Pros: DC15 Animal does not lose suction and it covers a vast number of cleaning jobs.
Cons: Pricey but worth every penny especially after using it. Slight learning curve.
The Bottom Line: If you have pets, this is THE vacuum for you. It never loses suction, picks up fur, dirt, dust, and even 7-year-old carpet freshener powder other vacuums could not.
paisleyplace's Full Review: Dyson DC15 Animal Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum
The ONLY vacuum cleaner you will ever need!
********************************************************* A 2-Year Update Review of Dyson DC15 Animal Upright
Today is September 4th, 2008. It is now over two years since I received the Dyson DC15 Animal Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum Cleaner. Even 2 years later, I cannot say enough great things about this vacuum! The only differences from July/August 2006 and now is that my guide dog, family cat, and me personally, are 2 years older. Oh yes, and my children along with their father are also older too.
I continue to use this machine as I did in the beginning. Every other day I vacuum the entire house, which consists of about 1600 sq. ft., mostly carpeted. The Dyson ball continues to make the unit as easy to maneuver as it did the first time I used it and the bin still holds the same amount of fur and dirt. It does wonders on the recliner where the family cat decided to make a claim to the seat portion as his bed, both day and night since he sleeps off and on throughout each day and each night.
The washable HEPA filter is still in excellent condition without any wear or tear despite the fact I wash it by hand at least once to twice a month depending upon the season. I wash it more frequently when my guide dog is blowing fur, which is another word for shedding profusely. This is a common occurrence for Golden/Labrador Cross breed dogs. To maintain the unit, all I do is wash the HEPA filter 1 to 2 times a month because of the dog fur, use the air compressor to blow out the area inside the bagless bin to keep it free of debris from vacuuming, check the beater brushes to remove any hair or etc that might be in the brushes, and I wipe the machine down with warm water. I use a gentle soap when plain water is not quite enough although usually a clean warm wet clothe does the job nicely.
Most people find they do not use extra attachments a year or so after purchasing a vacuum cleaner with attachments. I continue to use the attachments included with the DC15 Animal Upright as well as the extra attachments I purchased from the company. The flexi-crevice still removes dust beneath the refrigerator and between the washer/dryer set. I remove the lint collector to remove lint caught in the chute with the flexi-crevice tool. The super soft brush continues to keep dust & debris off ceiling fans, mini-blinds, and delicate popcorn ceilings. The mattress tool removes dust, dust-mites, and even dead skin that does not completely come off even after a salt or sugar scrub. It removes dust and debris from the mattresses when the children flop their booksacks from school onto the bed. This tool works wonders on the boxspring sets as well. The tools included with the vacuum as well as the extras available through the Dyson website keep household items clean without the use of heavy detergents or expensive cleaning services, which saves money by allowing these items to serve a longer life cycle. Everyone likes to save money. I rank high in that category of saving money. One can only stretch incoming money each month so far. Over the last 2 years, the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright has more than proven itself in the savings department.
It is understandable when an appliance breaks; however, in 2 years, I have had only one mishap with the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright. The vacuum did not break but it did wreak havoc on the cord that goes from the WII console to the antenna bar that controls the movement of the controllers. My youngest child did not roll up the cord as I asked before vacuuming the living room. This was an important request especially coming from someone with little remaining residual vision. As I began vacuuming around the living room television, the vacuum sucked the cord into the beater bars. Immediately I turned the machine off to check for any damage. The easily removeable cover and beater bars showed that the antenna cord was broken but not the beater bars or the cover. Once I unraveled the cord from the beater brushes, replaced the brushes, and replaced the cover, the machine worked as well as it did prior to this incident. Granted, the little one was not a happy camper. It took a few weeks to replace the antenna; however, when I ask to remove the cord to the antenna in order to vacuum, the cord and antenna is neatly rolled up and stored in a safe place. This is the only major hiccup encounter since receiving the vacuum cleaner. Occasionally, I will catch a coin from the floor. I can hear it as it bounces into the housing of the beater brush. I turn the machine off immediately until I locate the coin then check the beater brushes and covering for cracks or other damage although I have yet to find any signs of either damages or cracks. I place the coin in a jar for tossed coins then go about my business of vacuuming with the assurance this vacuum can withstand almost anything without issue.
Overall, the Dyson DC15 Animal Bagless Upright Cyclonic Vacuum cleaner works just as well today as it did the day it came home. It literally pulls every ounce of dirt, crumbs, and/or animal fur from the carpet completely. Once I used the machine for a few months on an every day basis, the vacuum picked up so much from the day before that I was able to change my vacuuming habits to every other day versus every day; however, that time stretched further between vacuums the week my guide had to spend in the kennels at the veteranarian's office due to illness. I vacuumed immediately upon returning home to get my mind off his illness. I vacuumed again the following day; however, there was so little to pick up that I waited until the day before he returned home to vacuum again yet there was still so little dirt and debris it was almost impossible to empty the bin. Upon returning home from the vet's office, I restarted my normal vacuuming regimen. In a few days he was back to shedding fur as before since it was the time of year for shedding fur.
I have tremendous confidence in this machine. The proof is in the use. It works on dirt and debris as hard as it does on fur. The fact the extention hose with attachments cleans upholstery, curtains, dust over doorjams, ceiling fans, dust on popcorn ceilings, thin crevices, and even strewn kitty litter from when the cat steps out of the litter box makes this machine a multi-purpose solution for the home.
All my adult life I wanted a Rainbow vacuum cleaner or one of those Electrolux machines; however, after doing my own tests using the Rainbow and Electrolux vacuums that a few friends' owned, I know I made the right choice. Neither of those models can hold a candle to this Dyson DC15 Animal Upright. I do wish Dyson could implement something like the scents used with the Rainbow Vacuums; however, the Zorb cleaning/refreshing material does a great job. It cleans the carpets and leaves a fresh citris scent throughout the house so I cannot complain too much. Perhaps in the future when Dyson becomes more of a household name the company will offer larger bags of Zorb in multiple scents to suit any mood. The Dyson company has a wonderful track record when it comes to listening to the customer whereas other vacuum cleaner manufacturers do not.
Zorb is actually easy to use too. All it takes is a nice sprinkling of the material across the carpeting, scrubbing into the carpet using the handle minus the hose with the appropriate attachment, and then waiting approx 20 minutes for the material to dry into the carpet before vacuuming it up. The Dyson vacuums removes ALL traces of the Zorb material leaving behind only the scent unlike other vacuums when using the department store powders. It took several vacuuming sessions before the Dyson DC15 was able to remove the last of the carpet powder refreshingers to come out of the padding beneath the carpeting. This taught me a valuable yet previously unknown lesson. The powders from the department stores were actually agravating mine and my family's allergies. It also turns out the carpet powder was the root of my guide dog's skin allergies. As soon as I began using Zorb versus the department store powders like Carpet Fresh and Baking Hammer, my guidedog stopped scratching and digging into his fur as if he had the mad itch. Zorb does not cause any adverse reactions. I use it at least once a month to keep that nice cirtris scent.
All in all, the DC15 Animal Upright works as well if not better than it did the first day I used it. The attachments perform as promised. The monetary savings from having a machine that does not need bags is terrific. The lifetime HEPA filter shows little to no wear despite the fact I wash it at least once a month because I use the Dyson under extreme circumstances as it relates to dog and cat fur let alone people/human dirt and dust.
Two years later, I am equally pleased with the purchase of the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright, attachments, and carpet care products as I was the day it came home. If this vacuum cleaner should ever wear out to the point where it will not run any longer, I will be shopping for another Dyson Vacuum as this one has more than proved it's worth in quality, longevity, durability, and continued suction power not to mention a washable HEPA filter that keeps the house dust and allergen free. The attachements and carpet care system equally work as promised. This machine is well worth the money while also saving a considerable amount of money in the long run with use. Few products can live up to standards such as that. I am thankful that Dyson did, has, and if I am fortunate, it will continue to do so for a long time.
Initial Review: This comes from the voice of experience. Since 1998, I blew up a Hoover Upright, two Dirt Devils (last one on last legs now), Bissell, and a Kenmore canister vacuum. None of these machines could handle the rigors of vacuuming floors with pets in the home.
We have my guide dog for the blind that is a Golden/Labrador cross and sheds fur seasonally as well as year round. We paid the fees for a short-hair domestic cat from the Animal League as a friend for my current guide dog as he lived with puppy raisers who cared for two sires for the guide dog school. The cat lessened the depression of his living in my home without other animals. About a year ago, I inherited a hard-luck case manic parrot that needed lots of love, care, and time to learn to trust people again. Less than a month ago, we adopted two Chinese dwarf hamsters for my youngest daughter. Yes, our home reads more like a zoo than a home for people but we love it. My vacuum cleaners, however, do not.
The Dyson DC15 Animal contains more power than all the previous vacuums combined. The suction power amazes me. The first night after bringing it home from Sears, I spent some time giving the wall-to-wall carpet of my home which measures some 1600 sq ft with 90 percent of that being wall-to-wall carpet. This machine literally pulled powdered carpet freshener from the carpets from over seven years ago before I learned my previous guide dog had an allergy to the powder! Some hours before leaving to pick up the vacuum, I took time to setup a test of sorts. I vacuumed the floors using the dying Dirt Devil upright. After using the Dyson DC15 Animal on the carpet later that night, I had to empty the canister bin some four to five times! Granted, I did little more than give the carpet the old “lick and a promise,” it removed dog fur, which I thought was gone. It removed the powdered carpet freshener from years ago, even when I had the Kenmore canister! It removed dust and dirt. It impressed me as well as my family after seeing what it brought out of the carpet. I placed the contents in a separate trash bag to show later. The next morning I did a much more thorough job. It continued to pull the debris from the carpet.
The beauty of the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright is in the performance and design. The design is amazing and easy to use. In addition to blindness, I suffer with systemic lupus erythemosus, Sjogren’s Disease, inoperable ulnar neuropathy (nerve damage of the right arm from scar tissue on the nerve blocking the signals and causing major pain), joint disease, year round allergies, and my asthma from childhood returned again. The “Ball” technology makes this unit easy to maneuver and almost feels as if it contains forward propulsion though it does not have it.
Attachments: The attachments are wonderful additions especially the turbine tool, low-reach floor tool, and the carpet care kit. With most vacuum cleaners, these are extras that cost a considerable amount of money. Dyson includes these items with the machine. The lifetime hepa filter makes life for allergy sufferers easier too. Dyson received the seal of approval from the British Allergy Foundation. It is well deserved as the morning after initially using the Dyson, my breathing was much easier.
Turbine tool: The turbine tool works on upholstery to remove dust, dirt, and the ever-present dust mites. It has beater brushes with the ability to turn off and on working almost identically as the ones in the floor power head part of the machine. It vacuumed as well on my upholstery as the rest of the machine did the carpet and the floor. The best part is the ease of cleaning the heads should hair or string wrap around it. The brush heads are removable for cleaning.
Low-reach floor tool: This tool vacuums under furniture as low as 3 inches. It vacuums easily beneath the couch, matching chair with ottoman, recliner, and around and under the desk in areas not obtainable with the upright portion. The fact Dyson included the low-reach tool says a lot about the company. The founders and developers care about the customers and their needs.
Carpet cleaning kit: The carpet cleaning kit works in stages but it includes the following: a bag of Zorb, can of Dysolv, and an attachment for grounding Zorb into the carpet.
To use the Zorb, you sprinkle it over your carpet. It feels slightly damp but this is to remove odors from the carpet. Detach the telescopic pole completely from the vacuum cleaner and then add the carpet Zorb attachment. This allows for grounding the product deep into the carpet without getting down on hands and knees. After 30 to 45 minutes, when dry, vacuum the floors leaving a fresh scent floating up from previously odorous carpeting.
Dysolv works by immediately going to work on spills. Spray the area with Dysolv until it settles into the spill/stain. Wipe by blotting with a cloth until the stain/spill is gone and then dry.
The carpet cleaning kit is a nice addition not included in standard vacuums. In fact, powders are the worst thing one can add to carpet yet the Zorb and Dysolv are specifically designed to enhance carpet, not ruin it.
Dyson DC15 Animal Unit: The vacuum cleaning unit alone is worth the price tag. The vacuum picks up larger debris than standard vacuum cleaners. It does not leave the tiny piece of paper or dust bunny lying in the floor. It picks it up. While the vacuum cleaner has the onboard attachment tool edger, it edges the carpet so well that I use the edger for other things. This machine vacuums clear to the wall, something other vacuums I owned in the past never did! I mentioned earlier in the review that the machine removed the floor freshener carpet powder from several years ago. I literally go squeamish when I think about that powder sitting in my carpet all these years and none of the previous vacuums having the ability to remove it.
Infamous Ball Feature: The DC15 Animal model contains the infamous "Ball." It is what makes the maneuverability easier. It allows the machine to pivot around with the turn of a wrist making it easy to use even for someone such as myself with joint disease. It does feel a bit weighty but the only time one picks up the unit is when using the attachments that require the stretch tube and telescopic pole. The ball makes it easier to manipulate through all rooms going around furniture and other non-movable obstacles. The one problem I did have in the beginning was pressing the area between the back wheels that cause those wheels to retract. It was not until I slowed down and felt for the sweet spot to release the wheels that I was able to do it with ease. It pops right up each time now.
Easy Cleaning Beater Brushes: The beater brushes in the power head, just as the ones on the turbine tool, are removable when necessary to clean the beaters to free hair, string, or other items that wrap around the bars. This ability is due to having a gear-driven system rather than one requiring belts. Going from carpet to bare floor or delicate rugs is as simple as pushing the button next to the power button. This button specifically turns off the beater bar to safely vacuum more delicate surfaces.
Vacuums Floors, Does NOT Scatter Dirt Elsewhere: Unlike traditional standard vacuum cleaners, I find that this machine does not blow dirt into the recessed area beneath my cabinets or underneath the table. It actually removes what is on the floor in front of it. It vacuums over the heavy rubber-bottomed throw rugs but I use the attachment pole and hose for lighter rugs such as those used in bathrooms. However, the vacuum cleaner does a great job removing stray litter our cat knocks out of his litter box. The telescopic tool picks it up as if it were nothing. I am able to vacuum beneath the refrigerator but I plan to order one of a small number of additional attachments not included. The flexi-crevice tool seems to be a better alternative to vacuuming beneath refrigerators. It is something I will purchase as soon as possible along with the mattress tool to remove dust mites and the soft dusting brush for ceiling fans and mini blinds. The addition of those three tools will literally clean anything in need of cleaning within the home.
The Beauty of the Bin: The DC15 Animal contains a bagless bin to hold the dirt and debris or in our case, dirt, debris, and fur. It requires no bags. This is a major savings. I learned first-hand that standard/traditional vacuum cleaners that use bags actually do put dust back into the house – the one place we do not want it to return! I woke up the day following the first vacuum and was able to breath easier than I have in years. The retained dust, fur, and dander did not choke me because it was gone. This is thanks to the bin and the lifetime washable hepa filter. The best part of the bin is that one never touches the nastiness that comes from the carpet and floors. At the press of a button, the bottom of the bin opens thanks to a hinge that causes the bottom seal to open allowing everything in the bin to fall directly into the trash can. When empty, simply push the bottom plate back upward toward the bin to close and reattach to the machine.
Lifetime Hepa Filter: The lifetime hepa filter and cyclonic root8 system within the Dyson vacuum cleaners earned the seal of approval of the British Allergy Foundation. Again, I learned this first-hand immediately but moreso the morning following first use. It works as well now as it did in the beginning.
Extras: The Dyson DC15 Animal is not above having items picked up from the floor caught within the unit. There are two areas that open to check for clogs. One area on the side near the bottom pops completely off to check while another almost beneath it allows one to check the floor beater brush area.
Better Build: The DC15 Animal Upright has wider tubing and larger paths for larger debris. This is what makes the machine pick up so much. It does not lose suction power while working even when vacuuming thick places such as the sofa or other piece of furniture with plushier surfaces than carpet or floors.
If the machine holds up as sturdily as I hope, I will never purchase a different brand of vacuum cleaner. The cleaning performance and ease of use made me a lifetime customer.
Test Drive Dyson DC15 at Local Sears, Lowes, Etc: I would recommend everyone to demo a unit. I did this at Sears but it was the DC14 Animal Upright as they did not have the DC15 Animal in stock or on display. However, please remember this vacuum does take some getting used to using as it is a bit different than any vacuum you used in the past. It is better.
Choosing Best Model for Homes with Pets: The reason I decided on the DC15 Animal versus the DC14 Animal has everything to do with design and lower rate of repair. Both units work similarly except the DC14 Animal does not include the Ball technology. I found it a bit difficult to maneuver around the floor. After retraction of the back wheels, the DC15 practically vacuums with me doing nothing more than guiding it around. It really is that easy to push, unlike standard units that require a body to heave weight against the machines to make them push forward. This simply is not the case with the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright.
Gears, No Belts to Replace: The DC15 does not use belts. It has a gear-driven motor system that allows the removal of the beater brushes for cleaning. Like the DC14, both units use the lifetime hepa filter and both work terrifically on pet fur as well as vacuuming in general. It pulled years old carpet freshener powder out of my carpets. Both units use the bagless bin system. This removes the need of visiting or calling various stores to find out if they carry your particular model in stock. The root8 cyclonic system and hepa filter keeps dirt and dust in the bin and out of the house.
The DC15 offered more features with less replacement (ie no belts) and it appeared to be a stronger system than the DC14 in addition to this unit having the Ball maneuvering system. It was the best choice for me.
Here are the specs on the machine in case anyone wants to know more about the nuts and bolts:
Dimensions: 44.09" high x 13.66" wide x 11.41" depth
Weight: 19.95 lbs
Motor Wattage: 10 amps *The power of a vacuum cleaner is best measured in airwatts (suction power). Motor wattage simply tells you how much electricity a cleaner uses. By the way, the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright maintains 220 airwatts.
The Dyson DC15 Animal Upright contains two motors. It has a 10 amp motor in the Ball of the unit to control the vacuum cleaner. It also has a 2 amp motor in the beater brush power head. This adds more power where needed.
Bin capacity: 0.71 gallons
Cable length: 37 ft
Maximum reach: 51 ft
Extra Attachments: I placed an order for three attachments that are extra and do not come with the Dyson unit. These are things that you would not use every day but will make cleaning easier when necessary.
Mattress Tool: This one is a keeper. Remember back in biology class when everyone had to take a gander at what a dust-mite looked like up close and personal? Or, if any of you ever visited an ENT doctor to have an allergy test you found the walls of the testing room plastered with posters of various airborne pollutants as well as dust-mites. I'm sure that mattress tool removed more than its fair share of them from every mattress in the house! I went over the pillow-top mattress on my bed and ran the tool across the sides. After getting help flipping the mattress as it is a queen size, I proceeded to clean the opposite side of the mattress. Then, I went for the pillows. It pulled the most dust and powdery debris from the mattress and it plumped the pillow-top on the mattress as well. It did an equally impressive job on my children's mattresses and pillows. They breath easier at night when sleeping. I do too.
Flexi-Crevice Tool: This one is a keeper and almost a necessity in the home. It is very much like an edger tool with the exception that it is longer in length, more narrow, has a little removable brush on the end, and it twists and turns due to the mobile portion of the tool being made from some heavy rubber material. It easily went well beneath my refrigerator and around various thingamajigs underneath it. It vacuumed between the fridge and the cabinets. I was able to vacuum between the washer and dryer without having to get down on my hands and knees while leaning sideways to pull any dust and dirt that managed to find its way there too. I cannot count the number of places this tool could reach that others could not. If you have an awkward area that needs something flexible to reach it in order to vacuum, this is your best bet.
Soft Duster Brush Tool: At first, I had to be a bit hesitant about this one because it says it can vacuum televisions, ceiling fans, and other areas. When I first put it into place on the tubing, I still felt a bit skeptical but all that skeptism vanished when I went to work. This tool removed dust from the back of the television, even down in the grooves where all the electronics reside. It brushed across the tv stand, around the VCR, DVD player, and my children's game console. I used it to remove dust from the ceiling fan. The only problem I found is that it takes a bit of practice to use the tool on ceiling fans because of the design of the brush but once you learn to use it in a particular way, it works wonders and stops all that dust from ending up back on the carpet.
All of these tools are well worth the extra cost to round out your purchase and cleaning needs. These will handle everything I can think of cleaning within my home and given the fact there are two children and a multitude of animals there is plenty here. The Dyson DC15 is clearly up to the challenge and is doing a great job so far.
Overall Opinion: My overall opinion is that I love this vacuum cleaner. It surpassed any I purchased in the past. It is a bit on the expensive side but it is true that one gets what they pay for and this is true of vacuum cleaners as well. Dyson’s website tells you what it can do and I can personally say that I witnessed it. I chose the Dyson DC15 Animal over an Electrolux, Rainbow, and Oreck. I can already tell that I made the right choice for my needs. Nothing but the Dyson seems to be able to handle pet hair in addition to everyday in and out family dirt and dust.
The machine is compact when it comes to size, available options, and ability. It will take time to learn to use the machine. The designers of this vacuum cleaner did their job to make a condensed machine with as low as possible weight without compromising suction power. They succeeded.
Once you learn to remove and use the telescopic pole, attachments, and hit that sweet spot area to retract the back wheels, it will be second nature. The only reason you will know you ever used another vacuum is when you breath in fresh, dust-free air during and after vacuuming. It can be a bit daunting in the beginning but with everything else, it takes time to learn to use. In the long run, you will be glad you did. I highly recommend this machine. It removes dust, pet hair, debris, and outright dirt as well as cleaning the air as it pulls pollutants from the carpet and keeping them in the bin until you dump it. It does everything Dyson says it will.
The machine is worth the price tag when considering the cost of replacing vacuum after vacuum from burning out motors from removing pet hair too. Plus, it will pay for itself in the cost of bags alone. This model will pay for itself in the cost of bags and in the cost of belts since it does not contain any. I highly recommend this vacuum cleaner even over the high-priced Rainbow vacuums. Besides, the Dyson DC15 Animal costs a third of what a new Rainbow costs and it cleans much better and has no water to spill.
Please see above for information regarding additional accessories for the Dyson DC15 Animal Upright. I promised to add a little review on those as soon as I had time to order, receive, and use them. I love this machine and the little gadgets that go with it. It keeps my house cleaner than I ever thought possible.
Company Information, Web Address, and Phone Number: Check out http://www.dyson.com for more information. The website offers plenty of information. If you have more questions, do as I did. Call the company (USA inquiries, check website for other countries) at 1-866-693-9766. The customer service desk is open late. I called late one night for information and spoke with an extremely sweet gentleman who answered all my pre-purchase questions. I contacted the company again with questions on operating the unit as I cannot read the manual. I spoke with an extremely sweet and knowledgeable woman who walked me through each of my questions and added more information I did not think to ask. Dyson appears to be a family-oriented company. The kindness in the voices of their customer service people speaks volumes about the company in my opinion or epinion as it were.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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