Reviewing the Dyson Wash G1: Is is worth paying $999 for an electric floor mop?

Around this time last year, I marvelled at the efficiency of the Dyson V12s Detect Slim Submarine. I was amazed at the convenience of an all-in-one cleaning product and had accepted the time in my adulthood (aka your early 30s) when the idea of productive cleaning products turn you on excites you.

The V12 was everything I needed for my small apartment, so when the opportunity to try out the Dyson Wash G1 came around, I was doubtful about how much I would need it. This felt like a product only future me would need, where she was living in an apartment that was larger than a shoebox, had hardwood floors and fully belonged to her (aside from the 99-year lease to the government of course).

But! A good household appliance was a good household appliance, and I would be crazy to pass on the chance to give it a try.

Cleaning up debris has never been so satisfying

You know those cleaning videos on social media that are immensely satisfying to watch? Well, imagine that, but in real life.

But first, let’s clear up any confusion – while its overall look is deceiving, make no mistake, the Dyson Wash G1 is a mop or a wet floor cleaner, and NOT a vacuum cleaner. 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, ironically, one of the best features of this device is that it essentially does the same job as a vacuum cleaner (albeit without suction) combined with a mop. It can pick up huge chunks of food or debris (such as rubber bands, pet kibble, broken glass etc.) that you would have to pick up manually before mopping. Once you’re done mopping up the mess, simply pull out the debris tray to clear the mess and then switch on the self-cleaning mode to clean the machine.

We’re not kidding – during the preview, a Dyson spokesperson tried it out with a bowl of wonton mee and the machine lapped it all up without a trace. This was great for a klutz like me whose lack of hand-eye coordination has caused several food spills in the kitchen. The Dyson Wash G1 also uses highly absorbent microfibre rollers which help to clean up liquid spills, dry dirt, debris and hair. Unless your house is extremely dusty, going over the house with the device is enough. The machine can also cover 290sqm (roughly the size of two 5-room HDB flat) in a single tank, allowing you to clean your entire home without a refill.

While I am currently child and pet-free, I imagine this function would be immensely helpful for anyone with young children and pets with messy eating habits. However, you’d have to be mindful of clearing the debris tray and remember to switch on the self-cleaning mode after every cleaning cycle. I heard of one horror story where the user left the device uncleaned and unattended after a particularly messy foodspill, and let’s just say, the smell and the deep cleaning needed after they discovered it a week later were…not the most pleasant.

Is the Dyson Wash G1 easy to use?

One downside of the machine is that, at 5kg, it’s much heavier than your standard issue manual mop. But, there is a motor within the device that helps to “drive” the machine when you use it, requiring very little physical effort on your part. Though I do warn you, it is quite a bit of a wrist and forearm workout! The machine’s double rollers also spin in opposite directions, making it easy to glide across floors, even under furniture. And to put it to the test, I tried the test unit out at Dyson headquarters with heels on, and it was surprisingly very easy!

The machine is very hygienic too, and its unique system automatically separates debris from dirty liquid, making for hygienic, no-touch disposal. It also has a precision-controlled hydration system which means you can adjust the water level according to your cleaning task – whether you’re dealing with a simple spill or a stubborn stain. This means you won’t have to deal with huge wet streaks on your floors, even when using the highest water setting. I valued the convenience of just whipping this out when I had to clean the floors in between weeks when my part-time cleaner wasn’t available.

The handle is also adjustable and can go completely flat, allowing you to mop hard-to-reach areas such as under the bed or sofas.

All hail the self-cleaning mode

One thing that Dyson always gets right is streamlining the convenience of a product. While I love my V12, I do have to remember to empty the tank and clean and dry the rollers each time I’m done. With the Dyson Wash G1, you’ll be able to bypass some of that, or at least get away with manually cleaning the machine frequently with the self-cleaning mode. While you’ll still have to empty and rinse both the dirty tank and the debris tray, clicking the self-clean mode cleans the machine in 140 seconds. This makes the machine easy to maintain for busy homeowners. 

The verdict

Because of how the machine is built, what I learnt from using the V12 is that it’s not the easiest to get into corners. So if you’re a clean freak who needs every part of your floors completely wiped down, even the nooks and crannies, this might not provide the same satisfaction as an old-fashioned manual mop. And thus, my part-time cleaner has chosen to reject this machine in favour of her good ol’ steam mop and a little elbow grease.

So, is this the best product for someone like me? Aka a solo home dweller who is only home 50% of the time and has no pets or children to speak of? I’d say no. I’m not particular about the cleanliness of my home too (surficial cleanliness is good enough for me), so the V12 is perfect and all I need at this point.

But for parents and pet parents where mealtimes are a food battlefield? The Dyson Wash G1 will be a game changer – IF you remember to clear the debris tray, switch on self-cleaning mode, and deep clean the machine at least once a week.

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