Dyson DC14 Animal: The Best Vacuum Ever

We bought one last week and love it as a carpet cleaner, but I find the attachments kind of fiddly... With three dogs, we get tumbleweed-like balls of hair blowing across the livingroom floor. :-)

Have you used the "mini turbine head" attachment, yet? I'm not sure if we're missing a piece or what. It doesn't seem to attach to either the hose or the extended tube like I would expect, and when I try to use it on the couch (after shoving aside a couple of dogs) the spinning brush stops dead in its tracks as soon as it contacts the material. It seems completely worthless, but I'm thinking I've gotta be missing something. Any thoughts?

We got one of these about 6 months ago. We have 2 cats (one is black and we have white carpet) and it's friggen' amazing. It's also a lot easier to dispose of the stuff it picks up than other canister vac's we've had.

Good to know. I've always wondered about these. I've got 4 cats and two messy humans. :-)

My gripe about most vacuums isn't it's carpet cleaning abilities, but it's bare floor vacuume abilities.

Nothiung irks me more than vacuuming a bare floor with cats rock crumbs on it, and the vacuum just spits it out the back of the brush rather than catching it in the suction; even with the brushes set fo bare-floor.

I've heard good things about these, but I couldn't go back to manually vacuuming again. My Roomba has spoiled me.

What's up with this on the amazon page?

"Centrifugal forces of 150,000 g's spin out the tiny harmful particles."

How many things can you find wrong with this sentence?

Yeah my Dyson picked a 'hidden carpet' of latent dust and hair the couple times I used it. They rock.

I don't have any hairy pets, so I bought the red one instead. When it comes time to clean the house, my wife says she's actually heard me say under my breath: "Oh! I get to use the Dyson!" - of course I deny this, but happily vacuum the entire house (carpets, rugs, and wood floors) anyway.

We're looking to get the rumored Dyson "Roomba" clone as well...

I got mine @ Target.com, using a %10 off coupon. It was $529 with tax and shipping. I have two 100lb black labs, who shed a LOT. This vac does an insane job of getting the hair, and the dirt they drag in. If you can get over spending that much for a vac, I wouldn't hesitate.

This has to be one of the few cases where a product that really sucks is a good thing.

Ditto most of the above - we now have a Dyson and it picks up all manner of gunk that our old vacuum missed.

Dyson also now do washing machines, which again have better cleaning performance than many of their rivals.

Thanks for letting us know your vacuum sucks! :)

"Centrifugal forces of 150,000 g's spin out the tiny harmful particles."

-->-->

"Centripetal forces equivalent to 150,000 g remove harmful particles."

I wonder if the Dyson is really worth $200+ more than my $300 Hoover WindTunnel vacuum. I had the same experience every Dyson owner reports, "ohmygod look at all the stuff it picks up," and that includes cat hair from my kitty that died two years ago and I've vacuumed over for 2 years since then.
It seems the main feature here is the HEPA filter, these vacuums are designed for getting your house down to almost clean-room conditions. But alas, there are some problems. My Hoover kicks out so much exhaust, when I take it into my tiny office, most of the dust gets blown around and goes airborne, it's like trying to vacuum in the middle of a hurricane. And the powerful motor kicks out so much heat in the exhaust, it gets up to 90 degrees before I'm halfway done cleaning. Does the Dyson have these problems in small rooms?

Dyson is often cited as a homegrown British business success story, and I recall it being a big deal when they launched stateside.

Thanks for the review. I've been looking at these since just before Christmas. I almost ordered one through Amazon but then saw them at Costco for less. Looks like it's time to "suck it up" and lay out the cash!

I bought the DC-07 Animal last week, refurb from Amazon.com with a coupon for about $300 shipped. I vacuumed a small patch of carpet about 18 hours after our housekeepers vacuumed it with a "normal" cleaner, and I took a picture of the dust chamber.

It's a lot quieter than our old vacuum as well.

For an even cheaper option grab one of the Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupons and use it at the store. The coupon says it excludes Dyson's but the store manager let us use it. When the vacuum's ~$500 20% isn't a bad discount.

The question is, does it work for long human hair - think head to knee long. I've spent a lot of time cleaning and/or replacing broken belts and brushes.

You know, my only thought about the bagless beasties is the fact that when you do clean them out, there's dust all over the place. Granted, I don't have a Dyson, so I might be missing something key here, but I'm also glad that I don't really need the five levels of HEPA filtering on my machine. Empting out the container is like setting off an M-80 in a bag of flour, only far grayer.

oh my gosh....a vacuum that actually works....my mother-in-law gave me mine for christmas....we have 1 long hair cat and 2 dogs in and out....this thing has such suction you can actually see the carpet move!!!! worth every dollar!!! has oreck beat hands down :)

jr, the first time I emptied the Dyson, I made a nice big mess on the floor. There's a little trigger that drops the bottom out of the removable canister, and I pulled it while mistakenly trying to remove the clear part. (Hey, there was a clip/handle bit on it!) My wife reminded me that reading the instructions would have prevented me from making a dusty pile of lint, but it merely gave me an opportunity to try the Dyson on another surface.

In the latest Consumer Reports issue....

"Dyson's new DC14 upright, bagless vacuum cleaner, $570, is the latest in the British Manufacturer's highly touted arsenal of colorfl uprights. In recent tests it proved very good overall, but neither as good nor as low-priced as plenty of other vacuum cleaners we tested."

"....we can point you toward less expensive upright models that worked better overall than the DC14. They include the Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra, Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra, and Kenmore Progress with Direct Drive...."

Sounds to me like you're a slave to the marketing. This company is somewhat like Apple in the "let's throw multiple standout colors on the product and charge a higher premium" category.....

Zotter:

What marketing?

I had *never heard* of Dyson before Derek pointed the vacuum out to me. Did you not read the story?

Dyson = Brilliant.
20% off = $100 saved and a Dyson deal.
I could echo the positive comments above, but that would be a waste of your time. Instead, I have a suggestion on how to save $100 on a new Dyson.
My wife (her idea) used one of the 20% off at Bed Bath, Beyond, or whatever the place is called, coupons and voila, $100 saved on a fantastic vacuum.
BTW, it's true and amazing what you will find spinning away in the little Dyson dust bowl. And it does not let dust exit to mess up the room again. Wonderful.
Can't wait to try Dyson's new clothes washer...wonder if they take the 20% off coupon for that as well...

My system, is generally to vacuum once every day, and clean the filters twice a week. Then I steam-clean the carpet once every other month, and that's really the BEST way you can go.

No question - they're good. The best? Dunno, but definitely good. Living in the UK, we bought one several years back, so here's the warning: they need to be treated with a certain amount of gentleness; those plastic parts can (and will) break. The UK support people are pretty good at dispatching replacements, though: I expect the same will be true of the US.

Having said that, we switched to an Oreck. While it may be slightly less effective, it fantastically light, something I could never say for the Dyson.

JZ:

What marketing?!?!? Dude, you work for Yahoo!

The "word of mouth" marketing... the buzz..the endorsement.. from your blogs and others.

Marketing isn't all advertising... or TV commercials, it exists in other forms. One of the strongest forms is "word of mouth" marketing.

It is widely known that Dyson is copying some of the marketing strategies of Apple to create buzz... centered around design elements allowing for premium pricing.

No worries Jeremy, all the cool kids like the brightly colored, high tech vaccum cleaners.... ;-)
I wasn't trying to slight your posting. Only pointing out that Consumer Reports ranks other vacuums as better value.

Your endorsement...and links to other endorsements of high profile geeks are probably more valuable than the TV commercials about the product to our demographic.

-David

When the advice of a friend or family member is considered "marketing", you've bought into the "marketing" paradigm a bit too much.

You confuse making a good product that people are enthusiastic about with making a crappy product that requires an exstensive marketing campaign to trick people into buying.

As Derek has no connection whatsoever to Dyson, his reccomendation could not be considered "marketing". It's called "advice". If the distinction is lost on you, I might suggest taking some time off and getting the hell away from whatever has corrupted your worldview.

You must have skipped your business electives in college.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing

Why do you think the original purchass occured?
The vacuum cleaner wasn't downloaded from sourceforge through divine intervention.

There are entire companies that track consumer opinion and reviews. Companies are bending over backwards to improve customer experience. Why? Mass communication is no longer controlled by major media outlets or the thinking elite. It is shifting to those with strong opinions anywhere. Even opinions about a friggin bright blue, super suck vacuum cleaner. Funny in itself that people are envangelizing vacuum cleaners on their blogs!!?

Verbal recommendations or advice from a family or friend is different once it becomes posted/published on its own and then propogated. It is almost like a tribe of dyson vacuum cleaner owners...the digital elite of anal retentive people.

The world is changing for the best.

The unique colouring could also be considered marketing. The product itself stands out when compared to your average black or silver vacuum.

Color is a funny thing.

But Derrick's opinion was not published. It came up during a conversation. Myself, I was visiting Jeremy and saw it, talked to him about how it well it worked. In niether of these conversations which motivated a purchase was marketing per se involved. You may spin anyone who buys based on this blog as being subject to marketing, but you are, by your own explanation, incorrect when you said initially:

"Sounds to me like you're a slave to the marketing."

Of course, not technically incorrect, since it probably is what it sounded like to you. But you were mistaken concerning Jeremy's motivations.

And FWIW, Business Classes were for people that didn't belong in college in the first place.

I am probably going to get my wife that vac too. We have three dogs (male black labs) and three cats, combined to about 300 pounds of hair. I think our pets killed our Roomba(s), which we are now on our third of.

I know other vacuums can do as well in most cases, but I've never seen pet owners talk as well of any other vacuums.

I'm going to chime in here briefly, as a CS major with MBA. The entire thing is marketing fellow technocrats!

I would wholly recommend that you consider a few business courses to understand the other side of the fence.

Now to Dan's lastest point. I disgree.
The marketing message was simply regurgitated from one consumer and passed along to another.

Jeremy's points exactly match and follow the primary marketing messages promoted by Dyson as key differentiators. Coincidence?

He *IS* a slave to the marketing, just as you apparently are. Whether it originated from word of mouth, blog, or online review you are all eating the same dogfood.

1) dyson isn't more powerful than other models or more efficient at picking up dirt, dust or especially things like pet hair than models
2) the design isn't actually better, as proven by Consumer Reports labs
3) it weighs quite a bit more and takes up more space for storage, among other issues.
4) it doesn't have as many attachments, instead they split the various attachments across models. Other models have ALL attachements with their models.

There really aren't many differences in features between the Dyson and other models on the market. Most of the points are not actually true. Instead, they took a luxury product approach as pointed out by another post.

I'd argue that the comparison to Apple isn't necessarily accurate because Apple products are superior in most cases (except for that piece of trash new flash IPOD that looks like a cheap walmart import). Apple has good design, Dyson just tries to project good design and sophistication (e.g. British guy preserved for marketing message).

Jeremy's pal started drinking the Dyson Kool-Aid and then passed along the marketing points to Jeremy. He bought into them and verified them in his posting and went as far as saying, "it is the best vacuum ever". Is Jeremy qualified to make such a judgement. Is a connoisseur of fine sweepers? Maybe he is getting bored with mysql. ha, we have openings in our dept.

In comparison to OLD sweepers, obviously they are better. However, that's like someone claiming that their new computer is better than their old one. Of course it is... it should be!

How many modern sweepers has Jeremy compared the Dyson to? Sure it is the best sweeper he has ever used. How could it not be? Jeremy an expert in mysql and a fine technologist for a very well known internet company, he isn't a janitor for a very well known internet company.

Dyson vacuum is doing well because of the marketing which grew out of several marketing research studies.

Those studies concluded that people could not distinguish because vacuum cleaners on the market.
A key concern identified in the studies is that consumers have difficulty understanding how much dirt, dust, and pet hair is actually collected by a vaccum. If a sweeper cleans what is visible, how can you distinguish between one that does a great job and one that doesn't do such a great job?

MOST of the blog reviews I read show pictures of dirt in the collection chamber.
With older model vacuum cleaners, people never see the dirt. The motivation by these early product designers and marketers was to hide the dirt. Electric vaccums are better than a broom because it is easier than cleaning and "less dirty". The problem is that people never realize when the bag is full or that it should be changed.

Now the motivation is to make it appear through the sweeper that a whole truck load of dirt is collected. Interestingly, Jeremy even mentions that he had to empty it twice.

I'm getting off topic.
The point is, someone crafted those messages you've bought into - even though they are technically not correct.

The perception is the marketing has shifted due to the buzz around the product multiplied by word of mouth marketing.

Everyone is influenced by marketing, whether you are willing to admit it or not. Some even want to be apart of something. For some reason, people want to associate themselves with premium brands. Even neato sweepers.

Furthermore, you would be foolish to believe that companies aren't posting opinions in forums, blog comments, and other new 'online' mediums to shift perception. A lot of cash is being directed towards shifting perception of people online.

Don't eat too much brand dogfood.

I look forward to reading the shaver posting.

Kind regards.

P.S. I own a Dyson. My own review differs from Jeremy's. It was an Xmas gift. It is cheap feeling and definately doesn't feel like my grandmother received her $500 worth of plastic. The long term use is questionnable, the fact it has broken at least 3 times in under 6 months. Good thing the warranty is good.

Take your $500 and spend it on YHOO stock instead. You'll be much happier in the end.

I'll spend it on NTAP, and be happier still. ;)

Now, an MBA, I won't shake a stick at. But undergrads that fill the business "school" are the intellectual equivilant of Jello. Spend a few minutes talking to one of them. And don't let the topic wander off of "beer" or "fucking", lest you confuse them.

I'm impressed, but not suprised, at the willingness of the Marketing crowd to take snippets of the post to support your thesis that he was duped by marketing. The full quote is:

"This vacuum is far and away the best I've ever used or seen."

Now, clearly he was not making the unqulified assertion you claimed he did, which supported your entire thesis. Nobody here has said it was better than Product X. Only that it's the best thing we've used. I'll presume you learned to twist facts to support your position in Business School.

What is "interesting" about your assertion is that we've not made a single statement that you attribute to us. You seem to be projecting onto us some ideal dimwitted consumer persona. It's insulting.

You are confused.

The title/headline of the post is, "Dyson DC14 Animal: The Best Vacuum Ever".

"However, my old vacuum was badly in need of repir or replacement."

The old vacuum needing repair must have been the prior 'best vacuum ever'. Otherwise, I would assume he is making the unqualified assertion posted above.

Guys! It is a vacuum cleaner. A $500 vacuum cleaner!
I think of a lot to do with $500 that is a hell of a lot more fun.

Advertising, blogs, word of mouth or whatever. You still spent $500 on a sweeper! A $500 sweeper!
Someone did a mind f*ck on you.

A.
Sweeper.
500.
dollars.
to suck.
dust.
off.
the.
floor.

People at Yahoo must make too much money.

Seriously, have you guys tried the new google toolbar? It is worth at least $300. The reviews are awesome. It is the best toolbar ever. Shaves close as a blade, or your money back.

Oh, just read the headlines and draw conclusions, in spite of the text which fleshes out what is really meant. Such study habits must be enough to get through business school.

I think you've assumed that the opportunity costs of that $500 (or really, $200, the delta between the Dyson and the competition) is much greater than it really is. Actually, you presume it had any real opportunity costs to begin with. As that seems to provide the foundation of your position, I find your post to wholly lacking in merit. Much like a BA in Business.

>slave to the marketing
>$500

with the current rankings (http://www.google.com/search?q=Dyson+DC14), possitive statements, personal voice, and AdSense ads I am betting that this post will pay for a good bit of those $500.

Let me step away from the "Is it marketing or not" discussion or not to bring up a technical point. Dyson's big marketing claim is "The world's first vacuum that doesn't lose suction". My question is: Is this sentence true? If it is, I think that's a worthwhile benefit. Perhaps other vacuums are more powerful initially but quickly lose suction as they collect dust. I don't know, but I'd be interested if anyone else can attest to the validity of this claim.

I don't get some of those comments about Dyson and its marketing approach as their products are doing a great job.

At least that is what Jeremy experienced and shared with the internet community. If it provides a valuable service for years, $500 is not much for a cleaner. In addition to this, there are some machines on the market that cost far more than this Dyson model.

Disclaimer: I do own a Dyson, too.

Let us agree on what "marketing" is. Define our terms.

It's my understanding that for your actions to be considered "marketing", you would have to have something vested in that message being accepted and acted upon. If I were to talk about how great NetApp storage is, I could accept that to some degree I have something to gain from that message being accepted and acted upon.

But if I talk about how great my Tivo is, I'm just offering an assessment. Much like Consumer Reports, though admittidly not as broad or systemically informed. Just as CR gains nothing from it's opinions save the inherent value of them being trusted, so too is the proffered opinion of a consumer limited in its reward to the esteem others would hold for future opinions.

To market, you must be selling something. There has to be a product. You must be vested, and you must care if your message is accepted or not.

Am I mistaken about what marketing is?

Just recently bought a DC07 Animal, for much the same reasons, two cats. What was scary was having to vacuum our floor twice because it picked up so much dirt. Picked ours up at Sears and the sales person told me that the majority of sales came from referals from other Dyson owners.

By contrast, we have not been pleased with our Animal. I wrote a review of it recently (google search for 'holbrook dyson'), but the gist is that it doesn't work well on the carpet we bought last year; the auto-height adjustment keeps adjusting too low. (The quality of the carepet was less than it should have been, and I'm sure that's the major reason.) But the bottom line is that we're not that happy.

We currently own a Phantom Thunder. It was the best of all vacuums several years ago when we bought it. We thought spending $250 then was alot on spend on a vacuum.

Now we are considering the Dyson for $500!!

Our Phantom Thunder is now on its last legs.
2 young kids and a long hair cat and especially a big furry Alaskan Malamute dog make for alot of mess.

$500 is a alot of money for this family to spend on a vacuum!!!

I like the reviews of this vacuum but it will take some serious savings per month to purchase it!

If my old vacuum "bites the dust' before I have the money to purchase a Dyson..

I would like to know what the close second or third models are after the Dyson.?

Check out the Jan. Consumer Reports. Your library should have it if you don't subscribe. They list a few from 2-300 that compare favorably in their estimation.

Dan. I take issue with your Jello representation. Not particularly clever or witty and somewhat insulting, to me at least.

My business major from BGSU has suited me very well.... very well, without question.

As a fellow BGSU Alumni (?), I'm not certain why you would be attacking ALL business majors b/c someone doesn't agree with your knowledge of marketing (or lack thereof) in the comments of a blog? Ease up, everyone can express their opinion. :-)

You know, I spent a lot of time in the cellar, attics, and labs of Hayes Hall as most other geeks on campus... and even tooled around on pizza.bgsu.edu once upon a time. I wouldn't have traded my time there, just like I wouldn't have traded my time in the BA building. Both categories of knowledge were (and are) useful.

Jeremy is a great guy. Obviously his intent was not to market ON BEHALF of Dyson directly, even if the message originated from there indirectly through word of mouth. Sorry if this is the way it was interpreted.
There is nothing sinaster with liking a nice product and evangelizing it.

Anyway, enough said. If you guys are around for Homecoming any year, I'll buy you a pint at Myle's Pizza.

Be good. Good is good. Evil is not.

-David

I'm thinking about purchasing the Dyson but wondering what if anyone has actually used the DC07 and the DC14 and has seen the differences between the two. Of course the newer model is more expensive. Thanks.

OMG - That Dyson vacuum cleaner is the best vacuum cleaner I have ever used! We got "The Animal" (at Target for $499) and it's waaay worth the money! We have 3 cats and a very big, very hairy collie dog (and 2 elementary aged messy kids!)- and this machine does wonders.
It's wonderful and it sucks - all at once!
This was our best investment of the year!

If you want to know what the difference is between the DC07 and DC14, you have simply to look at the product. The DC07 suffers from a fudamental design error in the cyclones. Mainly, by inverting the cyclone, Dyson has created a colgging situation. Speak to anyone in England that has owned a Dyson DC07 and they'll agree. The unit clogs then the motor burns up. This is one of Dyson's biggest reliability problems in England (That's what I was told by one of their technicians when he fixed mine). The DC14 returned their cyclone to the proper orientation but at a loss of efficiency. If you notice, they took the numbers off of the graph on the new DC14. Why? Could it be that the performance is not as high as the DC07? Also, it's interesting to note that they are advertising the suction power at the hose not at the nozzle. Isn't the nozzle the main interface to the floor that is being cleaned. They are implying that they have more power for cleaning at the nozzle. As for no clogging, look at the instruction manuals. If the unit does not clog, why do you have to wash the filter every 6 months or more often when cleaning fine particles. Why? Because they clog. A chap appeared on a consumer complaint show over here in England with a complaint about the DC07. He purchased it, cleaned his auto, and then sucked up some plaster dust from a little project in his home. His DC07 died. When he called Dyson, he was informed that his warranty was void because he used the product in a manner not consistent with household use. He took his complaint to the TV and Dyson reversed the decision and his cleaner was replaced.

As for cleaning, the Dyson does a decent job removing pet hair from carpet and cleans bare floors well. How well does it do at removing the dirt trapped in your carpet. If Consumer Reports is correct, which I don't doubt that they are, it doesn't do as well as MOST of the cleaners tested. This is the dirt that you have to really worry about. It includes all of the nasty stuff that causes wear to your carpet and ill health effects. Based on those results, I would have stuck with the Hoover or the Eureka (if I could get them).

My advice (based on personal experience) is to avoid the Dyson and put the extra money to better uses. Also, rethink the bagless thing. While I understand the common complaints about bags (messy, cannot find them, etc...) in reality, they are less messy and more hygeinic in the long run. Bagless units must be thoroughly cleaned or they soon begin to smell like the animals that are creating the mess you are cleaning. Replace a bag (HEPA preferably) and the smell is gone. I, personally, will NEVER go back to a bagless vacuum cleaner again.

Cheers!

I don't own a Dyson, although I am considering sinking some of my hard earned cash into the purchase of one.

A question to Dyson/pet owners out there - do you EVER have to stop vacuuming to cut, pull, or in any way extract pet hair from the machine in order to continue vacuuming? If you don't, then I say the machine is worth the money.

I used to own a Miele. Everyone told me what a great vacuum it was, including little old ladies at the vacuum store. Of course, I hated it, and dreaded every moment I had to use it. I was constantly stopping to cut my dog's hair (we have three variations of Border Collies, & at the time lived in AZ, where they were shedding all year long) from the vacuum. Paying nearly $14 a package for those #$&% bags didn't make me all that happy, either.

I don't like spending that amt. of money. However, in order to keep my home clean (we now have wood floors, and scatter rugs), I need to use Swiffers every day to keep the house clean of pet fur and dust. If I compare the price of the Dyson to the expense of the Swiffers (at $8 a package), this vacuum will be paid for in less than a year.

As far as the reliability of Consumer Reports.... I have disagreed with many of their opinions of things they have reviewed in the past -do you REALLY think that any organization is above getting paid off??!! Maybe my belief system is just too tarnished.

I take their (along with any other organization) info with a grain of salt..

Hi Guys! I am in the process of shopping for a new vac. I currently own an electrolux and I am looking at the dyson and miele. I have 2 dogs and 2 small children...I am a stay at home mom who vacuum's every day. My first question is ...How come all the feedback I'm reading are from men....no offense but I liked to hear some comments from the women. Secondly, does the dyson animal really pick up dust and dog hair on tile and wood floors?

Thanks.

Okay, so the Dyson Animal is fantastic. My question is the Mini Turbine. After use (or maybe a few uses) do you have to turn it over and clean out the long cat hair from the brushes?

The Dyson is great on carpet for dust and pet hair.

Other than that I am truly disappointed. On wood floors the wheels will leave marks. It cannot pick up small pieces of plastic or dirt or even a dried piece of macaroni. It will drag little pieces of plastic around and scratch your floors.

You cannot get under the kitchen cabinets because the front is too high and bulky. The edger does not work, it just pushes particles around.

I had a central vac system in my old house and I will probably sell this Dyson and by another one.

I bought the Dyson DC14 Animal based in part on Jeremy's review and my experience has been different from PG's. Our floors are all wood and in the month and a half we've had it, t the DC14 has sucked up more dust, dirt, and dander from them than I would have believed possible. It's depressing to see how much detritus accumulates in a week, but I feel healthier and happier knowing we have this product.

There are so many good things said here about this vacuum that it seriously makes me wonder if this blog is just for advertising purposes.

If this vac does everything you all say it does, I'll be using it 2-3 times a day every day, as I have 3 cats and 2 dogs and all the dusty furry filth that comes with them. I currently have a Kirby (don't laugh) and it was a huge waste of money.

My main frustration with CU is: if they test a dozen vacuums and they are all a POS they will not say this; they just tell you which is best. Maybe they are not smart enough to establish a minimum level of performance.

We once bought a vacuum on their recommendation. For years, when we needed to do some serious cleaning, I lugged my shop vacuum into the house. We now use a Fein--a small shop vac--in the house; it is not really suitable but it cleans.

Well, if this is an Ad it's a freebie for Dyson.

i bought my dyson new but it didn't come with an owners manual. can anybody tell me how to change the belt????

We just bought the Dyson animal vacuum.
I love this vacuum's ability to get ground in dirt and pet hair up out of the carpet!!

We have a big concern though and wondering if there is a problem with the vacuum....
There is a very high pitch wineing sound that we have never heard before in a vacuum.

We called Dyson and they told us it was most likely just due to the newness of the vacuum and that it should go away.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of sound???

Curiosity about how my experience with a Dyson "Animal" purchase might compare with others, I found this forum. I was not suprised when I found so many other owners who were blown away by the preformance.
I have owned my Dyson since August of 2004. I have aprox 2,400 sf of newly re-finished hardwood floors, lots of area rugs, a Carolina Dog, indoor model (look it up) and a short hair Kitty. They generate plenty of fur as do we.
I am as gentle as a buffalo as my wife would say and vacume twice a week without breaking any part of the Dyson or ever maring my wood floors, and believe me, I was concerened about scratches as I have had other units that have scratched the bejesus out of floors in the past.
If you can read the instructions before using the unit and pick up some objects with your hand that it may not, like bowling balls (cool little finger holes to pick them up with), sharp plastic, etc.. your experience should be very positive.
Dyson makes an excellent machine.

Just another sucker for a good product.

Not sure if you guys know this or not. Dyson is now the number one selling vacuum cleaner company in the US. They took over Hoover just a few months ago.

Coming soon.

http://ivacuumetc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82

Yep, the animal rocks. Forgive the self-reference, but here's my own voyage of self-discovery...

http://emmanate.org/wretch/archives/000027.html

I would like to see some more feedback on the Dyson DC14 and its performance on wood/tile flooring. We just purchased a 5,000 sq. ft. home with all wood and tile flooring. We have the opportunity to install a central vac system and I am still unsure of which way to go. Has anyone tried the DC11 canister?

Laura,

The DC11 canister is now history, soon to be replaced by a new canister. No idea when it's coming though. The DC14 All Floors would be a good choice for you.

Chris

As to the Dyson being the first non-clogging vacuum cleaner - in the late 1980s I was so poor I tried selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door. It was the outrageously priced Filter Queen($1500-1800). I quit before my first week was up.

But wow, what a vacuum! Its basic design resembled a Shop Vac. It was a bucket with a very powerful motor mounted on top. A flat round filter fitted over a cone-shaped frame around the motor. As air came into the machine the "cyclonic" action of the air scrubbed the filter and prevented clogging. The dirt gathered in the bottom of the bucket. When we did demos we put another small filter on the machine's exhaust. The exhaust filter stayed almost completely clean. In fact, the machine could also function as a very quiet room air cleaner.

Another demo was to pour some baking soda on a carpet and then "vacuum" it up with the power brush head. The soda would disappear. Then we'd show the potential customer the fact that the brush head was not connected to the vacuum. The power brush had just shoved the soda deep into the carpet.

We'd ask the customer to vacuum the soda spot with their machine until they felt it was clean.
Then the hose would be reattached to the Filter Queen and the soda spot re-vacuumed. When its cannister was opened, lo and behold, there would be all the soda and some extra dirt.

And as to sturdy-it could be fed a big steel bolt with no damage.

And then there was the "see if your vacuum can out-suck mine" contests. A note card was placed across the mouth of the hose of either machine and the Filter Queen would always win the card. Our trainers told us that only a big Shop Vac or a brand-new (I forget the brand)other over-priced monster could defeat the Filter Queen on that one.

I wonder sometimes if the new generation of "cyclonic" vacuums has anything to do with an expiration of a Filter Queen patent or two?

Oh, yeah, emptying the canister could be a dusty mess. Only thing besides the price that I didn't like about the Filter Queen. I have asthma. Ker-choo!

If you like the Dyson, you will love the Riccar. A bit more expensive that any of the Dyson's, but it will suck up a Dyson no problem. Riccar is the best, hands down.

Plus the Riccar is American made.

I've been thinking about getting the Dyson Animal. Tried a bagless vac once (don't remember the brand) and hated it because it would clog after less than 5 minutes of use. Went back to using a Sears Whispertone Canister Vac, which did a much better job picking up cat and dog hair, but I'm still frustrated by the tendency of the hose to get clogged with fur in inaccessible places (e.g. the plastic elbow).

I have three dogs, six cats, a parrot, finches and two messy humans. I need to be able to vacuum up unbelievable quantities of fuzzy fur, bird seed, chips of whatever the parrot was chewing on and threw at the dogs, etc. And I would like a vacuum that I don't have to shut down, take apart, and then dig through the hose with a coat hanger every other time I use it.

So, can anyone tell me how the Dyson is in terms of the hose not getting all stuffed up? Consumer Reports' review didn't seem to address this particular concern.

Regarding the vacuums. I bought the Hoover Wind Tunnel for about $200, I have two dogs, small dogs who shed. This vacuum started out not too bad, but it does not pick up pet hair from the carpet, it is very frustrating. I want a vacuum cleaner that has good suction, suction staying power and I am no longer concerned about price, after buying my fourth crappy cleaner. Dyson is sounding good, from other people's comments, not the advertising.

Denise and Karen,

Before you get a Dyson, go to a professional vacuum store and check out their brands. Usually the Meile and the Riccar will be the top brands. Try them out and compare against the Dyson. I bet you will not buy the Dyson. Dyson makes a lot of marketing claims, but they just do not live up to expectations.

Check out the reviews on Amazon. Last year it was the most loved home and garden product reviewed on Amazon.

I have 4 longhair Maine Coon cats. My cats are LARGE. Maine coons are the largest domestic breed in the usa. I can blow out a vacuum in 2 weeks after I buy it. I have gone through so many of them. I kneel down and pick up everything but the cat hair, and they still die.( the vacuums) We clean them out, and they still die. I am sooo tired of buying vacuums. Im now looking at the Dc14. Yeah, the hoover cyclone was the FIRST to die.. what a waste of money...I dont break parts, I dont scratch up my vacuums either, I am gentle but vacuums dont like my cats long hair.

I heard the dc14 doesnt do well on low low carpet- IS THAT TRUE?
I did- just today find something that actually works well on pet hair- and its only 10 bucks. Its the one sweep broom that is advertised on an infomercial. I got mine at bed and bath. It took up EVERYTHING HAIR,and all carpet fuzz and tonight my carpets look brand new. It doesnt pick up dirt- just pet hair. So now, Im going to use the one sweep first, before I vacuum, but still need a good vacuum on the dirt, and anything I miss.

Whats up with the low carpet issue?
If it does break, how hard is it to get warranty replacement?
1. I dont care about the price if it lasts.
2. I dont care about bagless or not, as long as it lasts.
3. I care about it working on low low carpets.. does it?

Please answer my question. Thank you.

I have owned Hoovers, Eurekas,Sears, refurbished Kirbys, and it was time for ANOTHER vacuum...So I did my time researching-poured through all the postings here(too many of you worry way too much about being marketing pawns)consumer reports,found the Good Houskeeping article that says the Hoover "savvy" is better than the Dyson, and then went to the store to actually see all these wonders. The conclusion that I've come to is that after using the display models in the store, the Dyson sucks more than any of them(I mean this in a good way). I haven't always agreed w/consumer reports and I guess we are parting company once again. I bought the Dyson, took it home and immediately fell in love-nothing kinky here folks- I have a hairy German Shepherd who has a fondness for my furniture when I'm not looking,a teenager and a husband and everybody always seems to be dragging something in on their shoes/paws. We have a combination of wood floors, tile and carpeting throughout the house. The carpets haven't looked this good in ages! I can go from carpet to wood to tile without any performance problems, no marks or scratches on the wood floor. While I have to angle it a bit to get under the kitchen cabinets, if I can't reach into a corner its just a click of a button to release the wand and I suck up the crumbs that way. As for the bagless feature, it couldn't be easier, one pull of the trigger and the debris drops out the bottom, minimal dust, very slick!It out performs any other unit we have ever owned for stairs and getting the dog hair off the furniture. Hope it continues to suck for a long time to come...

Went to Sears over the weekend to check out the Dyson Animal. I even brought a baggie full of my own "real" dirt to test. This included lots of fluffy cat fur from our long-haired psycho tortie cat, bird seed and husks from around the parrot's cage, and even a few stomped-flat styrofoam peanuts. I don't really expect a vacuum to deal well with styrofoam peanuts, that's a sampling of what's on our floors.

The DC-14 blew everything else out of the water. When we told the sales clerk that what really drove us nuts was that our old vaccuum kept getting plugged up in the elbows where you can't get to them, she showed us how the elbow thingy pops right off the Dyson so you can tap it out.

We bought it on the spot and added a 5 year warranty for $99.

Took it home and were amazed and disgusted at what it pulled out of our carpets. We have 3 dogs and six cats and I think we could have made ten more cats out of what came up in just one room.

Bakersfield is also an extremely dusty place, and it pulled incredible quantities of plain old dirt out of the rug.

After vacuuming with the Dyson, I went over the carpet with our steam-vac. Usually when I use the steam-vac, even though I've just vacuumed, the steam-vac gets clogged with hair and the dirty water bucket gets full of debris the vacuum missed. Really, really disgusting debris, like bits of kitty litter that got tracked out of the box, etc. After using the Dyson, the steam-vac had nothing but dirty water in the bucket and it only generated one or two pinches of hair per fill. That's pretty incredible!

The only time the Dyson "clogged" was when I tried make it suck up strips of wood the parrot had chewed... these strips were too long to make it through the "u" shaped tube and too solid to just break into smaller pieces. However, all I had to do was pull the u-tube and remove the stuck pieces. Very quick and easy. And you really can't expect a 4 inch long piece of wood to go around a corner like that.

Needless to say, we are very pleased with the Dyson.

I do not have animals, but my vacuum died. I bought a lower model Dyson (the yellow one) for under $400 at an HH Gregg sale.

This thing is great. My favorit part it the way it is so easy to empty it out (one handed!).

This is an answer to Pam's query, on or about March 15th. Pam wondered if anyone else had an experience with the noise associated with the yellow Dyson DC07. I have! OHMYGOSH! It's an obnoxiously loud and irritating grating/whining noise that terrified me the first few times I heard it. I called Dyson's help line, and a kind lady said that was "normal" because my carpet (it only makes the noise on the carpet) level was higher than usual. Well, my carpet is not shag, and I wouldn't refer to it as a "high" level fiber ... but this was the answer I got. Maybe your carpets need to be very low nap to avoid "the noise." Stopping the noise is difficult. You have to lean the vacuum to the side to interrupt the suction. Over and over and over again. Nevertheless, it really does do a good job of cleaning. I use it 3-4 times, then I get out the Rainbow for really deep, down, effective cleaning. The Rainbow is probably the best machine for MY money, but filling it with water and being extra careful about not dumping the canister over while vacuuming makes it a pain. As for the colors Dyson comes in ... my take is that if you have to do a chore, why not have a bright color to beat the boredom? Marketing, perhaps.

UK DC07 Absolutely the worst buy I've ever had - in 18 months it has been a nightmare - Split hose, clogged cyclone chamber as per previous post and now the motor has burnt out.
Yes when working it sucks great but the fact is it spends more time being repaired (and it's EXPENSIVE to repair) than working - Poorly made as well - the rubber seals are a joke and are far from airtight.

Back to Electrolux/Panasonic I suspect for me......

While my Dyson DC08 is great, I find it a little unwieldy. Another problem, it tends to spread dusty smell in the room when you vacuum with it. To answer Charles' question, the Dyson DC08 has a quite tightly focused exhaust blowing diagonally upwards in the rear. It tends to blow things around when I'm vacuuming. But it doesn't overheat.

I found a Panasonic MC-E8001 bagless vac in an electronics store. The MC-E8001 has one interesting bullet point in its sales pitch: The air travels through the filters so that it does not pass through the dust container. Hence, no dust smell. So I thought, why not; it was the last one available of a model that had become obsolete, so I got it really cheap.

Yes, it's a lot cheaper than the Dyson, and kind of flimsy. But it's quieter, a lot lighter, hence wieldier. And it's faster to use, because it's really easy to replace the suction heads (you con't have to fiddle with any locking mechanisms).

The MC-E8001 is likely to clog, because the filtering is a combination of mechanic and electrostatic filtering (in addition, the biggest and heaviest dirt is cycloned out of the airstream, like in all bagless vacuum cleaners - Dyson has only patented the Dual Cyclone techology - all bagless cleaners actually start with a rough cyclone).

When I bought it, it was full of dust - it had been on display in the store and used for demonstration. It still sucked pretty well. After emptying and washing the container and the filters, it sucked a lot better. As I said; because it's small, simple and lightweight, I actually find it a lot faster and easier to use than the Dyson. I don't have any carpets that would gather a lot of dust, so I probably made a bad decision buying the Dyson - a smaller vac would have done just fine.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't cyclones need very precisely set velocity and airflow to work properly? James Dyson needed thousands of prototypes to get his design work correctly, which kind of indicates that the numerous variables have to be *just right* to work properly. In other words, if the airflow gets slowed down, doesn't the dust travel straight through the cyclone? I think this is why Dyson have placed those airflow holes in all of their tools: they're not there to "beat dust out of the surfaces", they're there to prevent the airflow from getting completely blocked. I have a bad feeling that whenever the Dyson *does* get blocked, a puff of dust manages to pass through the cyclones and ends up in the washable HEPA filter. That's why it's there. Also, I think this is why the Dyson's suction power cannot be adjusted (other than letting more air in through the trigger). Mechanical filtering may get clogged, but it's also more foolproof.

I have read James Dyson's autobiography, "Against the Odds". That vac, and that man, have quite a story.

I now own two vacuum cleaners, both of which I bought because I was fascinated by their operating principle. Am I a vac geek or what. :)

I just used my Dyson Animal for the first time today and I have a new god and his name is DYSON!!!!!
The vacuum is beyond incredible!!!

In all fairness, I felt I should leave a second post explaining what I found out. I complained in my April 22, 2005 post about the noise the Dyson made. After I posted, I sat on the floor with my Dyson and using a knife and scissors, carefully cut away all of the human hair (no pets in this house) that had accumulated and wrapped around the beater bar. (Not sure of the exact name of that part?) It was a considerable amount of hair, and that MAY have been the reason my Dyson was making the obnoxious noises. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, since I turned it on after I removed the hair, vacuumed the entire house, and it never made that noise even once. So ... my advice is this: if you have hair longer than 2" long, and you hear an obnoxiously loud and grating noise coming from your Dyson, you may want to see if any hair is tying up the beater bar. There were also some strings, too, I guess from clothes. From now on, I'll check the beater bar the next time I hear that noise. Hope this helps someone who has had the same problem.

I just bought a Dyson DC14 Animal last week. I bought one after borrowing my sister's for a few days to try it out. It is easily money well spent.
After having used 3 different vacuums in the last 5 years, varying from $150-300, and all having issues I really disliked, I decided to spend the money and get the Dyson.
It picks up everything! We have 2 cats, and one is a long hair. I had to empty the canister twice in one room it picked up so much stuff. Our bathroom is carpeted and has a very tighly woven and hard carpet. The Dyson worked great on it. It picked up a ton of crap even from a carpet with almost no pyle to it at all.
The attatchments that I've tried so far work great. I've noticed no real difference in suction than from the vacuum itself. Sucked up dead bugs from inside the window with ease. Sucked up paint chips and small stones with ease, all through the hose. I even vacuumed my matress with the attatchments and it got stuff off that I couldn't pick off with my hands.
I would recomend it to anyone looking for a good vacuum. As to Consumer (false) reports, I stopped believing anything they had to say years ago. I saw so many complete crap reviews I wonder why anyone even bothers with them.
Real world usage and word of mouth from known people and actual users mean more to me than ANY consumer report bullcrap article any day.

ITS PERFORMANCE IS SECOND TO NONE IN THE SUCKING DEPARTMENT, AND IT CLEANS PRETTY WELL TOO.

DYSONS SUCK WELL, OH YES THEY DO!

AN EXTREMELY SATISFIED CUSTOMER I AM.

I too countered Consumer reports and bought a Dyson DC14 yesterday based on my wife's experience with my daughter's unit despite some misgivings I have with the physical unit. Those misgivings center on the quality of the unit i.e durability in actual use over time. Some previous experiences include: Bissell steam vac fell apart after a year. Two hoovers died within six months of each other. That is my primary concern with consumer reports. Their tests are not life cycle tests. Although they do ocassionaly have historical data on companys. I and i am sure others would be interested in return comments after say six months of use. Cheers

In regard to Consumer Reports and Hoover wind tunnel vac, I have a Hoover wind tunnel model UC8140 which is two years old, broken again, and I will not fix it. The thing vacuums ok, only ok, but I had to replace two of the beater brushes a year ago, remeber it is only two years old, and now one of the brushes is bad again and the direct drive transmission is broken. What happens is the bearings wear out and the plastic material of the brushes and the transmission gears melt to their housing. I am tired of fixing it and plan to get a Dyson.
I agree with the lady who said she no longer reads Consumer reports. Many of the reviews I have seen are not real world. I think as a group CR has gotten caught up in their own importance and lost touch.

Want a great deal on a Dyson? Best Buy currently has a 15% off coupon on BestBuy.com that you can print out and take to the store to get 15% off any open box Dyson. I got my DC14 Animal for less than $400! Check it out: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&cmp=&id=pcmcat54100050023

I vacuumed earlier today with my Orek. It has been slowly falling apart for a few years now. I was thrilled when the cord finaly failed so I could feel justified in buying a vacuum that actually gets stuff out of the carpet. After surfing the web for a while, I ran out and got a Dyson Animal.

Well, I just vacuumed with it for the first time. After reading the posts on this site, I'm not suprised that I filled the cannister with schmootz left behind by the Orek. I'm not sure how large the cannister of the Dyson is as compared with the size of an Orek bag, but it was sure cool watching the cannister fill! And emptying the cannister was so unbelievably easy! (Even in the wind - I just reached down low into our outdoor bin before hitting the release button.)

The carpet looks so much better now that the pile has been pulled up by the Dyson - it even feels softer when walking.

So am I happy because of the hype or because the Dyson is an incredible vacuum? Answer - I don't care. Anything that can make the drudgery of housework this much fun is worth every penny, and any vacuum that can get this many guys talking about cleaning - well, its just a bit of a turn on!

Arrrrgh!!!! Trying to find the perfect vacuum is a maddening experience. I've gone bagged, bagless, hepa filtered, not hepa filtered, jeez louise how do you KNOW which is best without buying one of each and testing them yourself for weeks if not months on end?!!! I had a Eureka bagless and hated it! I went to a Hoover canister and hated it from the second time I used it. We just purchased an Orek XL a year and a half ago and I thought it did a great job; plus it was extrememely light. Now I'm not so sure it pulls as much dirt from the carpet as it used to. I may need to change the bag but it doesn't look like it is even close to being full.

I've heard mostly good things about the Dyson product but the thought of spending $500+ on another unknown just makes me sick. My parents owned a Rainbow when I was in high school and it seemed to vacuum better than anything I've used since but who wants to fool with nasty water every time you need to vacuum? I own a steam cleaner but don't use it that often because of the water and cleanup issue.

My question is, is there anyone else who has traded an Orek for a Dyson? If so I'm interested in long-term impressions not OMG this is great first experiences. Most vacuums I've used seem to be better than the last for the first few months.

Thanks.

I can't believe anyone would by a Dyson after just going to a store and looking at how cheap the plastic is that makes up the unit. $500+? For what? Note that my Hoover Windtunnel actually caught on fire, so I am looking to be loyal to some other brand, (Hoover will fix the defect that causes this if your vacuum hasn't actually had the defect yet, but if it has, well, since they can't fix it, you are out of luck :-)).

Seriously, I have checked these things out at the store, and they seem incredibly cheap, just what are you getting for your money?

My poor old electrolux vac seems to be dying slowly; so I just bought a DC14 after hearing loads of people going on about Dyson Vacs. I wanted to believe and be one of the crowd so i could join in all those conversations in the kitchen (NOT!) but the reliability issues i was hearing about and a few other people telling me that the suction wasn't all that great, and the PRICE made me consider other brands.
In the end i found a web offer & there wasn't too much difference (about £30 or $55) so i decided to get one- my thinking being that the cost will be spread over the next 8 years.
Anyway ... i used it the other day and i was pleased to see that the canester filled up after 3 rooms.... but then i thought about it and ...
1. realised that the space ocupied is about 1/6 of the size of my old vacs bag and the rubbish doesn't get as compacted.
2. because the base is bulky it doesn't get close to the edges of cupboards etc.
3. so you say - use the hose ... well i did but unlike my old vac where you can easily pull it out and suck up the stuff and put it back and carry on vacuuming on the dyson it takes ages - and as the hose forms part of the handle it's not easy to move about.
4. the suction is so good that the hose can't extend fully - i was forever turning around to give it a tug to get up the stairs.
All in all it's good but too much effort - i wanna do the vac (up to the edges) and get out of the house.... so i'd go for a new version of my old vac at half the price.
Cheers!

On the comment of the Dyson being cheaply made I'll have to disagree. I have owned a Dyson for 4 months now and am very happy with it. On my recommendation a friend of mine began checking them out. We went into BestBuy and got the best demo ever. The salesperson must have just received training on it. He knew the thing inside and out. Most everything I had already heard but then the guy took off the canister and stood on it. He was 6'2" and weighed about 220lbs. He didn't just stand on it, he bounced. The canister is clear plastic, the rest of the machine is even tougher grade ABS.

Hi - bought a Dyson DC14 All Floors a few weeks ago and I am delighted with the cleaning power and the durability. Used to have a bagged cylinder (Vax) 2000 watts which would suck the wallpaper off the walls when it was new but which began to fall apart from day 1. It was no cheaper 3 years ago than the Dyson was last month. I had been using the small attachment on my hands and knees (due to spring in telescopic thing breaking) but the gunk came out of the carpets the first time I used the Dyson was incredible! Also, here in the UK, there is a 28-day try-out policy AND a TWO-year PARTS AND LABOUR warranty, which is very reassuring when you spend that much.

Hi - can I ask a question and be totally upfront about why I'm asking it? I've got a meeting later this week with Dyson and I'm trying to figure something out regarding the advertising. (and if this means that I get kicked off the site now then please accept my apologies up front)

Here's the q. - was the James Dyson talking head campaign on TV the first introduction to the different functionality of Dyson or was it reminding you of what somone else had already told you about it? It seems like there's a lot of recommendation going on rather than a lot of marketing in the old fashioned sense. Does it even need to be marketed?

The second part is that if you accept that Dyson found a better and different way to do something what else could you apply Dysonness to? (I've got an immediate need for a non-kinking garden hose but that's just me) - thanks - john

I've been lusting after a DC14 animal. Problems is my other half doesn't want to spend the $$ on it when we have a perfectly good working vacuum. I can't stand the thing tho. I used to have a Hoover Windtunnel about 2.5 years ago and then got a Filter Queen. The Filter Queen gets it done. What I hate about it is that it's a canister, and I much prefer uprights. Has anyone used both that could describe how they compare?

If the Dyson really cleaned better than the FQ and if I could sell the FQ on eBay or craigslist for close to what the Dyson costs (cheapest this minute is $469 at Costco) then I'd do it in a heartbeat.

TIA
Mimi

I want to buy this vacuum becuase it gets the job done and has a patented design that keeps it from losing suction. But what I don't want is a huge vacuum that is heavy and hard to store. I want Dyson to come out with something more compact.

All this debate made me a little anxious to say something. I agree with the opinion that Apple is not just hype in a white box. Apple is much better at a lot of things, and if you know anything about processors you'd know MAC's have one of the best. I am a Mac user myself and own an iBook G4 that I insisted on getting. I like the company, the service was great for apple.com and Mac's are the first.

There was one thing I didn't hear anyone say though. The Dyson is like the Apple computer in that they are both the more unique faces in their markets for whatever reason. I just want to name a few things that are exclusive to MAC and Dyson:

*IPOD Shuffle
*Mac Mini
*No loss of suction
*8 different awards for the Dyson

They stand out for a reason. And one other thing...haha. The idiot who said word of mouth was marketing...please. Now really... please. Maybe patronizing but not marketing. Idiot (The way Napolean Dynamite would say it). You idiot (Now the way Ren would say it from Ren & Stimpy)!

I bought my DC-14 based on everything I have read. I must admit that I was hesitant to spend this much on a vacumn. I even bought one of the Consumer Reports recomended ones but returned it after reading other online reviews.

I LOVE THE DYSON.
A heads up. Go to your local Costco. They have the DC-14 Full Gear for $469.00. They also may have the DC-07 for about $429.00 (not sure who would buy that after doing the comparison research). Costco is much lower than regular retail.

So does the "Animal"'s little turbo attachment thingy really work? Please market it to me if you know. :)

Someone asked whether they should get a built-in system. My parents installed a built in when building their house in 1980. While the technology has improved a lot, here are the disadvantages:

1. The hose is not just an inconvenience. It is difficult to vacuum around a corner from an outlet because the hose scrapes the walls. The base moldings around their house are totally trashed at the corners.
2. Lugging the hose around is a lot harder than moving even a big vac around.
3. It would be quiet if it didn't create this horendous ringing noise throughout the house. Maybe new ones don't do that, but this one always has.
4. Repairing it may cost more than buying a regular vacuum cleaner.
5. You are stuck with a big investment that might not be the best solution in the short term or long. I personally find the outlets to be a bit obrtusive, too.

Alas I had a top-end Hoover Windtunnel about 25 months old it suddently made noise and smelled. Bottomline was that the four screws anchoring/aligning the beater bars' bearings are anchored in turn to plastic. Half of the female thread of one was gone--and the screw too. So a very expensive fix with no assurance it wouldn't recur. No satisfaction from Hoover despite a 24 mo. warranty and an obvious defect (my wife's not a bodybuilder).

Bought a Dyson 15 and a REAL joy; easy to maneuver 10# lighter and 2 amps less electricity consumption (mebbe Hoover needs it for the extra noise and friction from the extra weight).

Anyway, like other posters, I've found that the Dyson picks up a LOT of stuff the Hoover didn't. Will never go back to Hoover. But then I guess its caught the same affliction as its parent, Maytag--quality issues.

Coupons??!! Yes, use a 20% off coupon for Linen's & Things. Got the DC14 (not the Animal, which is just the same vacuum with more attachments) for a final price (incl. tax) of about $380. Niiice.

The "Ball" version is not worth it, the regular models (without the ball) move beautifully and very easily. We (my wife and I) also felt that the extra attachments you can get in the "Animal" version were not worth it. It's the same vacuum. If you decide you want the attachments later, use another 20% off coupon and go get them. It would cost about the same, but can save you $100 today.

Used this thing for the first time last night. Holy crap, THIS THING SUCKS!!!! I had just vacuumed with our old Panasonic a few days earlier, and you wouldn't believe what it left behind. I am SOLD. This thing is amazing.

Dyson Dc07 informational: I have been reading testimonies. I really want to try a Dyson. Today I found Overstock.com item # 424902 $319w/FREE SHIPPING, also offered a 2 yr extended warranty plan (accept in VA) $24.99 parts and labor included...+ + + + an offer to buy it now and pay later thru Chase, 90 days same as cash. I like Overstock, and I like their return policy so if this helps anyone....here ya go.

Okay, I left out one major detail. The Dyson Dc07 at Overstock.com is a "factory reconditioned" item.

I've noticed a couple posts on this, but no one has provided an answer...
We recently bought the animal version, but we're a bit confused as to how the mini turbo attachment works. What, exactly, is it supposed to connect up to? If I put it on the hose directly so that I can vacuum the tight corners of our stairs, the rotor stops rotating on occassion (maybe because the hose gets kinked up?) Put it on the wand, and it's unwieldy and I can't get into the corners on the stairs.

Just bought the DC14 at Costco for $469. I have always been fussy about vacuum cleaners since owning a carpeted restaurant some years ago & really getting a crash course in vacuum design & quality.

Costco (Redwood City, CA) has 5 or 6 bagless machines right now and I spent a long time pulling apart and reassembling every one. The Dyson is shockingly more pricy but after a very close inspection I bit the bullet and bought it. After a marathon vacuuming session I am stoked. Very well designed and durable (I predict) machine.

For the last few years I used a decent Hoover upright and a pretty sweet Simplicity Prowler canister vac. The canister was north of $300, if not $400, 4 or 5 years ago.

The DC14 seems to have resolved all the issues I had to date with my old vacuums. Filtration, ergonomics, efficiency are all great.

I vaguely remembered seeing something about Dyson's somewhere but didn't really know much (except hearing that bagless wasn't all that) about the category or individual models
before today. I normally would go home and research a purchase like this but it seemed solid enough to take home for a test drive, Costco does have a pretty safe returnn policy.

One day & I'm hooked. This is a solid machine.

Cheers,

Ian

Damn this vacuum is awesome. I had a 20% coupon, $125 gift card, and a merchandise credit all for Bed Bath and Beyond, and didn't need anything besides a vacuum, so I figured I'd get the best one there.

I have a rottweiler/belgian shepherd mix. She blows her coat every summer. You cannot lie down on the carpet in my house without her fur ending up stuck to every inch of your bare skin. This is especially annoying when you are sweaty and trying to do a round of sit-ups.
I went around ONCE with the Animal and did the lie-down test and absolutely nothing was stuck to me. I used to spend one hour trying to pick up all the hair in just one large room in my apartment. This thing sucked it all up in 5 minutes.

I admit, my previous vacuum wasn't all that great. As somebody mentioned before of course any vacuum that you buy that is newer than your last one will seem "amazing" to you. That person's point is that a less expensive vacuum may do just as good a job. MY point is, if you need a vacuum, why not get one that has been getting raves from everyone who owns it. Spend a little more and get the Animal. The $$ will even out in the long run, and you'll be happier for it.

backseat bangers

We are getting our basment finished and I am looking for a vac. to keep down there.
I currently have 2 Fantoms ~ Lighting and Thunder.
I have read some bad comments on line about Fantom since it was taken over by another company.
I am intrested in another bag less canister vac. I have seen that Dyson makes a few, but I can't seem to find them here in the states. They are available in the UK.
Does anyone know where I can find the Dyson Dc08 Cylinder bagless Canister cyclonic vac her in the USA!?

If so please e-mail me at Vonnies_Voice@verizon.net
I have checked Amazion and Overstock and haven't had any success.
Thanks!

I'm reading all these reviews and I think if you really want a super strong vacuum go to Home Depot or Lowe's amd get a Shop-Vac for less than $200. Yes I know they are big, ugly, and loud but boy do they suck. These things pick anything on the shop floor including nuts, bolts, wood, metal, and liquids. And they have attachments.

HANG ON TO YOUR SMALL PET.

We bought our DC14 several weeks ago to replace our Hoover v2 Windtunnel (which we had just over two years, the manufacturing warranty expired at two years). The Windtunnel uses two belts to drive the brush, one on either side, and one of the belts must have popped or something, because it smoked up and the brush on one side doesn't spin, while its next-door neighbor brush continues to function.

Combine that with our two-dog house (one of which, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, sheds daily in large quantities) and we needed a quick replacement.

After researching and researching, we decided to go with the DC14. As some of these posts indicated, ours likewise filled up over three times the first time we used it (within a week of the carpet being vacuumed by the Windtunnel), and the carpet has never looked better.

This is the way to go, and well worth the money, in our opinion. Sure, I bet there are other alternatives out there, but everyone's house is different, and for our house (and our dogs shedding habits), this is the way to go.

It handles easier than the windtunnel, was lighter than the windtunnel, and performed better than the windtunnel. All in all, it is worth it.

I'm almost sold, but I'm wondering why the Costco website says the DC-14 full gear has a 2 year warranty, but the Dyson site says it has a 3 year warranty (the only Dyson that has a 3 year). Does anyone know which it is?

I too have gone through too many vacuums and would love one that works, and a 3 year warranty makes it easier to spend the money.

Also, does anyone know of a list Dyson of Dyson authorized service centers? I can't find that information anywhere, and Dyson didn't answer my e-mail.

I am looking for an answer to the same question Cheeni posted on July 12. I recently purchased a DC14 Animal and am wondering how exactly the mini turbine attachment connects?? It will fit on the end of the wand, but not securely. It obviously has a locking device, but I don't see a matching piece to connect. Can anyone help with this?
On another note, I can't deny how great it cleans my carpet, but I'm wondering... Should it be so difficult to manuever? I do have very thick, plush, freize carpet, so I turn the beater brush off. I find it very difficult to push.
Any suggestions and/or advice is quite welcome. Thanks in advance for your time.

Well I got a response back from Dyson; there's no authorized service center here, but after talking to Dyson I feel quite sure they would assist me in getting it fixed should something go wrong after warranty.

And the 3 year warranty applies if you purchase from an independant dealer instead of a "chain store", even though the chain store's version might be cheaper (with only a 2 year warranty, though). With the independent dealer I chose, if I don't like it, I can return it no questions asked within 60 days for a full refund less restocking fee. I plan on liking it, but it sure eases my mind to know that if this vacuum breaks like the other two did, I at least have some recourse and time to make sure it works correctly. I'm tired of throwing out vacuum cleaners, so i'm pretty excited about getting this one.

I've owned my dyson animal for over a year now and it works just as great as it did new. I purchased it at Costco and used my year-end Executive Member rebate check towards the purchase. Costco guarantees their sales for any reason indefinately (even if you just don't like it after a year!), as long as you have your sales receipt, so I felt comfortable spending the $$$. I will never return this vac!! I owned a Kirby for years, then switched to an Oreck for the lightweght feature. The Dyson outperforms both!!

My daughter and I both have very long hair, so I have to clean the rotating brush often. But, I have to do that on every vac. We also have 2 shedding dogs, a cat, and a bird that likes to throw seed. The Dyson takes care of it all! It cleans steps like no other, too!

If you are concerned it may break or you won't like it, it will be worth the $30 to purchase a Costco membership and buy it there. You won't need any other warranty! You also won't need any other vac!

I've just spent the last hour reading this whole blog from start to finish, including the arguments about marketing this and marketing that. What I've read has convinced me to go purchase a Dyson to replace my Eureka Boss. I bought this Eureka about a year ago even though all of my friends and co-workers said they loved their Dyson's. I didn't want to pay that much, so I went with one of the cheaper alternatives that Consumer Reports says "does just as good a job if not better than Dyson and costs less."

This Eureka gave me the same reaction that many of you had the first time you tried your Dyson (I vacummed my whole house twice, filling the clear canister three times with dust and pet hair). I was very happy and my world was at peace. A couple months later, however, my Eureka began to show its true colors. The filter that sits on top of the canister now has to be cleaned every other time I vacuum. This takes about 30 minutes if I do it right. I don't enjoy spending 30 minutes every couple weeks getting dust particles out of this filter. To add insult to injury, my vacuum on/off switch just broke so that the only way I can turn it on and off is by plugging/unplugging the vacuum in the wall outlet (make sure your hands are dry!). This conveniently happened about a month after my 1 YR warranty was up.

I was leaning toward a Dyson to replace my Eureka hunk-of-junk, and this blog has helped me make that decision. It also lets me know that the Dyson is not indestructible, it's not quite as cool as all the marketing says it is, and that I had better get the good warranty with it. As long as I don't have to spend 30 minutes cleaing a dust filter, I think it will be worth the money.

The sad thing about that Dyson needing emptied 2 or 3 times is that it really isn't a true representation of how well it's working. I challenge you to take a bagged vacuum and suck up the contents of that dirt cup. What you will find in the bottom of that bag is a tiny little wad of dirt and hair. The bagless vacs seem to fluff up the dirt. Don't believe me? Try it. I'm glad you all have enjoyed your Dysons. We all want a clean house, but I'm sticking to my bagged Lindhaus. I bet in 15 years I'll still be using mine and still satisfied that my floors are really clean.

I'm afraid what you bought was exactly what they wanted you to and that was their line. I'll bet their marketing department is very well paid.

I'm no fan of uprights or canisters... just got my new house and will be getting a nice powerfull, quite and convenient central vac installed. The hose weighs less than any upright ever could, no noisy canister to tote around and it farts the dust outside where it belongs (no annoying HEPA filters to change, filters to clean, or bags to purchase).

Empty it once or twice a year - if that. Motorized beater bar for carpet, floor brush for hardwood. Hand attachments for dusting furniture and the stairs. Heck, I'm even going to splurge and get one hose for upstairs and one for downstairs - might even go crazy and get one that retracts into the wall.... Get a cloth cover for the hose and it doesn't scratch the hardwood either.

Grew up in a house with a central vac, and have waited 10 years to get my own house to get one in - can't wait to ditch my upright and canister vac's. Oh, and I'm going to get an outlet in the garage so I can vacuum the car out too - I really am looking forward to ditching my current vacs!

The HooverWindTunnel finally died today in the middle of a job. I am a residential house cleaner. I swore I would never in a million years own another bagless vacuum. Great idea at the time considering how much of course I vacuum, not having to buy vacuum buy bags; bad idea for too many reasons. But I keep seeing this commercial with the really cute inventor, and now I am searching results. Need a vacuum that will do everything: pet hair, wood floors, vinyl, carpet, stairs, low furniture, and furniture itself. How heavy is it? Is it quick and easy to change, inter-change parts, and empty canister? And most importantly, does it suck? I would pay anything for a good vacuum. Please help!

caninefurlien PLEASE CAUTION!!!! You say you have pets and use a Swiffer regularly. I don't have the details anymore but I recently saw a news story and confirmed by a vet friend that Swiffers have a chemical that if directly ingested by pets (i.e.by licking area recently Swiffered) can cause severe illness and death!!!

Quite some time ago, someone asked:

"Dyson's big marketing claim is 'The world's
first vacuum that doesn't lose suction'. My
question is: Is this sentence true?"

Well, it's partly true, but nowhere near entirely true.

First off, although the Dysons will not normally lose their suction anywhere near as rapidly as an ordinary bagged, or bagless but filtered, vacuum cleaner, they CAN lose their suction IF the user either:

(1) fails to clean the filters on schedule; or

(2) vacuums a large quantity of the wrong kind of debris (evidently things like drywall powder or baking soda) and does not clean the internal filters ahead of schedule.

In particular, the inner chamber -- the one that is designed to collect the finer particles of dust and debris -- can fill up without the user realizing it, because its wall is opaque rather than transparent.

Moreover, even insofar as the Dyson CAN fairly claim not to lose its suction the way previous, ordinary vacuum cleaners do, IT DEFINITELY IS NOT THE FIRST VACUUM CLEANER THAT CAN MAKE THIS CLAIM.

For starters, the Rainbow by Rexair retains its suction, and has had this capability since 1938. In the case of the Rainbow, it retains its suction because it uses water -- rather than any sort of dry, porous bag or filter -- to wash the suspended particles of dirt, dust and debris out of the air that is drawn inside. Just as with the Dysons, there is no bag or filter to become clogged.

And with the Rainbow, this is ENTIRELY true, whereas with the Dysons it is merely LARGELY true. As already noted, the Dysons DO have one or more internal filters that CAN in fact occasionally become clogged. It simply does not rely on these filters to do the bulk of its cleaning work.

My own not-yet-completed research suggests that the Rainbow is even more thorough and effective than the Dysons at removing debris from the air BEFORE it gets passed on through the machine and out through the last-stage, HEPA filter that each of them has. That is why the Rainbow's final filter needs to be cleaned even less often than the Dysons' -- once every 3-5 years, instead of once every 6 months. However, one should take what I say with several grains of salt, as I have not yet completed my inquiry into the matter (and the rest of you do not know me from Adam!).

Moreover, the Rainbow is not the only vacuum cleaner out there that uses water to filter the junk out of the air. I know of at least one other brand that also uses water (Karcher), but have no idea yet whether it works the same way and has the same doesn't-get-clogged, doesn't-lose-suction property.

So there we are.

We just got the Dyson last night after our Rainbo went kaptuz. The motor was all rusted up and running rough after my wife ran it without putting water in the tank. Also, I hated the rainbow because you always had to stick your hand into stinking wet dog hair to remove the solids into the trash before dumping the water and mud into the stool. The thing always had a bad smell in our closet as well.

The Dyson is picking up lots of stuff the rainbow missed, and the container is so much easier to dump into the trash.

I, too, owned a 6-y-o Hoover Wind Tunnel and was sick of it. Felt like it wasn't cleaning well, hated dragging it with me when I vacuumed the stairs, couldn't stand the smell, wished it didn't take up as much space in storage, wondered if it could possibly be any louder. It started making strange noises, and I started eyeballing consumer feedback and reliability data.

I bought my Dyson 07 Animal last month at Home Depot. All of them were yellow-tagged at $349 - Hellooooo? A mistake? I wasn't asking. I threw that puppy in my cart so fast before I could talk myself out of it. For that money, I could have bought another Wind Tunnel. But why? Exactly.

I LOVE this vacuum. It cleans WAY better than the Wind Tunnel ever did. (I have two dogs - one longhaired - , a cat and two kids. I'm amazed at the stuff the Dyson pulls out of my carpets every time I vacuum.

My carpets actually feel softer when I walk on them barefoot, and they look better too. The Dyson is quieter, so the kids don't freak. I can clean my staircase (save for the top step, which I just do when I move the cleaning party upstairs) with the extender hose. The Animal is much lighter to use, and doesn't take up as much storage space. I dump the canister after each cleaning - just pop open my trash can, open the canister - it's done. No mess at all.

I've read the discussions here about the Dyson colors and their impact on marketing the product. The genius in using color has nothing to do with sales, per se. Frankly, when I walk into my laundry room and see my purple Animal, I actually don't mind the thought of vacuuming. That dark green/grey Wind Tunnel looked too much like the almost-40, drab, bulky housewife I'm trying not to become, so I never felt motivated to clean. So if a product can have THAT kind of effect on me regarding its practical use in my home? Call me a sheep and let me baaaaahhhhhhhh with the rest of the Dyson converts.

I still need to figure out the mini vacuum and the other extra attachments for our hardwoods, but my husband has used them and likes them. I'm also looking forward to trying out the Dyson carpet care products that came with the Dyson.

Did I buy my purple Animal because I drank Dyson's purple Kool-Aid? No way. I've listened to friends rave about theirs for years. Nobody I know gets excited about their Wind Tunnels. And for the price at which I found my Dyson? Can't beat that for a new Dyson product, or for many other new vacuums on the market.

Marketing has much too do with how well a product sells. The Wind Tunel sells the most, but isn't the best vacuum. I have a Ricar that wants to suck the curtains in if I get too close. It even impressed the Kirby guy who asked me to bring out my vacuum for a suction test. He hooked it up to some device, and it pulled it down more than any other home he went to. Of course, the Kirby did a bit better, but I question their test with no actual bag on their unit.(may increase air flow) I did just put in a new bag(didn't tell kirby dude...lol) I use this for 2 dogs, 3 kids 4 times per week with near 2000 sq ft of carpet, going on 4 years now.(has 5 year warranty). The wind tunnel didn't provide the same suction when compared in the store by just putting the hose on my hand. Bags are very cheap(for the Ricar) and just seem way easier than dumping a load of vacuum junk in a garbage can. I don't want to breath the stuff I vacuum up. No bagless for me.....its kinda like not using your bag on a lawn mower. you try it, then realize the good ole way is still better with a bag.

Dan mentioned this morning:

"Of course, the Kirby did a bit better,
but I question their test with no actual
bag on their unit.(may increase air flow)"

That unquestionably would have made a difference, and a huge one at that! _Of course_ a Kirby is gonna do well when it has no air bag to restrict air flow, but that fact misses -- or deliberately* obscures -- the whole point: It is physically impossible to use an air bag -- or any other kind of solid, mechanical filter -- without that bag or filter restricting air flow and thereby reducing the cleaner's effectiveness. This process starts the instant one starts using a new bag or filter. And the more the bag or filter in question is used before it is eventually discarded or cleaned, the more clogged its microscopic pores will become, and the more severely it will choke off air flow and impair effectiveness.

That's the whole point behind an air vortex-separator cleaner like a Dyson or a Filter Queen (or Hoover's Triple Vortex -- the machine that Hoover had to withdraw from the market after it was held to infringe Dyson's patent), or a water-filtering cleaner like a Rainbow or a Karcher DS 5500.

P.S. Of course, each of these machines has drawbacks as well. However, the particular one Dan mentions can be coped with or cured rather easily. For example, one can wear a HEPA face mask while emptying a Dyson, or surround the Dyson with a plastic trash bag and hold it tight at the top before releasing the debris,** or both. A plastic trash bag costs a lot less than most vacuum cleaner bags, and doesn't restrict air flow _while the vacuum cleaner is in use_.

* On the part of the Kirby salesman, of course.

** Much as I'd like to claim credit, I didn't think of this one myself. I found this second suggestion elsewhere on-line.

Dyson DC14 Animal
It's amazing :))

Jeremy:
I have been digesting all of the stuff on Dyson vs everything else that is sold. I have had Kirby, Sears, Eureka (several) Hoover (several). None of them can clean like a Dyson and most were trash after 2-3 years. Dyson was recommended by a carpet cleaning firm, who said the vac I was using did not do it's job.

I'v had the Dyson Animal 2.5 years, with 2 German shepherds, a hairy terrier, a lab and 3 cats. Nothing cleans better than the Dyson! When the hair stops spinning, empty the vac, don't wait until the canister is full. I usually vac 2-3X weekly and empty the canister at least 4-5 times per room. I have light rugs (with rubber backing) large oriental types, wall to wall, tile and hardwood floors, everything gets clean. The only rugs that do not vacuum well are light scatter rugs, the kind you usually shake out.

Yes, the attachments are somewhat of a pain, but because everything else works well, I can live with it.

The issue over the rotating brush stopping, that means you are pushing too hard. Lighten up and it works fine. If you want to push, use the little upholstery nozzle. If the vaccum starts sounding really loud, check to see what is caught in the brush. I have never had a serious clog in the machine in the years I have had it (except a large sock), and I am not careful about picking up stuff. The vac does not like little plastic things, but so what?

Prior to purchasing the Dyson, I did not have a clue about it, so I did not fall for the advertising. I was somewhat turned off by the colors, but I got over it. I too, read Consumer Reports and don't always agree with them, it's a matter of opinion. CR doesnt' like Volkswagens either, but I love mine.

My house is cleaner than it every was.

Gail

Ahhhahaha! But anyway, I enjoyed my stroll down Jeremy's blog. Amazed there are so many people passionate about their vacuums. I am still researching which vacuum will suit my needs...though I do believe I am leaning more towards the DC 14 Animal, rather the DC 07. I would like to thank all involved with this blog, especially Jeremy. You all have made my research quite enjoyable! Thanks again!

I to have had the Wind Tunnel. Self Propelled quit working after 6 months,bar comes loose, and it is SO heavy. It is so loud it gives the dogs heart attachs. I am convinced that Dyson is the way to go. With the new DC 14 with the roller ball, it will be easier to move around furniture.
The color is actually a turn off.........purple? The Barney of vacum cleaners.
Good comments that helped make my decsion.

I returned my Dyson DC14 Full Kit to Costco yesterday. After I did a side-by-side comparison with our 6 year old Dirt Devil, I didn't notice a big difference in the amount of dirt it picked up. The Dyson had a little more suction but that's with a 6 year old filter in the Dirt Devil that has never been replaced or cleaned. I had several major issues with the Dyson that I could not overlook.

Issues:
The Dyson was too fat/blunt in the front to get under any furniture or the cupboard overhang when cleaning the kitchen floor.
It doesn't have a light (for $500 it should have flip-up xeon headlamps).
It doesn't have a rubber guard to protect our wooden furniture legs.
It was hard to maneuver on our stair landing because the brush turns off in tight spaces.
It is awfully ackward to use to vacuum the stairs.
The brush attachment for stairs and animals is worthless. The attachment's roller stops when you barely press on it.
The handle is very flimsy.

I loved how easy it was to empty the dirt and I liked the fact that it didn't have a filter (not including the Hepa), but these 2 facts don't add up to a $500 vacuum. For that price, I could buy 3 vacuums; 1 for upstairs, 1 for downstairs and 1 for the stairs.

Dyson solved the maneuverability issue with the new DC15 ball, but once again, my 6 year old Dirt Devil has caster wheels on the back, so it's been able to do 90 degree turns for years.

I just went to a professional vacuum store where they had numerous brands including Dyson. My wife wants the dyson animal. I asked the guy which vacuum is the best...and he rolled out the Riccar Radiance. I told him to give me the comparison to the Dyson and he said, "follow me"...we went into the back service room and there sat at least two dozen dysons as well as many hoovers etc, and he said, "try to find a riccar here". I found one - in for a tuneup. Then he said that everything about the riccar is better: suction, filtration, quality, materials, maintenance, warranty. One look at the roller on the Dyson, compared to the roller on the Riccar, and I was sold. Now, i should warn you that the price is $899...which is outrageous for a vacuum, but it also comes with a 6 year warranty, and lifetime belt warranty, and annual tuneup for the first 4 years.

My wife was pissed, but I love the thing. ITS BETTER THAN THE DYSON. But I'm guessing the Dyson rules the roost in department stores, etc.

I fear the coupon nazis at my Bed Bath & Beyond. They won't let me use more than one per DAY...let alone per checkout. Has anyone had to get downright pushy with the staff? I know the brandname appears in tiny, lowercase print on the coupon. I read it three times before I finally saw "dyson" near the end of a sentence, followed by other capitalized brand names. I am planning on checking out with the most exahusted and frazzled-looking sales associate to guarantee I can use the coupon! Just give me some arguing points if they stop me!

I bought my Animal last night, my husbands new store was having a employee open house and the special was a dyson for 40% off. I almost fainted. This morning I used everything that came with it. Amazing the stuff it picks up, we thought we needed new carpet, turns out just a great sweeper. We have 3 dogs and 4 grandkids under 4 years old. So we have a alot to sweep up. I will never have another brand of sweeper. I also like it because it is so light to use compared to my expensive sears model. By the way, we didn't need a new sweeper but could not turn down the price. We got the Animal for 300.00. Do yourself a favor and buy a Dyson!!

Rainbow vs. Dyson...and I'm impressed.

Yesterday morning I had my Rainbow D series out and was vacuuming a dog bed when the lamby fabric got wedged in the Rainbow's power head, stopped the brush beater from turning and completely blew out the power head motor - all within 6 seconds. Instead of hunting down the vintage motor part and paying who-knows-what to have a repair shop do the re-wire, I decided to put the money towards a new vacuum. I have no idea why the Dyson yellow vacuum came to mind, but it was the first thing I googled.

I braved the Bed Bath & Beyond coupon nazis today and lucked out. I got the DC 14 Animal for $439 ($476 with Texas sales tax) and rushed home, giggling much of the way. Assembly was easy, even though the hose is very, very stiff and the telescoping wand doesn't move as smoothly as the store model's did.

I had vacuumed half of the downstairs with the Rainbow yesterday before I blew it out. While I was expecting there to be more debris in the Dyson bin, I vacuumed the entire downstairs of our townhome and only had the bin half full. This told me that my Rainbow was a good vacuum and was keeping the place pretty clean. It also told me the Dyson was holding it's own against a $2,000 machine. I had kind of wanted the "OMG" reaction to how much the Dyson picked up but I was pitting it against clean, 2 year old carpet that has been well cared for by my Rainbow. So I did a little experiment....

I moved the big couch in the living room completely to the side. I never vacuum under it. (No children and one large short-haired dog, we can get away with it.) I divided the area in two and wheeled the vacuum competetors over. Since my Rainbow power head was shot, the "fairest" thing to do was to use the nozzle of each. I commited a terrible sin by not putting any water in the Rainbow for the 45 second sweep, but I wanted to see an accurate comparison of picked-up material in each vacuum and that's difficult if one has it's contents suspended in water. I hose-vaccumed 45 seconds on one half with the Rainbow hose nozzle and 45 seconds on the other half with the Dyson nozzle (no attachments on either). While I could point out a dozen reasons why this is not a "true" experiment, it satisfied me.

I was somewhat stumped when both vacuums had pretty identical deposits in the canisters. The Dyson had MUCH more fine dust. The Rainbow, without water, appeared to have the same fine dust kicked up all over inside the tub, and I suspect had launched a bit back into the room even though I couldn't see ANY debris dust leaving the bin while vacuuming. Hair & misc. debris appeared to be the same in each. While this initially struck me as being inconclusive, I realized I had pitted a $549 ($439 he he) Dyson against a $2,000 Rainbow and gotten similar results. I was pleased. (Note: My Rainbow is the D SERIES, ie: 1983 model year, brown plastic, vintage design and has been used for a full 7 years. 3 by me, 4 plus closet time by previous owner. I picked it up for $150 at a moving sale. I'm a sucker for good vacuums at bargain prices!) In all fairness, I DO know for a fact that the current Rainbow E Series models out perform my older D series by a moderate margin...maybe 1-2 tablespoons more dirt pick up per average master bedroom/diningroom. But...for 1/4 of the price, we have what I consider to be a tie!

What I don't like about my Dyston: (The truth, as I would want it.)

One poster mentioned the hose is like wrestling with a python. More like a 17 foot anaconda. That hose is stiff and strong. I am 24, fit, with no injuries and I was getting sore and frustrated from the thing. I'm desperately hoping the hose softens up but it will flat out make you mad the first couple of times you use it. This would NOT be acceptable for dear, sweet grandmothers, teeny college girls or injured vacuumers. It's a flaw I find unknowingly limits the user market and is unfair to the unsuspecting consumer. NO WAY can anyone less than able bodied wrestle the serpent hose that came with my vacuum!

The nifty, bottom opening of the canister did not "pop" open beautifully when I first tried to empty it. Perhaps the new plastic was still too tight because it flung open with gusto on the third emptying. BUT I don't like that when you close it, there inevitably is a TON of sand grit in the black gasket that seals the canister. It seems so dirty, like it may scratch up the plastic or negate the air-tight seal. Not sure...but it's pretty gritty.

The next thing was the base boards. I enjoy clean baseboards. Black Doberman hair does not look good on my white base boards. The Dyson did better than my Rainbow at getting the hair up closer to the baseboards but it did not give a nozzle-vacuumed clean look. I know I'm asking too much of the Dyson with this but I had hoped!

One last thing, and this is terribly picky too but the Dysons look SOOOO gorgeous on the shelf! Vacuum for 2 minutes with your new baby and the gorgeous clear & purple interior is horribly gray, brown and filty, never to be the same again. Dyson has succeeded in becoming a showcase of the dirt it picked up from your house. I'm also not sure I want to spend the time cleaning the dirt chamber after every single mess clean up. (It can be cleaned spotless again with much patience, effort and from the looks of it, help from a second vacuum but who does this?) Enjoy the gorgeous, glistening new purple plastic before you vacuum for the first time!

What I Love:

Well, after lugging the Rainbow, at 35 pounds when full of water, all over the house and switching from the power head hose back to the nozzle hose at least twice in each room, the Dyson is a HUGE improvement! It was easy to carry.

The whirling beater bars (on both the sweeper and the aminal mini turbo head) will nearly take your fingers off. Hands clear. I had read the mini turbo head's brushes will stop spinning if pressed too hard. So, the Rainbow-killing dog bed was called in for another experiment. It slowed the bristles of the mini turbo head by about 25% when I vacuumed the plush fabric normally. Pressing the head harder into the lamby fabric slowed it to 50% speed. Never did the spinning brushes catch or gag on the fabric. I will admit it does look like the bristles have stopped because, as they quickly spin, you can clearly see the individual bristles. It honestly looks like it is not moving. I only realized it WAS moving when I pushed the head so hard into the dog bed it slowed the bristles enough that I could clearly see the spinning action. Previously it went so fast, it looked like they weren't moving through the purple plastic. These bristles are blender-speed fast. Seriously, watch your hands. And make sure the plastic disc thing (bristle spin lock) on the side is popped out to the "on" position or they really WON'T be spinning!

The suction is quite amazing. The low reach floor tool is great, on the proper setting. (Put it on the wrong setting and it vacuum seals itself to the floor. Hilarious if you let hubby "try" the attachment out!)

The vacuum, in my opinion, does a wonderful job of following you as you work the hose. My Rainbow was a little hurricane of fury that I dared not upset lest it spill it's vat of unmentionable contents. The Dyson follows happily on or off road with it's large & sturdy back wheels. I can already feel my tug-oops-and-dive-for-the-vacuum-before-it-dumps reflex wearing off!

My review is that this vacuum is a good one. Yesterday I wanted a Rainbow E series to replace my D series but it was out of the budget. The Dyson is a very comparable product for me, based on the experiments I did in my home and witnessed with my own eyes. After using the Dyson for a day, I feel freed from the frustrations that came with lugging the Rainbow and all the hoses & power head around and I don't feel like I have sacrificed cleaning power. I will very much enjoy this vacuum I think. If I don't, I'll honestly be back with my findings. I hope you find this review helpful in your decision making!

P.S. I am curious to see if the Dyson will smell as bad as my Rainbow does. The inside of the canister on the Rainbow smells like a shoe despite many Lysol & Pinesol dunks.

The DC 14 Animal? I guess. But I prefer the new DC 15 "The Ball" :-) Its also in Amazon and a whole lotta other places.

It is the best vacuume in the stinkin world!!! Buy it!!

I bought the ball at Bed Bath, etc. with the 20% off coupon for a grand total of $400. I really liked how maneuverable it was. That's right...was. I took it back because it was really noisy. It emitted a high pitched whistle that drove me crazy. It was quite a bit noisier than the DC 14 I tried out from Costco.

After trying the DC14 and the DC15, I'm done trying Dysons. Basically, Dyson's just cost to much for the pile of plastic your getting. Hoover's pick up just as much dirt and cost half the price (plus they have lights so you don't have to turn on every light in the house when vacuuming.)

If people think they are getting cleaner floors just because they spend $500 on an admittedly good-looking vaccuum, then more power to them. I guess it proves that marketing works.

My mom has been wanting a dyson dc07 for a while but with a hefty $529 price tag, she just could think of a reason to spend so much on a vacuum. Each time she watched the commercial, she would append some king of comment about how she needed a new vacuum. So my sister and I did an online search and found it at blahzblah and it was only $384. We couldn't resist and bought it - should be arriving for Christmas. With everything I've read here, I think we got a great deal and great vacuum. We'll only know come christmas morning.

I was just about to write a letter to the folks I bought my DC14 from 1 year ago now, when I ran across this thread.

OK, I am not a vacuum cleaner expert, but being an engineer, I am hard to please and quite a skeptic regarding overexagerated claims a.k.a marketing hype.

Long story short: I LOVE THE DYSON! It has sucked up pounds of crap the old Hoover had missed. It is simply amazing the talcum powder like dust that this thing picks up, to say nothing of the hair from the Dalmation and Lab.

I was concerned with its ability to survive one year (I use it also in my shop, cement floor, metal lathe, wood working stuff) but it has been flawless even with the abuse I subject it to. Not having a bag to change is really the way to fly.

I hate to admit this, but when we have visitors, I will often drag out the Dyson and show them the crap it finds in what *appears* to be a clean space. My wife loves that of course! Oh, one other thing, the air smells better when I am done, not worse. It clearly has a great filter.

In short, maybe there are better units out there, I won't argue that point, but this one certainly does a great job. Finally, it was last years Xmas gift for my wife. Even she now admits that this thing has made our world better, and lemme tel ya, that is quite a turn around from the initial disdain :-)

Me again, following up with all the details, as I would want them. I have had my Dyson for 2 weeks exactly and have found some good things and some weird things.

The Good:

The anaconda-strong hose DOES soften up! After one good, full-length stretch while vacuuming the stairs, the hose has been much more willing to behave and extends with minor exertion and wrestling now. Rest easy!

You get very fast at working the hose and attachments. I rotate from upright vacuum to wand to hose-only in a matter of seconds as I go from room to room. This has been helped by the hose softening a little. Seriously, stretch the hose all the way out for 3 minutes when you first get it, it makes all the difference in the world.

Suction is so powerful you can sweep a pile of dirt and then vacuum it up without it scattering a bit. The pile actually gets sucked up before the brush beater is over it - the dirt will move towards the vacuum about 2 inches infront of the sweeper head.

Upright vacuum debris opening is large but can be "tricked" into picking up even larger things than *should* fit (like my large dog food nuggets or fruit loops). If the vacuum pushes the big chunks around in front of it, wheel the vacuum past the large debris to one side and then wheel over it backwards, slightly at an angle if needed. There seems to be better clearance behind the vacuum that allows the jumbo crumb to be picked up there as you glide over it backwards.

Suction power on the side is AMAZING. If you find that the nose is too big to get under the cabinets or up to the door threshold or baseboards, flip the vacuum sideways and vacuum parallel to the obstruction. The side suction will make quick work of whatever was stubbornly out of reach.

The Bad:

I have heard my Dyson "wail" as one blog site put it. There is a flaw that if the Dyson does not properly adjust to your floor height (if it goes too low on plush carpet) it will make this grinding, chewing, clicking noise that is so loud and awful it is guaranteed to onset a heart attack in persons over 60. (My grandmother would have sincerely been upset and moved to tears from fright at the noise this vacuum made.) I was vacuuming a rug I have that is actually made out of thick shag carpet that was cut & bound to create a rug. I lifted the Dyson on to it, vacuumed, let the Dyson roll off the rug onto the short pile carpet then went to push it back onto the shag rug. As soon as it got back on the rug, (after adjusting to the shorter carpet pile height) it made the horrible noise. Dyson is aware of this problem because the owners manual very lightly and briefly makes mention of the vacuum making a noise if the auto-adjusting height mechanism does not auto-adjust up properly. The cure: LIFT the Dyson onto shag carpets or ANY rugs to vacuum. (I have had NO problems whatsoever when going from tile to "regular" height carpet or from carpet to vinyl, vinyl to carpet, etc. This only happens on thick, long, shaggy-type carpet from my experience.)

I also was able to get the Dyson to make the noise by just letting it sit on the shag carpet, motionless, for about 15 seconds. I am sorry to advise you that if you have thick frizze or shag carpets, you may want to be aware of this flaw. (Thin or stiff frizze carpet would be fine, I'm sure. I was vacuuming a rug made of the DuPont Tactesse 5 star shag carpet, which is one of the thickest and plushest on the market, but not as thick as the vintage 70's shags that have made their way back in style!)

The purple Animal mini turbo head is wonderful for doing the stairs but if you don't have it, don't buy it. Use the regular stair cleaning tool. I have not tried it in my SUV yet, but the turbo head doesn't seem to do a whole heck of a lot with dog hair. The upright is the way to remove the most animal hair, followed by the hose (minus the wand) directly or with an included, on-board attachment. I would be very disappointed had I paid the additional $69.99 to buy the mini turbo head. Might I ad that in the store, on the "sample" vacuuming rug, the mini turbo head worked wonderfully on that super-short carpet. Would probably be great in your car on that short carpet interior. Not so impressive on your home carpet. Rotates too visciously so I don't dare to use it on my furniture.

When you are using the hose without the wand, there are small slits on the side of the gray hose end that let air (and suction power) escape, meaning the hose works slightly better if you cover the holes with your hand or use an attachment, which also covers the holes. Odd placement of air slits in my mind. It's terribly awkward, but often necessary, to use just the hose end and try to correct this hole problem. Difficult to cover the holes and try to continue to hose vacuum.

I STILL would buy this vacuum and have been thrilled with my purchase. In all fairness I have been nit-picky with this vacuum, noticing every little thing it does wrong, knowing I can come here and report it! I love this vacuum and have found myself showing envious friends and neighbors how cool it is! I hope you find my review fair and helpful!

Just got my dyson this week after many months of reading this and finally convincing my husband that the dyson was the way to go. We love it. it warms my heart to see all of the dog hair in the vaccuum and not in my toddler's mouth!!!! many thanks to all who wrote in, you made my purchase easier.

I recently purchased a DC14 for my mother for Christmas. After she used it, vacuumed her house for two days she was having that much fun with it.... I borrowed it to try at my own home as I have been less than totally content with my Bissel Lift-Off. I was impressed enough that I have two more on order. One for a friend and another for myself.

I too have read Consumer Reports but ever since they claimed the 5.0 Liter Mustang was hopelessly overpowered I digest their reports with a couple of ounces of Morton's. I also like to seek out the views of people who use the items I am interested in in the real world.

Yes the Dyson makes extensive use of plastic, but then I got past plastic when the Glock 17 came out. If the plastic is done right I have no problem with it and it does keep the weight down. The Dyson handles well and seems to clean very well. My mother who is 70+ is very happy with it and she has not had any problems manipulating the hose or attachments. I agree with the observations regarding the gasket on the canister drop door getting filthy but it is too early to tell if this will be a problem and none of the reviews I have read have said it leads to a problem and yes the canister itself will not look pretty for long unless you clean the inside, but I can live with that too. I do not suffer from allergies so perhaps I am not sensitive enough to notice the problem with dumping the canister. Holding it low and emptying it carefully into a trash can in my garage seems to raise no more dust than getting a disposable bag off my Bissel and getting that into a trash can. Speaking of dust, I was impressed with the amount of dust the Dyson pulled from the carpet of just one small room in my house. Not to mention the hair and dirt. I have two cats and as noted in other posts the Dyson gets their hair out of the carpet above my expectations.

As I said earlier, I am happy enough with it that I have one coming for my own home and another for a gift.

I have the Dyson puprle pet model. I also have had a Kirby, Electrolux, Royal, Simplicty, The tunnel one (cant remember name) Hoover and Eureka bag and bagless varieties. The Eureka broke in 2 weeks. I live in the wood we have 5 dogs mostly outdoor but spend the night inside, and I raise Maine Coon Cats (long haired cats) The Royal canister came with a 10yr warrenty on the motor, the motor went out in 2 years and took 6 months to repair. The electroluxs over the years were great, the kirby was good. The simplicity isnt to bad. I do like the Dyson I do have a couple peeves about it, the top of the handle sucks in air which sucked my long hair down in it. It doesnt like long shaggy rugs at all. It doesnt have a bag so when you empty it dust comes up and the roller on the bottom I have to cut the fur off of every week. It hasnt been to the shop in the 18 months since I have had which it gets used every other day. The parts are easy to clean out the occacsional sucked up toy or clean out. I have heard the belt is a royal pain in the butt to replace but have not yet experienced it. I have my husband take the air compressor to clean out all the parts every coule weeks. So far it is the most reliable one out of the bunch.

I love this vacuum and still cannot stop using it. I took my new vacuum up the road to my in-law's house when their steam cleaner was borrowed and returned broken. My fater-in-law was so impressed with the vacuum, he went bargain hunting after Christmas and bought himself a yellow one. They absolutely love it, too.

I have not purchased the soft dusting head and would like to read reviews about it. Is it worth the $20 or $30 from Dyson.com or does the included brush attachment work as well?

I have begun dusting with my Dyson. The included bristle brush attachment doesn't scratch my furniture but it can't get under/between everything. Still, I was *SHOCKED* at what my Dyson picked up. I could very clearly see a thick layer of grayish-white dust in the bin that it sucked up from my home, including making out individual flakes of dog dander.

The miraculous thing was the smell of the house when I was done. Our townhouse shares two walls with neighbors, one of which chain-smokes in her home all day long. Our sensitive non-smoker noses pick up the slightest hint of cigarettes and it drives us mad. Since the full house Dyson dusting and frequent vacuuming with the Dyson, we have not had the smoke smell AT ALL. There is no dirt in the carpet or in the air for it to cling to.

For anyone reading this post before making their purchase as I did, please know this very picky gal is extremely pleased with the Dyson DC14 Animal and would recommend it to anyone. My husband, who loves and insists on a clean home, has found new peace when he comes home from work to soft, plush carpets, clean kitchen floors and a home that smells fresh. It is so very worth the price to have that magazine-perfect clean carpet and home.

To answer a much earlier question, the DC14 does work just fine with long hair. I have very fine blonde hair that hits my lower back, just above my tail bone. I flip the vacuum over once a week to remove the hair from the beater bar, which is about a 4 minute job. I have had to do this on every vacuum, even my $2,000 Rainbow.

I would say that 90% of my long hair makes it into the bin and 10% ends up around the beater bar. It has never clogged up the vacuum or reduced suction. It doesn't even make noise if hair is wrapped around the beater bar. I just think it is unsightly and remove it.

I do make an effort to use the hose if I am dusting around my sink area where lots of long hair falls when I am blow-drying my hair. I'm sure this keeps a lot of hair out of the beater bar as well.

Having read this entire string, I decided to get a DC14 from Costco. I figured if I didn't like it, I could take it back. Our last model (Samsung Quiet Storm) was Consumer Report's top rated canister model a few years back. It lasted 2 years and cost over 200 dollars. So take what that publication advocates carefully, they don't really tell you which vacuum will last. Bottom line: the Dyson does a great job and my wife loves it. Much better than our old one at its peak. Drawbacks: 1) We experience the Dyson "wail" when we vacuum our area rug against its grain. The front of the Dyson gets pushed down and then the suction keeps it down. The wail is VERY LOUD, but stops when you break the seal. 2) No light. 3) Bulky front can't get under any bed or cabinet. Only time will tell if it lasts more than 2 years, although we have friends who've had one for over a year with no problems. If you can easily afford a Dyson, I recommend it. If you're tight on money, most any 80 dollar vacuum will do just fine and don't sweat it.

I've had a Dyson DC07 for 2 years and love it. Our whole family has significant allergies (bad enough that 3 of us took weekly allergy shots in the past); and I believe the Dyson has reduced our symptoms.

To address some of the complaints while trying not to rehash...

1)Flimsy plastic - Its made out of ABS (used in motorcycle helmets). Its a little flexible but exceptionally strong. I've run it into all manner of things (like wooden furniture legs) without it breaking or marring what it hits. No rubber bumpers necessary for furniture protection. And personally, headlights on a vacuum are just stupid.

2)Belt replacement hard or impossible - Its supposedly a lifetime belt that is entirely enclosed in plastic to protect it from tangles and dirt causing friction. Hopefully its made from something inert so it doesn't oxidize and deteriorate like rubber. So far, so good.

3)Wailing or grinding noise - That is the belt protection mechanism when the brushbar jams. Immediately lift the vacuum up if it is tangled in shag or turn it off to remove debris wound up in the brushbar. The noise means the brushbar is not moving and long term stress on the teeth of the protection mechanism as repetitively relases will reduce its life.

4)Whistling noise - For me, that has always been a result of the ventcap on top of the handle not being fully closed when the handle is put in the upright position or one of the access panels is not correctly sealed.

5)Frequent (every 6 mo.) cleaning of filter - I have a pretty dirty house from 2 dogs and a sandy back yard but I don't vacuum ultrafine things like talcum powder, baking soda and drywall dust. When I have cleaned the filter, it was barely dirty and could probably go a year or more. That means the cyclonic seperators are working as they should. I prefer this to dealing with bags or baffled HEPA filters.

6)Dumping the bin is messy - Its exceptionally easy and clean process. Hold the bin inside your outside trashcan, pull the trigger and the bottom falls out with almost no dust backsplash. This is opposed to the "hokey" Oreck commercial that shows Mr. Oreck purposely doing a bad job of emptying a competitors bagless vac.

7)Bagless vacs might get stinky - Our previous vacuum, a Vorwerk with paper bags and a cloth cover, quickly got dog stink even when it was not running that would not go away with bag changes. The Dyson still emits no smells even when running with a full bin. No true HEPA vacuum should either.

8)Cutting hair off brushbar is a pain - To me it is exceptionally easy since the bar is basically a flat plastic rectangle with the bristles on the long ends that has been corkscrewed. There is plenty of room in the head to use a small pair of scissors and run along the rectangle between the bristle rows. The hair then easily pulls off the bar much easier than any vacuum I ever had. Set on "bare floor" setting so the brushbar rotates easier when cutting.

From an engineering perspective, the Dyson has some well thought features

a)The belt protection system prevents belt burnouts

b)The brushbar turns off with the handle in the upright position to protect the carpet when not being moved

c)The suction is diverted to the wand with the handle in the upright position to release remaining stress on the carpet and make switching to the wand effortless

d)No bags to deal with buying and not knowing when to replace for sure, no fabrics to retain stink, no pesky baffled HEPA filters to beat out and make a mess, and super easy and clean to empty.

I don't necessarily agree with all of Consumer Reports recommendations simply because things that are important to them may or may not be important to me and visa versa. This has been the most well engineered and easy to maintain vacuum I have owned. Additionally Dyson was correct, there is something psychically rewarding seeing the clear bin fill up as you vacuum.

I bought a dyson just after they came out a DCO7
It gave up working after many years of hard work - builders dust etc.
For some stupid reason I bought a Hoover never again
Big mistake - I am going to buy a Dyson again
Chris UK

Great Blog.
As a vaccum repairman, I am a little amazed by all the hoopla. The Dyson Reminds me so much of Oreck, because of the similar effect the advertising has on consumers. They all come into the shop with that question: Is it really as good as they say it is?" Who says, I ask? Dyson? Oreck? Of couse they're going to say that. Oreck Marketing is home spun, and is quite disarming. Oreck says, "If you don't like it, just send it back, and keep the (MADE IN CHINA IRON) free." Hey, I know that we're only human! Most of us wouldn't take the time to send it back. The Oreck works OK. It's a very powerful Quick Broom. Great for folks who are maintaining a already relatively clean area. But, like the Dyson, it's overpriced. I love hearing that the Dyson, picks up so much more than my old vacuum. Which, probably was needlessly thown away, and is now in a land fill. Of course it picks up better. It's got fresh filters and new belts. Keeping in mind that every vacuum picks up a little differently over the same area. The last vacuum to run over the area, will always pick up dirt the first vacuum left behind. Therefor, if we could fish that old vacuum out of the landfill, give it a tune up, that old vacuum will pick up dirt the Dyson left behind, and in the reverse would be the case as well. There is some sort of Ego thing involved here. We all want to think we're brilliant in spending money. My vacuum, car, home thearter, Oven, etc. is the best. "My favorite quote from Mr. D is the Dyson never loses suction. Not True. If you don't clean the filter, it most certainly will.
Are there vacuums that clean the carpet better? Of course. Is the Dyson a clever disign? SURE. Is it a high quality product? OF COURSE NOT! It's built to glean maximum profit. When you pay $500.00 for one, you're paying far mor than it's worth for the advertising. Now the big question, just how do you change those belts?
Where do you buy the Dyson? At Costco. You can take it back over and over again when if fails. Otherwise, go visit your local vacuum shops. Just about anything he sells will outlast it, and will work better. That's the honest truth!

i have a dyson i decided to clean the brushes talk about cat hair on a brush enought to make a small wig i took off the plastic bottom part that holds the brush in as i was pulling the hair off the brush one end cam out and now i can't get back in right to make it run right the motor runs but the brush doesn't turn this is my first does anyone know what i am doing wrong thank you joe

Joe:

I pulled my brush bar out one time, too, and was able to get it back in place by having my boyfriend hold the black rubber band out far enough for me to slip the brush bar back into place. It's pretty hard to do on your own because the rubber is thick, so I'd recommend having someone help you.

Am not here to cause quarrel between vacuums, but as a Kirby salesman, I have seen 2 Dysons being taken from a homeowner this week due to their ineffective cleaning ability.
The first time I took a Dyson from a home, I was impressed with the machine ... that is ... until I ran the Kirby behind it. The lady was so amazed at the lack of cat hair that her DC15 Animal picked up, she decided to buy a Kirby from me.
Justifiably, if you are willing to spend $600.00 on a cleaning system that doesn't work, spending $2000.00 on a machine that does clean better than anything else INCLUDING a "lifetime rebuild warranty" kinda makes sense?!

Bought a Dyson DC08 2 years & 5 months ago. Motor has just burnt out. I am extremely dissapointed!

By the way, have you seen the NEW Dyson commercial with the dust mites in the carpet?? *SHIVER* That is perfect marketing because I was glad I had a Dyson by the time the commercial was over. :)

I bought an Animal just under 2 years ago. I have 2 big dogs; a lab and a really hairy Austrailian Sheppard plus 2 toddlers. I LOVED it until about 3 months ago when it kept shutting off during cleaning. We thought that it was because we didn't get the fiilters cleaned out too well or something but just took it in to a sweeper shop and discovered that the motor was going out and would be $350 to fix it.. Not to mention the shop had 15 of the same animals and 30 dysons altogether. From my understanding the parts are hard to get and can be expensive... So as long as yours works it's great.. Just hope it doesn't stop...

We are looking at a RICAR now, all metal pieces and from my understanding a sub-branch of Kirby.

Interesting comments about the Dyson. I, too, am a little bit of a vacuum junkie - I like a sophisticated machine that will offer the highest performance. The last time I bought a vacuum I knew I couldn't buy the kind that you can buy at a department store - I knew that the performance and durability would probably be very poor. So I did extensive research and ended up with a Riccar. I won't say that I love to vacuum but I will say that for a vacuum cleaner, it is truly a joy to use - it is a quality machine. I suspect as time goes on there will be more and more postings of the Dyson breaking down after a couple of years use. I don't think that this is the case with the Riccar. I have had mine for 6-8 years and it works just as good today as the day I bought it. Imagine, arguably the best suction combined with the best durability/reliability. Riccar is worth looking into.

I have a Dyson, got it for a wedding gift (DCO7 Animal). It works great with our cats and sucks up stuff I have never seen a vacum suck up before. But, like any kind of product out there, no matter what it is, there is bound to be something wrong with it. We have not had any problems with ours yet but who's to say that we won't. From my experience I recomend it. Consumer reports can say what they want to say but it's all about preference if ya ask me. If you are in the market for a vacum I would suggest checking out a Dyson but also compare it to other vacumes. The Dyson isn't for everybody. Get what fits your needs!

We just purchased a dyson DC14 animal today. We have two cats and a dog. It is absolutely amazing. We had a hoover wind tunnel for 2 years, and the dyson picked up so much pet hair it was amazing. I am a real skeptic, so I decided to put the dyson to the test. First, I vacuumed the carpet with my mother in laws oreck and measured the Dust collection from the new empty bag. Then I vacuumed with our hoover wind tunnel bagless and measured the dust.(Keep in mind I cleaned each vacuums filters, beater brush, and vacuumed a 10' x 20' section of carpet to maintain scientific integrity for my theoretical vacuum test. Yes, I do have a science degree and I love scientific testing! Then I tested my brothers dirt devil, and measured the dirt collected. I then tested my friends panasonic, sister's Brand new Eureka bagless, my Mom's 3 year old kirby, my aunt's 4 year old rainbow, my grandparent's new Hoover SUV, my boss's 1 year old specialty Sanyo, and last but not least my fishing buddies brand new Kenmore. All of these vacuums were cleaned, new filters applied or old ones cleaned, beater brushes cleaned and ball bearings lubricated, Bags replaced with brand new empty ones, and each vacuum was tested for good working condition.
After each vacuum did its best on the 10' x 20' section of carpet I then vacuumed the same section of carpet with the DC14 dyson upright bagless vacuum. I had to empty the chamber 3 times before the animal hair, dust, dirt, litter, and other various dirty items did not stopped appearing in the Dyson's canister. Keep in mind this same carpet had been vacuumed numerous times with many other very popular vacuums. Then just to make sure this was not a fluke I tested my findings once more by cycling each vacuum once more over the section of carpet after the dyson test. There was no new dust or dirt in any of the bags of bagless vacuums in my test. Evaluating my findings I came to the conclusion that the Dyson was worth the 500+ dollars I paid for it. It had the most suction power as well. I tested the suction power and filtering of the hose and each of the other vacuums hoses against each other. My friend smokes cigars. So I asked him to come over and smoke a cigar in my test room, the test room was 15'x20' with a couch, loveseat, and a entertainment center. First I turned on each vacuum and focused the hoses into the air. I left each hose and vacuum on for 5 minutes a piece in the room after my friend had left the room. Of course he was smoking a cigar the whole time. The Eureka was ok, but left a smokey haze in the room, and all of the rest did not suck any of the smell or the smoke out of the room. When I tested the dyson animal dc14 the same way, I just popped open the cap at the top of the handle and turned on the vacuum, in five minutes when I came back the smokey haze had disappeared and there was just a slight odor left in the room. The air was cleaner and the dyson left the room smelling fresher. This vacuum could sell it self. It does not need any extra marketing, just let someone take it home and try it out. It also wieghed a lot less than the competition. I also have a very long flight of narrow stairs in my home. The Dyson had the longest hose and the turbine brush cleaned my stairs very well. I also noted that on upolstry the Dyson's turbine brush abrubtly stopped, but this was because the suction was so powerful it pressed the turbined powered brush into the fabric. This is easily solved by not pressing so hard on your couch and chairs. It easily removed pet hair that was left behind by the other vacuums on my furniture. The air in my home was fresher and seemed very clean. The carpet was very fluffy and renewed after the dyson had passed over it. I am very impressed and was very skeptical before I purchased this Vacuum. As a fellow member of the scientific community I recommend this vacuum to everyone who wants to give a excellent product a chance. I also was very impressed with the inventors scientific educational background. Today many people do not respect individuals for education and creative ideas.

Sincerely,

Jeremy M.
Dyson DC14 animal Owner

As a Vacuum cleaner shop Owner 6 years retail 20 years in wholesale when I was in the wholesale end I had around 300-400 vacuum cleaner retail shop I would service. I belive the diesoon is a realy over price product heres why. this is how you determim how well a vacuum cleaner works.
1) power: In measuring power we look at two things cfm(airflow)and suction measure by water lift you can have all the suction in the world but if you have no airflow you can not move the dirt. like when your hose gets clog you still have suction but the air flow is cut off thats why it won't pick up. the dyson moves around 40 cubic feet of air a minut (40 cfm) a good vacuum will move around 60 to 70 cfm a great vacuum moves around 80-100 cfm
suction wise the dysoon has around 50 inches of waterlift and again a good vacuum 70-80 iches of water lift agreat vacuum will over 80 inches.
2) agitation: have you ever broke you belt on vacuum cleaner dosent pick so well dose it. price out how much to repkace a dyson belt if you have to relpace the belt cartiage its around a $100.00 no thanks not for me look at how expose the brush roll ends are exposed to the carpet a dister waiting to happen there are other factors about agitiaon brush speed and quality of brush fiber dyson is not a quality brush system.
3) filtration: I have to start with this about the dyson commericals he claims his machines never get clog or the filter never needs to be replaced I ROLL ON THE GROUND AND LAUgFH. The most common sold item is the filters he says never clog and never need to be replaced imho there are no good bagless vacuum cleaners period. and now not that I belive what consumer reports says as 100% true the are now saying the same about bagless machines. I know some of my vacuum cost from 300 700 dollar will be still working fine in 10 years I can say from all the dyson that come to my shop the might last 1,2,3, years maybe. fact is the dyson is a real pice of junk for the money you spend

I'm considering getting a Dyson. What attracts me to it, is that there is no foam/rubber/paper filter to clean. I have 2 dogs and 3 kids...my house is the dustiest place you can imagine. I currently have a Bissell, and it totally disgusts me when I have to clean the filter above the dirt cup. It gets so clogged, and to have to touch that gunk is gross. I'm told the Dyson is all plastic, and IF it ever gets dirty enough, you simply rinse it. For that single factor, I would spend $500 for a Dyson. I'm looking for any input anyone can give. Thanks!

Myself got the Dyson Animal purple & grey beast called the DC08 model. Wife has hated it since we got it, I keep fixing it to keep her happy though .... Suction drops really quickly & the HEPA & sponge filter always require cleaning every second hoovering (we're run a clean house aswell with quite new carpets & half wooden floors)!? The valve in the lids kepts auto shutting so I jammed the spring slighly to stop it closing so soon. After 1 year the main motor seems to have failed as it stopped mid hoover. Fuse is OK in the plug but cannot get the bl**dy thing apart!! Grrhhh!! Anyone else think these are over hyped & expensive for the trouble they give you & the time they last - hoovers used to run forever & the belt protected the motor from overworking to a degree? I mean how clean does your carpet "really" need to be ........ think about it. Then add up all the cost of the dyson plus filters plus labour messing with it plus grrrhhh factor on your ticker !? Bob, Blackpool

But then again I did buy the Monotub Industries Titan Washing Machine aswell & still enjoy fixing that one too (can't spin the door seal 180 when it fails & leaks, have to repair it with bike puncture kit as it only fits one way!). Titan gave me the option of a full refund & return the washer when they went bust or keep the washer lose warranty & have half the price back - good deal I said "I'll have the £300 quid". The engineer gave me a free spare machine & some parts aswell ! Cheers nice engineer bloke wherever you are now! Still trying to fix my DC08 at the mo' seems the motor has gone all open cct on me - grrhhh! That's £60 for a new motor ......... :o( Anytips out there is the winding fused? Harry - www.woodenmen.co.uk

At demonstrations I've been to in the US, they usually tell you if you buy a Dyson, to go home, use your old vacuum to do your floors. Vacuum thoroughly and then do the same area with the Dyson. I have numerous friends who are pet owners that have purchased the DC14 Animal and have done this test and were amazed and disgusted to see what the Dyson picked up.

With that test done, in your own home, I don't see how someone could say the Dyson isn't what they "hype" it to be. Obviously it's doing a better job than your old vacuum.

They're just being introduced here in Canada and I plan on getting one as soon as I possibly can. I have a lab who sheds enough to make several smaller dogs in a day, a Golden Retriever whose long fur leaves tumbleweeds around the house, and a medium haired cat who leaves her white fur trademark on anything she looks at. I also have a 6 month old son with eczema. I can't wait to get a Dyson, test it out, and then see how it helps my son!

No doubt about it, they do what it says on the tin and then some. Just need more TLC than us hoover owners are used to ! Fault was a break in the motor winding where it meets the input spade connector (probably a common fault when dropped / knocked etc) Fault now soldered, filters cleaned & Dyson back in use ....... :o) & more importantly no more grief from the wife apart from "have you put those tools away yet!" - can't win can we .... off to my shed now for some peace, Harry - www.woodenmen.co.uk

Oh dear! I just spent 2 hours reading all this information and researching the full range of models available at the Dyson website, including the fact the Costco models don't seem to have many accessories included. MY HEAD IS SPINNING from all this stuff!

Is the "mini turbine head" the same as the "animal turbo tool" -- and if not, why not?

Cost, durability, and returnability are definitely issues for me since we will be retiring soon on less income, and I won't be as able to purchase a new machine if this vacuum dies an early death! We have two big dogs (Doberman and Shephard/Chow mix) so have both long and short hairs (and lots of tracked-in dirt!) to contend with. My ancient Kirby is no longer doing the job (not EVEN!) and probably needs reconditioning at a minimum. My Bissel carpet shampooer shows me what the Kirby misses, and I'm tired of that, big-time. Plus, I just hate wrestling with a dirty bag full of gunk.

I feel it would be best to buy at Costco (based on your wonderful letters here) but will I get enough accessories to handle everything? It seems if I go buying a dusting brush and a mini turbo separately, I'll be paying as much as I would to get a "complete" or an "animal" from a more expensive vendor. Any recommendations for me?

Thinking about purchasing either Animal DC14 or DC15.
Still undecided. With all reviews I've read (lots and lots on different sites) still unsure. Some people say absolutely wonderful--others hate it, no suction, constant clog, et cetera. How can that be? Either works or doesn't, right? Also, anyone tried the Animal DC15 with the ball? Is the ball better or harder to use than regular model? Any help appreciated, still undecided. Thanks. Amy

I have had a Dyson Animal for a few years and LOVE it!!! We have a golden retriver who sheds a lot and the Dyson has been a great vacuum cleaner for us. I read all the reviews before I bought the vacuum and have not been disappointed.

Got my Dyson Dc14 Animal for $394 including shipping from Kohl's using their sale price and their 30% discount coupon for using their Kohl's charge card. What a bargain!

We're thinking about purchasing a Dyson for carpet, tile and wood also carpeted stairs (fully carpeted) what model would be the best!!!!!!! Help--

Barney- March 11, 2006 Thank You!!! Thank You!!! I just found your Post..you have helped me decide NOT to buy.. BUT now I need your help to choose which one to BUY. Please Post again with some stats on what is GOOD out there...Thank You again...

Anyone else seen the Hoover Vortex? The vacuum which is identical 100% to the dyson except that it costs $128?

The vacuum that's so identical it's got them sued by dyson?

Any reason that hoover can put it together for $128 and dyson needs $400?

OK, after reading all the posts, I went out a purchased a D14 Animal. I had vacuumed my carpet yesterday morning and decided to see what the Dyson could do.

Note: the previous vacuum was a top of the line Hoover.

I could NOT believe what came out of my "clean" carpet.

Yes a Dyson is expensive, but it sure seems to work great for me!

I had asked around some co-workers who used the Dyson. My old electrolux has finally gone to meet its maker, and I was desperate. Well, I'm glad I got the info I did and now even more happy with finding this blog. I apparently got an AWESOME deal on ebay, buying a new dc-14 (not refurbished) for $300. I can't wait to get it!!! Just ordered it yesterday and I'm dying to see how it does with bird dirt compared to all of you with cat dirt! (we have 2 very messy parrots).
I'll let you all know how I do! :-)

All the best,
Jodi

I checked out the different Dyson models on dysonreviews.com to figure out which model I needed. I ended up going with the dc14 animal too, since I have a dog and the hair gets all over the sofa. The turbo tool picks up the dog hair great. Dyson all the way.

I checked out the dc07, the dc14 and the dc15, but I am more interested in the canister style vac. Does anyone know if the canister style dyson is available in the US? I went to www.dysonreviews.com but didn't see it - Johnny -

Just got the DC14 Animal. We have 2 cats and lots of cat hair. So far, I am stunned every time I look at the canister! YUCK! I thought the floors were clean!
I wanted to say that we nearly got the Hoover Wind Tunnel Plus Self propelled becuase of Conusmer Reports (299.99 at target). What they don't tell you is that the replacement filters are 40.00! In order to keep the suction you expect, you are going to have to spend plenty on hoover filters. We decided to go the cheaper route and get the Dyson! It wouldn't be long before we exceeded the Dyson cost.(we got ours for 400.00 due to sa gift card and the 10% off for getting a store card)

Was thinking about the Hoover Wind Tunnel + Self Propelled also, due to CR. Then I read the complaints of the past owners of the Wind Tunnel. Apparently, even though it has good initial performance, ALL the users complained of belt breakage. Anyone who has pets knows that the hair gets caught up in the beater bar, or they leave bone bits, or drag in gravel on their paws. That freezes the beater bar, and that's all she wrote.
I'm curious if anyone has has these issues with the Dyson, I'm looking at it now.

My wife and I bought a DC14 Dyson Animal last week after borrowing her parent's DC14 All Floors. WE LOVE IT. She was the one pushing for it and I'M the one having the most fun with it. We have a short haired, black dog who doesn't really shed but wow... the Dyson sure proved us wrong. It actually sucks up everything IN the carpet and not just the top of the carpet like our crappy $200 Hoover. DYSON RULES.

Concerning turbo heads: More vacuum cleaner brands have such a thing, and they all basically stop or slow down when one tries to actually use them.

Concerning "Consumer Reports": Ever notice that when reporting on a product that Kenmore "makes", it's rated # 1 by "Consumer Reports"? I asked somebody that I know that works for an appliance store why that his, and he stated that "Consumer Reports" is published by Sears. I haven't found documentation to support that statement however, but personally, I don't trust "Consumer Reports" especially after buying my last Hoover that cleaned great...when it worked!

I too tried the Hoover Wind Tunnel, and don't know when it will be back from the shop (7 months old). I was very impressed with comments about the DC14 animal (have two main coon cats), but I also have more doubts after reading some of your comments

I would appreciate some real advice on what is a good vacuum name and model from the vacuum cleaner sales people who are seeing all these Dyson machines end up in the shop after a couple years. I do want something that will work with pets, but also last a number of years (5+ would be fantastic) if I have to invest a lot of money into this.

Thanks so much :)

I purchased the DC15 "the ball" about 2 weeks ago. I have 7 indoor cats, who love shedding on furniture and scratching posts. The ball does great for picking up fur (and stuff). Before purchasing I had asked around and realized that five people that I had asked have Dysons (only 1 with the ball though)and the only complaint was for one lugging it upstairs as she said it was heavy, but she also said it worked great and had nothing else to complain about, especially if animals are in the house. One other person had to replace a belt I guess and had extended warranty at Sears so that was no problem, but hers is 4 years old now and that's the only problem.

My floors really do look cleaner and the area rugs are actually burgundy again instead of the gray overcoat of cat hair that my old canister Hoover was unable to get clean. Big pieces of "stuff" are not picked up as well on flat floors, which for me is fine because that way nothing gets sucked up that isn't supposed to! Does great vacuuming furniture, but haven't tried drapes or valances so not sure on that.

Also I have a bad back (as does everyone else!) and the ball really does maneuver easily and actually fits in places that the canister with carpet floor attachment couldn't fit. So overall (granted only have had 2 weeks) am very happy with this vacuum. Plus I got this for $422 (including tax from Bed, Bath and Beyond) and most vacuums are around $300 anyway so it's not really that big of a difference, especially with HEPA and no bags. So far so good! Amy

Ceadda; Regarding Hoover Vortex, read this story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/954685.stm

How come the Vortex so much cheaper? Well, many reasons.

1. Known brand names are always more expensive. Vortex is a new model.
2. Sometimes companies attempt to penetrate the market aggressively by reducing prices.
3. Dyson vacuums are made of more expensive (and tougher) plastics than average.

I've personally owned Dirt Devils, Hoovers and Rainbows. The last of which is a $1000+ vacuum for those of you who will baulk at the $500 price for the Dyson. I purchased the Dyson animal because I have two dogs, one of which is a 130 lb shedding machine. I have a baby on the way and I need a clean floor.

I was personally astonished at the cleaning power of this vacuum. I noticed in other comments there have been dispersions about "seeing the dirt in the container" and how this is not a good indication of the power of the vac. I disagree. I have had other container vacuums and it was clear to me after a single use that this is by far the BEST vacuum that I have ever used. The suction in great! It is extremely quiet for a vacuum and the attachments are very easy to use. I don't know who wouldn't be impressed by the 17 foot cord. It was also cleaner and easier to empty than my other container vacuums. It does not overheat and I was really thrilled to notice that the house didn't smell like dirt after vacuuming, which has been a problem with every vacuum that I've used before with the exception of the Rainbow.

I don't need a marketer (and by the way I work in Marketing) to tell me this is a great vacuum. I merely had to use it to find out.

Sounds like Mr Dyson has got it right with the Dyson DC14, might have to go look at one!? Anyone want my Dyson DC08 (one of the earliers version's a little purple animal that needs "lots" of TLC) if Mr Dyson's read's this blog (I bet he does!) he may want it for feedback & testing in his test lab? If so it'll be listed on E-bay in about 2 weeks time (I'll even include some new filters, unless Mr Dyson buy's it then he can supply his own!), the wifes had enough of it says she wants a hoover (but I'll talk her round to a DC14 ........ ??)

I just bought the Dyson DC14 Animal today, my old vac (DC01) is not picking up as well as it used to. I decided to go for this model as I have a very hairy Border Collie called 'Tess' who now seems to lose her hair all year round!!! I've hoovered the entire house with it today and so far so good, it's fantastic. I only hoovered the living room carpet yesterday with my old vac but the new one still picked up a lot of dust and hair that the old vac had left behind. Not too sure about the little attachment hoover thingy, I might try to use this for cleaning the car upholstery. I prefer the way that you empty the cylinder, it's less messy than my previous model. In the UK I bought it from Currys at 229.99 which I thought was a bargain. :)

I have had enough with the cat hair on my carpet and with some research and after reading the comments in regards to the dyson I am strongly considering purchasing one. Now here's the thing, I went to another website to find the best possible price and while doing so I couldn't resist reading more comments...one person typed this vacuum, DC14, DOES NOT WORK ON AREA RUGS! Is this true? I need it for two area rugs as well as two fully carpeted bedrooms. If it doesn't work on the area rugs can anyone suggest another vacuum that will AND get cat hair out.

Well just bought the Vax "Big Bubbles" VS-18 Upright Vacuum after trying it on the carpets my Dyson had been on! Only quarter of the price of the Dyson with amazing performance, less noise, no dusty smell after hoovering & full set of tools included! The beater bar is amazing, my carpets look brand new and the hoover sticks to them like glue & is "so" light to use. Sorry My Dyson your too pricey for my wallet (rather spend it on a holiday!) & your machines have a short shelf life it seems. If anyone wants one of these I have some for £55 including postage in UK - up to you ....... contact me at the website below.

All the www's dot woodenmen dot co dot uk! ;o) Forgot that bit!

Yesterday, I bought a new in box, Dyson DC-07 Animal. I got it for $250, what a deal (some one got three as a house warming gift). I'm amazed to see how much the Dyson picks up. I vacuumed my couch and there was about two inches of dirt in the container. I was testing the dumping, so I released it in a plastic bag. I read some where that the Dyson just fluffs the dirt, but I felt it and it was a pretty tightly bound glob of dirt. It picked up pretty well and the suction was good. Works WAY better than the Oreck (new, we tried the 30 day trial).

Well, it is heavy but all upright vacuums are. I liked how light the Oreck was. Yes, it sucks GREAT, but it's slightly hard to push and takes a while to set up (drag out of closet). My arm hurts now. The telescope reach thing is great, you don't have to go on the floor. The vacuum sucks up the house and it is HARD to move it. The Animal Turbine thing is good but when you do it on the couch it kind of sucks all the fabric into one spot and makes the spinny thing stop. You just lift it up and make it spin fast again.

I find it easy to use and the telescope reach is easy to take out, some people say it's hard, but it wasn't for me. I like the handle on the DC-07 WAY more than the DC-14. When you take it out for telescope reach, the DC-14 is hard to hold and the handle just feels akward. The DC-07's handle is good in upright position and on the floor. If the oreck was a bit stronger, I would have probably stuck with that because of the ease of use.

I love the look and how you can see the dirt. Makes me happy that I get to see what it picks up. I also read some where that if your floor was to low, the DC-07 (not DC-14, they fixed it) would make a funny sound that was loud and annoying. Our house has low carpet and I didn't hear anything screeching. The vacuum is loud.. but its not like you can vacuum when some one is sleeping anyway! That's it for now.

Tried a couple of these. Dyson proved to be equal to the Hoover Industrial WindTunnels (as in NOT a Hoover retail vac, an INDUSTRIAL meaning not the junkers found at Home Depot/Walmart/Lowe's). About the same price range, bought ours through a Hotel supplier. I chose based on replacement parts, Hoover still has the parts advantage 10 to 1 stateside.

THANKS for this posting and comments. They informed my decision more than Consumer Reports...thinking of getting rid of that subscription now...anyway, we bought our Dyson-The Ball 2 days ago and everyone in the family is fighting over who gets to use it next. It is AMAZING...one dog, four boys here, but we have a housecleaning team every other week. But all the STUFF in the bin after each room was unreal. OH, and if anyone else reads this far before it expires, we used the Linens and Things 20% off coupon at Lowe's because they take thing back so well. No problem, no questions, $100 off. I was cautious when first trying it out, since I didn't think it would live up to so many good reviews. But it IS worth it and I do think our house smells better.

I recently bought a Kenmore Bagless.They are a very poor product.If you have thought of Kenmore as your Vacuum,DON'T DO IT.

Bought the ANIMAL.Picks up well, empties well but it takes two hands to push it across the room. Kids could vacume their rooms with the old machine but are not strong enough to use the animal. Works well on the porcelon floor but put deep scratches in the vinal floor. Bought a electric broom for the bare floors and a small light weight vacume for general cleaning. May hire someone once a month to run the ANIMAL over the rest of the house.Maybe you could market this as a new piece of exercise equipment.

My brother has a rainbow vacuum and is very pleased with it. Can't remember exactly how much it cost, but I do remember nearly fainting when I heard the price. $500 is a lot for a vacuum, but I guess you get what you pay for.

I have owned a Filter Queen for over 12 years, and it is so heavy up and down the stairs, that I decided to buy a Dyson animal. The Filter Queen stopped picking up the hair from 3 dogs and 1 cat, not to mention some of the Florida sand. At the recommendation of a friend, she and her son purchased an animal Dyson and said it was the very best they have ever experienced. One said that she vacuumed her house, went out and purchase her Dyson vacuum and went home for a trail run and it picked up tons of debris. She was happy! So I went to Lowes and picked up one, and it does a great job and not as heavy as the Filter Queen. Pet hair gone, need I say more!

A question about the Dyson Animal. With our current vacuum we seem to spend most of our time cutting the dog hairs off the beater brush. Is this a problem will all vacuums or will this be our miracle vacuum.

I have the DC14 Animal version. I used the 20% coupon that you get in the mail from Bed Bath and Beyond. Anyway, the vacuum works insanely well. However, we have very plush carpet. Because of the strong suction, it's extremely difficult to push forward...pulling back is no problem. The other issue is this awful noise that is made when the carpet gets too close to the parts. The noise makes me jump almost everytime I hear it. I actually work up a sweat vacuuming now because of how difficult it is to vacuum. The dining room and study have a berber type carpet with a design in it. It works great there without any effort whatsoever. My cleaning lady is unable to vacuum our other plusher carpets because she just isn't strong enough to push the vacuum around.

It works great...but our new carpet is giving the Dyson fits.

I thought I should post some information in response to the incorrect information posted above by "Barney". First he says that the Dyson has 50 inches of water lift and moves about 40 cfm. These are the numbers for the Oreck, not for the Dyson. The Dyson has 110" of lift in the US version, which is less than the 140 in the British version due to our lower voltage, but still outstanding. As for airflow, I'm not sure of the actual CFMs, but I believe they are in the 80 range, which is quite good for an upright. Other vacuums may have more airflow initially, but remember, the Dyson's airflow remains constant (oddly enough it actually increases slightly after adding a few ounces of dirt, then falls slowly, but always remains above the initial level of suction).

As for durability, I own several that are now 3 1/2 years old, and are used in a commercial environment where they get used about 6 hours a week. We just replaced the brushrolls, and have also replaced the short hose to the power head, but they are still going strong. By comparison when we have used $100 home vacuums they have typically lasted 6 months to a year, and $5-700 vacuum shop brands have lasted 5 years or so. I think Dyson's will do fine in a home, and certainly the savings on bags will be substantial over the life of the vacuum.

As for the claim that they never lose suction, and that the filters never need to be replaced, both are true. So long as you clean the second stage filter every 3-6 months, you won't lose suction. In our use we clean it more often, about 4 times a year. Thus they have each been cleaned about 14 times. They aren't as white as when new, but they haven't needed replacement. The main reason why people buy new pre-motor filters is to have a spare. That way you can still use the vacuum while the filter is being washed and dried.

My advice is try a Dyson. If you like using it, buy it. If you like something else better, buy that. The best vacuum to buy is one that you like to use because a vacuum in the closet doesn't clean well at all.

Well, based ont eh comments I read here, I went out and bought the DC07 Animal. before I get intot he review, let me say that unlike the person who is critiquing the "marketing" here, I have a Masters in Computer Science AND a MBA - Logistics and Supply Chain Management. I will have to visit your school, I have never heard of an MBA with a major in CS. Stick with it, as your school is probably the only one in the nation to offer such a degree. SNIDE remarks aside, on to my comments.

As I stated, I bought the DC07 Animal. I checked Comsumer Reports (I have a subscription to their online service) and COMPLETELY disagree with their assessment.

Consumer Reports shows their top two picks for uprights as the Sears Progressive. There are two models, I own the self-propelled one. I also have a Kenmore canister vacuum and a couple others.

After purchasing the Dyson, I went home and vacuumed with the Kenmore. Of the vacuums that I have, this is the worst in my opinion, but it does pick up the big pieces. After going over the entire house, I then used the Sears Progressive. Once using the bag that was already in it, about half full and then again with a new bag. After vacumming 3 times, the Sears bag had very little matter in it. The green indicator light on the vacuum indicated that the carpet was clean and no matter was being picked up. Let me say that when I used this vacuum, despite its HEPA filter and bag system, there is still a smell that comes from the vacuum. I vacuum the house about 2 times a week as my wife and I have two Golden Retrievers.

Broke out the new Dyson, assembled it according to the instructions and plugged it in. Before I had completed covering a 8 foot section about 3 feet wide (24 square feet), the canister looked almost full. The canister was filled with dog hair, dirt, and a LOT of fine particulate matter. The carpet is at least 13 years old and the canister proved it. Before I was done cleaning about 800 of the 1312 square feet, I must have emptied the canister close to a dozen times.

I was in shock at the amount of filth in my house. Filth that the BEST (according to Consumer Reports) vacuum failed to pick up in the two years that I have had that vacuum.

So, marketing or not, the Dyson is, in my humble opinion, the best money can buy. Yes, it is expensive, but for me it is wroth every penny. Imagine that in your house on a dayt-to-day basis and you understand why some people suffer from dust allergies, etc. This should seriously improve our health.

I read all the negative comments as well, and I could not disagree with those comment more. Yes, you can probably break it, but if you aren't smart enough to know not to slam the thing with your fist to knock the dust out, then it is no wonder that it is broken. It is no more noisier than my other vacuums and the fact that it doesn't have a release button when you start to vacuum is not an annoyance unless you are just plan LAZY. That goes for the hose and the handle complaint. Look at the vaccums that are out there and I can find a bunch of things that are more annoying. Of course, some people never see the good things, but concentrate on the negative. For you there is no hope.

This was an unsolicited report and I am putting it in to let people know that what you have rea in Consumer Reports, although it is a good publication/service, is so far off the mark at this point that they should retract their comments.

PROS: EVERYTHING
CONS: It is an expensive machine, but worth every penny.

Hi all,

I stumbled upon this site via a Google search, and thought maybe someone could give me some help. I am in the process of purchasing a Dyson, and I'm down to two choices: the DC14 All Floors and the DC14 Animal. The Animal is 365 and the AF is 285. Is the difference in price worth the attachments (the only model difference I can see) that come with the Animal? Thanks!

Hi all!
I read through most all these comments and noted TWICE the question has been asked from owners with pets that have long hair if the brush rollers get twined up with the hairs and must be cut and pulled out often.

So far no one has replied back.

This is my MAIN CONCERN as I have 3 Newfoundlands and have noted that on the average, we can't go more then 10 minutes ( Sears Progressive cleaner we have )
or so with out a BRUSH ROLLER CLEAN OUT. Not quite sure if ANY brand of vacum would have a design that would be somewhat self cleaning??

Our floors are vacumed almost every other day and are not what I'd call "hope we don't get no company dirty", they just have some floater hairs here and there and some areas start to look almost black depending what room they play in. We just use the suction wand 1st on those heavy area's but still can't get past a 10 -15 minute brush roller clean out maintenence program.

If we (wife and I) lazy the cleaner eventually makes a terrible odor from the hairs and plastic heating up and the brush WILL sieze up. We are on our fourth repair to the roller assembly because of the plastic melting and the strange thing is we don't have near the problems with our older sears roller, which will still have and use. We still od course must hand clean that one out too though,

It's almost like we need some sort of "cutters" designed in the roller housing to cut the hairs up !!

I now keep a pic stored in the attachment compartment because we need it so much.

SORRY for the long speal on one small fragment of the tons of questions that I have read but I purposely did this so it would stick in your minds since it's been a none answered one yet.

Thank You All for reading my long speal!!

~Gary

Wow! This is really the Dyson fan club, eh? In response to the two last questions, I bought the basic DC07. Same suction as all other models and the only thing that makes an "animal" model is the handheld beater attachment which is $69 at Sears and when I bought the vacuum for $379, I got a $100 Sears gift card! For some weird reason buying a package is not cheaper than buying individual options. Must be British logic.

My previous Vacuum is a Hoover Tornado which seems to have the best handheld beater attachment of all that I've seen, including the Dyson. It doesnt fit the hose but just holding it against the hose produced more speed, which means more suction, than the Hoover produced! I'm able to used it on my chair until the Dyson version arrives. I have a Siberian Husky and we have a huge amount of fur around the house, even though he is brushed nearly daily, an it has never caused the beater in the Hoover attachment to tangle up.

Because the Hoover used a bag, it got expensive replacing them and they quickly stink of dog hair after a couple uses, so that is why I looked for a GOOD bagless. The Dyson seems to have the best bagless technology but as a whole, the unit is a bit clunky and would do better with some Hoover engineers redesigning a few things OTHER THAN THE VORTEX MECHANISM.

I just bought a refurb'ed DC14 Animal on Amazon.com (they had a $25 household item instant rebate and free shipping, so you could get a DC14 Animal for $335 total).

First impressions: A very good vacuum, but not what it's hyped up to be. It is not the "vac which replaces all vacs", if you know what I mean. (No vaccum, not even a $2000 Kirby or any other brand, can truly live up to this.) I'm not saying that the DC14 has flaws other models don't -- just that no vacuum, not even a Dyson, can live up to the hype.

I am something of a perfectionist and picky buyer, picky eater, etc., so "very good" is high praise from me: )

I have laminate and tile floors all throughout my house, except for two bedrooms which have berber.

The low reach floor tool stuck to my laminate like a magnet. It was a little more difficult to move around than I would have liked. But it picked everything up that I wanted it to. Unlike, say, a Shopvac, it didn't pick up everything within six inches of it. I had a metal toothpick that my cat must have rolled under a desk, and I was able to pick it up by hand without the Dyson choking on it first.

The DC14 seems to have suction and pressure, but not high airflow. That is probably good, because too high an airflow just kicks dust around.

The DC14 is good for cleaning computers. I have several computers, and they accumulate dust over time. I cleaned one of the keyboards just by waving the wand over the top of it. I cleaned around the fan vents of the machines too.

I was able to clean catnip and cat hair off of my cat's homemade tree (four office chairs stacked on top of each other to make a 7' tall cat tree). At first, I was afraid that I was going to tip over the unit if I pulled on the hose (based on past experience with lesser brands like Hoover). The DC14 did not start to tip over. The base was surprisingly sturdy. Although the hose was a little stiff at first, I was able to learn how to use it to clean the top level of my cat's tree (about 6' above the floor).

The DC14 cleaned my rug well, but like the laminate floor, it stuck to it like a magnet.

People say that the low reach tool is unable to reach certain areas such as kitchen baseboards or far beneath beds. I found that if I turned the wand attachment 180 degrees (nearly upside down), I could reach the areas which were formerly unreachable.

I like how the wand handle attaches to the unit, although it took me 30 minutes to realize that the flexible hose sticks to the wand only after the handle is attached (I was raising my eyebrows looking at the manual, wondering why the flexible hose did not stick to the wand). The same handle is used for both the wand and the upright unit, and the stiff wand hose does not need to be removed manually -- it slides right into the flexible hose.

One high-traffic room (around 16'x16') filled the cylinder around 1/4 full -- mostly cat hair of course. I will do the rest of the house later.

I think the DC14's strength comes from it not clogging up, more than anything else. This part lives up to the hype.

But the manual specifically says "for residential use only", which sounds like a warranty limitation against wear and tear caused by heavy use. It could also just be Dyson practicing CYA.

It is too early to tell whether it will last. That will require using it a lot more.

My advice: Try the DC14 Animal, but don't spend $600 on it -- get a remanufactured one for around $350 (it looked practically new when I got it, except for a tiny stain on the handle which I could wash off). If it's really not that good, then you will have lost only $350. But if it is good, then $350 will have been a good deal.

But don't expect that the DC14 will be the only vac you'll ever need again for anything. Every product has its own productive and counterproductive uses.

I'm about to buy one. I'm curious which is more desirable...the dc07 or the dc14.

Wanted to buy a Dyson today, but the website confused me!

HELP NEEDED PLEASE!!! I have NO pets, but my husband is allergic to everything! I need the best Dyson model for various floors: normal carpet, berber, freise (short shag style) ceramic floors and area rugs. Again-could careless how well it picks up pet hair.

I read somewhere that one of the models "pulled" berber and some not good for freise. Also, I'm only 5'3" and 105lbs- are the vaccums extremely heavy and hard to manuver around? I saw the ball kind, but worried it would be "flying" all over when I want to just go forward.

PS. looking for a Dyson-no need to "convince" me of Hoover, Eureka.....had them ALL at least once and latest Windtunnel was aweful from 1st use.

Thanks!!!!

Well, I'm not very patient and no one responded to my post so I went out and bought my Dyson yesterday w/out being 100% sure which one to buy.

I bought the DC14 Animal at Linen & Things (total $402.80), put it together right away (pretty easy) and used it. I expected like 4-5 times having to empty the dispenser-only emptied 1 1/2 times and vacuumed approx. 4500 sq.ft. of my house. (Didn't do the basement yet). I'm NOT a neat freak at all and do NOT vacuum all the time so I expected a lot more.

PROS: Although heavy, the vacuum itself seems more compact-easy to manuver. Disposing of debris from bin-EASY! Last vacuum-had to stick my hand in, pull out filter and dump-yuck! Attachments fit nice and snug and out of the way. Pretty quiet and my area rug looks great! Also does well on my ceramic floors.

CONS: I would prefer a longer cord and the telescope, although long,I couldn't reach the last top 3 stairs and the stair attachment didn't seem to pick up dirt very well at all. On the area rugs, I got a great work out-very hard to push forward. Still can't seem to find a vacuum that gets right up to the wall/edges-maybe one of the attachments works for this (?). Prefer a little light in front, especially when vacuuming a closet where it's a little hard to see well.

Overall-Pretty "high-tech" compared to other vacuums-well thought out design for dumping debris, placement of attachments and over all power seemed better than others I've had. I can't say; however, the the suction is the "Mac Daddy" of ALL vacuums. Maybe because I do not have pets, I never had a problem picking up hair. I guess I just expected more due to comments I've read. I figured my carpets would have a lot of dirt in them to pick up. I'd rate this Dyson above average. Worth the $400? Not sure yet-I've only used it once-we'll see.

Angela

Well, my Dyson story is only 1/2 good. Yes, it SUCKS all right! 6 mos into owning it I noticed it wasn't "sucking" so great. A quick inspection left me cracking up! This machine has sucked up 1/2 my carpet! It was all wound up around the brushes to where it was just jammed! After cutting and tugging and pulling for well over an hour I was able to free it up. But now, the brushes don't spin at all so there's NO MORE SUCKING at all.
Is this unusual? Or has anyone out there experienced this?
I'm curious to know when my carpet will be bald!

Laurie,
Two things -
1) Are you sure that you didn't switch it from carpet mode to bare floor mode (which won't spin the brush)?

2) My Dyson was loosing suction and I discovered that the HEPA filter needed to be washed. This made a big difference.

So, it happened: I am, or I should say: we are the owners of Dyson DC07 All Floors.
I was a bit suspicious about different comments about how it sucks or doesn't. It sucks! Moreover - my husband who usually moves out :) temporarily when the vacuuming is in progress - this time around, during the premiere performance of DC07 stayed home, and did vacuuming himself! You should've seen the look on his face: first disbelief of course, then some kind of suspicion, and finally real smile that the Yellow Rocket works, and is quite quiet too! Let's see what I will tell you in a month or two.
Comments:
Maybe other vacuums are comparable in performance, especially when new, but I think the DC07 works not only on your carpet but on your psyche as well. It is done through your eyes - so to speak - which with this vacuum being bagless, and because of its transparent canister is easy to understand since you actually see what it does.
I hope it works well, and long. For the money spent, you would expect that the thing will pay off in time and ... suction.
Happy vacuuming!

I purchased a dc14 full access about 3 months ago and I think this might be the best purchase I made in a long time. This this works so well that after I used it for the first time, it changed the color of my carpet (made it lighter because it was clean) and made some spots that I never saw before stand out. I then had to go back to best buy to purchase a steamer to clean the carpet. Got my DC14 on sale at best buy for 475 and they gave me a $100 gift card (used it on the steamer). Great purchase and well worth every dolar.

The only problem with my Dyson DC07 is that it won't break so I can buy a new model. I have long hair and the belt is protected so it doesn't get wrapped around and break the belt like most vacs. The few people that I have let use it bought one. Buying online can save you paying tax which is quite hefty on a big purchase. lazyhousekeeper has some refurbs at good prices. I think the only regret you will have about buying a dyson is that you didn't do it sooner. It took me a long time before I would up the money.

I am looking for a new Vac & I wast told by many people that Dyson is the way to go. I have one cat, but the problem is I have long hair that gets stuck in my vac & it takes hrs to get it all out. I need some help does the DC15 The ball Animal Vac work for long hair & hardwood floors? I need a new vac that I don't half to keep cleaning out my hair. So many to pick from what would be the best for me????? Please help:)

Thanks Michelle

I never thought so many people would comment. Apple computers is not a marketing trick, nor is dyson... They have longer lifespans than regular computers / vacuums. The premium is justified.

Well, I have had the Dyson for nearly a year and I am still as happy with it as the day I got it. Now that our first baby is on the way, I find the Dyson perfect for everything. I am trying to avoid harsh chemicals and the vacuum has been called in for everything from dusting to bug removal! It's also been great to wheel it around and scour my base boards clean. (That's my little nesting peeve I guess - 100% dirt-free base boards!)

I have used the dusting brush attachment only a handful of times and muct honestly say it is only useful for blinds & fan blades. The rest of the time it tends to push dust or suction itself down to the flat surface I am trying to dust. But it is PERFECT for my white plantation blinds that black dog hair show up so easily on! Spend the $30 only if you need to do heavy dusting every week or two and you want the ease. Otherwise, pick it up on eBay or don't bother.

My vacuum is in need of a "cleaning" to get some of the fine dust particles out of the cyclones. This is easily accomplished with an air compressor and is a chore only the most anal (or pregnant) will even bother doing. It involves taking the vacuum outside and blowing air up into any nook or cranny that looks like it might hold dust. Five minutes and all the fun is over - the vacuum is like new again.

I have loved this vacuum, even taking it with me when we evacuated for hurricane Rita! I would buy it again in a heartbeat.

About the foam HEPA filter. I bought a spare and it is two pieces. First the foam disc and then a matted plastic filter in the cup. I recommend getting the spare as they require a day to dry.

The book says that cleaning the filter every 6 months is adequate unless deodorant powder is used. I sprinkled some on our carpet and as soon as the vacuum came to that area, I noticed a change in sound from it.

So after using it for a few months, I am still very pleased with it. Now if only there was a reel-in for the cord, I'd really be happy!

Hi everyone. Good reading!

Any people with ASTHMA have any comments on this product? If after using Dyson versus previous brands, were there noticiably reduced asthma attacks or not?

I have two toddlers (4 and 3) who have asthma, and dust mites are definitely a trigger. I'm thinking of getting the animal vac, even though we don't have pets, moreso because of the extra features. We recently moved into a 20 year old house, one level of our house is hardwoods, the rest berber carpet. Previous owners had pets, so who knows?!

I bought the Dyson about 2 month ago and I must say that I don't like it very much. The suction is too strong. I have a lot of Persian rugs and it literally sucks the carpet in and when the carpet beater is on it makes a terrific noise. When I turn it off it is impossible to move around because it acts like a suction cup. It takes real muscle to move it around. Also vaccuming bath mats is really tough. Great on hardwood and tile. Never thought I would complain about too much suction.

Can anyone compare the dyson vacs with miele canister vacs? I have several miele's (one for the basement, one for the ground floor, and one for my upstairs) and roughly 15 cats and 4 dogs (I foster dogs and cats for a rescue group). The animals mean that I always have lots of hair and tracked-in-from-the-yard dirt. Anyway, I'm wondering about getting a bagless vacuum cleaner because my miele bags fill up quickly and cause the machines to not suck well. Also the bags are expensive to replace (~$13 for 5 bags). Another problem I've had with the mieles is that thick clumps of dog hair can clog the hoses so the the vacuum doesn't suck. I noticed that many people on this blog compared dysons to hoovers, rainbows, ortexs, and a couple of brands of vacs but no one seemed to compare the dyson to a miele. Does anyone have experience with both brands?

BTW all of my floors are hardwood and I'm pushing 60.

Hi there,

With two large black labradors and a very large house minus a housekeeper I initially thought the Dyson was the best thing since my Rainbow. Well, after one full year with the Dyson, it died. Called every repair place in the Tri-State area and no one will touch them. "What do people do when they need the repaired?" I asked. They throw them away was the response I received from everyone!
Sure, a $500 disposable vacuum used for one year? Granted, no tax in DE, used the 20% Bed, Bath & Beyond coupon and got $100 off ..................it went back and I will Never get one again. Take a good look at it, it's all plastic. Don't think you won't bump into something hard and something won't crack. Don't think because there are no bags that the filters that are in there won't lose suction, it does. Do Not waste your money. They should be sued for false advertising and not telling the truth about this product. What a scam...............

Susan, I hope someone gets back to you because the Miele is the only brand I have not tried and the only one left I would even consider. We also have all hardwood floors and natural tile in bathrooms. I'm back to using a broom and a Roomba every other day. Any normal day had me vacuuming 2x per day as it is..............good luck, I'll check back on any answers on the Miele, I'm curious!
Joanne

hey i just wanted to let u know (joanne) i was a manager at bed bath and beyond take it back and tell them ur not happy and that its broken they will give u a new one no hassels!! even if u didnt buy it there if we have the same one we will replace it! so if u do want one us ethe 20% off and you dont have to worry about breaking... just get another free of charge.

I have a Dyson ball and it is simply the best vacuum I have EVER used. It collects so much crap, I am amazed and I have never had the burning smell I have had with EVERY other vacuum I have used in my life. My home actually smells clean and is dust free after using it. With other vacuums, the carpet never really seemed to get clean, lint and other debris would still be visible, I would have to pick it up by hand, and the burnt smell was disgusting. I don't know if the smell was the motor or burning dust, etc. Whatever, suing the Dyson has eliminated the problem...my home is clean and fresh smelling.

hi how do i leave replies to some of the messages left? i am an enigineer for Dyson and would like to answer some of the comments but dont seem to see how you reply to an individual comment??

I think you just figured it out. :-)

hi jeremy i meant how do i leave a reply next to an individual comment not just leave a reply at the bottom of this page how is anyone going to know that the reply is for them??

Do what others do: address them by name in your reply.

So far so good. U have reafd many comments but I'd like to know how often you need to clean any of the filters. My wife bought one(unknown brand) a couple of months back and she HATES it. Its suction is fine, picks up hair threads etc, BUT, the filter in the tub needs to be cleaned every five bloody minutes.
Is the dyson better than this?
If so, let me know and I'll bloody well buy one. We'll just shove the other piece of junk into the garage.

To preface my review, I have asthma and am allergic to most things in life.

I own a Dyson DC14 Animal and a Miele Aquarius and love them both for completely different reasons.

I started out with the Dyson over a year ago with the intention of eventually becoming a pet owner (yes, even though I am allergic to fur). Two months ago, I brought home two very much loved and very long haired kittens and went from an occasional vacuumer to an every other day vacuumer in the hopes of combatting my allergies to the kittens.

With the Dyson I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I vacuum and the canister fills up with all the dirt and dust hidden in my carpets. It makes vacuuming fun because I can see the results of my efforts and boy what results! The suction is amazing! Unfortunately, I have a severe allergic reaction while vacuuming with the Dyson. One hand is on the vacuum handle while the other hand is holding a tissue to my profusely running nose as I cough and hack my way into an asthma attack.

The Miele doesn't appear to suction as much out of the carpets as the Dyson does (based on the Dyson canister completely filling with each use and the Miele bag not filling with each use), but oddly enough the carpets look cleaner/brighter and more refreshed/springy after a Miele vacuuming than after a Dyson vacuuming. The biggest plus for me though is no allergic/asthmatic reaction whatsoever while vacuuming with the Miele. I even used a particle tester on the exhaust fan part of the canister and found out that it was shooting out cleaner more filtered air than was actually freely circulating in my house. The vacuum works better as an air purifier than my Hamilton Beach air purifier!

(Side review...if you have breathing issues and money isn't too much of an issue, get the IQAir air purifier...I bought two at the same time that I bought the Miele and wow do I notice a definate improvement in the quality of my breathing and sleeping.)

So, in conclusion, for my every day cleaning I will be using the Miele and breathing easy. But since I just can't bear to part with the Dyson (because the amazing suction and wysiwyg canister make vacuuming so much fun and there is no doubt it's getting dirt and other nastiness out of my carpets), I will continue to use the Dyson but only on a monthly basis and while wearing a breathing mask.

I wanted to reply to Linda's comment about the Dyson Animal versus the Miele Aquarius.

Oddly enough, I actually had a similar experience with the Dyson and Miele products. I guess I can attribute it to the fact that I also have insane allergies, and am very sensitive to even the dust my vacuum emits (I'm even allergic to my own allergy medicine.)

I bought the Dyson close to two years ago and loved it at first. But, like Linda, I was having a hard time dealing with the Dyson because it was too messy to clean up and I found my allergies acting up whenever I used the machine. I was skeptical to change machines because I thought I wouldn't be able to find a machine that had equivalent suction.

After some research, I bought the Miele Capricorn. I find that while the Miele appears to pick up less, since the bag does not seem to fill up as much as the Dyson dust container, it actually leaves my carpets cleaner and I have less allergy problems between cleanings. Judging the suction between the Dyson and Miele by comparing the collection of dust is deceiving. The Dyson dust container's capacticy is small in comparison to the Miele's. The Miele bag actually has a gallon and a half of capacity. So when the Dyson fills up its dust container faster then the Miele bag, that's why.

Also, I wouldn't recommend a bagless vacuum for anyone with allergies. While I found the Dyson dust containter to be the most unique and allergy friendly among bagless vacuums, it undoubtedly releases particles that will eject out my nose during a sneezing fit after I clean out the dust container.

For those allergy sufferers out there, a bagged vacuum seems to be the best way to go. And if you can splurge a bit, an IQ air purifier teamed with a Miele can do wonders for an allergy sufferer, especially with pets (I have a 100 pound black lab that sheds more then his weight). I actually got a great deal from these guys (http://govacuum.com/capricorn-s5980-seb217.html), where they shipped me my IQ air purifier and Miele the next day without shipping charges.

I just bought the animal, to replace an old Sears one, I really hate the Dyson it picks up nothing but dust. I have cats and the fur is just dragged along the carpet. The stair cleaner and mini turbine head a a joke. The carpet is not picked up and it looks like you never did anything. maybe people think it picks up great because they see dirt in the clear chamber, but a bag picks up just as much, even more.

I just got my Dyson delivered to me yesterday and I am pretty impressed with it. I went with the DC14 Full kit, and I am dissappointed in the fact that it does not fit under cabinets, other then that I am pretty happy about it.

My previous vacuum was an Oreck XL and it is terrible compared to the Dyson, I posted some photos of all the crap the Dyson sucked up that Oreck left behind and it is disgusting:
http://www.werty.net/2006/10/dyson-suction.html

If that does not convince you to get one, I do not know what will.

I opted for a refurbished (I am a cheap ass), and I am wondering how those hold up compared to a new one. Jeremy you have had your Dyson for close to a year now, how is it holding up?

Truthfully, for as much as it cost- I was hoping it would be a dud. This machine is AMAZING! As a 38 year old housewife; vacuuming never excited me.
I did it because I really want a clean house and I have two Chihuahuas- one longhaired and the other shorthaired. My previous vacuum was a Hoover Windtunnel, which was a real work horse. It lasted about 4 years, it was serviced and cleaned regularly so I knew it was always at peak performance- it didn't break, but the attachment suction was awful the whole time I had it. I hated the mess it made dumping the filter out- you aways had to bang it on the trash can to get it out. Then the pleated filter was always blocked and needed cleaned outside. Yuck!
This Dyson is amazing! All around great suction-really well thought out. I bought mine at Linen's and Things for $440. That was with a Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupon.

Final thoughts-
It was very easy to empty the canister- had to do it twice. Eek (and I had just vacuumed two minutes before I used the Dyson) Like I said I wanted this vacuum to fail so I could take it back! LOL!

The attachments are wonderful. Don't know how I cleaned house before! The suction is SO crazy! I kept sucking up the curtains, bedspread etc. With my old vacuum I had to be right on top of the spot I wanted to clean. NAh...not with the Dyson- it vacuumed from 9 inches away!

Two thumbs up! Big Grin

Having read all the reviews I would like to ask a question of the panel.

What is the best speed at which to vacuum? I have berber so I can choose a slow pace or fast one. Mostly I am concerned about dust mite and animal dander extraction. Anyone have any data they would like to share please?

Myself and four others are doing research on Dyson's for an advertising project. The blog and the comments have been EXTREMELY helpful.
thanks!

I bought the dyson vaccum a month ago and couldn't be happier. When I first got it, a vaccumed my hallway and my bedroom just to test it out. The carpet didn't even look like it needed to be vaccumed, but I got at least 3 inches of dirt in the cannister. My old kenmore wouldn't do nearly as much. If I vaccumm my whole house I need to empty the cannister 1 or 2 times. Also, it doesn't leave that bad smell other vaccums do, so I believe them about only expelling clean air. My wife thought I was crazy to spend that much...but now she swears by it. Way to go Dyson!

I found this site when I was in the midst of deciding whether or not to get the DC 14 Animal, and it was a great help! Thanks to everyone for the thoughts, opinions, problems, solutions, etc. Thanks especially to Tay (Dec "05, Aug "06) for the Rainbow/Dyson comparisons.

I was looking for a vacuum that could do a job that would be comparable to my 19 y.o. reconditioned D-series Rainbow. Since both of my sons are now in college, I'm doing the vacuuming again--I'd forgotten how HEAVY that thing is! Not to mention awkward, and somewhat of a production to get it out and set up; it's not something I've ever used for small, quick jobs. From what I'd read, the Dyson sounded as if it might give me the kind of job I get from the Rainbow with much less work and hassle. The day I got it (and started using it), it had been 2 weeks since I'd vacuumed upstairs and 4 days for downstairs, where the dog stays.

Pros for the Rainbow: From what the Dyson sucked up, the Rainbow is still doing a good job; I only emptied the cannister after I'd finished the entire house (approx 2000 sq. ft.), and most of the stuff came from the "doggy" rooms. Although the Dyson isn't bad, I'd recommend the Rainbow for severe allergy sufferers; it sucks cleaner, with less particulates expelled back into the air. (It did a fantastic job of cleaning the rooms when we pulled old carpet up; I went from wheeze to ease in the 20 min it took me to vacuum.)

Pros for the Dyson: Much lighter, much easier to use, no need to use a different hose going from floor to carpet to attachments. I tend to read instructions first, so before I used it, I checked out all of the gadgets, made sure I knew how everything came apart and fit together. Like with anything new, it was awkward at first, but it didn't take long to get the hang of it, and I love the ability to switch back and forth from vaccum to hose + attachments to vacuum again easily and quickly. Forewarned is forearmed, and I took Tay's suggestion and stretched out the hose before I got started, so rather than wrestling with an anaconda, it did what I asked while only being cranky and grumpy about it. I loved the mini-turbine head; it did a fantastic job cleaning the dog's nylon-covered bed. I have no idea how fast the brush was spinning, but again, being forewarned, when it slowed down how much it was picking up, I just eased up the pressure. That used to be a nasty, time-consuming job. Tonight I sat in the computer chair and let the Dyson do the work--five minutes and done! The mini-turbine also worked very well for throw rugs; place a foot on one end and vacuum away from your foot. I may leave the Dyson downstairs, and keep the Rainbow for upstairs. ?? Emptying it was no problem, I took it outside, wrapped a Kroger bag around it, hit the button, gave it a bit to let the dirt/dog hair settle, closed the cannister, slowly pulled it up out of the bag, and that was it. No nasty water to empty, no water reservoir to clean out, just put the cannister back, wrap the cord, and put the Dyson away.

Cons for the Dyson: Okay, I know you're supposed to keep it away from things like, um, shoelaces, so I had a moron moment. Once it started eating the shoelace and making loud noises, I repeatedly hit the off switch and it wouldn't turn off. I finally stepped on the shoe and pulled the Dyson away from it, it let go of the shoelace, and off we went. I don't quite know what to make of that. The main unit tends to blow the dog hair around on the tile floor (although waving the wand near dog hair sucks it right up), and I'm not tremendously thrilled with the low-reach floor tool. It does get the dust on top of the carpet in the areas the main unit can't get to, and I suppose that's better than nothing. It's just that there are so many places the main unit cannot get to.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the Dyson, at least so far. It may not do quite the job that the Rainbow does, but it's also half (or less) of the price, and phenomenally more convenient and easy to use (which is very important since we are selling our house and need to keep it in "show" condition all of the time.) Best of all, I can vacuum the entire house and not hurt when I'm done!

Thanks again to all of the people who have taken the time to write. This has been a great resource as I move into "Dyson-hood" living.

Ok, guys, I read ALL of these comments and tomorrow, I am going into town to buy a new vacuum. A Dyson.. if you guys are pulling my leg and I spend that much money and it don't work, I am coming to your house and make po po on your carpet...Thanks for the advise, I will let you know what happens.

Thank you all for varied and useful information!

I have a Hoover Wind-Tunnel canister expense account. :0) The multiple filters are in constant need of cleaning or replacing, the belt keeps coming off, the retractable cord doesn't, and I usually have to open the brush section once or twice a vacuuming to put the belt back on and rip off the hair of three long hair dogs (seven screws)! The hose connection keeps popping off the canister and moving it is unwieldy (one reason that I dislike canister type vacuums). I've replaced broken belts and brush twice. Putting the motor in a section of the shield that is opened so that all of the dust etc. collects in the motor cooling 'ducts' is pathetic. It sucks (and in the bad way).

I have heard soooo many great things about the Dyson Animal and this is why I'm here - research. So far, I'm overly convinced that there will be a vacuum for garbage rummaging in the very near future. ;) With a 3500 sq. foot house (85% carpeted) and these three shedders, I want top o' the line. The Hoover was the best that they could offer (factory direct sales store). Time to go shopping!

Thank you very much,
Robert

I own the Dyson DC14 All Floors for 6 months now and it is an excellent vacuum! I don't know why some people have the need to invalidate the claims of happy Dyson owners, epecially the ones who don't own the product themselves. It's irksome. Is it the best vacuum? Probably not. Is it the best I've ever owned? That's a resounding Yes. I'm also not the type to spend upwards of $400 for a vacuum cleaner and I initially balked at the price when vacuum shopping but I can attest from MY experience that it is money well spent.

As far as Consumer Reports is concerned? Who cares! As long as I'm happy with the product I purchased, that's all that matters at the end. Cheers.

Just because someone has an MBA doesn't mean he is a know it all. He probably has no pets or kids to speak of and if he wants a dirty house id say let him buy a vaccuum for $30.00 I own a Rainbow that I worked lots of hours to get and i did spend money on it. Did I make a mistake??
HELL NO!! We all have our own options of what is good and not and I think it is riduculous to shove your opinion in someone else's face. If you like this dyson I say buy it!!
Do what is right for you and don't listen to some clueless person who thinks he is smart just because he has an MBA .
I have a PHD and do I order others around??? HELL NO.

We purchased the Dyson 14DC about 6 months ago. I now has begun to leave gease spots about the size of a quarter on the carpet as you vacum. I called the Dyson "hot line" and spoke with "Kerry" who promised to investigate and call me back - nothing. I called again a week later and spoke with "Chris" and there was no record of my original problem in their system. I'm still waiting for a call back and the system is still leaving a grease trail. Service after the sale by Dyson is between slim and none. Watch out for the grease.

I have a Animal and love it for rugs and floors. My only problem is I can't get the darn turbo head to move on the attachment. I also have had poor luck with customer service. I finally received some emails, but it was exactly what I was doing to get it to work. I saw that someone in 2005 had same problem.

Steve, or anyone else...can you help with the turbo head problem?

I just bought myself the DYSON DC07 ANIMAL, the purple one. I got it at Target for $499 and they gave me a $50 gift card for the purchase. I suffer from really bad allergies, so I bought this vacuum out of desperation. I must admit, I'm impressed. This vacuum sucked up so much crap from my carpets, I am now breathing easier. For once in a long time, my nose has stop running and I am not sneezing. I had a bagless Bissell that I now plan on selling. I'm glad I spent the little extra money for a great product. The only complaints I have are these: The vacuum is a bit heavy and hard to handle, it is noisy, it is plasticky and will scratch easily (I already did). When I was vacuuming my bathroom, the vac got stuck under my sink cabinet, so this was the cause of the scratch. What else....once the canister has less than 1/2 dust in it, it stops spinning. Lastly, when the vac is placed in upright position, the vac makes a loud noise, is this normal? Other than this, I'm very glad I bought this vac. I may not have to spend $700+ for an air purifier, so this makes me happy.

I bought a Dyson in January and I am very very very DISAPPOINTED. Sure, it picks up cat hair and dust. But you know what? That's ALL it picks up. The hose has a decent amount of suction when held in your hand, but when plugged into the vac and used on the floor, it won't pick up paper, lint, crumbs, or anything that weighs more than a speck of dust or strand pet hair.

I can't believe I spent $400 on a vacuum that won't pick up a piece of 1cm x 1cm paper in the first, second, or third pass. I'm furious. I feel scammed.

Dyson: doesn't lose suction...but never had that much to begin with.

Quote:"we can point you toward less expensive upright models that worked better overall than the DC14. They include the Hoover WindTunnel Self Propelled Ultra, Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra, and Kenmore Progress with Direct Drive...."

I bought a Eureka Boss Smark Vac 3 months ago...
It is by far THE WORST vaccum cleaner I have EVER owned!!!
I do mean EVER!!!!! At all costs avoid this vaccum!!
I bought it because it said on the box, comparable to
the Dyson.....What a big fat LIE!!!! This is a Vaccum that
loses suction after 3 seconds and I kid you not.....the
filter on that vaccum clogs like no other vaccum I have
ever had before......you will spend all your time unclogging
the nightmare of a filter on it and re-vaccuming all the
dust and dirt you get everywhere getting the dirt out
of the filter....
After 3 months of this vaccum I could take it no more and
went out and finally bought the vaccum I SHOULD have bought
to begin with.....THE DYSON!!!!

I work for PowerVacs so I deal with vacuum cleaners all day every day. I think the Dyson issue comes down to what you really want in a vacuum. People love their Dysons because it has one of the best suction mechanisms on the market. In addition, it is very easy to steer (particularly "The Ball" technology), isn't loud, doesn't cloud the air, doesn't produce a burn smell, is very capable of reaching tight and hard to reach places, and some people claim that the ease of maneuvering has made vacuum cleaning "fun". That said, a few of our clients have mentioned that it is heavy (at 20 lbs) and that the canister fills up very quickly.

I've had a Dyson for 3 years since living in US & several years while living in UK. I have the basic DC07 & am thinking about upgrading to the Animal, although I'm trying to research the difference between the DC07, 14, 17 etc (that's when I found this blog).

I've always loved having the Dyson & on several occasions, friends have questioned it & wanted to compare it to their vacuums. We've vacuumed with their machine first until the carpet looked clean then gone over with the Dyson. Every time, the Dyson fills up with dust, lint & hair (dog & long human hair) and they are sold.

I've used this on a house with wooden floors and now a house with a carpet. Works wonderfully in both.

I don't think any consumer report could convince me otherwise, and marketing has nothing to do with me thinking it's fantastic. My carpet tells me that, not an ad.

Angela (July post)

I wonder how are you getting on with your vac now? I am amazed that you said you only had to empty it "1 1/2 times and vacuumed approx. 4500 sq.ft. of my house"

wow! You really must have a super clean house! Every time I vacuum just my living room, I have to empty it twice at least.

Sorry guys. I have looked and checked. The never loses suction and never replace filters is an untruth!!!

Actual construction is poor. there are MANY great vacs in the $5-600 price range that make this look sick. SORRY. your all being fooled because of those TV spots.

The dyson is a great vacuum cleaner... if you like throwing your money in the garbage. If you have been using junk vacuums all your life then this will seem much better. In reality, there are vacuums on the market that are 1000x better than a dyson, and in the same price range. Dyson's are heavy pieces of plastic junk made in Malaysia. If you remove the right filter and look at the plastic casing on the left which covers the motor, you will notice that the motor is actually made by Panasonic (China). Nevertheless, a bagless vacuum is only realistic if you are a caveman. Originally all vacuums were made bagless, they added the bag.. to capture more dust! Take a look at the "lifetime" filter underneath the bagless tank, which can pried open with a flathead screwdriver. I don't even need to give a visual description of what you will find, i'll let you find out on your own. Yes!, that is what's protecting the motor, AND what is blowing out of the exhaust of your vacuum every time you use it. Ok, enough talk about disgusting cheap plastic junk. If you are looking for something that actually works (better than anything), that you won't have any problems with, won't be able to smell, won't be able to hear, and will literally change your life... then check out a Miele. Recommended by the American Lung Association, not a money grubbing "consumers" magazine. These vacuums are made in Germany, they are the first certified HEPA vacuums (not just HEPA filter, HEPA vacuum!), they capture 100% of the dust, dust mites, dust mite feces, pet dander etc.. TOTAL quality, these things will last 30-45 years. Miele's are so outstanding and so far ahead in technology, that for anyone to buy anything else would be INSANE!!! They are a bit more expensive, but you get what you pay for. In the long run you will save tons of $$$$$ buy not buying junk vacuums every other year. This will last forever and work as good as the same day you got it... forever!!!

GET A MIELE!

LOOK FOR YOUR LOCAL DEALER!!!

I am very displeased with this product for 2 reasons

1, I have Berber wool carpets and for those that don't know that is very very very expensive carpet. That vacuum has caused the material to fray and now I have to replace the whole carpet.
2. In the dinning room and living room I had just had my wood floors refinished and something caused one of those little wheels to get stuck and scratched the surface of my wood floors. So overall this product has been very costly to own.

Nice looking Tv commercial Fraud . All vacuums thatClaim Hepa must have a filter ! All filters filter and capture dirt. They have to clog or they dont work! A vacuum move s Air with dirt in it

The FCC should come down on this guy. Go into any repair Vac shop and find out the truth . These are the experts

I must say I have been disappointed. It did a good job at first but I have found that it takes a lot of upkeep and cleaning of the filters and dust cup to maintain that "awsome suction power." I have two large golden retrievers and once their hair gets caught in the honey comb filter thingy, it loses suction power very dramatically.

I've also had to have the rollar brush replaced when it grabbed a rug. The rollar bearing snapped and the rug was destroyed. It took a lot of calling around to find someone to repair it. No one offered to honor that 5 year warranty and the repair was almost $70. Next time it breaks I'm going back to a Miele canister like he one I got as a wedding gift that lasted 20 years hassell free and should have never given up.

I've owned a Dyson DC07 for at least 5 years. I doubt Hoover's, etc can last as long as this one. All I can say is quality is remembered long after the cost is forgotten. I recommend this vacuum to everyone. Let me give you my "review" on it. I am a guy, and there was just something macho and hightech about this thing that made me want to get it. Our previous vacuum was a Phantom, that was OK but had an expensive Hepa filter that was about $60 or more to replace, each year. Suction diminished as this filter became dirty.

In the time we've owned the DYSON DC07, I've never had any mechanical issues with it. It has worked great. Never replaced any belts. The vacuum is as strong as they first time we used it.

Water. Although they say to not use it to suck up water, I have regularly used it to suck up small spills, and even used it today to suck up about a gallon of water from the bathroom from the toilet overflowing. Yes, you can suck up water safely with it. I've unclogged sinks with it too. I haven't hurt it doing this. Just don't fill up the canister more than half way or so to be on the safe side. Dump it out right after using it. Like a shopvac, the water never gets to the motor, and knowing this, I felt it was fine to suck up water.

Hair. A few times a year I have to use some scissors to remove hair wrapped around the brush roll. I don't know if ANY vacuum with a brush roll can avoid this. It only takes a few minutes to remove the hair.

Plugging up. I have never plugged up the Dyson. I even sucked up a few of my kid's socks with it and they never plugged it. However, the vacuum has removable elbows that make it quick to unplug if you sucked up a cat or something big.

Dust removal. It is very easy to dump the dust out of it. The canister removes with a push of a button. You take the canister, lower it into your trashcan, and pull the release trigger and the bottom door opens and dust drops out. No big dust clouds at all. I often just dump it into the toilet because I am lazy... lol

Cleaning hard floors. It cleans Pergo, etc very well. I leave the brush "on" and it works fine. Sucks up sand and everything.

Bagless. No issues with this at all. In fact, it has been very helpful. Our son lost his first tooth a few months ago and dropped it somewhere in our bedroom's carpet. I ran the Dyson over the area, emptied it on some newspaper and found the tiny tooth in less than a minute.

Would I buy another one? Absolutely yes.

Comments on Roombas. I would never buy another one of these toys. Nothing but mechanical issues with ours. Worn our bushings, short battery lifespan requiring replacement. Slow, noisy, inefficient. So many sensors on it that ours failed a few times and had to be taken apart to clean the motor sensors, etc. Junk. Our Roomba was DOA after about a year. Quicker to pull out a real vacuum and do the job.

after reading all of these posts, i'm going to buy a dyson vacuum but i have no idea the difference between all the different types of dysons. can someone who works in vacuums or has knowledge about vacuums shed some light? for ex, should i buy a dc14 all floors or a dc15 animal? much thx.

KLT, if you have pets, go for the Animal. If you like the 360-pivot handling, go for "the Ball". For the most part, the models are different because of different included tools. A Dyson chart to make your life easier:
http://www.powervacs.com/ContentPage3.aspx

I purchased one in April 2004 and it is now DOA.

The closest repair center is two hours away and there is a ten day backlog before they can put it on the bench to see what is wrong. (Seems like they have a lot of machines in with problems. Some food for thought) Then there maybe a three to four day delay for parts. They claim some are driving from even further distances to have their machines serviced (Poor service network)

Mine had a two year warrantee and the same model now comes with a five year warrantee but Dyson won't extend current owners. (No concern for current customers, only courting new business)

The hold times are long for customer service and every customer service representatives was rude and tended to hang up while you are verifying information such as addresses. Then you find out the information is wrong and have to call again.

I am still waiting for a supervisor callback after two days even though I was told 24 hours.

The Dysons do not seem to last any longer than any other brand, but at least service was close or you could self repair. This is not an option with Dyson.

BTW watch for the recall.

I just purchased the Dyson DC17 today. I have two Huskies, a German Shepherd and an Akita along with three cats so vacuuming is a daily activity. I have purchased three other vacuums in the last two years and they have all failed. I must say I am thrilled with the Dyson. I went through my whole house, carpets, hardwood, slate and area rugs and the Dyson didn't miss a beat. And the attachments that came with the vacuum worked wonderful too. It had no problem on the hardwood like some have said about the DC15. I love how you dump the bucket, just push a lever and the contents fall out, no more fighting with clogged filters. This vacuum will be put to the test in my house and hopefully will perform this great forever. I'm so glad that I finally broke down and spent the money. ($549.00 at Target)

I just have to respond to the last comment -- $549 at Target. You can get it for $508.99 at PowerVacs.com

I believe that there are two main reasons for positive statements regarding the Dyson: one is the glut of crappy disposable vacuum cleaners on the market, and the other is cognitive disonance.

For example, if you've spent your whole life eating Saltines, then your first Ritz cracker will be a life-altering experience. The same goes for vacuums. People spend their whole lives using "disposable" vacs that die out after a year or so of use, and then lose their minds when a working vacuum comes along. If you've been using a Kirby for several years, then the Ritz cracker doesn't seem so impressive.

Second is a psychological term called Cognitive Disonance. Simply put, if you spend a lot of money on something, then you're inclined to believe that the object must be worth that much money. Rather than believing that you've been swindled, your brain does the exact opposite. So, $500 later, you believe that you now own the best vacuum known to man.

This isn't to say that the Dyson isn't effective. I'm sure that it is. And I'm sure that people who own a Dyson think that it's the best vacuum cleaner ever. It's just that they may be wrong, because they don't know any better and because their mind (and wallet) reinforces the opinion.

And finally, Kirby rules!

Sorry to burst your bubble jzawodn, but the Dyson vacuum cleaner is is just another hyped up product with nothing to show for it. All Dyson models are plastic, cheaply made, and over priced. I fix vacuums for a living and can assure you that you will be wishing you spent your money on a differnt vacuum cleaner.

Jeff
SimplyVacuums.com

I would agree that the Dyson is best for anyone who owns animals. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats, all shed heavily. I have owned nearly every make of vacuum and the Dyson is far superior for picking up hair. My only complaint is the shocking. Whenever I use it on carpet it continually shocks you. Has anyone else had this problem? I was told because of it's suction it generates a lot of static charge.

This is without a doubt the worst vacuum I have ever owned. Shortly after buying I contacted Dyson with some problems I was having and they were completely non-responsive. These are not cheap vacuums thought they perform liek one. DO NOT BUY ON THEY ARE THE WORST VACUUM I HAVE EVER OWNED. Cheaply made and you will regret the investment you mad.

Can you tell me why "The worlds best vacuum " lets dust out of its rubber seals ?
Can you tell me how it ( the dyson ) only gets sand and dirt when it vacs hard floors but never gets anything but carpet fluff and house dust off the carpet but no dirt ?
Can you tell me how it can possibly clean the dirt out of carpet trying to suck air through a series narrow of tubes, bends and elbows. Isn't that just a barrel / canister vac with an upright handle ?
Did you realise that the filter system lets pure carpet powder and sand throught the motor out into the exhaust filter ?
How can a plastic vacuum, one that lets dust back into the atmosphere, leaves the dirt in your carpet, the dustmites and skin in your kids bed and passes dirt through it's motor be the best vacuum in the world ?

This is an excellent list.

However, I am concerned that there were a number of questions already asking how a Dyson brush (beater bar / rotary brush) handles long pet fur. Yet there have been VERY few comments on this.

How often do you have to cut the fur from the brush?

Does the fur get into the bearings? In most of my vacuums, this leads to excess heat and destroys (melts) the plastic / bearings. Thus throwing out the vacuum.

Considering the number of comments of how "great" the Dyson is with animal fur, I am VERY puzzled why no one has commented on this??

Is the Dyson "average / above average / amazing" in this regard? This info will be quite valuable to potential purchasers (with pets!).

If I do not see any comments on this, then unfortunatley, my skeptic brain will kick in, and I will think this site is just a Dyson marketing site. There MUST be people out there who know this! Many!!

Seriously, most if not all of the comments regarding pet hair say "amazing" yet all fail to address the specifc modes of failures we pet owners have experienced in other vacuums. PLEASE HELP US PET OWNERS with real experiences!

Best Regards, Albert.

My husband and I just purchased the Dyson DC 14 Full Access Upright Vacuum on Overstock.com. We adopted our first dog in December and are inundated with "Archie" hair and dander. The DC 14 Full Access was the only "new" and not "reconditioned" choice on Overstock, so we went for it...no shipping fees, no tax. It was $399 and we are anxious to receive it. Do you think we erred in not getting the Animal model somewhere else or will the one purchased do the trick well enough? Thank you in advance for any feedback.

I can't even attest to it's performance as when I opened my Dyson DC14 and began assembly, I discovered the wand was smashed in a spot about 4 inches in length. It is the part that slides through the handle to become an extension wand and the smashed/bent part prevents it from sliding through, making the entire unit useless.

I purchased this from HSN (Home Shopping Network) as their daily special and got a great price, broken down in five monthly payments. I was thrilled they made this unit affordable for me because I have three cats and there is hair and litter tracked everywhere. My other vacuum cleaner doesn't pick up jack squat and clogs everytime I use it. I spend more time unscrewing the bottom to remove clogs, than I do vacuuming, so I was elated to be able to afford this Dyson.

The outer shipping box and the inner box containing the unit were NOT damaged...no rips, dents, nothing, so it could not have been damaged during shipment; it had to have been smashed/bent prior to being packed at the manufacturer.

HSN is out of stock on these, so I can't even return it for an exchange. I am very disappointed in Dyson for allowing damaged items to leave their factory. The wand had a thick cardboard protector taped around it to act as a buffer. Since it, the outer and inner boxes were undamaged, I KNOW this was put in the cardboard protector and packaged for shipment from Dyson, AFTER it was damaged. The smashed wand is so noticeable, unless Stevie Wonder did the packing, they had to have seen it. I've had to repack everything (and we all know that nothing ever goes back in the way it came out) and now have to lug this heavy thing to UPS to ship back. They won't pick it up because I don't have a personal or business account with them.

Online ordering can be just as inconvenient as it is convenient. I was really looking forward to using this. Does anyone find that it seems like it's really made of cheap materials?

My wife and I have been contemplating a Dyson purchase. One of the "animal" models to be exact as we have a year old german shepard. The dog hair is off the charts...but we knew this going in. Anyway, I have to laugh because we were at Home Depot over the weekend and while checking out this model, 2 different women approached us and began to rave about it. When I bought our current vaccum 6 months ago (Bissel) the store clerk, told my to buy Dyson..hands down. Then today I was in Bed Bath & Beyond I was approached by a gal that couldn't say enough good things about it. I mentioned I thought they seemed a bit heavy to be lugging up & down stairs..which is when she told me she bought a 2nd one for the upstairs..jeesh! What gives? These gals are all making cow eyes at these things. Is it as good as all that or are they trying to justify spending $500.00+ on a vaccum? One thing I want to point out is that all these gals stated they have owned their Dyson's for over a year, so the novelty should have worn off if it were just another run of the mill vaccum that didn't perform as stated. Hate to have buyers remorse...especially $500.00 worth.

Just thought I would kick my two or three cents in here.

I have been a repair tech on vacuum cleaners on and off for roughly ten years, so odds are; if it exists, I've probably either fixed it or thrown it away.

The Dyson is probably the most over-priced, over-hyped machine on the market, and here is why:

1: When you bring your Dyson home, it will probably pick up a bunch of stuff your previous vacuum missed. This is not indicative of the incredible cleaning power of the Dyson, but is most likely related to the fact that you haven't changed the belt on your old vacuum. Uprights with rubber belts require that the belt be changed every 3-6 months. If you don't do this, you will have very limited ability to clean carpet.

2: Regarding the airflow claims: I must have gotten my data from the same place as Barney, because I, too have seen the airflow figure at 40 CFM. This is probably due to its tiny Panasonic motor. (Take off the cover for the pre-filter and note the word "Panasonic" proudly stamped on the side of the motor housing. Funny, a Panasonic vacuum is much less expensive... hmm....) So the Dyson "Never Loses Suction..." ever hear the phrase "Nothing to Lose?"

3: Dyson's "British Allergy Seal Of Approval" was earned by filtering out a "known allergen." According to the British Allergy Foundation; this allergen was either Dust Mites, or Ragweed Pollen; I was unable to determine which. Dust mites, on a microscopic level, are gigantic: around 280 microns. Ragweed is smaller, but still pretty large. The actual CAUSES of dust mite allergies; shed carapace and feces; are actually much smaller: around the .3 micron range.

Dyson's filtration is a joke: I tested the emissions at the exhaust with a laser particle counter, (on a floor model machine, which probably has been used for a total of one hour of vacuuming,) and it was dumping 750,000 particles per cubic foot at .3 micron.
The ambient air was around 150,000.

To put this in perspective: the Miele S5 series exhausted zero particles.

To see for yourself how effectively the "Root Cyclone" system filters the air, look in the air pathway on the back of your dirt storage bin. See all that fine dust? Obviously the "150,000 times the force of gravity" is not enough gravity to make dirt magically fall out of air.
(Although, I do like the image that gives you... "Oh yeah? Well, MY vacuum's gots JUPITER in it. That's, like, INFINITY better than YOUR vacuum.)

To further check out the Awesome of Dyson's Root Cyclone system, remove the three Torx screws on the top of your dirt bin. (if you have the DC07) You'll probably want to wear gloves and a mask when doing this. Rather than separate the dirt from the air and drop it back into the "Clearbin," the Dyson prefers to cake a bunch of dirt in the exhaust path, which shrinks the air pathway and also tends to be re-dumped into the exhaust air over time. James Dyson knows that the average consumer isn't going to remove these Torx screws, so who's going to discover the vacuum cleaner equivalent of sweeping the dust under the rug?

Also note the fact that most of the rubber seals (VERY noticable on the DC15) do not form an airtight seal with the piece of cheap plastic across from them. This results in a decrease in available airflow, (due to leakage, and I already covered how the Dyson doesn't have any to spare,) and is also dumping unfiltered air, rife with dusty buddies and other good stuff, back out into your breathing air.

4: Dyson parts are extremely low quality and expensive. My example for this is the belt assembly on the DC07: it's a series of two rubber (stretchy) belts inside a clutch assembly. This rubber WILL stretch out over time. However, you can't replace the belts as easily as you can on other vacuums. In fact, you're looking at (ballpark) about $70 dollars to replace a worn or broken belt because you have to replace the whole clutch assembly. Want to replace a belt in most other vacuums? It's about two dollars.

5: Bagless vacuums don't work. Period. I could go on for hours, but the long and short of it is that because their filtration is terrible, and their airflow is low, they have remarkably short motor lives. I'm tired of typing so I'm going to leave this one short; but seriously; trust me on this. Bagless = Bad.

SUMMARY: Save your money and buy an upright without attachments: (Sanitaire, Royal, something of that nature, they're cheaper and will do an infinitely better job on your carpet;) or save up and buy a Miele. (Which actually does all the things Dyson claims to.)

Hearts and kisses,

-R

In reading all of these comments makes me dizzy. I am debating between a dyson DC14 or an Oreck. I have an Old English Sheepdog which is quite furry and adorable but leaves a lot of hair around. I want to know which one will pick up the hair the most of these two. I know that Oreck is lighter which I like but at the same time, is it worth the 8lb Oreck or the 18lb Dyson? Some of the comments to me are just crazy. There are many different consummer reports which lists different vacumns as the top. So this is very confusing and very frustrating. I just want a good vacumn cleaner that cleans and makes my carpet nice. I am not interested in the marketing thing. So what if the colour is purple! Does it clean????
Debi

DYSON, as well as any bagless vac, is the WORST for anyone suffering from allergies. IT IS ALL MARKETING - why can't anyone understand this?

MIELE is far and away the absolute BEST vacuum, not only for allergy sufferers, but airflow, efficiency, performance and investment - they last and last.

I simply love my Dyson animal vacuum - DC07 model. I thought I was kinda weird being so in 'like' with a dang vacuum so it's refreshing to read other's post here saying they like theirs as well.
I am amazed every time I use it and look into the canister. it looks like I've never vacuumed the room before. I can't imagine all the dirt and grime that is actually under the carpet or padding that even the Dyson can't reach after years of using another brand vacuum

I have a question about the Dyson for dog hair? Of course I have two dogs and on Kitty? I have read about how much every loves there Dyson!!! But my question is about the clean up with a bagless vacuum?? I have one a bagless and HATE IT SO MUCH!!!!!! I am actually thinking of a Dyson for my home but want some feed back on that one!!!! Thanks

I got a Dyson DC14 as a gift over a year ago. I own two cats and a dog. I will say the Dyson worked very well and I loved it but I hated the bagless deal. It was horrible emptying that thing! The other issue was it is very bulky and hard to manuver. It did not work well on my then new tile floor and wood floors. In the year that I used the DC14 it broke down 3 times. Belt broke (no biggie), motor shorted out (covered under warranty), and crack in the hose. Everything was covered under warranty. Repairs were done at a mom/pop vacuum shop. As I was there picking up my Dyson a 3rd time the owner told me that he does so many warranty repairs on Dysons and his opinion on them was they were overpriced machines like the Oreck XL21. He then showed me the Mieles. I wasn't a fan of canisters but I wanted to get a new vac as my bro needed a good one and I told him I'd give him my Dyson. So I picked out a Miele Capricorn canister. I can't believe I spent this much on a vac. But I must say. Um, as well as the Dyson worked on CARPET (good suction) the Miele Capricorn destroys the over priced highly marketed Dyson. I say again. DESTROYS IT. The Miele is worth the money. Highly versatile, powerful, and the engineering that went into this machine is incredible. I have to say I was blinded by the Dyson because of the bombardment of ads. It works but its probably only worth $150. I'm glad I got it as a gift. Please at least check out a Miele if you are willing to drop $600 on a vac! Again the Dyson worked but it is cheaply made and very heavy bulky and not worth the high price tag in my eyes.

Bought one of the purple animal dyson vacs a couple of years ago. loved it a first, recommended to friends, etc. It does suck well, but there have been periodic body mechanical (non-electric) integrity problems, latches not sticking, jamming, platic piece falling off, etc.

I just threw it in a dumpster, and glad I kept my other vac, which was being used in the basement. I think it is a Hoover wind tunnel, not sure, it sucks well but is so loud. I may try the Miele per post above.

Never had to toss out a 'broken' vacuum before, especially after just 2 years.

Two vacuum repair places have said the same thing, the Dyson does not have the vacuum power of many other vacuums. That is really enough for me.

One guy, Barney, said it on this site. The other, gave the calculations, that I have read and seen before on vacuums. Here are his calculations http://www.abcvacs.com/airwatts.html

Vacuum efficiency matters. I have an off brand that has 91 inches of water lift that I have used for 12 years now. It works great for both my long haired cats and dogs. I am glad I choose by water-lift and price (mine was about $400.00 with all the attachments, it had very good filtration, but I added a HEPA later, just because I wanted it).

Take care everyone.

Yes, some are finally realizing the truths about dyson. I am a proud Miele owner and will never buy anything else (as there is no need to)... I got mine at delmarva air in delaware... http://www.delmarvaair.com

All they sell are Miele and provide great service...

I bought a Dyson (the yellow one) just about 1 year ago at
my local Sears in Marion Ohio. At the same time I bought a service contract. I thought I was paying too much money for the cleaner and wanted the extra coverage. From day one
I wasn't that thrilled with the sweeper. It just didn't clean that great. I had told the Sears salesperson what I would be using the sweeper for and that it would be used one or two times every day. I have pets. He assured me the
Dyson was the one I needed. So, I purchased the machine.
It got to the point where it wasn't picking up much of anyting, so I took it to Sears for a checkup. I really didn't think anything about it. After all the Dyson was
only one year old and I had a service contract. I got a card
in the mail yesterday from Sears that stated I had abused
the cleaner and I would have to pay $314.00 for repairs.
I have called Dyson they were no help because I bought it
from Sears. Sears doesn't want to fix the machine because
it will cost too much out of their pockets. And I am left
with no cleaner after having spent way too much money
for a product that was supposed to be the last sweeper I
would need. TO ANYONE THINKING OF BUYING A DYSON PRODUCT
don't do it. Its not worth the money, the product is not
that good. AND service contracts will not be honored.

Now let me preface this by saying that no, I do not own a Dyson. I have used a Dyson only once on my carpet as it was a loan from a friend. I was definitely impressed that a bagless vacuum could pick up so much dust and hair. I have seen my fair share of bagless vacuums over the years and none compare to the Dyson. HOWEVER, having used a Riccar vacuum for 15 years I must say I am still sticking with Riccar. Let me tell you why.

I have had the same Riccar for the last 10 years and have had to bring it in for repair only ONCE. After 8 years the bearings on my roll brush finally gave out. The vacuum runs perfectly as long as I change the bag when it's full and the belt every 6 months or so. If you forget to change the bag and the vacuum is clogged, it's incredibly simple to do the maintenance yourself -- all you have to do is change the bag and clean one hose.

The main reason I would never consider using a Dyson is the lack of an inexpensively changed belt. The belt for my Riccar costs $2, which I change about every 6 months. It is absolutely necessary to change the belt as they GREATLY stretch over a short period of general use, keeping the roll brush from being fully powered.

Also, although I respect the suction power of the Dyson, the roll brush leaves much to be desired. The roll brush on my Riccar is a full metal roll with stiff horsehair, digging up the deep dirt and dust in my carpet. The Dyson roll brush looks too flimsy to bring up the deep stuff.

Although the Dyson is decent vacuum, it mainly owes its popularity to marketing. Remember the Oreck vacuums? _Terrible_ vacuums, but they sold like hot cakes at high prices because of the commercials!

If you want a great vacuum that will last you 10+ years, get a Riccar in the $500-$600 range. You won't be disappointed.

or a MIELE...
depends on what you want...if you are looking for the most efficient and ease of use vacuums - get a cannister - and there are none better than a MIELE VACUUM. IF an upright is more your style, then there are only a couple "good" ones out there...

Count me among the people who are disappointed with the Dyson....I bought the DC-17 Animal about a month ago, and was amazed at the suction and the amount of hair it picked up. HOWEVER....I have a lot of issues with this vacuum.
1. It's really heavy. I have a big house and vacuuming the whole thing feels like a major workout.
2. Doesn't go under furniture, not even coffee tables or beds.
3. The attachments are a pain to use. The hose that they attach to has so much spring-back that the canister keeps falling over.
4. The instruction manual that I got with the machine had pictures only, no words!!! WTF!!!! I do not feel like deciphering heiroglyphics when I want to check out a feature.
5. After only two weeks, this vacuum started stinking to high heaven. I have taken the whole thing apart and cleaned it thoroughly, which did not solve the problem. I'm sure I sucked up something one of the animals did, but why can't I get rid of the smell??? And don't tell me to check the manual...see #4.

Before I spend $500 on a vacuum cleaner again, I'll be sure to borrow one from somebody and try it out first. My Dyson was NOT worth the money.

Wow. Two and a half years later and you're still getting comments!

I think some of the difference of opinion you'll see in your comments is going to depend on what kinds of things the owner is willing to put up with. Some people prefer ease of use, design, looks, low maintenance, etc.; others prefer features, power, reliability, etc. You also see this in the geek world, especially with the Linux vs. Mac flamewars, or iPhone vs. Blackberry vs. N95.

I have a Dyson (DC17), and I like it, but I think it does slowly damage my carpet (it's pulling too hard, and carpet fuzz comes up). I'm someone who doesn't follow maintenance schedules well, so I didn't ever replace the belt in my old vacuum, I didn't replace the bag as often as I should have, etc., and compared to that, the Dyson is better for me. But if you're good about maintenance I think other vacuums might well be better.

As far as marketing, I had heard of Hoover, Eureka, Oreck, etc., but I had never heard of Dyson or Miele, and part of the appeal of the Dyson for me was that I *hadn't* seen any marketing. I had heard about it from friends, which is far more persuasive than advertising. I mean, who the heck talks about their vacuum cleaners?

Dyson seems to be like Apple in that it makes some people irrationally happy, and those people end up telling their friends. And like Apple, Dyson also generates a great deal of backlash from people who want to warn us about the dangers of the cult. But I suspect most owners are not in the cult; they're reasonably happy with the product but not so much that they're going to go tell all their friends about it.

I HATE MY DYSON DC17 ANIMAL!

That said, here's why...

1) No adjustment of wheel height (NONE AT ALL) for hard surface floors or area rugs---This machine literally has DESTROYED all my area rugs.

2) Breaks-Down on a regular basis... I bought this in late Dec. 06 and have replaced 2 belts as well as the beater brush assembly already---WHAT GIVES???

3) I HATE the "stupidity" designed into the machine--- Step on the front portion of the sweeper to tilt handle and activate beater brush, Pull wand tube out of handle and with it comes the unwieldy handle assembly; And talk about unwieldy- working with this method, the hose is so stiff from the intense suction it's like arm wrestling a gorrilla while trying to sweep the steps. Another gripe is the diameter of the pick-up wand. Because the design is basically one inside the other, the inside wand is so small objects get stuck in it easily.

4) I absolutely HATE dealing with the disposal of debris from the canister. Oh, it seems so easy to pop the button and the debris magically settles into your garbage pail--- THE REALITY IS, Most of it stays clogged up at the top inside and you have to reach your hand up straining past the center filter cone to remove-- YUCK!

5) Customer service; I've written (emailed) the company several times requesting they contact me---Yet no one has bothered.

On a scale of 1 to 100 I rate this vacuum sweeper a 10

I see lots of great reviews here from people who have just purchased a Dyson.

I wonder how many remain happy owners after a year or more?

My experience at first was similar to most here - I was impressed with the cleaning performance of my DC-14.

However...the clutch mechanism broke after 6 months - making a loud grating noise. After going through a troubleshooting process with the Dyson support center, I had to take the DC-14 to a repair shop to get the mechanism replaced.

6 months after that - the same thing. This time Dyson tried to refuse to honor the warranty, as I had purchased a "reconditioned" unit, according to the serial number. I bought the unit "new" from Amazon, and they either sent me a reconditioned unit, or Dyson has the serial number listed wrong. It took some arguments with Amazon and Dyson to finally get the repair done. I never did get resolution to the question of the unit being new of reconditioned - I paid full list price, and it came in a sealed Dyson box...

Now, 8 months after that, the same part failed again. The repair center says "we get them in every day with the same problem - we've got lots of those parts in stock. You'll be in at least once a year." Dyson this time absolutely refused to cover the repair cost, even though the unit is less that 2 years old, and they brag about a 5-year warranty.

My question is - How many others have had the same clutch failure problem with the DC-14? Listening to the repair shop (which is a Dyson authorixed dealer!), makes me wonder if this is a systemic problem.

i made a list about all of my thoughts regarding my newly purchased dyson animal DC-14. i think the title might clue you in on how i feel:

http://www.onmylist.com/category/tech/why_my_dyson_vacuum_is_freaking_amazing_1

marketing, marketing, marketing...
that's all dyson is.

The reason that the "clear bin" of the dyson fills up faster is because it's half the size of a typical dustbag!!! Easy.

DYSON HAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST FILTRATION - just read the posts above. You may be picking up "animal hair" but all you are doing is spewing all the tiny dust particles back into your floor and all over your home - Now, doesn't that just feel clean and fresh?!?!?

Well I read a lot of good stuff and a few negative on this site pertaining to Dyson. Just bought the DC 15 Animal, and it definitely sucks (in a good way). It was tough to buy a vacumm priced at $600, but the bed bath and beyond 20% coupon helped quite a bit. Dyson was not excluded on the coupon. Wgen vacumming for the first time stuff was coming out of carpets that we previously thought to be clean. My carpet seemed to shine after I vacuumed with the Dyson, it looked brand new. I love the feature to be able to switch off the brush while still being able to vacuum (good for hardwood floors and sensitive carpets). My ultimate test was to pick up cheerios off the kitchen floor (thrown by my little one) and to see if it would get picked up (rather than spewed out the back in multiple pieces). Well the Dyson passed the test. I will just have to wait and see if I encounter any of the negative comments in the upcoming year to see if the money was worth it!

I see a few people here just trashing the Dyson, citing poor "water-lift" and horsepower figures...and then giving a sales pitch for the Miele. Well, the following is directly from Miele's website:
-----------------------------
Why is airflow important?

Airflow determines the ability of a vacuum cleaner to clean. Horsepower, amperage and water lift give no indication of a vacuum cleaner's true ability to effectively clean.
-----------------------------

So, mainly airflow (i.e., suction) is what enables a vacuum to clean. Someone mentioned "you can have tons of suction, but no airflow" This doesn't make any sense - at least when we're talking about vacuum cleaners. Suction (in a vacuum) is created by the movement of air from one space to another. If you have good suction, you have good airflow. Bad suction? You have something blocking/clogging your airflow.

Having owned (and maintained) Hoovers, Dirt Devil's, Bissel's, and even using my brother-in-law's Rainbow, I finally decided to try a Dyson DC17 Animal. I was amazed at what it picked up... We have 2 long haired dogs, and have always dealt with the problem of not being able to get it all out of the carpet -- even after steam cleaning.
The Dyson managed to pick up nearly every strand of hair. I even got down with my face in the carpet to see if I could find any left over... and couldn't spot any at all - a definite improvement!

Now, all these reports of bad clutch belts DOES have me worried. I can only hope that my model doesn't suffer from this problem. I'll cross my fingers!

-Ryan

One more comment -
"RD" keeps claiming that Dyson has "the absolute worst filtration". Fortunately for me, I'm not experiencing fine dust particles getting spewed back out into my room. In fact, all the fine dust (and I am talking about dust as fine as drywall dust) is trapped in the bin, like it should. There is no "haze" left hanging in the air afterwards, and the bin is full of dust, hair, dander, etc. Hmm.. Must be staying where it should be. Perhaps he has bad seals on his (if he has even used one that is).

-Ryan

I am a big fun of Dyson's products. I have two vacuum cleaners and really enjoy using them. Dyson is great inventor!

"RYAN" - you really don't know what you're talking about with the filtration. You can put a particle tester at the exhaust of a dyson and you will see what I mean. When was the last time your "could see" a particle below 1 micron? Don't think you can with the naked eye - so OF COURSE you won't see a "haze left hanging in the air"... c'mon now. Good luck washing your HEPA filter (wash a HEPA filter - that's hilarious - who "washes out filters"???!!! Also, have fun emptying the clear bin...Wow, what fun!

"Ryan" - I also think you are mis-interpreting "airflow" and "suction" - there IS a difference and that is why Miele's have 6 speed control settings. Let me explain:
Put your upholstery brush on your dyson and start cleaning your sofa - basically all you are doing is sucking up fabric because there is TOO much suction and no air is being drawn thru the vacuum effectively. It's really simple when you think about it.

To the person asking whether Newfie hair gets stuck in the beater bar... Yes, it gets plenty jammed up in a Dyson beater bar, the same as in a Miele beater bar! I spend as much time cutting it out as I do vacuuming, no matter which vacuum I'm using.

I have the purple Dyson and have to say I regretted buying it about 2 weeks after I got it. It's heavy, hard to maneuver (although maybe these are positives if you are trying to get your exercise), and you can't adjust the level of suction. So if you want to vacuum a long-pet-hair-adorned area rug, you cannot use the beater bar because the suction is so strong it sucks the actual rug off the floor and you get this awful noise that would wake the dead.

Get a Miele. Costs more, but it's a much much nicer, more versatile machine and easier to use.

The Dyson vacuum isn't just marketing hype. We purchased a DC14 animal several years ago and it works and looks just as good today as it did when we first purchased it. It is a real cleaning champion. We were very satisfied with our vacuum purchase from www.vacuum-direct.com. I would recommend purchasing from them. They had the lowest price and super quick shipping.

I am the owner of a three large vacuum stores on the east coast, and I would never sell a customer a Dyson. They are not made well and will never deep clean your carpet and can even damage had floor because of the lack of rubber on the wheels. They are very cumbersome and very difficult to work on should parts break (which they will). They do blow out an extreme amount of fine dust particles into your home and can exacerbate allergies and respiratory problems. It will take a Dyson lover about two years to realize what a waste of money they are. When you buy a Dyson, only a small percentage goes to pay for the vacuum, while the rest is to pay for their tremendous amount of marketing. My oldest vacuum store is over 50 years old and I would not be able to sleep at night if I sold Dyson vacuums during the day. We pride ourselves in selling lesser known, quality brands that deep clean, filter small particles of dust, and have an average life of 15 years or longer. Advertising does not make a product good or bad, but Americans believe that if it is on TV, then it is a good product. I am sorry that we are so brainwashed to believe that.

After a year of sucking up hair and yuck does the Dyson still have lots and lots of power??? I have a terrible time with vaccums after continual use - they lose power and start to sound like a plane taking off??

Okay, this is unbelievable!!! Yesterday I decided to research Dyson and found this site. Today, I used my Bed, Bath, and Beyond cupoun and purchased the Dyson Animal. I am sick at what I saw come out of the living room carpet.

We had just used my Oreck (I have it routinely serviced) and what the Dyson picked up is beyond words.
My house was built five years ago, the carpet is a rather good quality. We have two children a dog and a cat.

Tonight I will learn about the attachments and vaccuum each room. I expect I will be emptying the container several times per room at this rate.

Again, this is incredible. I will never be able to settle for less. Oh, the store assured me they had a no hassle return policy if I was not satisfied.

Terri
Ohio

Well, we too bit the bullet and bought the DC17 Absolute Animal tonight from BBBY with a Linens and Things 20% off coupon. I hope we'll be as pleased with it in 6 months to a year as we are now. We too also have a Rainbow but lugging it around up and down stairs and emptying the water has become a hassle. And to those of you who had Filter Queens man oh man do I remember using that and it was great in it's day though I hated using it since I was a kid-teen when I used it.

I trying to figure out if I should get the Dyson animal or should I get the basic model. Is it really worth the extra money? I have two dogs (one is a short haired and the the other is a long haired). I have issues with dog hair in the carpet. Was wondering if anyone could give some advice on this. Thanks

I think all you people who are going back and forth on marketing need to get a life. I think that spending $500 on a vacuum to keep my 5 month old from rolling over onto the carpet and ending up with a face full of matted dog hair is worth it. If you don't think that spending $500 on a vacuum to keep your house CLEAN is worth it, then don't buy it and MOVE ON!

I could not disagree more with Eric's comment from 9 OCT. We had a huge, bulky, heavy Hoover Windtunnel that was awful. It sounded like a 747 at take-off thrust (which is what I called the darned thing...the "747") and it was plain heavy. Overall construction was terrible, and the clear hose along the side of the machine came away from the housing. The other thing that bugged me was that no matter how often we replaced the giant filter or cleaned out the machine, the exhaust just plain smelled bad. For all the noise and weight of the thing, it never really worked well.

My wife finally convinced me to get a new vacuum for her and we went out and bought a Dyson ball. 2 years strong, NO problems at all. So to make your absolute statements about Dyson's reliability and durability is simply idiotic. Also, our carpet never felt so soft and "fluffy" until we started using the Dyson and it removed the stale "wet dog" smell the former owners of the house left for us. 2 years in and I'm happier than ever with the Dyson...so happy in fact we went out and bought a small canister Dyson for the lower floor of our house.

Oh and for those who think the Dyson is spewing all the micro-particles out of the exhaust, I have to disagree. Although the chamber itself was packed with a very fine powder, the top of the chamber where it exits the machine was completely dust free. At any rate, for a vacuum, I could not be happier...

R/
D

Steve it's totally your choice but with the coupon we got the DC17 for $468 I think with Taxes and we like the attachments it has with it. Some people in past comments asked how the attachments go on cince they do not clip on in any way. They just friction on. They do stay on and the mini-turbine attachment works just fine for us. Yeh if you push down really really hard it'll stop turning. We've used it on thickly carpeted stairs with no trouble. Just to clarify the attachments I am talking about are the 4 extra that are in the box above and beyond the basic ones that attach to the machine itself. My advice to you when using those attachments is to remove the wand from the hose and connect them straight to the hose. Hope this helps.

.
Eric must sell Kirbys, eh? Dyson are certified asthma friendly. Lotta folks (my DIL for one) can't take all the dust blowing around.

We, just this Super Bowl weekend, were gifted a Dyson DC-17! I'm amazed at the 'stuff' that it took out of the carpet. I did the cat's pillow with the upholstery tool and left no cat hair! Before Dyson, it took 2 to 3 lint roller sheets.

One great thing I really like about the DC-17 - no belt! If I want to go off carpet, the motor driven roller can be switched off. How can anyone not love this machine?
.

Harry,
On the dyson, it's all marketing my friend. Of course you can see the "stuff" - it's a CLEAR Bin. Ever looked in a dustbag in a Real Vacuum Cleaner while it was cleaning? Bet there is "stuff" in there as well...and much more of it, I might add.

"Certified Asthma Friendly"? Maybe in Britain and that's about all - dyson puts so much harmful dust in the air, it's not even funny.

O well. Have fun pushing your 20+lb. MONSTER! Good luck cleaning under your bed too!!!

RD - You are sooo wrong, it is not funny.

RD seems to be vacuum dealer, as he is familiar with particle counters and micron size particles. Not many of us would know of such things unless we were a vacuum dealer. So, RD, please come clean ...... you sell Oreck vacuums? I know Oreck dealers love bashing Dyson. I seems you may sell Miele vacuums too, and yes, they are good units. I love the Miele product.

However, your claim to Dyson's spewing dust back into the air is truly unfounded and clearly put forth to tarnish the Dyson vacuum image. I own a partical counter due to sever allergies and have used throughout our home to find weak spots and problem areas. I have owned many vacuums; Dyson, Miele, Oreck, etc. My favorites are Dyson and Miele - forget the Oreck .... never again. However, you are also not being honest with particle count based on unit types. For instance, we had to buy a $50.00 HEPA filter for our Miele in order to bring the particle count down. Our Dyson did not require this expensive option.

I have run particle counter tests with the Dyson in operation taking rook readings and straight forward exhaust readings - sorry, but the Dyson vacuum is not spitting out dust like you say. In fact, the air in the room becomes cleaner - pure and simple. Sorry RD, I have done many tests and can only assume you are here to bash the Dyson name and product for some personal benefit.

For anyone with doubts, please undertand that Dyson vacuums have passed many test and standards to acquire the certifications and allergy approvals the products carry. If they were "spewing" dust into the air, they simply could not carry the certification.

And RD, Miele is also a great product which I also use. This is a true sealed canister that cannot release dust back into the air when using a HEPA filter. For anyone who suffers from extreme allergies like me, an honest education in home cleaning is essential. I hope my remarks have helped understanding the Dyson product better. For allergy sufferers, Miele and Dyson both have great units.

Wow, J Bergman, I am "sooo wrong". Interesting. Let's state some facts here, first, my company markets, promotes Indoor Air Quality products , so I think I know a bit of what I am mentioning above. Oreck? No thanks - not in a million years.

If my statement "tarnishes Dyson's image" as you have stated, I have more influence than I thought! I am merely stating simple facts about Dyson. You even said it above, "a true sealed canister", which Miele is (which you can read my prior posts and I mention the same thing). Dyson DOES NOT have a sealed system. simple as that.

Do me a favor and place your particle counter before the air enters the exhaust filter(HEPA)on the Dyson. Tell me how much air is escaping on the elbow, BEFORE it is filtered thru the HEPA. That's the REAL story. Just having a "HEPA" filter doesn't always make it right.

Please don't try and discount my statements, as I am merely trying to help better educate consumers.

Has anyone used the "mini turbine head" attachment? I'm not sure if we're missing a piece or what. It doesn't seem to attach to either the hose or the extended tube like I would expect, and when I try to use it on the couch (after shoving aside a couple of dogs) the spinning brush stops dead in its tracks as soon as it contacts the material. It seems completely worthless, but I'm thinking I've gotta be missing something. Any thoughts?

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXA0N0V2uOQ

enjoy.

Hi Jeremy,
I've had my Dyson DC07 Animal for about 2 years and loved it in the beginning but lately the bottom of the bagless dirt container doesn't stay shot and it doesn't have the suction power it use to have. I think if I buy a new one I will go with the Bissell Pet Hair eraser vacuum. Its alot cheaper. I really expected my dyson to hold up better after paying so much for it.
Val

woot.com has a refurb Dyson DC14 Total Clean Vacuum for $249 on 4/14/08. If you miss this deal don't worry they have this deal periodically. Just check every day and eventually you'll get one. No affiliation to woot, just a happy customer.

I purchased the Dyson DC17 Animal and WOW! This is by far the BEST bagless vacuum I have ever owned! As long as you dont let the filter underneath the collection bin get to dirty then you can pack that bin full and it will still have insane suction!
After taking my Dyson in for repair for first the belt at 6 months, the switch at 7 months, I took a look at the Riccar Radiance which I have never in my life heard of before! After watching how much more the Riccar got out of the carpet than the Dyson I was sold! There is also so much more metal on the Riccar including the brushroll! These Riccars were also rated with hospital grade filteration! If you ever have problems with your Dyson you should seriously check out the Riccar!
Rideblue86@aol.com

I purchased an infinity from Walmart a few days ago. I have to say, after owning 2 hoover vacuums within the past 2 years, I am impressed with the suction of the infinity. I've never used a dyson, but the infinity was much more affordable (under $200) and also claims to never lose suction with cyclonic technology. It feels and sounds like a pretty heavy duty machine. Also, after vacuuming, I steam cleaned the carpets. Usually, after vacuuming, my steam cleaner dirty water is filthy with mud accumulating on the bottom of the tank. This time, the water wasn't nearly as dirty, no mud on the bottom, even though I haven't steam cleaned in longer than usual and I have two toddlers constatly spilling things plus a lab constantly shedding. I was impressed. The vacuum obviously picked up the dirt that would've otherwise ended up on the bottom of the steam cleaner tank. Just adding my two cents worth? Has anyone else used an infinity or have anything more to comment about them. They also come with a five year warranty, which I thought was pretty good compared to other vacuums.

My opinion of The Eureka Boss Smart Vac Ultra is very low! I have one (gift) and it was broken from day 1. The brush roller on/off lever was stuck, had to take the vacuum apart to fix it. The extension hose also tore within the first year. Got it replaced only to have the replacement tear in the same spot. I have only had it 1 1/2 years and now, and now the on/off switch is broken. It is also very heavy and clunky. I could list several more problems that I have had with it but, I think I made my point. I wouldn't purchase one myself, nor would I recommend it to anyone.

I have been researching the Dyson DC25 The Ball, and the The Ball DC15 Animal Vacuum. So far all the reviews have been great. The DC15 Animal Vacuum also comes highly recommended by a friend of mine. She LOVES hers! Will see if she is willing to let me "test drive" it before I purchase one.

Just bought our DC14 Animal today and, just our luck, we tried it out only to get that horrible ratcheting sound on a piece of carpert over a stone entry. Seems it doesn't like uneven stone which makes the carpet uneven.

I was amazed at the amount of stuff it picked up just in the hall way and dining area.

Will keep a close eye on it sine the noise is definietly not acceptable as a common occurance. Good thing is we purchased at COSTCO for $399.00. Much better than I have seen elsewhere. Will update in a few weeks if anything changes.

Well just to let everyone know, the miele solaris I have overheats if I vacuum more than 30mins with it. To me, that does not seem like a very well engineered piece of equipment if it overheats within such a small timeframe. And yes, it was serviced just 2 months ago.

Does anyone have a vacuum that doesn't overheat no matter how long you vacuum with it? Think many hours. That's the most important thing to me, getting the job done.

Between now and December 7th, Costco has a $50 rebate for the DC 14 Animal that is "instant" (applied at the register or web checkout). So I just got one for 349.99. Excellent.

O.K. , So I talked my wife into buying the dc14 covincing her that you get what you pay for....2 weeks later we returned it to wally world because the brushbar cracked next to the belt , we received a new one and maybe three weeks later the brushbar cracked again in the same place....My wife has suprisingly not given me any grief over this , but I know I am in for it if I state that sometimes more expensive is better. Dyson was very apologetic and said they will send me a box to ship it to them in and then I assume they will repair it and send it back. meanwhile we are using a pink 20$ hoover that does a decent job. Am I doing something Wrong??? we have three children and no pets but my wife sheds more than 4 cats combined , I just can't stop thinking that I did something for both units to break after only a couple of uses.

Here in the UK I'm just on my second Dyson in 10 years, I have a rugby playing 11 year old and a standard Schnauzer.

Two very mucky individuals. The Dyson is used daily and never lets me down. Because it looks cool and my son can see the dirt he picks up, there are times he will push it around his room. Rare but it has happened!

When serviced we are given loads of new parts at no extra charge. They really are reliable machines.

By the way any coincidence that I'm a Apple Mac fan too!

You get what you pay for.

VACUUM CLEANER PURCHASE DECISIONS AND THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND ABOUT WHAT SPECIFICATIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND WHAT THEY MEAN

I can see that this thread is filled a lot of misinformation regarding vacuum cleaners, their design, their specifications, their repair history, etc. Trying to wrap one's head around all of this is only making what should be a rather simple decision more difficult than it needs to be; especially for average individuals. Having said that, it's my sincere hope to enlighten folks a bit - folks looking for sound advice that cuts through all the B/S - while at the same time providing you with some invaluable information that will better arm you against sales-people and those that are less-informed. Most of the information will be basic "Physics" that once explained in a simple, easy to digest manner will likely amount to basic "common sense" afterwards.

OK, Where to begin? Since the discussion seems to be centered mostly on "upright" vacs, that's where I'll focus most of my attention and perhaps provide some "aside" when reference to canister vacs is worth mentioning, so bare with me.

Without knowing any of the advertised / claimed specifications for the hundreds of various models of vacuum cleaners out there we'll draw our attention to just the basics. What it boils down to is quite simple - folks want a vacuum cleaner that is up to the task of cleaning dirty floors and carpets, and they want the vacs to accomplish the task in the most effective and efficient manner possible. With that in mind, many people consider things like the following:

- electrical specifications: (amps/watts/volts)
- motor power (horsepower)
- negative pressure (suction/vacuum) measured in inches of water or inches of mercury

Some other specifications you might encounter are:

- airflow listed as: CFM (cubic feet per minute)
- Airwatts (Air Watts) (a rating supposedly representative to overall cleaning ability)

Motor horsepower, amperage and suction are often considered to be the most important aspects of a vacuum cleaner. While these things are important - to an extent - they don't tell the whole story. In order to better grasp what this will mean "in-general" we must consider that the vacuum cleaner is a "system" and as such, these particular aspects only make sense when considering the efficiency of the ENTIRE design and don't really mean that much when compared *separately* between various models of vacuum cleaners.

Here's why:

A vacuum is nothing more than an air pump of sorts... It pumps air. It moves air through the "system". If the *system* is well designed, then there is a lot of airflow, but even *that* doesn't tell the whole story. How the system *sustains* that airflow is what's really important. OK, so what's actually going on when the motor is turning inside the vacuum cleaner? And when I say vacuum cleaner I'm referring to the *entire vacuum system* which depends heavily on the entire, overall design of the vacuum.

Basically, an electric motor spins a fan(s) that creates "negative pressure" inside the vac. That means that the inside pressure of the vac is less than that of the air pressure of the room. As a result of this pressure difference (let's call it suction), airflow (usually measured in CFM as noted above) is generated. This is all basic "physics". But as mentioned earlier, overall "sustained" airflow through the unit is what counts and that depends on the overall design of the entire system - in this case the design of the entire vacuum cleaner unit. So what about all those electrical specifications? Well for sake of simplicity and the goal to understanding what's really important for most consumers, we'll skip over the gory details regarding the electrical specifications and instead provide the basic calculations and conversions for them, since it will be assumed that folks will be comparing similarly spec'd vacuums by default in any case. Any discussion into the actual electrical detail will only serve to muddy what's really important.

watts = amps x volts (assume volts are constant at 120 in U.S.A)
amps = watts / volts (assume volts are constant at 120 in U.S.A)
volts (assume volts are constant at 120 in U.S.A) = watts / amps

What about horsepower ratings?
They're useless for our purposes here and can be completely ignored.

What's REALLY Important?
A BALANCED airflow/suction design.
Suction or "water lift" is commonly listed as "inches of water". What that tells us is just how far - in inches - a sealed vacuum motor can lift a 1-inch column of water. This specification will tell you how well the units "lifting" ability is with respect to different materials. Remember, not all debris weighs the same. Sand grains weigh more than household dust and nuts and washers and pebbles and coins weigh even more still. The more suction, the easier it will be for the unit to lift heavier items. However, suction strength isn't the whole story. If the suction is TOO STRONG, it can lift carpets and rugs causing them to become *obstructions* and cause "resistance" which will - believe it or not - cause the system's overall airflow to decrease significantly. In some cases it can even ruin otherwise good carpets. It can even be a bigger problem with heavier weave or "shag-like" carpets with longer fibers and compounded further if the vac has a beater brush/beater-bar combination. Burns and ware-marks due to excessive friction and tangles etc. But what about air resistance?

Strong suction comes into play for units that have a design that tends to be more "restrictive" than others. HEPA filters, filter-type bags (bag design in general), nozzle opening size, hose length and diameter (canister vacs only), accessory tools and attachment heads will all ADD RESISTANCE to a vac's overall design depending on how each of the stated items are designed themselves. All those things when added to the overall system introduce points where airflow is reduced due to the parasitic (or subtractive) effect on airflow. And here's where we need to make it clear to readers wondering about this.
A stronger suction will enable the vac to handle the restrictions due to these factors better. On the other hand, a vac that lists a higher suction rating than a competing vac may actually NEED a stronger suction if the design is one that's more restrictive (overall) in the first place! In other words, you can compare two vacs where one has a stronger suction rating than another, but the design of the vac with the lower suction rating still maintains the same AIRFLOW through the system perhaps due to a more efficient design - a design that is less restrictive perhaps. In a general sense, it's believed that a unit with a motor that has a higher suction rating is more desirable, but I don't necessarily agree simply because, as mentioned already, the unit may REQUIRE a higher suction due to the design in order to maintain a given airflow rating. But what about suction/water lift ratings with respect to our discussion? Does it mean anything for our purposes? Well the answers are:

NO - if we are talking about uprights
and
YES - if we are talking about canister-type vacs.

Why isn't suction power not that important when discussing cleaning ability of upright vacs? the answer is simple Physics (again), and a little common sense.

There is absolutely zero need for suction ratings (and for that matter *high* CFM ratings) on uprights because the path that the dirt and air need to travel before entering the collection chamber - be it a bag or container - is a very short distance. This point really needs to be driven home to people shopping for vacuum cleaners because they often get confused as to what's really important - like SUSTAINED AIRFLOW. So again, decent, SUSTAINED airflow (CFM) is what's important for uprights. But what IS a desired sustained CFM rating for an upright?
Well, if you really do the digging you'll discover that a well-designed upright with a CFM rating of 55 or higher is in fact more than sufficient for cleaning. What's more, after a certain point the CFM rating on an upright can reach a level of "diminishing return" - where the difference in cleaning ability (depending on the material being picked up of course) between an upright with a 60-CFM and 100-CFM rating is completely negligible.

What about canister vacs?
On canister vacs, a unit with 80 inches of water lift and 90/95-CFM is the absolute minimum you should consider. Both specifications are important because of the restrictions designed into the unit such as hose length. The longer the hose the higher those ratings need to be etc.

What about Airwatts (Air-Watts)?
It's hard to tell whether or not this is a useful specification because when you do the math, air-watts comes out to be pretty close to a normal watt - which as we know, doesn't really tell the whole story with a given design. Here is the calculation:
Airwatts = (CFM x water lift in inches)/8.5
So if you know any of the above specifications, you can simply plug them into the equation and get general ideas, but they might not mean that much.

Other things to keep in mind...
CONSIDER ALL THE TRADEOFFS!!!
- When the water lift and suction ratings are listed in the specifications, they are usually for the MOTOR USED *IN* THE SYSTEM ONLY and do not take the rest of the design in to consideration. In other words, those specs are for some motor that's *part* of the system and when tested, it's rated OUTSIDE of the unit. So be wary and remember what I said about resistance and overall design. It could very well be that due to the design, the system REQUIRED a particular motor to maintain effective cleaning ability.
- When the CFM rating is listed, it usually refers to the the flow rating at the end of the nozzle just as it exits the vac unit. In other words, the CFM rating will be different if taken at the end of an 8-foot hose or a hose with a different diameter etc. The same can be said for suction (water lift).
Just as a given engine might have a particular horsepower and torque rating, it's not telling the folks how much of that is actually reaching the drive wheels where the tires meet the pavement. Those ratings diminish at the point where drive tires meet the pavement due to the parasitic draw from other parts of the system like the transmission, axle gears, wheel bearings etc. How well the entire system is designed will determine MAXIMUM results where it counts.

- Attachments. Depending on how the attachments are designed, this can have dramatic effects on the units cleaning ability.

- Ergonomics. Be sure to try using the unit before you make any purchase decisions. Are the buttons and controls in places that are comfortable for you?

- Maneuverability/handling. Again, be sure to test the unit on something other than a tile floor. Do yo like how it moves? Is it an easy fluid movement etc?

- Noise. Every Hoover vac I've ever owned sounded like a 747 jet. The latest that was recently replaced by a Dyson DC25 was utter garbage. The Hoover was a Wind-Tunnel 8000 "Turbo" upright and was highly rated in Consumer Reports (go figure). In the end it's not a vac brand I would recommend. The money you *think* you'll be saving will be spent on belts.

- Debris capacity. In my opinion this is a complete "red herring" and is only important to units having bags. My preference for "bagless" units over units utilizing bags will be discussed a little more later. Having said that, why on Earth WOULDN'T you want to empty the unit after every cleaning session? Which brings us to:
- Replaceable items/supplies. Bags or containers - which is better?
Depending on the replacement bag brand, some bags are more restrictive than others and the quality between brands is dodgy at best. In my opinion though the tradeoffs are in favor of containers (in my opinion). Why? well, I have had many bag vac over the years and i didn't like any of them. More often than not, coins, and other heavier debris can puncture them rendering them useless. This can be noticed more on units that employ bags and have high CFM and suction ratings. What's more, to get your money's worth, you would have to wait until they are completely full before changing them. You might be increasing the time between empties, but you are also increasing the time and chance for the bag to fail. And the same arguments that are used between bags and containers with respect to exposure to the debris IS THE SAME. Not all bags *fit* that well just as some cheaper units employing containers might not fit that well. When emptying EITHER type you are exposed to a small amount of debris, but the amount is negligible - unless the bag has a puncture you weren't aware of etc. Then there is the money you'll be spending on bags. Sure you can buy a cheaper unit that utilizes bags, but it will be a continuing cost over the life of the unit.

- Overall quality. Like anything else, how well the unit is constructed can make all the difference. There isn't a Eureka unit I would recommend. Of the units that I've owned or that others I've known had, the wheel designs are utter crap. The plastic-to-plastic contact on some of the units wears-down to the point where one of the wheels eventually fell off! I had to eventually fix it with a nut and bolt - and wait for the other wheel to fall off. Which wasn't too long.

- Price... Completely subjective. However, more often than not, you get what you pay for. I'll sooner spend more on power tools like Milwaukee, BOSCH, etc. (the commercial/industrial brands) because their performance, feel and availability of replacement parts is unmatched by the cheaper/less expensive throwaways. And to a large extent it's the same reason why I've switched from using a Windows-based PC to using a Mac with OS X. I was spending way to much time trying to figure out what was going wrong with a quirky Windows unit and getting increasing annoyed thinking it was "time for a new computer", but that's an entirely off-topic debate ;-)

Anyway, I hope the information that I provided empowers the folks reading it by arming them with what's really important while at the same time, avoiding all the numbers and hype surrounding a simple vacuum cleaner purchase - allow them to make a more informed, better suited decision.

I recently purchased my DC14 animal and love it. I remember using a rainbow as a kid and it was a fantastic machine. I, however, have no interest in a canister vac and would prefer to stay away from bags. I have tried everything from singers to royals to eurekas to hoovers and my most recent one was a dirt devil ultra vision turbo. yeah that last one was a pretty unit but noisy and all it picked up was dust bunnies. it wouldnt pick up a bb and just scattered dust everywhere it went. I stumbled across an ad in the paper and called the number. They were selling a used dc14 animal with all the attachments for $100 DUDE!!! I've wanted to try a dyson since the first time i saw one. So I was skeptical but I bought it and have been in love with it ever since. This same person just listed another one that I intend to buy for my mom. I let her use mine and she too fell in love. I'm not sure if I would have been so satisfied had I paid $600, but for $100 it's hands down the best vac I've ever used.

TIP: if you dont mind buying used...contact sellers of rainbow, hyla, etc...VERY expensive vacuums. They somehow manage to dupe people out of their dysons and take them in on trade only to resell them for pennnies on the dollar.

I've had my Dyson DC07 that I bought from Sams in 2005 for $439. I think it's a version that only Sams sold as I haven't seen it any where else, it turquoise and purple. It came with the hard floor attachment,crevice tool, lint brush, dust tool, and the turbo hand vacuum attachment. Over all, I'm satisfied with my Dyson. I've got 2 German Shepherds and 2 Maine Coon cats so you can just imagine the hair I deal with. The Dyson has done an excellent job. My previous vacuums were belt driven and had bags that had to be replaced. I was worn down buying bags and belts. I would much prefer dumping the canister out in the dumpster in my garage several times as I vacuum. The only time I have had to pull stuff out of the canister is when I'm too lazy to dump and it gets packed up to tightly. I switch out the filter 2 times a year and when I think about it I check the beater brush on the vacuum and take a pair of scissors to it to cut away the hair that has wound its way around it. It does a fantastic job on my carpeted stairs (using the small turbo brush)and does an excellent job picking up the dog hair off of my dark colored Navajo rugs. It's fairly quiet and doesn't spook my dogs, in fact, I use the lint brush attachment to vacuum them - they love it. Would I buy it again? I'd say yes I would. Having said that, here's what bugs me about it. All of my attachments push onto the nozzle. My hand strength is about normal for a small woman and I really have to jam the floor attachments on to get them to stay. When I'm vacuuming the stairs or the furniture with the turbo tool, it falls off and I have to make a special effort to grip it where it attaches to the nozzle. I have to use an attachment when I vacuum in the areas where I have to get close to a cabinet due to the kick plate on the cabinets or vacuuming under the coffee table. This vacuum is no light weight, it's a workout to vacuum the whole house in one shot. They didn't make the ball version when I bought mine or I probably would have bought it. It can make a terrible sound when vacuuming a rug that is sitting on a tile floor- if you back it up it will stop but it's truly disconcerting the first time it does that. Even with what I find aggravating about the Dyson I still think it's the best vacuum I've owned. I've had a up-right Kirby, several High-end Hoovers, a Kenmore canister, a Dirt devil and a Shark and it has outperformed all of them. And it has never needed repair.

I read more than half the page above, and have now decided to purchase the Dyson. I was trying to convince my husband that the Kenmore Progressive had a better rating from consumer reports, and costs about half of what Dyson's go for. Then, I tried out my neighbor's Dyson (not sure which model, it's light blue). They have two dogs, and crappy builder grade carpet. It was amazing. The way it raised the pile on the carpet, the strength of the suction. I was impressed. They have had the vacuum a few years, and they have two kids, and a lot of company. The carpet looked brand new. I have upgraded carpet, a dog, two cats, two kids, and THREE vacuums. None of which do as good a job as the Dyson. In the passed seven years, I believe we have had, broken, or worn out more than half dozen vacuum cleaners. The only reason besides price, that I was looking at the Kenmore, was the fact it is beltless. But it is only the cheaper models that I have ever had belt problems with. The Kenmore was rated in the top three on Consumer Reports. It weighs about 23 lbs. It is avilable in bag or bagless models, and comes in fancy colors like purple, and blue, and it retails for about $250.00. I don't care. I saw what the Dyson did to that rug. I saw how it looks clean and brand new, and mine doesn't. Now I need to know which is the best Dyson to buy?

@ Happy...
Don't buy any of the dyson models. They are bagless. Buy a New Miele S7...Now that's a machine.

Purchased the Dyson DC25 recently. It may pick up dirt pretty good, but the attachments and hose design are pathetic. You feel like you are wrestling with an Anaconda snake trying to use the hose. The attachments have small heads and it takes forever to vacuum blinds. Also, if you are an older person like me (60), it's a heavy vacuum, even though it doesn't look like it on the box. Give me my Rainbow vacuum back! I'll use this thing in my garage as a shop vac.

I own the Dyson DC17 Animal Upright.
Here is the question/complaint: Why after building such a good vacuum cleaner did someone in R&D not design the attachments so that they clip on rather than a compression fit. Honestly this is just plain short sighted. The brush, nozzle, mini turbine head and others are all compression fittings. The vacuum may never lose suction but the attachments never stay on. How can this be remedied without selling my machine and buying something where the attachments actually clip on? This is so foolish of me (not to have investigated) and The Dyson company (not to design) to charge customers $500 and then come up with such a silly design for attachments. VERY FRUSTRATING!

Can someone give me a cogent argument as to why? Maybe Dyson himself might have the answer?

I have the pet Dyson DC14 and yippe, I can almost suck the dirt out of my neighbor's living room from inside my house! I have two cats that tend to shed a lot. The one issue I have, like other individuals, is the attachments. They tend to fall off when I try to secure them. I thought I was doing something wrong. It makes it a bit more difficult to do the upholstery when the attachments fall off and given the weight of the machine. One thing I noticed when I purchased it, the instructions are not very detailed. I think if the instructions were more detailed and explained how to attach the attachments some of us would have less issues with the attachments. It seems silly that a consumer would have difficulty that.

I bought the new DC28 Animal/Airmuscle.... AMAZING... They fixed the attachment issues... they now click into place very easily and stay secure. I did have issues with my scoop-able litter getting into the new motor head part that raises and lowers it. BUT... I did have a lot to pick up. Pretty great machine... and I should not have to buy another one ever again I hope!

thank you for the review of the dyson. i love my dyson vacuum. it picks up dirt and hair that my old vacuum never seemed to be able to get to. even after vacuuming with my old vacuum, i can take my dyson over the same area and pick up a good bit of extra dirt and dog hair.

I've got a DC14 Animal too. To say it sucks is an understatement. And in vacuums, that a good thing! Great review. Only problem I've had is the plastic flange at the lip is starting to come apart.

we repair dyson's and on the whole we think they are great vacuum cleaners.

Dyson vacuums are brilliant, and the sucking power is mad. I love them so much I write about them.

As for your information our DC14 animal vacuum almost sucked our carpet

HELP!! I get all of these comments, and have been researching and computing numbers etc, and to no avail. I want to get an s4 series canister miele, for about the same price as the dyson dc25... Can anyone solidly compare the SUCTION power of these? I keep searching for good statistics on both models and either can't find reliable ones for both.

I know the Miele is about 150 CFM and about 111" water lift. But I get a huge number for air watts when computing this, and the Dyson website says it gets only 220? I guess the number has to be higher for a canister vac b/c the dirt is traveling so much further in the tube. Can anyone tell me how these compare?? Obviously the one thing everyone can agree on with the Dyson is that it has amazing suction. I think the design, weight, and functionality is amazing better in the Miele s4 line for the same price, but I can't figure out exactly how the suction compares!? Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

We bought a DC 17 in feb. of this year. My wife was amazed how well it cleaned! about 4 months later, my wife told me that our brand new carpet was "fuzzing up". We thought that there was something wrong with the carpet! We went back through the store that we bought the carpet from, and after three separate inspections, they told me that the Dyson was eating my carpet-$4000 worth!! I sent the machine into Dyson and their claims dept said that the machine was perfect (except for it's appetite for my nylon berber carpet-of course). They advised me to use the machine with the brushes shut off! I told them that we haven't used it since June of '09. Why would I want to use a machine without brushes? Lip-service is all you can expect from Dyson!!!!

I have had many brands of vacuums including Kirby (was supposed to be the best, years ago)! I bought a Riccar about 10 years ago and it is still incredible! I have even impressed my friends by removing dirt from their carpets. I would agree that one should go to a vacuum store and judge for themselves. Miele is supposed to be great too, and maybe in a hundred years when my Riccar finally dies, I will test one. But for now, I could not be happier! I also would NEVER buy a vacuum that did not have a disposable bag!!! It does not make sense to have to dump the dirt and not only make a dusty mess, but expose the emptier to inhalation issues...Dah!

My daughter just purchased a used DC 14 and didn't get an instruction manual with it. Where can she find one?

Over a year ago I was looking to purchase a Dyson and did a Google search and stumbled upon this blog. I'm glad I did. Saw a lot of posts recommending Miele Vacuums. So I visited a Miele dealer. Checked them out and they are great vacuums, but in the end I purchased a Sebo X4 upright for around $700.00. Uses a disposable bag. Smartly made. Beater brush slides out for easy cleaning. Shaft driven, no belts. I'm told they are one of the most popular brands in Europe. I'm surprised I haven't seen any posts on this blog about them.
...and for those of you thinking about buying a Dyson, the dealer I went to loves Dyson..his store had more than a dozen waiting to be repaired.

hey this blog is good and keep on posting more and more

I have a Dyson DC25 Ball animal vacum I purchased 11-09. Two months later it's been in the repair shop for 3 weeks.The button that turns on the floor brush broke and the wires that go to the brush need to be replaced.It's a good thind I still have my old Kenmore.I have never had a vacum or anything else break that fast.

The Dyson DC-14 is one of the best vacuums available. Here's a ranked list of Dyson vacuums as rated by users, with 5 stars being the best:

1) Dyson DC31 Animal - 4.6 stars by 13 users
2) Dyson DC25 Animal - 4.6 by 289 users
3) Dyson Dc28 Animal - 4.6 stars by 84 users
4) Dyson DC22 Motorhead - 4.5 stars by 53 users
5) Dyson DC23 Motorhead - 4.5 stars by 93 users
6) Dyson DC23 Turbinehead - 4.5 stars by 26 users
7) Dyson DC25 All Floors - 4.5 stars by 389 users
8) Dyson DC31 Handheld - 4.3 stars by 12 users
9) Dyson DC14 Animal - 4.3 stars by 536 users
10) Dyson DC17 Aniaml - 4.2 stars by 684 users

Charlie, what the above ratings fail to indicate is how long the users owned their units. Most everyone will speak highly of a new purchase, more often than not to justify the expense.
Would these same folks report the same results after one year of use?

Well. I purchased a Dyson (can't remember the model) back in 2003, and absoltely loved it. I have dogs, and never had a moment's problem with it. I loved it so much, that I finally decided to purchase a new one back in March of 2009. I even sung Dyson's praises so much that the lady in the check-out line behind me bought one. BIG MISTAKE. This new model - the "Animal" is terrible. It doesn't pick up nearly as well as my first Dyson. I took it to the repair shop because it is "on warranty". They told me that nothing was wrong with it. But, I have never been happy with the new machine. It seems to not fit together well, and the wand is also difficult to use. Finally, the other day, I went to sweep the floor and the on/off switch wouldn't work. When I pressed it in, the machine would turn on but when I released my finger, the machine wouldn't stay on. I contacted customer service because my machine is "under warranty". I asked if they could just replace my machine because I am just not happy with the total performance. They said that I could either take it back to the repair shop, or I could send it to UPS, and Dyson would determine (within 7 - 10 business days), whether my machine was or was not repairable. If it was determined that my machine was not repairable, then they would replace it. The whole thing would take 2 - 3 weeks. I then told them that I rescue dogs, and I can't do without my sweeper for 2 - 3 weeks. BTW - I only have 3 dogs, but didn't tell them that. They then proceeded to tell me that I was overworking my machine (which is called an ANIMAL), and I would probably have problems periodically from overworking it. Funny, I had 5 dogs when I had my old machine, and never had any problems with it. They then told me that they would DO ME A FAVOR and NOT cancel my warranty due to the fact that I am misusing the machine. They said that when people tell them that they rescue dogs, that they cancel their warranty altogether. So, I will never buy another Dyson again.

We have had many vacuums over the years and they wear out quickly. I finally tried a 'Filter Queen' after reading about them. The price scared me, but I got a used one for a very reasonable price on ebay. Well......I really wish I had gotten the filter queen years ago. This has a quality feel that says it will last a long time. The suction is amazing and doesn't diminish with use. I don't think we'll be needing another vacuum for a very long time. Its made in the USA also. Its a quality vacuum even though its an older model. There is absolutly no 'old bag' smell after using it either. My wife was very impressed. (thats a good thing)
We have two dogs and two cats and have finally found a vacuum that will not back down from pets. All I can say is 'wow'.

Someone up above, in the January 2005 postings, quoted an article about Dyson's not being as good as their cheaper American counterparts. When I bought my Animal in/around 2005, I had a high end Eureka that was not worth the plastic it was made of. I would have to vacuum the carpet 2-3 times to pick up the dirt, cat and dog hair in the house. And it always kicked out dust.

I finally broke down and bought the Animal and OMG!!! I was disgusted at the amount of filth it picked up, and this was right after I had cleaned with my other vacuum. it has been cleaning like a champ for the last 5 years, and today was the first time I ever cleaned out the filter or canister. That says it all in my book. With the American vacuum if I did not clean it out or change the filter monthly it was useless. The Animal was running like a champ 5 years after purchase without ever being cleaned. I tell everybody I know about them. Worth every penny.

Ok. Wife had to have the dyson dc28 animal. Long story short it worked for 5 weeks before the beater bar quit working (the little buttons wouldnt let me start it). Called dyson and the customer disservice department wouldnt even guarantee that repairs would be covered under warranty until a service tech looked at it. For 5 weeks it really sucked, now for the last week it really sucks. Seriously now, a $550 vacuum lasting 5 weeks and to be blown off by dyson. I will NEVER buy another dyson product until they wake and find out that the customer does matter.

We have the pet Dyson...however, on some of our carpets, it is sucking the carpet out. How do I adjust the bar? (thick wool area rug)

I'm glad you like your Dyson DC14 Animal because in the long run it will take money out of your pocket and put it into mine. Let me explain: The Dyson DC07 and DC14 were never meant to be used in America. They were designed to be used on the low thin carpets of England. Look at the brushroll. It is a small, thin, piece of plastic that will eventually break, especially with the thicker American carpets. Believe me, I've sold plenty of brushrolls. They sell retail at about $32.99. Look at the brush strips on the brushroll. They are thin and spaced far apart. Not at all quality to groom your carpet fibers to make them last longer.

The "Animal" designation has nothing to do with the performance of the vacuum. It does not have a larger or better motor. You are paying $100 more for a hand held turbo tool and some junk to put on your carpet to pick up the pet accidents. There are far better vacuums on the market designed for pet hair that do so much better of a job. Suggest you look into the Riccar line, especially their Tandem Air models. (And the Riccar uprights are manufactured in St James, Missouri - Imagine that, American made!)

Now back to the Dyson. Every 2 years you must replace the belt. On regular vacuums, when the belt is stretched or broken, you buy a $2 belt and throw it on the machine. BUT on the Dyson DC07 and DC14 you HAVE to bring it to a vacuum service center to install a new clutch assembly. The belt is integrated into the clutch and cannot be replaced, thus you must replace the entire clutch assembly at a cost of $100-$150 every 2 years.

Also the dirt that you see in the dust bin is exaggerated. Like a cotton candy machine, you put in a little amount of sugar and you get all that fluff. Well the dirt in any bagless dust bin is nothing but fluff that you must constantly discard as the bin fills up. In a bagged vacuum, that amount of dirt is about a half inch in the bag, that you can reuse over and over again without emptying. Now some people say that the bagless vacuum is cheaper than buying bags all the time. The reality is that on a bagged vacuum you use approximately 1 bag per month, which relates to about $24 per year. Now I would rather pay $24 a year than to empty that dust bin all the time AND keep all those little holes in the cyclone assembly clean, no to mention keeping those filters clean. No one should be touching their own dirt to keep there vacuum running properly.

And, if you were able to look into the cyclone assembly, you would see dirt layers upon dirt layers that build up in there with no way of cleaning it out. This also helps retain pet and other odors within the vacuum and I've had plenty of customers begging me to deoderize their Dysons. Which we do not do, because once that odor is absorbed into that cyclone, it's nearly impossible to get rid of.

I beg you to please re-examine your Dyson. I truly think you are sold on it because it is better than all those box store pieces of junk and all of Dyson'ss advertising propaganda, but make a journey to a quality vacuum store and test brands like Riccar against the Dyson. For about the same price or a little more you can get a much better vacuum that will outsuck, outlast, and outfilter the Dyson. In fact right now I have a demonstration on my sales floor than compares the Dyson DC07, an Oreck XL, and a Riccar Radiance. I have a black carpet that I pour play sand onto. Play sand is even more difficult to pick up from a black carpet than pet hair on any carpet. The customer makes as many passes as they like with the Oreck and Dyson, and both vacuums leave and spread most of the sand. Whereas the Riccar picks up nearly every grain. This is a wonderful side by side by side demonstration that everyone should see.

Thank you for your time and space.

I agree with Robert completely. I also own a vacuum shop and I see more Dysons with problems than all other brands combined.

Nine out of ten owners of dysons think these our made in England. Sorry but Malaysia is not part of the British isles.

When you empty any dc 07, dc 14 or dc 15 you are dumping out only sixty percent of the dirt. The other forty percent collect in the holes of the prefilter, the cyclone assembly, the foam filter and the white filter. This dirt will grow mold and mildew and start to stink and as Robert said you can not clean it out. Go to any reputable vacuum shop and ask to see cut away cylcone to see for your self.

Dog owners should never buy bagless vacuums as the dog dander can be especially troublesome when when it collects inside the vacuum and the heat of the motor intensifies the odor.

When emptying a bag vacuum all the dirt is disposed of when you change the bag.

Most Dyson purchasers are initially impressed with their purchase because their previous vacuum probably needed service, but that impression is usually short lived.

thank you for allowing my response.

Thanks for the information.