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Dyson now has two wet vacuum cleaners for use on hard floors. But they couldn’t be more different from each other. We’ve tested both the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine and the Dyson WashG1 and can give you some expert advice on what they do, as well as their strengths and weaknesses, so you can choose the right one for you.
More detailed information about both floor cleaners can be found in our dedicated reviews of the Dyson V15s Submarine and the Dyson WashG1.
To see how they stack up against our other top recommendations, and to see more affordable options, check out our roundup of the best wet and dry vacuums. And to find the best Dyson for you, browse our Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners table.
Main reason to buy
WasG1
It is a special hard floor cleaner that vacuums and mop in one go, cutting hard floor cleaning time in half.
V15s detect submarine
It is a powerful modular vacuum cleaner that cleans every part of your home.
What do you get when you buy?
Was G1
The Wash G1 is a cordless, special wet and dry vacuum cleaner. It can only be used on sealed, hard floors, but you do not need to vacuum the floors before using it, as you do with a traditional mop or many motorized wet vacuum cleaners.
In other words, if you have a home with a lot of sealed, hard floors, including tile, vinyl, and laminate, you can use the WashG1 to vacuum and mop in one go.
To be clear, it cannot be used as a carpet cleaner. And you’ll still need a second vacuum for carpets, rugs and unsealed floorboards, as well as upholstery, baseboards and so on.
In the box you get:
- The WashG1 vacuum cleaner housing, with 1 liter clean water tanks and 0.8 liter dirty water tanks
- Metal rod, with LCD display, that you attach to the housing of the vacuum cleaner
- Charging stand with drip tray
- Charger
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
It’s a much simpler proposition than the submarine, but it can only do one job.
V15s detect submarine
The V15s Submarine is a cordless, modular vacuum cleaner. Essentially it’s the Dyson V15 Detect vacuum cleaner, with an additional wet cleaning head (the submarine).
But it is important to note that the V15s Submarine parts are not interchangeable with those of the V15 Detect. So if you already have a V15 Detect, the Submarine Head is not compatible with it.
In the box you get:
- Main body of the vacuum cleaner, with LCD display and a 0.76 liter/0.2 gallon dustbin
- Submarine Wet Roller head and drip tray
- Digital Motorbar cleaning head for carpets
- Fluffy Optic cleaning head for hard floors (with green laser)
- Hair screw tool
- Crevice nozzle
- Combination tools
- Wall clip for accessories
- Charger
- Docking station
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
With all this stuff, you can use the V15s Submarine for any cleaning job in your home: as a wet vacuum on sealed, hard floors; as a regular vacuum cleaner on both hard floors and carpet; and on upholstery, curtains, blinds and shelves.
Price and availability
In Great Britain you can buy the WashG1 from Dyson for £599.99.
Meanwhile, the V15s Submarine is available from Dyson, John Lewis, Curries and other retailers for £799.99.
Obviously neither is a budget-friendly model (although we do have recommendations for less expensive wet and dry vacuums), but the Submarine gives you a whole-house cleaning system for £200 more.
On the other hand, the WashG1 offers a very fast and effective way to clean hard floors.
In the US, the submarine costs $949.99, and you can buy it from online retailers including Dyson, Best Buy and Amazon, who are offering a discount at the time of writing.
The WashG1 isn’t available in the US yet, but we expect it to launch in September.
Features and specifications
It’s difficult to compare these two Dyson models by weight or accessories because they are such completely different products.
For example, although the submarine is lighter at 4.1 kg than the WashG1 at 4.9 kg, the weight of the WashG1 is much less important.
It is motorized, making it very maneuverable, and it carries its own weight on the floor. You just have to lift it up to carry it over carpet or rugs or up or down the stairs.
Meanwhile, the V15s Detect Submarine is fairly heavy for a cordless vacuum, although it is also motorized in wet cleaning mode.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Emma Rowley / Foundry
Was G1
- Weight: 4.9kg
- Playing time: maximum 35 minutes
- Coverage: up to 290m² on one tank
- Modes: three water levels and a MAX mode for leaks
- Tank capacity: 1 liter of clean water, 0.8 liter of dirty water
- Tanks have a screw top lid, so there is no danger of spillage
- Fast and effective, because it cleans in both directions
- Edge cleaning on one side
- The cleaning head separates dirt and dirty water, reducing the risk of blockages
- LCD display with countdown timer
- Self-cleaning mode
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
Alex Greenwood / Foundry
V15s detect submarine
- Weight: 4.9kg
- Playing time: up to 60 minutes
- Consumption (in wet cleaning mode): approx. 90 m²
- Removable battery (but only one included with vacuum cleaner)
- Clean water tank: 300 ml (dirty water is collected in a ditch in the base)
- Vacuuming hard floors with green laser to lighten hair and dust
- LCD display with countdown timer and particle counting
- Hair screw tool for upholstery
Disadvantages
No product is perfect. These are the disadvantages we discovered when testing these cleaners.
WasG1
- Cannot Steam or Sanitize: The WashG1 cannot be used with bleach or very hot water, so it cannot sanitize your floors. However, you can use it with a small amount of detergent if necessary.
- The rollers need to be replaced after 25 hours of cleaning, and that is expensive. A replacement set costs €45. from Dyson.
- Although the edge cleaning is effective, the WashG1 cannot clean into the corners.
- Emptying the dirty water tank is easy and the rollers are cleaned automatically, but you have to empty the dirt filter by hand, which is an unpleasant job.
V15s detect submarine
- Like the Wash G1, it cannot steam or disinfect. The Submarine cannot be used with bleach or very hot water, which will prevent your floors from being cleaned. If necessary, you can use it with a small amount of detergent.
- It is heavier than many other stick vacuum cleaners.
- The drain slot is not sealed and can therefore leak if it is full.
- The tractor is back! While some Dyson models (like the Gen5detect) have ditched the trigger, the Sub has not. This means that you have to keep pressure on it the entire time you use it, which makes cleaning a bit extra taxing.
Pronunciation
The Dyson V15s Submarine and the WashG1 are very different cleaners, for different types of homes.
If you have an even mix of carpets and hard floors, or predominantly carpets, the Submarine offers a cleaning head for all surfaces. Read our review of the submarine for more information.
If your home has all or most hard, sealed floors and you spend a lot of time mopping or knowing you need to mop, the WashG1 will get you through your cleaning in half the time. Check out our WashG1 review for more information on how to use it.