I used to volunteer with the local Police department and soon became familiar with an interesting trait of unfortunate victims of crime: Ten people might witness a bank robbery and give stunningly different descriptions of those involved. One would see a red car, another a white car. One would see 3 people, another 1 person.
So it is with vacuum cleaners.
Like many readers, I read through every Amazon review before purchasing the 'yellow' Dyson DC07. I resisted writing a review until now, using the vacuum approximately twice per week for the last 6 months. The summary? The Dyson's ability to pull dirt and hair from carpets and floors is simply stunning, something you have to try to believe. I have found some drawbacks, and if you've read other reviews, they may look familiar. Some of my negatives:
When trying to clean under the 4 inch overhang on my floor-level kitchen cabinets or furniture, the DC07 does not reach under it very well. This 'yellow' Dyson did not include the 'low reach' accessory which would help with such a situation. I tend to use a mop or occaisionally my Sears shop vac which stands at the ready. This Dyson does have an attachment to reach this kind of area, but assembling it all isn't worth the time it takes to simply grab my shop vac. Some people may find the DC07 models to be a little inconvenient in this regard.
Sometimes the 25 foot cord requires you to flip it around as you move the vacuum about. At the same time, the cord is very convenient as I can almost vacuum the entire home from one outlet. I just imagine myself as Bob Barker flicking my microphone cable around the contestants.
The Dyson DC07 also doesn't pick-up the last 1 inch or so of dirt from the "head-on" direction. You need to run the vacuum sideways along the wall to maximize pickup. Again, you can attach other tools to target these areas, but I dislike removing the wand from the upright frame of the vacuum as it requires some twisting to both remove it and later replace it.
The positives? The Dyson is absolutely the best vacuum for suction that I've ever used. I have two Rottweilers (which if I may are the most misunderstood dogs in the world...what a couple of babies). These dogs shed hair constantly. When I read reviews about people vacuuming their home 2 or 3 times per week, I realized that's what I needed to do but didn't have time for. The Dyson changed that. Not only is the vacuum extremely effective, but it needs only 1 pass to clean a section of carpet. It rolls very smoothly, and vacuuming takes half the time it used to. Suddenly I found myself vacuuming two times per week.
The chamber that picks up hair is extremely easy to empty. I have never owned a bagless and wasn't sure if I'd like emptying the collection container two or three times per use. This became a non-issue. It is extremely easy -- even therapeutic -- to see all that dirt and hair emptied. The workability of the parts is another plus. You may have to refer to the owner's manual once to figure out how to operate some of the features, but it really is all very simple.
The permanent filter is nice and few competitors offer this. I never gave much thought to a HEPA sealed vacuum, as I have no health condition that necessitates it, but now that I have one it would be hard to imagine going back.
I had always wondered why a few reviewers hated their Dyson, or suspected that all-positive reviews are being written by Dyson employees or dealers (always a possibility).
One gentleman mentioned how he tried 3 different Dyson's and none seemed to pickup any dirt. I suspect the vacuum was being used on carpet but set to it's "bare floor" setting, something I once inadvertently did myself and it certainly doesn't work well...until you change it to "carpet"!
Some, like myself, weren't thrilled with the almost all-plastic construction. After using it for several months, I am now convinced the Dyson is well made. The molded plastic is the kind that seems to slightly pliable and tough. Not the brittle plastic seen on cheaper vacuums. There are thick rubber gaskets on pieces that handle airflow which make an excellent seal.
Others complained that when you empty the collection chamber, a plume of dust can thrust itself back towards your face as it drops into the garbage can. I don't agree...this is completely avoidable if you simply push the chamber further into the garbage can, or empty the can first to make room for the waste, so it doesn't drop so far.
Others lamented no light. The only vacuum I used with a light had no extra utility added by the light. Indeed, such lights tend to burn out quickly due to the vacuum's contant vibration, but of course you may feel otherwise.
Some said the Dyson is heavy, and is hard to carry. We are all different, but I do not find the Dyson heavy. To give some benchmark, I'd suggest that if you find the Dyson heavy, you probably also have difficulty removing groceries from your car. It's true that picking up the Dyson requires you to grab it in certain areas. An apparent "handle" on the collection chamber seems tempting to grab, but if you do the chamber can come off unexpectedly.
As for being a Dyson employee, my review probably lists enough negatives to indicate I'm not. I would even say that any number of vacuums may be a better choice for you. For example, if you want to clean your stairs and cannot easily lift a vacuum, perhaps one of those "stick bug" vacuums is what you need. If you've always bought Hoover and have never had a problem with them, or want a built-in light, buy a Hoover. The "Hoover" reviews suggest they still work well for a lot of people.
Some say for the price, the Dyson should not have any of the above problems. I liken it to the Concord, the (previously) most expensive way to fly across the Atlantic. Its seats were tiny, and it threw passengers back into their seats, all at a premium price. But it got you where you wanted in the shortest possible time. If the Dyson DC07 has some limitations at its price, it is still without a doubt the best vacuum for cleaning carpet and bare floors that I've ever owned. I rate it superior to three different Kirby's I've tried from my friends. If you want maximum cleaning power, the Dyson is it. Some of the new DC14's seem to have features that get around some of the above problems, so check them out too (of course they're slightly more expensive).
For me, Dyson seemed to appear out of nowhere here in the US. It was all Hoover, Dirt Devil, etc., but now virtually every major consumer goods store sells them, and at a starting price of $400 USD, yet people flock to buy them. I figured there must be something to it. If you're still not sure, try it out! Many stores (Target, Sears, Linens N Things, Walmart, Costco, there's too many to list)...they all carry Dyson and allow returns. Try the vacuum (perhaps pick a store that does not have restocking fees) and see. But be warned if you do, you'll probably wont want to take it back...
