Dyson DC21 Stowaway Canister Vacuum

Other Dyson, Inc. products

Product Features

• Canister vacuum cleaner provides constant suction power
• 220 airwatts; hard-floor tool; extends for stair and high-reach cleaning
• On/off brushbar; lifetime HEPA filter; clean air exhaust
• 16-2/5-foot cord; 4/9-gallon bin; compact storage
• Measures 17-2/3 by 11 by 13-4/5 inches; 5-year warranty

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 29 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. A separate shipping charge will also apply.
• ASIN: B000NDMADO
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,235 in Kitchen & Dining (See Bestsellers in Kitchen & Dining)

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Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. The unit's hard-floor tool provides improved pick-up on hard surfaces, while its quick-draw Telescope Reach extends instantly for stair and high-reach cleaning. Turn the motorized brushbar on to remove dirt and pet hair from carpets, or turn it off to protect rugs and delicate floors. Thanks to the vacuum cleaner's money-saving, lifetime HEPA filter, air expelled from the unit contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air. Other highlights include a motorized cleaner head for easy maneuverability and cleaning in tight spaces, a 16-2/5-foot cord, and 4/9-gallon bin. In addition, the hose and wand compress and wrap for compact storage. The vacuum cleaner measures 17-2/3 by 11 by 13-4/5 inches and carries a five-year warranty.

From the Manufacturer

Dyson’s Stowaway canister vacuum is ideal for those who want the convenience and store-ability of a canister but also want a floor-cleaning machine that doesn’t lose suction. It easily wraps to store away, as the hose and wand collapse and wrap for storing purposes. Because of its motorized cleaner head, the Stowaway provides an effortless steering experience, making it easy to maneuver and clean in tight spaces. It has a foot operated brush control, so you can operate it without bending down, and a clear polycarbonate bin that lets you see when it’s ready to empty.

Dyson Stowaway: The Only Canister that Doesn’t Lose Suction

The Stowaway canister vacuum utilizes Dyson’s renowned Root12Cyclone technology. The Dyson cyclone spins air at high speed, so dirt and dust are thrown out of the airflow and collected in the bin, not on filters or bags. Unlike other vacuums, a Dyson doesn't clog and lose suction, so it picks up more dirt. Also, the vacuum’s motorized brushbar has powerful bristles which remove dirt and pet hair from carpets, and it has no belt to replace. The Stowaway is very hygienic--its clean expelled exhaust air has up to 150 times less bacteria and mold than air you breathe. Lifetime HEPA filtration is another way that this vacuum keeps things clean (it’s been approved for allergy sufferers by the British Allergy Foundation). The extra cleaning tools are stored board for simple and rapid access, and, for easier cleaning in confined areas like cars, the tools can be fitted directly to the end of the wand. The Dyson Stowaway also boasts a durable, tough construction--it’s made from ABS and polycarbonate, materials used to manufacture crash helmets.

DC21 Features: Easy storage: Hose and wand compress and wrap for easy storage. Root12Cyclone technology: a Dyson cyclone spins air at high speed. Dirt and dust are thrown out of the airflow and collected in the bin, not on filters or bags. So unlike other vacuums, Dyson doesn't clog and lose suction, so it picks up more dirt. Clean exhaust air: air expelled has up to 150 times less bacteria and mold than air you breathe. Tools on board: tools on board for rapid tool access. Motorized brushbar: Powerful bristles remove dirt and pet hair from carpets. Brushbar has no belt to replace. Durable, tough construction: made from ABS and polycarbonate, materials used to manufacture crash helmets. Foot operated brush control: operate brush control without bending down. Clear bin: no bags to buy. You can see how well the Dyson works and always tell when it’s full. Effortless steering: each to maneuver and clean in tight spaces. Lifetime HEPA filtration: approved for allergy sufferers by the British Allergy Foundation. Dimensions: 13.8 by 11.02 by 17.7 inches (H x W x D) Cord length: 16.4 feet Maximum reach: 28.3 feet Warranty: 5 years

What Makes Dyson Different

Bags Clog Suction

When the vacuum cleaner is empty, clean air flows into the machine and out through the pores of the bag. However as soon as you start to use the machine the bag starts to fill with dust and debris. The bag acts as a filter and the machine starts to lose suction. This is because the pores of the bag begin to clog with the dust that the machine has picked up. This restricts the airflow which causes loss of suction power.

Other Bagless Systems Clog like Bags

1. When the vacuum cleaner is new, clean air flows through the container and out through the filters.
2. However as soon as you start to use the machine the container starts to fill with dust and debris. The filters clog, and the machine starts to lose suction.
3. This is because the surface of the filter becomes blocked with dust, restricting the airflow which causes a loss of suction power.

Only Dyson Doesn't Lose Suction
Dyson Root Cyclone technology uses 200,000G of centrifugal force in the cyclones to filter dust and remove dirt from the airflow efficiently. Because there is nothing to obstruct the airflow, it doesn't clog and doesn't lose suction. 

Dyson proves no loss of suction claim using the IEC 60312 Cl 2.9 test standard.

Dyson has the Most Advanced Cyclone Technology

Powerful suction spins out larger dirt and debris. The shroud filters out fluff and lint. Centrifugal forces spin out the tiny harmful particles. Cleaner air is expelled into your home.

The Dyson Story

James Dyson

You know the feeling when some everyday product lets you down. You wish someone could solve the problem. James Dyson does that. He is a man who likes to make things work better. With his research team he has developed products that have achieved sales of over $10 billion worldwide.

The Bag Problem
In 1978, while vacuuming his home, James Dyson realized his bag vacuum cleaner was constantly losing suction power. He noticed how dust quickly clogged the pores of the bag and blocked the airflow, so that suction dropped rapidly. He set to work to solve this problem. 5 years and 5,127 prototypes later, the world's first cyclonic bagless vacuum cleaner arrived.

No Place for New Technology
James Dyson offered his invention to major manufacturers. One by one they turned him down, apparently not interested in new technology. They seemed determined to continue selling bags, worth $500 million every year. Later, Hoover's Vice President for Europe, Mike Rutter, said on UK national TV: "I do regret that Hoover as a company did not take the product technology off Dyson; it would have lain on the shelf and not been used".

Product Description

For most people the act of housecleaning isn't an automatic (or positive) behavior. It is, nonetheless, necessary. So you want it to be as efficient and as easy as possible. Say hello to the Dyson DC21 Stowaway Bagless CanisterVacuum Cleaner. It may even change the way you feel about cleaning your home.
Using its patented Root Cyclone Technology the Dyson DC21 actually separates dirt from air. Because it doesn't rely on bags or conventional filters, the end result is remarkable suction that thoroughly cleans nearly any carpet and surface in your home, and significantly reduces the amount of bacteria and mould you breathe. The wide 12.5 inch cleaning path picks up more dirt and dust, and a large debris channel allows larger pieces to be filtered in the canister. A versatile brush control function can be adjusted to protect delicate carpeting or thoroughly cleans hardwood and vinyl flooring, and the 12 foot hose with several handy attachments makes it easy to vacuum harder-to-reach places where dust and dirt accumulate. A user-friendly design allows the DC21 to maneuver around your furniture with the slightest turn of the wrist while the automatically retracting 16.4 foot power cord gives you extended reach and better access in every area of your home. Clean-up is a snap - with the hygienic and easy-to-empty bin. Finally, the washable filters are easy to clean and never need replacing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This vacuum really sucks--literally!, May 18, 2007

By	A. Baker (California, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have to admit I was skeptical at first because of the lukewarm "professional" reviews of Dyson in general, but now I'm a true convert. I LOVE this vacuum (coming from someone that HATES housecleaning).

Pros
--Canister style vacuum-great for those of us with back problems that can't push around a heavy upright for long.
--Suction power-WONDERFUL suction on this thing.
--Power brushes-stiff bristles "refresh" the carpet and can easily be turned off by foot controls (no bending down).
--Maneuverability-this has a ball style joint that makes it extremely maneuverable.
--Compact storage-it wraps around itself and is light enough to easily pick up and carry.
--No filters or belts to replace-just clean the built-in filter every 6 months with tap water.
--Quiet!-this is the quietest vacuum I've ever used.
--Retractable cord-guess this is standard on most canisters, but as a former upright user this is a nice feature to me.
--Low profile vacuum head-makes it easier to get under the couches, beds, etc.
--No bags to buy...ever!
--5 Year Warranty

Cons
--No headlight-funny I didn't realize how dark some of my corners are.
--Using attachments is a little awkward because of the larger, inflexible handle, but I imagine I'll get used to it.
--Short power cord-could definitely use a few more feet, but I suspect this was as long as they could fit into the compact unit.
--Power brushes-just a warning here, they're not for delicate carpets. They're rather stiff compared to most and I imagine could do some damage to older/thinner rugs.
--Small collection bin-available volume seems small due to the compact design, but it's EASY to empty, so not really a big problem.
--Price-it's not cheap, but I did find a 20% off coupon on-line for another store so saved $100.

There are enough cons that I can't give this vacuum 5 stars, but none of them are serious enough in my opinion to be major detractors. I'm definitely happy with my purchase.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very powerful vacuum cleaner - but it's expensive, April 17, 2007

By	D. Smith (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I recently purchased the Dyson DC21 canister vacuum cleaner, and at first I was a little apprehensive of purchasing it (mainly due to the very high price of the item of $499), but after using the vacuum my apprehensions are now alleviated. This vacuum can suck the dirt and dust out of a carpet as if it was powered by the gravitational force of a black hole, yet it doesn't require significant force by the user to utilize the vacuum. I couldn't believe how much dirt and dust this vacuum removed from a "recently cleaned" carpet in a new house we moved into, it was as if the carpet was never really cleaned before.

Also, the product lives up to it claim of cleaning the air while you vacuum, as I'd always have allergic reactions after using my old Dirt Devil upright vacuum. Also, I would have thought the vacuum for as powerful as it advertised it was going to be, it was going to be as loud as a jet engine; however, it was much less noisy than my old Dirt Devil upright (which you could hear clearly outside of the house whenever it was used). Overall, the Dyson DC21 is a very good vacuum cleaner but it's not inexpensive; however, just like the old saying goes, you'll get exactly what you pay for.

*** update 6/29/07

After using this vacuum now for a couple of months here's what I like, and dislike about it.

Pros:
1. Very powerful vacuum (I'm sure that there may be other vacuum's more powerful, but I haven't seen them yet - but the selling point is suction of dirt, not raw power of the motor).
2. The dust canister is very easy to empty and clean
3. The HEPA filter is very easy to clean, and the vacuum filters out all of its discharged air.
4. Long warranty - Five years.
5. Not as loud as some vacuums that I've used in the past.

Cons:
1. The price - prohibitively expensive for most people's budget. This is definitely a pricing decision you'd want to consult with your spouse before you run out and buy it.
2. Tendency to pull carpet fibers due to its suction power. Doesn't happen a lot, but enough to make you wonder about the quality of the carpet your vacuuming.
3. Owner's manual is like reading an assembly manual for a desk from IKEA - plenty of pictures, but very few words.
4. A little bulky for most closets where you might store the vacuum.
5. The power cord isn't very long. Good for small rooms, but a real hassle if you plan to clean the entire house. Invest in an extension cable.
6. The flex hose can get into a kink somewhat easily if vacuuming around tight corners and kill any suction needed to do the job.

I'm sure that there's more nit-picks I could mention, but this is more than enough.

103 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Powerful vacuum marred by design flaws, August 3, 2007

By	S. Friedenthal - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After all of the rave reviews about the Dyson we were actually a bit excited to buy one. Unfortunately, after less than 1 week we are returning it for another brand.
The good things about it are the same that others have noted: it has a very strong suction and the floor head maneuvers easily. And the kids think it's cool to watch.

Soon after opening it however I noticed some design flaws which are almost embarrassing given the high cost. The most glaring are:

1. The hose is made of a very cheap and thin plastic which easily kinks cutting off all of the suction. Every other quality vacuum I see has a wire-embedded hose which is strong and flexible. Dyson's, however is so cheaply made that it folded/bent in half a couple of times while doing some simple cleaning tasks. The only way to avoid this is to always be aware of your orientation to the vacuum and constantly keep untwisting the hose to prevent an eventual kink. The irony of a vacuum that "never loses suction" that actually loses 100% of its suction working around a corner is not lost on me.

2. The cannister doesn't move easily around the floor. Maybe it's the small wheel on the bottom, or the weight, but we found that the vacuum wouldn't follow us easily while cleaning. So, not only does it tend to get twisted in the cord, but it bumps into furniture a lot. This probably also exacerbates the hose twisting noted above.

3. Others have mentioned the short cord, but I found it quite problematic. We have an Oreck upright and I can clean almost the whole downstairs without having to unplug it once, but the Dyson needs to be plugged and unplugged in every room.

4. The extensible wand is hard to extend and if you don't pull on it hard enough it will occasionally collapse while cleaning. This is really very strange. If you look at, for example, a Kenmore cannister the wand extends easily and clicks into one of several positions. The Dyson's wand is unnecessarily wide, is hard to open and close, and has only one position.

5. The attachment tools don't click into place, but are held instead by friction, so they can easily get knocked our pulled out.

Inspite of the above I was hopeful that it would work out until our house cleaning person came over. I showed her our new acquisition and both she and one of her assistants immediately rolled their heads back and swore (not so) softly. As a professional she has used a lot of vacuums and it turns out that the Dyson has been nothing but problematic for her. (For the reasons noted above.) She "hates" them.
For what it's worth, her favorite brand is the Electrolux sold on Amazon.

My advice is to look and play with one before you buy it unseen. For those for whom it's a good fit, congratulations. But, for me, I can't return it fast enough to get an Electrolux.

Moral of the story: Before buying any new appliance, ask someone who works with them for a living.