# Shark's New Extendable Cleaning Wand Signals a Bigger Trend: Smarter Tools for Every Corner of Your Home > Shark's answer to the viral PencilWash mop features an extendable wand built to reach tight spots. It is a small appliance story, but it points to a much larger shift happening across the smart home, including how security devices are designed to fit into every corner of your life. - URL: https://vivint.security/resources/sharks-new-extendable-cleaning-wand-signals-a-bigger-trend-smarter - Category: Industry News - Author: Tyler Jackson, Doorbell & Entry Security Writer - Published: 2026-08-18 - Reading time: 2 min - Keywords: smart home trends, home automation, smart home devices, home security cameras, connected home technology --- ## Shark takes on the PencilWash trend Shark just entered the ring against the viral PencilWash mop with its own take on a slim, extendable cleaning wand. According to CNET, the new tool is designed to stretch and narrow so it can clean tight corners, baseboards, and other hard-to-reach spots that a standard mop or vacuum attachment tends to miss. It is a small appliance release, but it is worth paying attention to. It shows how much thought manufacturers are now putting into design details that solve very specific, everyday frustrations. Homeowners are not just buying a mop. They are buying a tool that adapts to their actual living space, including the awkward gaps behind toilets, under cabinets, and along stair edges. ## Why a mop story matters to the smart home conversation At first glance, a cleaning wand and a home security system do not have much in common. But the underlying trend is the same one we see across the smart home industry: products are getting smarter about fitting into the real, imperfect shapes of people's homes. For years, home security meant a bulky panel on the wall and a handful of sensors that only covered the obvious entry points. Today, homeowners expect coverage that adapts to their specific layout, whether that is a wraparound porch, a side gate, a detached garage, or a second-story window that traditional systems ignore. That is the same instinct behind Shark's extendable wand. Manufacturers across categories, from kitchen appliances to security cameras, are competing to solve the tight spots and blind corners that generic products leave behind. ## Vivint's take: coverage should fit your home, not the other way around At Vivint, we see this trend play out daily in the questions homeowners ask us. They do not want a one-size-fits-all system. They want to know if a camera can cover that oddly angled driveway, or if a sensor can be tucked into a mudroom entrance that is not a typical front or back door. That is why a professionally designed system matters. Our [security cameras](/security-cameras) are placed based on an actual walkthrough of your property, not a generic install checklist. Our [home security](/home-security) plans are built around the real shape of your home, including those "tight spot" areas that get overlooked, like side entrances, basement windows, and detached structures. The same goes for [home automation](/home-automation). Smart locks, lighting, and thermostats should work with the quirks of your house, not force you to change your habits to fit the technology. And a [doorbell camera](/doorbell-camera) should give you a clear view of your actual porch and walkway, not just a narrow, generic field of view. If a company can build a better mop wand for the corner behind your toilet, it is a good reminder that security and automation companies should be just as thoughtful about the corners of your property that matter for safety. ## The bigger picture for homeowners Small appliance news like this is a useful signal. It shows that consumers increasingly expect products, whether for cleaning or for security, to be tailored, flexible, and genuinely useful in the specific spaces they live in. Generic, one-size-fits-all solutions are losing ground to smarter, more adaptable design. If you are curious how a professionally customized security and automation setup could cover the tight spots and blind areas unique to your home, our team can walk through it with you. Check current [Vivint pricing](/vivint-pricing) or reach out through [Contact Vivint](/contact-vivint) or call 866-417-1540 to talk through what your home actually needs. _Source: [www.cnet.com](https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/sharks-answer-to-the-pencilwash-has-an-extendable-wand-to-clean-tight-spots/)_ ## Get a Free Vivint Quote Ready to protect what matters most? Get a free, no obligation quote on a Vivint smart home security system, complete with professional installation and 24/7 monitoring. [Request your free quote](/contact-vivint) or call [866-417-1540](tel:8664171540) to talk with a Vivint security specialist today. ## FAQ ### Is Shark's extendable wand cleaner related to home security? Not directly. It is a household cleaning tool. But the design trend behind it, building products that adapt to the real, imperfect layout of a home, mirrors what is happening in home security and automation as well. ### Why does Vivint compare cleaning gadgets to security systems? Because the underlying consumer expectation is the same. Homeowners want tools and systems that fit their specific home layout, not generic solutions that miss important spots, whether that is a corner behind a toilet or a blind spot in a driveway. ### How does Vivint design systems to cover tight or unusual spots in a home? Vivint typically starts with a walkthrough of your property to identify entry points, blind spots, and unusual layouts, then places cameras and sensors accordingly rather than using a one-size-fits-all installation template. ### Where can I learn more about Vivint's camera and automation options? You can explore Vivint's security cameras, home automation, and home security pages, check current pricing, or call 866-417-1540 to speak with a specialist about your home's specific needs. ## Sources - CNET: Shark's Answer to the PencilWash Has an Extendable Wand to Clean Tight Spots: https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/sharks-answer-to-the-pencilwash-has-an-extendable-wand-to-clean-tight-spots/ --- Published by Vivint, https://vivint.security (smart home security). Call 866-417-1540.