Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I'm going to be the lone lunatic and ask a strange question. After going through several of the cheap bagless vaccums, I've totally given up on bagless. The idea sounds neat, but when you have to empty the container, etc. I just feel like you get that giant dustcloud and it's a b*(& at times if anything you sucked up had any mosture, creating kind of a "mud" in the container that means you're dishwashing it or scrubbing it out.

It always worked out to be more work in the end, so I switched back to a bagged vaccum this last time and have been happy. Is the dyson fairly easy to clean out/empty?

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I am currently deciding between buying a Dyson or installing a central vac. Has anyone here retrofitted a house for a central vac? How was your experience?

If I go with a traditional upright, I am trying to figure out if Dyson's claim that their vacuum doesn't lose suction is just a marketing ploy that covers up the possibility they have less suction to begin with. Is there any data to compare the maximum sucking power of various vacuums? I would think such information would be readily available.

The other question I have about Dyson is the automatic carpet height adjustment. I have a thick friese carpet in the basement that tends to bind up vacuums unless you set them on one of the higher settings. Even vacuums with auto height seem to get stuck. Is Dyson different?

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

The Dyson is just one of the many cleaning tools I own that I rarely actually use.
But, yes, on the occasions that I have felt it was time to empty the thing.
One of the features I love about Dyson is how easily all the parts fit together.
After releasing the container all you have to do is pull a ring shaped switch and the bottom swings away...
OK, I'm back. Had to go find the damn thing so I made sure I got this right. It was in the library where I'm sure it's been for some time.
Anyway, it was perfectly easy to do with one hand while I held a small trash bag with the other.
Then just swing the bottom flap back up, no clamps or anything it just snaps in place on its own and set the cylinder back on the machine, where again, it just clicks in place.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Can do it with one hand.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I've had bagless vacuums before, and you're right, they're not worth the trouble because of the mess they make when emptying. But emptying the Dyson is easier and less dusty than any bagless or bagful vacuum I've ever used. You don't need to come in contact with any dirt, and if you have allergies, you can even tie a bag around it and keep everything enclosed. I haven't sucked up anything wet and had a muddy mess to deal with, but when it comes to emptying the Dyson, gravity is your friend, so I doubt having a muddy mess would be any more of a hassle.
I've never had a vacuum with self-adjusting height before, so I don't know if the Dyson is any different. The way the Dyson works is that the carpet nozzle is light-weight and hinged so that the weight of the vacuum doesn't bear down on it. I think the idea is that it "floats" on top of the carpet and "sucks itself down" to the extent necessary to clean without getting mired in the carpet pile. I've got three types of carpet in my house, one of which is very deep and plush. It does fine on all of them, though YMMV.
I think central vacs are great, though I've never retrofitted one. Here's the best one I've seen. It's a wet/dry central vac, and there's no emptying, EVER. It requires plumbing in addition to electricity, however, so it's a little harder to retrofit.

Oh, and if Dyson ever comes out with a wet/dry shop vac, I am SO going to be the first one to buy it.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Fusion update: Although I originally was all out to get a dyson, some pages back in this thread we got the cheaper Hoover fusion. Since we bought it we have had only one problem which was user induced in that my teenager stopped up the suction hose which caused the unit to overheat (Doah!) As much has I wanted a dyson this thing is still working good for us, and with two teenage girls and a few pets it get the crap worked out of it too, but YMMV.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

We've had a Dyson for ~2yrs and still loving it. Had to replace the attachment cord, but all else is working great.

Remembering these vacuum-comparison threads made me perform a test a few weeks back when I was cleaning our rental condo. I was always bugged by Oreck or Dyson (or whomever) demos that ran their vacs over a rug that had just been vaccumed with a competitors model. Is that fair and accurate ? Since our condo is beachfront where renters bring in massive amounts of sand, this was the perfect torture test.... But I only have 1 vacuum.

I vacuumed a square area, using 3 patterns: Left-to-Right, Front-to-Back and Diagonal. This effectively allowed the vacuum to pass each area 3 times. It also should have allowed the Dyson, with it's superior suction, to effectively remove all lose dirt.

Emptied the bin and passed through 1 more time...... Yes, it still picked some dirt up, maybe 10% of the original amount. Just wanted to pass along these findings as this testing method clearly sucks....

Cheers !

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

The one thing I've never gotten w/ my Dyson is this: how do you guys keep the front end of the vacuum down? I find that with a few back and forth strokes, the handle starts to angle up. After about 10-15 swipes, I have to put my foot on the front of the vacuum and push it down again (if the handle goes too vertical, it starts sucking from the top of the handle by design).


Am I just a dumb Dyson owner who hasn't figured this out yet? It's not a huge deal, I live in a small apartment so really I only have to push the front down about 4-5 times per vacuum session, a small price to pay for the upgrade over my Hoover. But if there's a better way to keep that front end down, someone please let me in on the secret!

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

No, it's not. you can always shake something loose from a rug or carpet, so in that test, the last vacuum always wins.

I'm guessing you must be tall. I've never had that problem, but if I were a foot taller, I think I might. Try to keep your vacuuming strokes in front of you, limit your "backswing", and, for Pete's sake, slow down!

Yeah, I know, that's basically the same advice as "just don't do that", but it's obviously a comfort/ergonomics thing, which is important. If you have to bend over -- or make some other uncomfortable accommodation -- while you vacuum to prevent it from happening, then I think it would be better just to keep using your foot.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Never had that problem either, might be because of smaller rooms ?

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Brian-- Our Dyson runs over our friese at least twice a week for the last 2 years.. and works great! Never had a problem with it binding up or stopping.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Brian - 5'8". I'm huge.

Okay, maybe it's the backswing. But to be honest, that's just part of my normal vacuuming motion. Maybe I have to adjust it. Will give it a shot this weekend when I do my cleaning.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Maybe a few lessons this weekend with the pro out at the club will give you a better feel for it...

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Dyson Root 6 DC16 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.

Brought one home today.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Henry - I am very interested in this hand-held Dyson. (I will now let my previous other Dyson thread die its own death and start playing in this thread.)

Please post some impressions of the hand-held.

I can't believe I'm even thinking of spending more money on this company, but my vacuuming assistant and I were discussing the hand-held just yesterday after being amazed at how much the upright sucks. Please post and let us know what you think.

MC

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I'm interested in hearing about the hand-held Dyson, too. If it works as well as the uprights, I'm sold. Plus, i just like the way it looks like an industrial coffee pot that an evil scientist tried to convert into a brain containment vessel for his robot henchman.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

The TERMINATOR-style animation on the website gets me all jacked up to VACUUM! "I'll be beck... TO VACUUM!"



MC

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Initially I was leery of investing that much in something with a battery. I'm a little burned up over the pricey Sonicare toothbrushes being a throwaway item.
But, the battery in the Dyson is a very easily separated unit, and is replaceable.
No, don't know how much or how long.
Anyway, had to wrest it away from the maid (took 25 minutes) but it's amazingly lightweight and well balanced.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

But... Does it suck?



How's it work?

MC

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

(Short side step):
Are there throw-away versions too? I only know the ones with the magic chargers.


Cees

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Update: My Walmart Fusion is still working fine...

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Cees,
I just meant the Sonicare is not reparable, once the battery won't hold a charge anymore, the life of the whole unit is over.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Lets hear about that Dyson!

And Henry, thaks for that sonicare tidbit. Almost bought one, but now I'm not sure!

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

"And Henry, thaks for that sonicare tidbit. Almost bought one, but now I'm not sure!"

Not to sidetrack the vaccum thread but I wouldn't let this dissuade you from buyng a Soni-Care. I've had one for four years with no problems, the benefits over a regular toothbrush will pay off for years to come at your Dentist.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I've heard the handheld is terrible. And from a first hand impression, not impressed at all. I hate being sick and homebound.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I agree Mylan, it's still the best thing out there.
BTW, have you noticed how bad cell phone service is? We still can't do without 'em.

Would everyone please stop asking me about the Dyson handheld?
I like to buy tools, not use them.

You'd think we were in a vacuum thread or something.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Congrats, Todd.

FWIW, I found that a scrubbing and cleaning of my dirt canister and the "big red thing" that sits inside really helped improve performance. I took an old toothbrush and a larger scrub brush to those little holes and unclogged a number of them and it really perked right up.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

Woot.com has a refurb dyson for a great price today.

Dyson DC14 Full Kit Upright Vacuum
$259.99
+ $5 shipping
1 Dyson DC14 Full Kit Upright Vacuum
1 Dyson Mini Turbine Head
1 Dyson Bare Floor Tool
1 Dyson Extra Lifetime filter

Only downer is the 6 month warranty vs 5 years.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I decided to take that offer...I will let you know what I think of it.

Re: Anyone have a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner?

I took it too Brian. I've been on the fence for a long time, but figured this is probably the lowest price I will be able to get a Dyson for.