DC25 Animal Vacuum

Unbiased Review- Great Product!

Posted: 2nd August 2010

We purchased the DC25 Animal Ball about two weeks ago. What I would've liked to have seen before purchasing is a review that gave me all the answers- but I quickly realized such a review doesn't exist. It's impossible to tell the difference between what's always true and what's anecdotal, what's proven and what's someone's opinion, brand loyalists, people who are determined to be underwhelmed or unhappy with the product, etc. So, in an effort to help everyone out there who is in the same position I was- here is my attempt at all the answers for you:

Some background- we are a family of 3, with 2 Shiba Inu's that are adorable but shed year round, -especially- in the summer. I don't mean there is a little hair here and there, I mean there is literally hair wafting through the air, it is EVERYWHERE, and it never lessens or ends despite hours of "furminating". Beyond that, we are not overly zealous when it comes to cleaning and tend to value our time together over time spent vacuuming/dusting. We also are not the kind of family that can throw around $400-$500 willy nilly. So if we're going to spend it, it better be worth it. That said, we had spent over $300 on vacuums over the last 3 years. Some were nice (Hoover Windtunnel), some were Walmart brands, etc. But all of them broke, -multiple- times, all of them clogged, and none of them were easy, or even began to help solve the hair problem. Recently, the latest model went to vacuum heaven, so my husband and I began a very long, tiring search into all the available brands and models and which would be best for us. Obviously, my biggest hesitation here was the money. The reviews for Dyson are generally good, but what I wanted to know was, is it such a good product that it's worth a downpayment on a car? Here's what I found, so you don't have to:

If someone had told me, "This is the best vacuum cleaner you can buy for $400", I would've said, "eh..." But if someone had told me, "Yes the vacuum is expensive, but it will clean your entire house, every nook and cranny while still being easy to use, easy to lift, and fun", I might've saved myself some sleepless nights.

Pro's:
-The vacuum is -incredibly- easy to use. I have to laugh when I read reviews where people say it took them forever and a manual to make the vacuum work, or to use the attachments. I don't mean to be confrontational, but if you can write a review (or even if you can't), you can successfully use this vacuum and all the attachments/abilities. Everything on the vacuum uses the same "button release", and it is simple to figure out.
-The ball is fantastic. When you have a smaller house with furnishings, it's important to be able to get around and under things without breaking your back. Not to mention that the vacuum is less bulky, less rigid, and easier to move in general than any other vacuum I've seen to date. This includes my mother's $1200 Kirby.
-There is an attachment for everything, and it takes less than 5 seconds (I counted) to choose one, hook it up and start using it. If you have hair all over your sofas, or your bedspread, behind your toilet, on top of your fan blades, or even just a healthy buildup of dust- there's an attachment for that, and it will blow your mind.
-The hose is incredibly long and flexible, it can reach anywhere- plus you have the choice of using the rigid 3 feet of hose with the handle attached which is handy for floor trim where you don't want to bend over constantly, or of detaching the rigid part from the flexy hose so that you can get to small spaces that are hard to navigate.
-The canister is slightly smaller than some vacuums I've used, but it actually holds MORE because it compacts everything very neatly and easily without you doing anything. When you're going to empty the canister 2-3 times per vacuum or more, you don't want to mess with bags and you don't want to mess with a canister that is coated in dust and grimy after every emptying. This canister empties and stays clean- again because of the compacting.
-The suction on this thing is ridiculously wonderful. It pulled over 3x more hair out of my carpet than even the Hoover Windtunnel, and it pulled out dust which I have never seen in my other vacuum's canisters/bags. After vacuuming, my house literally -smelled- cleaner and fresher. This is new to us, and we love it! Additionally, I watched it pull hair from under our bed and furniture on hardwood from over 10 feet away. Fantastic!!
-The vacuum has a 5 year warranty- everything is covered, and Dyson is incredibly easy to work with. That means that if it loses suction in 2015, I can get it replaced for free. That means my total cost for the next 5 years is a maximum of $430. Considering the vacuum is already far superior to all the others, it's already cheaper and more satisfying to own a Dyson than it is any other vacuum.
-The vacuum is just generally fun to use. My husband who hates cleaning was so excited he vacuumed the whole house just because it was fun! It took half the time it usually does, and it was easy to carry downstairs, even for me being 4 months pregnant.

Con's:
-The only con I can think of for this vacuum is that in a perfect world this vacuum would be the best and also be about $100-$200. That said, I have an easy time forgiving the cost when I see how much improved my day-to-day life is. I can honestly say, this is probably the best $400 I have ever spent. It took something I hated, and made it fun. And my house is ACTUALLY clean for the first time in the 2 years we've owned it.

Synopsis- If you are tired of dealing with vacuum cleaners that lose suction, replacing broken belts, smelling fried engines, missing half the hair or dust in your house, not having the proper material to clean your entire house with one product, or of spending hundreds of dollars over the years on vacuums that simply don't work- stop debating and buy a Dyson! It's the best decision you'll ever make, and I promise you won't regret it. What you'll find is, after getting past the difficulty of parting with your money, your life will be much improved. Good luck, and I wish you good decisions!

Posted by Sarah Emory