger base to a socket is long enough to give you some leeway on where you place your appliance for charging, but Dyson should have included a cable tidy to wrap up excess cordage and keep it out of sight.

The controls are super-easy to change during operation, and you can easily change them with the same hand you use for pushing your Wash G1.

I found the Wash G1's maneuverability to be superb. It's very smooth and effortless to control, and the appliance's lightweight nature allows you to move direction quickly, turn corners, and lift. However, it does get heavier with a full tank of clean water.

The Wash G1 never feels off balance or like it might fall over, which I've found with other vacuums and floor cleaners.

During operation, the Dyson Wash G1 is remarkably quiet, purring away at a constant 60 dB, no matter which mode you choose. It gets slightly louder during self-cleaning, rising to around 65 dB.

Compared to other vacuums and wet floor cleaners, which can reach 80 to 90 dB highs, the Wash G1 is wonderfully quiet and perfect if you have neighbors nearby or people in your household who are sensitive to noise.

The rollers at the machine's base are easy to remove and clean if necessary, while the debris tray filters out dirt and debris away from the dirty water tank. It is designed to be lifted cleanly away from the base and emptied over a garbage bin.

While I enjoy the simplicity of the Wash G1's design, I think for the price, Dyson could have employed some of their other features, such as LED lights that illuminate pet hair and other debris or a steam cleaning feature, both of which the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam Plus Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuum includes at a cheaper price point.

Dyson WashG1: Performance

For my first test of the Dyson Wash G1, I did a general pass over the vinyl laminate flooring in my hallway and kitchen without focusing on specific spills or types of debris. I was immediately impressed with how well it picked up debris like crumbs, leaves, dust, and dirt. I used the boost mode for tougher, ground-in dirt, which handled it well.

The edge-to-edge cleaning is fantastic, and the vacuum glides effortlessly around corners, making it very easy to maneuver. I'd venture to say this is the best edge-to-edge cleaning I've experienced with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

One thing to note: there’s no alert when the clean water tank is empty, so you must watch it. However, emptying the dirty water tank is simple, as the debris gets filtered out and stored in a separate tray. Switching modes is also very easy—just press a button on the handle. Plus, the vacuum stops automatically when you set the wand upright, which is a nice touch.

The Dyson Wash G1 also cleaned the floor under the family shoe rack, always covered in pet hair, mud, dirt, and dust. With just a couple of swipes, it was sparkling clean again. It’s impressive that this vacuum doesn’t rely on suction—instead, it uses the hydration levels of the rollers to lift debris effectively.

Over two weeks of testing the Dyson Wash G1 at home, I assessed its performance on various liquids and debris types on hard floors, including thick sauces, sticky honey, milk, spilled cereal, oats, and flour. I was delighted by how easy it was to remove liquids, including sticky liquids, with just one pass and no need for the 'boost' mode.

You can see from the images below how it cleanly cuts through any spill, including milk and honey.

It did a similarly great job picking up thick sauces, spilled oats, and flour—there was no need for a second pass.

I did experience a couple of niggly issues with my model, though, which I discovered during testing. The debris tray at the base of the appliance is supposed to be securely fastened with a sturdy 'lip'. Unlocking the debris tray should be a clean and simple function. However, I found that my debris tray was loose, allowing water and other debris to leak while emptying, which was super annoying and messy to clean up.

I also found that the power cord seemed a little wobbly when plugged into the unit - not the usual quality and standard I would expect from a Dyson product.

A quick search online found several other Dyson Wash G1 users have experienced the same issues, suggesting a design fault on some models. I contacted a Dyson representative to report the issue but have not heard back.

Unfortunately, these two niggles mean a point off the final performance score, which otherwise would get full marks.

Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner: Maintenance

To keep your Dyson Wash G1 in top shape, Dyson suggests a few easy steps:

1. Quick clean after each use: Empty the dirty water tank and debris tray when done. The no-touch system makes it easy—just pour out the water, rinse the tank, and it’s ready to go. Be sure to refill the clean water tank before each use.
2. Self-cleaning cycle: The Wash G1 has a self-clean mode! Just fill up the clean tank, set it on the dock, and press the self-clean option. Your machine will be freshened up in under three minutes and ready for the next job.
3. Refresh the rollers: Remove the microfiber rollers and rinse them with warm water and mild detergent every so often. Dyson suggests replacing them after about 25 hours of use, and the MyDyson app can remind you.
4. Seasonal deep clean: Every few months, rinse both water tanks, wipe down the debris tray, and give the filter mesh a little TLC to avoid limescale. This prevents buildup and keeps your machine working at its best.

Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner: User reviews

User reviews for the Dyson Wash G1 on the Dyson site are largely positive, with 4.4 stars out of 5 across hundreds of reviews. Users highlight its efficiency in tackling dry and wet messes on hard floors, while many are impressed with how well it handles everyday spills, leaving floors spotless after one or two passes.

The G1’s counter-rotating rollers, which avoid suction and rely on hydration, are also praised for their effective and quiet cleaning. This makes the machine a standout for households with pets or children who regularly create tough messes.

However, some users note challenges with maneuverability, especially in tight spaces. It struggles in confined or highly obstructed spaces and cannot clean small, tricky areas, such as between tight furniture gaps or around narrow tiles.

Another feature often mentioned is the G1’s self-cleaning function, which many find convenient after each cleaning session. It’s simple to maintain between uses, and the machine only requires more thorough manual cleaning every few uses. On the downside, a few users point out that it lacks a notification for an empty, clean water tank, so users have to keep an eye on the water level during longer cleaning sessions, something I found, too.

Would I buy the Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner?

For those looking for a reliable and efficient wet/dry vacuum, the Dyson WashG1 Wet/Dry Vacuum scores high on setup, ease of use, and maneuverability. Aside from some design issues with the debris tray and power cord, its suction power and tank capacity are great. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Dyson WashG1 provides a good cleaning experience.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How does the Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner compare?

Considering the Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner, you'll find it’s a well-designed and effective tool for keeping your floors spotless. However, it comes with a higher price tag than alternatives like the Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam, which often retails around $349.99. The Bissell model is known for its steam cleaning capabilities and is frequently available at a discount, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious shoppers. Still, the Dyson might be worth the investment if you value performance and a sleek aesthetic.

The Ultenic AC1 Cordless Wet Dry Vacuum might catch your eye for those who want a two-in-one solution. It efficiently vacuums and mops hard floors simultaneously, saving you precious time on cleaning. With a solid 45 minutes of runtime per charge, it’s a handy choice for quick clean-ups, though it won't handle carpets. This could be the perfect fit for your home if you’re after something lightweight and easy to store.

If you’re looking for something compact and budget-friendly, the Black+Decker Dustbuster QuickClean could be just what you need. This little powerhouse is great for tackling dry and wet messes around the house and even in the car. it’s easy to tuck away when you’re done. Remember that its 10-minute battery life might not be enough for bigger jobs. And if you're all about convenience, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni offers a hands-free experience, but be ready to spend a bit more for that luxury!

How I tested the Dyson WashG1 Wet Floor Cleaner

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