Dyson: Worth the money - lots of great features, one design flaw
Written: Jun 05 '04
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Pros: No bags, great suction, clear dirt collection cup
Cons: Cost, weight, cord not retractable, high clearance doesn't allow for any under furniture cleaning
The Bottom Line: This is really one of the best vacuums we have owned and I would definitely recommend it.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Dyson DC07 steel / yellow Upright Vacuum |
Our old Hoover died not too long ago and we were in the position of shopping for a new vacuum. I researched this Dyson model on several sites and almost all reviews were positive so we bit the bullet and dropped $355 for our Dyson from Amazon.com.
I have to say that we haven't been the least bit disappointed. The vacuum really does have amazing suction and on first use, I was amazed at how much dirt came out of our carpets.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE DYSON
There are no consumables, so once you sink the initial cost, you don't have to purchase additional supplies. There are no bags. The filter is also permanent, but the company recommends washing it every 6 months or so. There is a reminder sticker on the vacuum so you know when 6 months are up.
This vacuum works very, very well. It is far better than any other vacuum we have ever owned. It does well on hard wood floors but I particularly like it on carpets where it gets dirt from deep in the fibers.
This vacuum does great on edges, whether you approach them with the front of the unit or the side of the unit.
There is a hepa filter. The vacuum emits almost no smell or dust when it is operating.
It is surprisingly quiet. I can run this thing when my kids are asleep.
The design is very cool. The cyclone effect is neat to watch and you get a lot of satisfaction seeing what comes off your floor.
The dirt cup is clear and in the front of the unit. You can see when it is getting full.
Instructions and a toll free help number are listed on the unit itself.
The three tools that come with it store on the unit itself so they won't get lost.
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE DYSON
The big design flaw: the vacuum has a very high clearance and can't get under our beds, dressers, sofa or furniture. Apparently, there is a floor tool available but it doesn't come with the unit and it is an extra cost. To completely clean your floors with this vacuum, you have to move the furniture. There is a retractable hose, but it has a long, stiff handle that also can't get very far under furniture. I notice on the Dyson website that they have a low clearance model. If getting under furniture is important to you, I would consider the other model.
It is heavier than other vacuums we have owned but I can still get around with it. It could be hard for some people if you had to constantly drag it up and down stairs.
The cord does not retract, so you have to manage the cord with one hand as you vacuum.
HOW IT WORKS
The operation is very simple, like most vacuum cleaners. There is an obvious on/off button that turns the vacuum on and off. You can tap your toe on a button at the bottom of the unit so it reclines. Once it is on and in position, you simply push it around the area to be cleaned. You can see the dirt it is picking up in the clear dirt collection container near the bottom of the unit.
There is a dial on the front of the unit where you can select either bare floor or carpet. On the carpet function, there is a brush bar that digs at the carpet. If you have delicate carpets or rugs, you can use the bare floor function.
Stairs are cleaned a bit differently than floors. There is a large hose that retracts into the back of the unit. You can leave the unit at the bottom of the stairs and use the retractable hose to clean each stair.
It can be reared up onto its back wheels to move it from room to room.
There are three tools included with this unit. Each of the tools fits on the end of the retractable hose and stores on the unit itself so you never have to hunt for them. There is a crevice tool for getting between cushions. There is a brush tool that has gentle fibers for cleaning upholstery. There is a stair tool that is useful for stairs and other small spaces the vacuum can't reach.
Emptying the dirt container is also very easy. The front unit snaps off easily and you can open the bottom of the dirt container directly into the trash. Clean freaks can wash the dirt cup with water.
ASSEMBLY
The assembly out of the box was very simple and took a few minutes. No tools were required. The hardest part was lifting the heavy vacuum out of the box.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I really like this vacuum. It picks up more dirt than any other vacuum I have used on both hard wood floors and wall to wall carpet. I like the fact that I don't have to buy bags and the dirt container is easy to empty. My only complaint is that it is impossible to get under furniture and beds. We will have to look into buying the additional tool which is an unexpected cost. Still, I would highly recommend this vacuum to anyone.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 355
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modernmarvel
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