
Our Verdict
A satisfactory toothbrush that performs the basic function.
The brush appears to have been made to a price and as such it has lost some of the appeals that are typical of a Sonicare toothbrush.
Pros
- 1 cleaning mode
- Built-in timer and pacer
- Angled brush head
- Price
Cons
- Larger in hand than most other Sonicare models
- No battery status/charge icon
- Better options exist (see choices)
The 3 BIG questions about the Sonicare DailyClean 1100
If you are short of time, the answers to the following 3 questions should let you know all you need to about the DailyClean 1100 from Sonicare.
If you want more detail, you can read my full Sonicare DailyClean 1100 review further down the page.
1. Is there anything drastically wrong with this toothbrush?
It is very rare to find an electric toothbrush that has anything drastically wrong with it and the DailyClean 1100 is no exception.
Satisfactory is probably the best way to describe this brush. It does what it is designed to do and nothing more.
Whilst it works, the size and weight are a bit off-putting. Sonicare makes better electric toothbrushes than this.
2. Which other brushes should I consider?
The best alternative at the time of review is the Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300.
Identical in cleaning performance to the DailyClean, it is just a nicer brush to use as it is slimmer, lighter and has a battery charging icon.
If you are not brand sensitive, then the Oral-B Pro 3 3500 is an absolutely fantastic option as not only is it more feature-rich, it is better value also. It’s our choice for the best electric toothbrush.




3. Where is the best place to buy the DailyClean 1100?
The DailyClean 1100 is just 1 of several models that fall under the DailyClean range.
Unlike most other Sonicare models, the 1100 is not so widely stocked and is available primarily from Superdrug, the high-street cosmetics store.
You can also find it on Sonicare’s own online store.
If you think this is the brush for you, then it is always worth spending a few minutes doing a quick web search to see who else may be stocking it and if there are better prices available.
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Video Review
And now for a bit more detail…
I have to be honest and say that, I don’t really understand why the DailyClean 1100 exists within the Sonicare range.
I wish not to write it off, but it is so similar in features and performance to other models that already exist in the range, launching such a model just seems a bit odd.
The price I think is the main driving factor here. Sonicare are looking to offer something for as cheap as they can, whilst retaining some quality, to compete with other brands offering more cost-effective models than they usually do.
Many are price-sensitive when purchasing and Sonicare haven’t really had many offerings at the lower end of the price scale, this I believe is where the 1100 DailyClean comes in.
Variants of this toothbrush
Sonicare have several different ranges of toothbrushes of which the DailyClean range is just 1.
At the time of review, the DailyClean range consists of the 1100, 2100, 3100 and the 3500,
The 1100, 2100 and 3100 all look slightly different and although very similarly featured, they have 1 or 2 very small differentiating elements between them.
The 3100 and 3500 share the same design, but their features differ.
All 4 models that fall under the DailyClean range have a least 1 variant, where the main distinguishing feature is handle colour.
The DailyClean 1100 being reviewed here comes in 2 variants.
- DailyClean 1100 – HX3412/07
- The power button is a mid-blue colour
- Comes with 1 x C1 ProResults brush head
- DailyClean 1100 – HX3412/06
- The power button is pink in colour
- Comes with 1 x S Sensitive brush head
The difference, therefore, is the colour of the power button and the brush head supplied.
It is the mid-blue variant that I have here for this review.
What’s in the box?
- Philips Sonicare DailyClean 1100 toothbrush handle
- 1 x C1 ProResults brush head
- 1 x Charging stand
- 1 x Travel cap
- Documentation

Key Features
- Sonicare cleaning technology
- 3 times more plaque removal than a manual toothbrush
- 2 minute timer
- Quadpacer
- 14 day battery life
- 2 year warranty
Pro & Cons
Here are what I consider to be the pros and cons of the DailyClean 1100.
The Positives
- 1 cleaning mode – Simple and effective, just 1 cleaning mode to get the job done.
- Built-in timer and pacer – Be encouraged to brush evenly and for the dentist recommended brushing time.
- Angled brush head – Reach the back teeth and hard to reach areas with more ease.
- Price – One of the best value options from Sonicare.
The Negatives
- Size and weight – A thicker and heavier model than most other Sonicare brushes.
- No battery status/charge icon – No visual indicator to the remaining battery power. Difficult to know if charged also.
- Better value options exist – Whilst very cost-effective, other Sonicare models are better buys overall, even if slightly more expensive to purchase initially.
Design, usability, clean & general use
The DailyClean 1100 comes in a fairly basic box.
It conforms with the current styling of Sonicare product packaging, but it certainly doesn’t catch the eye like some other products might do on the shop shelves.
The box calls out the key features and functions of the product as you might expect.

Once opened, the brush comes presented in a cardboard tray. It is nice to see this recyclable element here, rather than the likes of polystyrene that some other manufacturers still use.
The handle and the provided accessories are wrapped in plastic, which is supposed to be recyclable, but this will likely depend on your local recycling policies.
In the box, you get the brush handle, a single C1 ProResults brush head, a travel cap for the brush head and a charging stand.
The variant I am reviewing is HX3412/07 which is the mid-blue colour option. There is also a pink coloured variant that comes with a different brush head.

The handle itself is round. There are no harsh square edges here.
It is immediately obvious to me, that in comparison this handle is thicker, wider and heavier than most other Sonicare brush handles I have used in the past.
The weight is not much heavier, we are talking 5-10g but the width and thickness of the handle is about .5 of a centimetre.
It may not sound like much, but in hand, it is quite noticeable.
To be fair you can still get a good firm grip around it. Your fingers are not stretched, but it just feels a bit chunkier in comparison.
The overall height of the brush handle, with the head fitted, is shorter than most other Sonicare handles too.
Made from plastic, the handle is all white in colour and the plastic smooth to the touch.
It is a matt finish, rather than the gloss white that is common, particularly on Oral-B handles.
Whilst completely smooth, it does not feel too slippery in hand, but there are no gripping points designed into the handle, other than maybe the power button.

Sonicare models often have, particularly on the back, a series of raised dots that just give a bit more texture for the fingertips to grab onto.
The handle is quite minimal really.
On the front, there are just 2 stand out features. Placed in the upper third of the brush handle, is the Philips Sonicare logo in grey, with the power button just below it.
On this model, the button is blue in colour, circular and is convex in shape. There is also a power icon embossed onto the button, which makes it very clear to the fingertip where your finger is located.
Although convex, the button does not really stand proud of the handle.
The button is a rubber material and provides a perfectly adequate amount of feedback when pressed.
On the rear of the brush handle, a few millimetres up from the base is a notch. This is quite a clever design element that stops the brush handle rolling too much on a flat surface, should it be laid flat.

The toothbrush stands upright on a tabletop, but the base does have a small recess, into which the supplied charging stand fits.
It is here where you might find yourself questioning the build quality a little more. The base is essentially an end cap, sealing the brush shut.
There is the very slightest of gaps between the plastic body of the handle and the cap. I am sure there are seals inside and the chances of water ingression are very slim. Just when compared to other models, this cap is either more recessed or the whole unit appears to be a 1 piece design with less obvious parts and seals.

At the top of the handle is the point where the brush head attaches.
There is a metal shaft that feeds out from the brush motor sealed inside the handle.
In with the motor is the rechargeable battery and the other electronics that make this toothbrush function.
The handle is water-resistant.
The metal shaft looks a little different to most electric toothbrushes. I don’t know why but it has a sort of wavy design, rather than the more common completely straight design.
Irrespective, the provided brush head clips straight on.

The heads simply push on and pull off. There is no complicated fitting procedure.
Whilst the C1 ProResults brush head comes supplied, any other Sonicare brush head can be fitted to and used with the DailyClean 1100. The heads are interchangeable and are not brush handle specific.
The head does come with a small, transparent travel cap. It fits over the very top of the brush head to protect the bristles of the brush when in transit.
This cap can be retained and used should you travel with the toothbrush, to avoid any unnecessary damage to the bristles, but the size of the cap makes it quite easy to misplace.
Once fitted, if you take a look at the brush handle from a side profile, you will notice the head is aligned at a much sharper angle than most other electric toothbrushes.
This is an intentional design feature.

Most Sonicare brushes have a very slight tilt/angle to them but it is much more accentuated on the DailyClean 1100 due to the way it has been designed.
The theory here is that the angle means that it is easier to reach and effectively brush the hard to reach areas in the mouth, most notably the back teeth.
To be fair it can help, but I would struggle to suggest the more acute angle really makes a significant difference when you compare it to a regular Sonicare brush.
Replace the brush head every 3 months is the advice, as using it for longer can potentially cause damage to the teeth and gums as the bristles wear out.
You should replace the brush head sooner, if the bristles are obviously worn, splayed or damaged.

As I mentioned earlier, you have a range of different brush heads you can opt for. My guide to Sonicare brush heads might be worth a read.
You may too find value, by considering some third-party/aftermarket brush heads. These can prove more cost-effective.
A single press of the power button will turn the brush on, a second press will turn it off. Or, let the brush run through the entirety of the single cleaning mode and the toothbrush will turn itself off.
This automatic power-off feature is available on almost all Sonicare models and I love it.
It is such a simple, yet handy feature.
The only brushing/cleaning mode lasts for the dentist recommended 2 minutes. You can brush for longer if you like, but you will need to power the brush back on.

As the brush is powered on, the timer is activated, this is essentially what turns the brush off at the 2 minute time mark.
However, another really useful and what I consider an essential part of this timer is the quadpacer.
At 30 second intervals, there is a very slight pause in the brushing motion, which changes the sound and sensation of brushing and is your alert to move the brush head to a different section of the mouth.
The idea here is that you spend 30 seconds cleaning each quadrant of the mouth. You have the upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left as the quadrants.
Taking this approach to brushing ensures you as best as possible brush the teeth evenly and don’t just focus on the front teeth, for example, working towards healthier teeth and gums.

Electric toothbrushes are more efficient at cleaning the teeth than a manual toothbrush, primarily because of the number of movements the brush head makes.
The bristles on the head of the DailyClean 1100 sweep across the teeth at 31,000 times per minute.
The cleaning action is very good and removes a lot of debris and plaque.
However, to ensure you are doing the best job possible, you should ensure that you are using the correct brushing technique, as the style needed is different for a manual or electric toothbrush. In fact, the technique is different between Oral-B and Sonicare.
As you brush the bristles of the brush head should skim the surface of the teeth. There is no need to scrub with force. A pressure sensor would normally alert you if you are brushing too hard, but sadly the DailyClean 1100 does not have a pressure sensor built-in.

Easy-Start is a clever and underrated feature of this brush.
If you are a first-time electric toothbrush user, the number of brush strokes per minute can feel quite intense, so what Easy-Start does is gradually increase the brushing power of the toothbrush over a 14 day period.
Gently easing you in, by the end of the 2 weeks, the brush should be operating at full power and you will have become accustomed to the brushing sensation.
When in operation, the brush is fairly quiet, producing an audible humming sound as the motor vibrates. You can also feel this vibration in the hand as you hold it.
Compared to other Sonicare brushes, I felt like I could feel more vibrations through the handle than normal as if less vibration was being absorbed or insulated by the handle itself. It doesn’t affect the usage, but just something I noticed and you might if you have used a Sonicare brush before.

The Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery inside the brush handle is designed to operate for 2 weeks on a full charge. I speak more about this is the battery life section of this review, but the handle itself offers no battery status information, so you don’t know how much charge remains in the battery, which is quite frustrating.
The provided user manual implies that there is alight on the handle to show this, but there is not.
What it does do, is when the power is so low that you have 5 or less brushing sessions left, the brush will make 3 small beeping sounds and the handle will vibrate also. This is the clue you need to look for if your brush is not left on the charger at all times.
Last and by no means least, I just want to mention that the brush does come with a 2 year warranty as standard, so should the brush fail as a result of workmanship or parts, no user damage, then you have that warranty to fall back on.
Summary of design, usability, clean & general use
- Chunky and weighty handle in comparison to most other Sonicare models
- Minimalist design
- No gripping points on handle other than the power button
- Single cleaning mode
- Built-in 2 minute timer and quadpacer
- Automatic power off
- Easy-Start feature increasing brushing power over 14 days
- 1 x C1 ProResults brush head supplied
- Range of alternative brush heads available separately
- Brush heads should be replaced every 3 months
- Brush head sits at an angle to aid with reaching the most awkward parts of the mouth
- rechargeable battery
- No battery charge/status icon
- The brush handle is water-resistant
- No travel case provided, but small cap to fit over brush head bristles
- 2 year warranty as standard
Battery life
Different people have different views on the battery life of an electric toothbrush.
As I see it there are generally 2 main camps of thought. There are those that are not too worried about the battery life, because most of the time, their brush lives at home in the bathroom, quite likely sat on the charging stand.

There are then those that are often on the road, moving from one place to the next and do not benefit from the regularity that some others have, thus, they require longer battery life between charges to allow them to worry less about when the brush needs a recharge.
Personally, I like having the option of longer battery life if required, even if it is not essential for me in my day to day life.
Sonicare has always done pretty well on the battery life and I don’t expect the DailyClean to do too bad.
Sonicare claim a 14 day (2 week) battery life. That is equivalent to 28 brushing sessions each lasting 2 minutes. However, I have generally found that their brushes far exceed these claimed usage times.
Thus I expected I would get 3 weeks from the DailyClean 1100.
Rather disappointingly, the DailyClean lasted exactly 28 brushing sessions (14 days).
It seems wrong to complain, that is what Sonicare claim the battery life to be after all, but having always experienced longer battery life, I just assumed it would last that bit longer.
So, not the best battery life by any means, but I suppose it could have been worse.
The battery inside the brush is a NiMH battery as opposed to the now more common lithium-ion batteries.
NiMH batteries do tend to be a bit larger and quite often offer less usage time, but not always.
I have nothing against NiMH batteries, they have improved over the years, but generally speaking, lithium are now the go-to option.
I suspect price may have had a small bearing on why this battery was chosen.
Irrespective, when the battery needs recharging, you can do so using the supplied charging stand.

It retains the typical Philips Sonicare look and specification.
All white in construction the stand is a little wider and deeper than the brush itself and measures in at a few centimetres tall.
On the top is a prong that fits into the recess on the base of the toothbrush.
Extending from the rear of the stand is a 2 pin plug with a length of power cord.
This 2 pin plug is not a European plug, but instead the 2 pin connector suitable for shaver socket power outlets found in UK bathrooms.
The brush does not come with a 3 pin UK power adapter, but it is possible to charge the brush from a 3 pin socket, you just need to purchase an appropriate adapter separately.
The stand itself supports 100-240v, so if you travel internationally and want to take the stand, you need only worry about a plug adapter and not a voltage adapter.

Sonicare generally suggests that it can take up to 24 hours to charge the toothbrush fully.
It is perfectly fine to leave the brush on the charging stand and you can take it off at any time, you don’t have to ensure it is fully charged to use it.
Fixed inside the handle, the battery is not user-removable.
Sadly, the handle itself provides no real feedback on the battery, despite the manual suggesting so.
There is no battery charge/status icon like you find on many other brushes.
This is less than ideal as it can feel like a bit of a guessing or memory game when it comes to knowing how much power is left in the handle, particularly if you are travelling.
That said, when the battery is fairly low, with about enough power for 5 or less brushing sessions, the brush beeps 3 times and vibrates the handle also.
When there is just 1 brushing session left or the battery is completely flat, the brush will emit 2 sets of 5 beeps and the handle will vibrate.
When on the charging stand, there is no way to see how much charge is in the battery, but when you first sit the brush on the stand, it will beep 3 times and the handle will vibrate slightly also.
Summary of battery life
- Claimed 14 days usage based on 2 cleans a day
- Achieved 14 days (28 brushing sessions) days battery life
- Uses a NiMH battery
- The battery is fixed inside the handle, not removable
- Charging stand supplied
- 2 pin plug for shaver sockets
- Works on 100-240 volts
- Can be left on the charger
- Takes up to 24 hours to charge fully
- No battery status/charging icon
- 3 bleeps and vibration when the battery has 5 or less cleaning sessions remaining
- 2 sets of 5 bleeps and vibration when the battery has 1 cleaning session remaining or is flat
- 3 bleeps and vibration when docked on the charging stand
Price & where to buy
£49.99 is the recommended retail price (RRP) that Philips Sonicare suggests this brush should be sold for.
Do not pay this price.
I say this with your best interest at heart. The DailyClean 1100 is not worth this price.

For £50 you can buy a more premium Sonicare model such as the ProtectiveClean 4300 and still have change. This would be a much wiser purchasing decision.
At £50 it opens you up to a lot of options from other brands, for example, Colgate or Oral-B.
It is very common for electric toothbrushes to be sold at a discount. The RRP’s are almost a bit of a joke, because rarely does the brush actually sell at this price.
When the number of stockists are limited, as is the case with the 1100, the RRP is more likely to hold firm. But I know that this brush is subject to discount because I have purchased it at a discounted price, immediately after it launched.
Oral-B brushes will typically be sold at 50% below the RRP, whereas Sonicare tends to fluctuate most often between about 20-50%, subject to model.
Although £49.99 is the RRP, I purchased this from Superdrug for £20. That is over 50% discount. Even Sonicare themselves are selling it for £27.

As I write this review, the price has increased back to £49.99 at Superdrug, but you get a free brush also.
2 brushes for £50 makes each brush £25. Still a much better price, but not as good as the £20 I paid.
Even at £20, believe it or not, there is a lot of competition from other brushes, such as the Oral-B Pro 600.
It is not necessarily an easy decision as to which to buy.
The Sonicare name gives some peace of mind, being a leading brand in the market.
Going against the Sonicare at this price point also is the cost of ownership over several years.

As you know brush heads should be replaced on average every 3 months.
Prices are always subject to change, but a single Sonicare brush head typically costs about £6, that is twice the price of an Oral-B head.
Please note that all prices quoted are approximates and will vary based on location, supplier and time of purchase. These figures were correct at the time of writing and should not be relied upon as hard fact, but used as a guide during your decision process.
Summary of price & where to buy
- Recommended retail price of £49.99
- See the other brushes we recommend over this one
- Available from Superdrug and directly from Sonicare at time of publishing
- Generally available with 50% or more off RRP; circa £20.
- Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4300 is a better buy
Reliability & long term use
Sonicare electric toothbrushes, on the whole, are reliable and can be trusted.
It would be foolish to say that they never fail, but the reality is the failure rate is very low considering the number of units sold each year.
The very fact it is an electronic item and is exposed to water, toothpaste, saliva and the humidity of a bathroom gives Sonicare a challenge.
However, the overall design and construction is such that the most vulnerable components are securely sealed inside the brush, hopefully out of harm’s way.

Cheap might be a little unjustified to describe the quality of this product, but it is clear that to achieve the sales prices compromises have had to be made.
The brush does not feel fragile, quite the opposite.
However, I would be lying if I didn’t say I have slightly more confidence in the long term reliability of the more premium models.
The DailyClean 1100 does come with a 2 year warranty. This does mean should the brush fail as a result of workmanship or parts, it will be repaired or replaced.
It seems wasteful, but for the low price paid, it might be less hassle to just replace it.
Conclusion
The DailyClean is a satisfactory electric toothbrush.
It achieves the minimum of what an electric toothbrush should and I cannot really fault it for that.
Clearly, this brush has been made to hit a particular price point and in doing so, it has lost some of the charm that comes with a Sonicare electric toothbrush.
At this price there are more feature-rich brushes from lesser-known brands, so you do get the confidence of knowing this is made by one of the market leaders.
However, spending a few pounds more will allow you to buy different Sonicare models, notably the ProtectiveClean 4300. In doing so, I solemnly believe that over the years you will use an electric toothbrush you will be glad you paid the extra to get the small benefits they bring.




Size Guide
- Height (without head) – 17cm
- Height (with head) – 23cm
- Width – 3.4cm
- Thickness – 3.4cm
- Weight (without head) – 129g
- Weight (with head) – 134g
All are approximates
FAQ
- Is the Sonicare DailyClean 1100 an oscillating brush?
- No, it is not.
- How many brushing modes does the Sonicare 1100 have?
- This brush offers 1 cleaning mode only.
- What brush head does it come with and what alternative ones can be used?
- The brush comes provided with 1 x C1 ProResults brush head if you have variant HX3412/07 mid-blue variant. The HX3412/06 variant comes with a 1 x S Sensitive standard brush head.
- Sonicare do have a range of alternative brush heads that are compatible including, DiamondClean, ProResults, ProResults Gum Health, Sensitive and InterCare and more.
- Does the DailyClean have a pressure sensor?
- No, it does not.
- Does the Sonicare DailyClean Series have Bluetooth?
- No, it does not.
- Does the Sonicare DailyClean come with a warranty & how long is it?
- Yes, it does. The warranty is 2 years.
- Does the Sonicare 1100 DailyClean have a built-in timer?
- Yes. At the end of a 2 minute cycle, the brush automatically turns off signalling the end of the cleaning time. If you want to extend your clean, you will have to power the brush back on. It does also have a 30 second pacer also referred to as a quadpacer. At 30 second intervals a slight pause in the brushing mode to tell you to change quadrants. There are 4 quadrants to the mouth.
- How long does the battery last?
- The battery lasts up to 56 minutes, which is equivalent to 14 days of usage based on 2 x 2 minute cleans per day.
- Does it come with a charger?
- Yes, a charging station is included with the toothbrush.
- Can this be fixed to a wall?
- The charging station has not been designed to be fixed to a wall.
- Can I use the DailyClean in the shower?
- I would advise against it. The brush is water-resistant and designed to withstand exposure to water but prolonged exposure to water in a shower is not ideal for the brush.
- Does it come with a travel case?
- No, it does not come with a travel case.
Your Opinions
Do you own or have you used the Philips DailyClean 1100?
Are there certain features that you really like or dislike?
Let us know what you think about this brush and let others who may well be considering purchasing one know your opinions before they do.