Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner — which wet and dry vacuum wins?

If you have mainly hard floors, wet and dry cleaners can come in handy. Not only do they have the suction power of the best vacuum cleaners, but can make lightwork of traditional mopping. Additionally, wet and dry vacuum cleaners have advanced over the years, and you can get models with smart features or ones that can even self-clean.

I've tested my fair share of wet and dry vacuums in my home, including the Dyson WashG1 and Shark HydroVac MessMaster 3-in-1 Floor cleaner to see how they compare. Both are leading brands in the world of cleaning, and have come tops in our best vacuum cleaners guide. But which wet and dry vacuum is better?

In fact, choosing between the two will all depend on your needs and budget, given the eye-watering $450 price difference. However, both have different functions — the Dyson with more features (hydration levels, etc), while the Shark HydroVac MessMaster has a basic spec but can also clean area rugs. Both have self-cleaning functions which are always handy for hygiene, convenience and long-term maintenance.

However, we're here to help you decide which wet and dry cleaner is right for your home. Read on.

Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner: Price and availability

The Dyson WashG1 cleaner is available through Dyson.com directly and retailers like Amazon for $699. While the Shark HydroVac Messmaster is currently priced for $249 on Amazon and on Shark’s website. And slightly cheaper on Lowes for $239 and Walmart for $229.

That’s a massive price difference, considering that the Dyson WashG1 doesn’t come with an App, odor neutralizer or the option to clean rugs. You’ll have to manually clean the brush rolls instead — which can be pretty inconvenient. However, those who have have other Dyson appliances or prefer to stick to the brand will not mind paying for a high- end spec.

Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner: Design

Design-wise, there are clear differences between the two models. Firstly, the Dyson WashG1 looks premium with a slimline design and smallish floorhead. It comes with a motorized wet/dry roller heads that pick up liquids and debris.

Perhaps its selling point is the eye-catching ‘capsule-style’ design that fits right into the brand's theme of innovation and color scheme of metallic and blue. Its handle has two button controls above an LCD screen that gives you real-time information about when to fill the water tank, levels of hydration and battery indicator.

The only downsides are it doesn't come with any extra attachments, just a charging pad — and it also lacks fancy features, such as App connectivity. Which you would expect to have at such a high price point. Weighing in at 10 pounds the Dyson WashG1 is slightly heavier than the Shark HydroVac, at 8.46 pounds. Which is surprising when you compare their appearance.

The Shark HydroVac cleaner looks a little bulky, but still has an attractive design with a nice rose-gold color. I like the fact that it comes with an antibacterial brush roller (x2) and odor neutralizer feature, that eliminates lingering smells.

Both models come with a two-tank system — one for clean water and the dirty water canister underneath. This makes it easier to dispose of dirty water without getting your hands messy. In addition, it’s simple to detach the brush rollers should you need to deep clean or replace. The Dyson WashG1 has the addition of a Debris Tray on the roller head that you can easily empty into the trash.

Overall, the Dyson WashG1 floor cleaner is more attractive, and its slim design makes it easier to store.

Winner: Dyson Wash G1

Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner: Ease of use

Setting up the Dyson WashG1 is straightforward. You simply detach the canister from the vacuum body, unscrew the lid of the clean water section to fill to the Max line. Then once you attach it back into place with a click and it’s ready to go.

Once you press the power button, you need to set your hydration mode (low, medium and high, switched by the silver button underneath), and operate it by pulling the handle/wand down. The LCD display shows you this and tells you useful information such as when to ‘fill clean water tank’ . There’s also a Max mode that you push and hold the blue water droplet button next to the power button to activate.

Then once you've finished cleaning your floors, simply detach the tank and only empty out the dirty water section - giving it a quick rinse if you choose.

Similarly, the Shark HydroVac is easy to set up with a simple click-and-lock into place. The power button on the handle turns on the LCD display that gives you basic indicators like the battery level and when to fill or empty the water tanks. However, it doesn’t have any advanced settings like hydration levels or Max mode in comparison.

Simply detach the clean water compartment to fill to the Max line, adding Shark’s own multisurface cleaner that comes with it. Then once you click it back onto the vacuum body it’s ready to go by pressing the power button on the handle, and tilting it back. Immediately, you’ll feel the force of its self-propelled function that makes it easier to glide across hard floors. The Shark HydroVac is also lighter to carry around the home compared to the Dyson WashG1 — which is ideal for those with stairs.

Winner: Shark HydroVac

Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner: Performance

Performance-wise, both models have sufficient power to do a great job at cleaning different types of hardwood and tiled floors. With Dyson’s swivel head mechanism and Shark’s self-propelled feature, it was easy to maneuver both across the floors, tackling marks and dirt with minimal effort.

When it came to tackling my hard flooring and white, kitchen tiles, the Dyson WashG1 gave a powerful and robust performance. It was able to remove visible dirt and sticky stains with ease. Another bonus is it has edge cleaning that can tackle the edges of baseboards better than expected. It also didn't leave behind wet streaks or patches, and floors seemed to dry fast. The only caveat is that the Dyson WashG1 struggled with getting into awkward angles, in which case, you’d still need to tackle those areas with a traditional mop.

Depending on the mode that you set your hydration/water level on, you can get a decent amount of its 35-minute battery life. And after a good cleaning session, I still had 20 minutes left of battery time — however, I did have it on the lowest mode. This is a great feature for water efficiency.

In comparison, the Shark HydroVac seemed to give a quicker clean, removing dirt and stubborn stains on my tiles in less time. In just one or two sweeps, my white tiles were looking spotless and brand new. Similarly, I was impressed at the results for my ridged bathroom tiles, which are always tricky to clean properly. Plus, the bright headlights were a bonus for spotting dirt in dark spots.

Again, the Shark HydroVac didn’t leave behind any dirty streaks, and floors were dry in under a minute. The fact that it comes with odor neutralizers and an antibacterial roller also meant there were no musty odors in the air and less risk of bacteria.

Another great feature is the ‘refresh’ mode to clean area rugs without soaking them. When testing on my bathroom rug/mat, I simply pressed the ‘refresh’ button on the handle, and it gave it a light clean, which is handy if your rugs are not machine washable. A feature that is not available on the Dyson WashG1, as it only cleans hard floors.

Since both have self-cleaning features, this process takes about a minute. However, the Shark HydroVac’s was noisier while in operation — so it’s best to refrain from having a conversation! Still, it’s a small sacrifice to make for refreshed floors.

Overall, I was impressed by the Shark HydroVac cleaner’s performance and versatility at tackling heavy-duty dirt on all types of flooring.

Winner: Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner

Dyson WashG1 vs. Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner: Verdict

If you have mainly hard flooring and have trouble staying on top of your mopping regime, both wet and dry vacuum cleaners prove to be great contenders.

The Dyson WashG1 scores top marks for its power, innovative design and water efficiency. Not only did it deliver spotless results, but left floors dry and streak-free in less time. What's more, I still had sufficient clean water and battery life after cleaning the whole house. However, it did struggle with tricky corners/angles, and is not as versatile as the Shark HydroVac that can also clean rugs.

At such a steep price point, it doesn’t have an App or the fancy bells and whistles of other wet and dry vacuum cleaners like the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme. However, if you’re simply after good cleaning results, it's certainly a winner for your hard floors.

However, the Shark HydroVac floor cleaner impressed us with its power and speed at quickly removing stubborn, sticky stains. It could also handle ridged tiles with ease, and has the extra feature of cleaning area rugs. This makes it more efficient, versatile and more value for money than the Dyson WashG1. In addition, it is lighter to carry around the home, but you might need extra storage space to accommodate the vacuum, charging plate and extra accessories.

So while it was a very close competition, the Shark HydroVac Floor floor cleaner is a clear winner.

Winner: Shark HydroVac Floor Cleaner

More from Tom's Guide

• How to choose the right vacuum cleaner — 7 things to consider
• For hands-free cleaning, check out the best robot vacuums
• Plus, how to clean your Dyson's filter