After Testing Dyson’s New PencilVac, I Can Confirm: It Cleans Even 5-Inch Spaces with Ease

One of the best parts of the Pencilvac Fluffycones is its simplicity. This doesn’t just apply to ease of use when running it across your hardwood floors—the actual assembly of this vacuum is completely straightforward. Beyond the Fluffycones attachment for tight corners, there’s a rotating combi crevice tool to tackle dust, and it’s obvious how they fit together (though I still glanced at the illustrated instructions to confirm it).  

One of my favorite details, however, is the freestanding magnetic docking station that allows the vacuum to stand vertically on its own. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing and convenient, it makes the vacuum all the more practical to use. Crumbs everywhere on the kitchen floor? A bathroom that’s covered in hair? All you have to do is reach for the PencilVac and you’re good to go.

Credit to the motor itself and its origin story: Dyson’s new PencilVac uses the exact same motor as the Dyson Supersonic R Hair Dryer. It spins at 140,000 RPM and delivers 30 minutes of uninterrupted fade free suction via three different modes—eco, medium and boost. (I was able to vacuum all the hardwood floors of my apartment in under 10 minutes and still have 70 percent charge remaining, which is visible via a digital display in the handle.) The result is almost like you’re reversing the air flow of your hair dryer to clean your floors—a feat.

When I powered on the vacuum to test it, I felt like my cleaning ability was suddenly supercharged. With the engine whirring—it sounds just like the Supersonic—the vacuum glided over my floors with oomph and precision, the LED detection lights that illuminate dirt and debris on both sides guiding the way. (Trust me when I say I was blown away by the particles not visible to the naked eye.)

Some additional specs: The PencilVac weighs less than four pounds; it also compresses dust for hygienic emptying. (I loved watching the result of my labor collect in the transparent canister located within the handle.)

I ran it over my stairs, across my kitchen floors and even relied on it to tackle the dust and hair in the bathrooms. (This is where the cone-shaped rollers really shine. They’re designed to suck up long hair, then move it along the barrel so it’s easy to pick up in a single pass.) I even tried the PencilVac on the handwoven rug beneath my kitchen table (which has a flat weave). While not meant to be used on rugs, it worked, sailing beneath my child’s high chair and minimizing my morning clean-up efforts. (It’s worth noting that this success story relates largely to the rug’s pile; when I tested it on any other plush surface, it didn’t work.)