Dyson DC14 Animal Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner
by Dyson
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Dyson DC14 Animal Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Customer Review: I Call It My Dream Machine!
Summary: 5 Stars
Attracted by the purple color and the good reviews on this site, I purchased this vacuum cleaner two years ago. My old vacuum, basically a Dirt Devil Featherlite, was a pain in the you know what because it always smelled like it was on fire and we had to replace the belts every three to six months. It never picked up that great, and after nine years, it was pretty close to going to vacuum cleaner heaven. I had just vacuumed our rugs that morning with the Dirt Devil, but I wanted to try out my new toy, so I vacuumed them again with the Dyson minutes after we got it out of the box. I wasn't expecting it to pick up much dirt because the rugs had already been cleaned. Wow, was I shocked! I vacuumed two supposedly 'clean' rooms and the canister was chock full of dirt and dust. Ever since then, I have nothing but praise for my 'Dream Machine'. I've never had to replace the belts, the filter or anything else on the vacuum. It's never given me an ounce of trouble ever. I just give the filter, canister, and bristles on the roller a thorough cleaning about once or twice a year and I'm good to go.
The one thing that's really impressive about this vacuum is the suction. There is virtually nothing this thing won't suck up, I swear. (Whatever you do, don't put your finger in the hose. I imagine it would hurt very badly.) About a year and a half ago I vacuumed up a full size Phillips head screwdriver by mistake. I thought the vaccuum was a goner, but I checked it out and it was fine. You have to be careful to pick up small toys ahead of time and get hanging fabrics (like drapes or long tablecloths) out of the way because it will suck those up too. Actually that may be a drawback to the vaccuum, if you can call it that. With my old vaccuum, I could clean the door mats and light throw rugs with no problem. You really can't do that with the Dyson--not without using the hose with the upholstry attachment at a odd angle and being extremely careful. Otherwise it'll practically 'eat' the rugs.
I like the bagless part of it because you can see how much dirt you're picking up and when it needs to be emptied. The canister is kind of small on it, but I find I don't need to empty it as much as I thought, probably about once a week at the most. The canister is extremely easy to empty, dump, and reattach. A 2-year old could do it. Once in a while, if you pick up a lot of hair, you'll have a clump of dirt that won't come out. When that happens, I just get a stick and coax it out. As long as you have the canister over a garbage can, there should be zero dust or debris flying all over. I've never had to do any shaking to get the dirt out. I remember our bagged vacuum, though we only had to change it about once every six months, was a very tricky proposition to get in and out. It was hard to remove, and if you tried to force it, the bag would rip, sending several months worth of dirt and debris all over our floor. Though I have to change the Dyson more often, it's hundred times easier and not messy at all to do so.
It's also lightweight, at least for a full size vacuum. It is kind of noisy, but not as loud as my old vacuum was. You can sort of talk over the noise if you have to. Don't expect it to be totally quiet. It comes with a lot of attachments (most of which I haven't had a use for), and you also get carpet cleaner with it too. The instructions are kind of vague, but luckily the machine is fairly intuitive to put together and use.
Probably the biggest downside is the price. It's expensive and it NEVER goes on sale (I know--I looked for a lower price for six months before buying it). But let me tell you--it is well worth it. I saved my money for a year before buying it and I'm so glad I did. My husband didn't really want me to get this thing, but once we brought it home and he got a close look at it he told me 'This thing is built like a Ferrari. Whoever designed this is a genius.' He was even more impressed after I cleaned the carpets with it. I would never go back to owning a Dirt Devil or any other vacuum cleaner in a million years. I also find it curious that vacuum cleaners used to be beige and square before Dyson came along, and now a lot of them are various shades of purple and are roundish like the Dyson is. I'm glad I own the real deal and not one of those wannabees. I HIGHLY recommend this vacuum cleaner. It's the gold standard of vacuums and I think everyone should have one.
UPDATE: (fast forward to 2011) I've now had this vacuum cleaner for almost 6 years and it still works great. I had get a new hose last year for $40 because it had a hole in it, but that's the only thing I've replaced so far. I'd highly recommend getting a refurb or used unit if you can't afford one of the newer models!
Customer Review: I LOVE this vacuum!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love my Dyson vacuum! I had a Bissel Cleanview vacuum that had to be serviced after less than a year's use and it died a year after that. While researching the vacuum to buy to replace it, I borrowed one of my mom's Kirby vacuums (a Legacy II model).
We ended up getting the Dyson Complete DC14 from Sears. Based on the reviews I've read, I knew that I wanted the DC14 model. The hard part came when trying to decide which model. Since the Complete case with two extra attachments (the mattress attachment and the low-reach attachment) than the Animal, we decided to go with that one.
I have a Westie and a standard Schnauzer. Thankfully the Schnauzer doesn't shed. I also had two Himalayan cats who would consider it a challenge when they saw the carpet freshly vacuumed. (The cats just went to a new home due to my fiancé's allergies.) The only room in the house that doesn't have carpet is one of the bathrooms (well, and the basement). The stairs down to the basement and the kitchen have red carpet. Since my previous Bissell vacuum didn't have very good attachments, I didn't vacuum the steps. (And I didn't borrow the attachments for my mom's Kirby.) Bad, yes.
Anyhow, the first time I vacuumed with the Dyson - I was amazed at the fur it picked up. Granted, it was two days after I had last vacuumed with the Kirby, so there was bound to be fur that the cats threw around. What really amazed me, though, was the dirt and dust it picked up! Yuck! I would have thought that the Kirby would have gotten that up.
The biggest challenge that I have put the Dyson on is vacuuming the stairs to the basement. It WAS nasty to start with. Because the stairs were so bad, I ended up vacuuming the stairs three times. The first time was with just the hose and NO attachments - there was fur in the corners of each step and I wanted to get that up first. Then I used the flat attachment that snaps on the vacuum. It worked, but I almost had to scrub the carpet. The fur was really attached to the carpet. What REALLY worked was the mini-turbine attachment. WOW! Granted, once I realized that I was using it upside down, it worked even better. (Don't ask.) I'd tried to use the turbine on the sofa, but it didn't do much... but it worked great on the stairs. It seemed to work the best when I was pulling it towards me or sort of in a circular motion. Once I was done, I was VERY impressed. I did end up dumping the hair/dirt 3-4 times. Unbelievable!!
The only con that I have with the vacuum is that it is kind of awkward to use the hose with the metal (or is it plastic?) end on objects up close. I have rheumatoid arthritis in my hands and I find it hard to make them (my hands) maneuver correctly with objects that aren't flexible. When I was vacuuming the sofa cushions, I had to hold the hose still with one hand and move the cushion with the other hand. (What I haven't actually checked on yet is if I can use the hose without the metal (or plastic) telescoping piece attached at all - that would make it very easy.. I haven't remembered to try that yet.) One way that I did find it easier to use to hang the hose over my shoulder to help support the hose and then use my right hand to move the attachment. I guess that since I don't foresee my having to vacuum using the hose on things other than the stairs all too often, it isn't a BIG con.
The vacuum works great! I like the bagless convenience AND the fact that it only has one filter that is supposed to last the vacuum's lifetime. (Thankfully we will be buying a house in the next few months and we BOTH agree that we don't want wall-to-wall carpet!)
Customer Review: Not another "THIS VACUUM SUCKS" joke ...
Summary: 5 Stars
...well, ok, just one more... This vacuum sucks. But then again, so have most of the other ones I have used.
My old Eureka MegaBOSS blew it's fan belt... AGAIN. Suction is close to zero. This is the 6th time since I bought it 5 years ago that it has done this. And I refuse to pay $95 for a service plan that covers everything, except... you guessed it.... fan belts.
So, discouraged, I started doing some research on vacuums. My 79 year old aunt swears by an Oreck. I think it should be called O-Wreck. Won't buy that one. And forget another lousy Eureka. I had a dust devil when I had a studio apartment. Won't cut it for a 3 bedroom house... What's a cleaning gal to do...
My husband, who used to be a royal butler back in England (really, I kid you not...) suggested the Dyson. According to him, it's the best on the market. Plus it's developed by another Englishman. My response was "Just because it's English, doesn't mean it's better!" (I slept on the couch that night). I started my on-line search, read every review on every site I could... and I decided that Dysons had about 95% positive reviews. So, I decided to take out a second mortgage, swallow my pride and follow my husband's advice.
Well, I have had it 5 hours, and have already cleaned the house 4 times. It's like a brand new toy. And it works like a charm. It - yes, here I go again - SUCKS! Every nook and crany on our hardwood floors are finally clean. The cat litter granules in the bathroom are gone. The dog fur is gone. With 5 animals, we need a super suction vacuum. So far, this seems to be worth it.
The vacuum is light, although not as light as other models. But I don't mind the weight at all, and it seems to be a good trade off for better suction.
I have a few small gripes. First, the telescope reach actually does not go all the way up my stairs, but it does go 90%. Second, there is a little hole with a cover on the top of the hose/retractable/telescope reach part. You have to open it to open the telescope reach part. Works fine, but when you put it back together, and if the vacuum's still on, my sleeve keeps getting sucked in there! No, really, it does! But that's really my only complaint. So that's not bad at all. Finally, it is a little bit of a hassle to switch all the attachments. But that's because my old machine didn't have any. So, it's ok. I will adapt.
Plus, I love the purple... makes me feel cool... better make me feel cool for this price! Hey! I want people to turn their heads as I walk down the street and whisper to one another "Hey, isn't that the cool chick who owns a funky purple Dyson?"
My husband enjoyed it too. So, my feeling is that from now on, he can be the one to get all patriotic, get out the old English vacuum, and clean the house every week. Hey, why not? After all, he was the butler...
Customer Review: Easy Setup - No Sweat to Use
Summary: 5 Stars
Someone spent a great deal of time in probably SolidWorks 3D CAD creating this work of art. Every aspect is ergonomically designed to a useful precision. I don't care for the fluorescent color schemes. It's today's look, but too loud for my taste. I researched the DC14 carefully before proceeding. All the reviews were very positive on every feedback channel I could find. Most the thunder-struck users were bag users, and in comparison, it is awesome. I have two Fantom Fury's since their inception in 1995 and am familiar with wind tunnel technology. The DC14 is equivalent in my experience for pickup power, however the Fantom's beater bar is slightly more effective and I always had fuller canisters with the Fantom. But they are out of business, so I turned to the current champion of vacuum lore.
I like all the bells and whistles in any purchase, so I opted for the best of the line, the "Animal" DC14. The DC07 is close, but the DC14 is a clear winner. The DC14 is a remake of the DC07 after customer feedback. Modified wind tunnel for more pickup power, a much easier wand attachment mechanism and a slightly shorter height for shorter people. Cost an extra $50 over the DC07, but it was probably worth it. I don't have animals, so I can't speak for that aspect. I do have a large house and I broke a good sweat pushing and tugging my Fantoms. The DC14 was reported by a couple reviews as cumbersome, but I found it light and easy to use. It glides across the floors effortlessly. Some people howled about the lack of a headlamp system on such an expensive vacuum. I do agree that lamps should have been part of the design, however, I sweep during the day with the drapes open. Not an issue for me. The turbo head is slightly useless. Like other systems I have used, the small beater bar depends on the force of the suction to rotate the brush. A little resistance against it ceases its rotation. You have to concentrate on lightly gliding the attachment over the surface to realize any rotation. Most every system I have used are designed this way. Unless an auxiliary motor is designed in the attachment with a power lead to the main motor, I guess this is what we have to live with.
The big plus is it is quiet. Compared to any other vacuum I have used, it is very quiet. The neat thing about the power-down was when you reposition it into an upright position to turn off, the suction redirects to the wand attachment and as you turn it off, it sounds like air brakes on a bus. Cool mechanical noises are a guy thing... never mind.
$550 is a lot to lay down for sucking dirt from the floor. My research lead me to use the Bed Bath and Beyond 20% postcard, saving me $110. After 6% sales tax, it totaled $466.39. These typically go for $450 as no-reserve auctions off ebay.com with $30 shipping. Hope this helps the penny wise and dollar smart.
Customer Review: Pro and Cons
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall, this is one amazing vacuum, and I compare it to my Rainbow and a bagless Bissel, among others. I have a Corgi who is in a constant state of blowing her coat, and a daughter with dust allergies. I am thrilled with the Dyson, and, with just a few minor caveats (plus I don't have stairs so can't speak to that issue), I give it my highest recommendation. The way it all fits together, and the thought that clearly went into the design and function of the Dyson just makes it a really cool vacuum whose effectiveness leaves others in the dust.
Pros:
- Amazing suction--can't say enough about this--unbelievable what it picks up, and carpets and floors look great afterward (actually pulls up the nap in your carpet). This thorough removal of dirt should lengthen the life of my carpets, since ground-in dirt grains cut the carpet fibers.
- Fantastic at getting up dog hair--and I must vacuum at least every other day (wish I could just vacuum the dog).
- Onboard hose, wand and attachments so covenient and easy to use, I am much more likely to quickly go over the baseboards, a/c vents and returns, fans, furniture etc. on a much more regular basis.
- Lightweight, easy to pull around on large back wheels or grasp to carry from place-to-place with conveniently low carry handle--no bending or struggling.
- Bagless, so you can see what you're getting (as I could with my Rainbow, but the Dyson picks up so much more!). It's easy to see when to empty clear plastic bin.
Cons:
- High profile keeps vacuum from reaching all the way under the toe-kicks in my kitchen and other low but open spaces; must sweep first or use attachments.
- Cannot use on scatter rugs or small (3 x 5) area rugs, even fairly heavy ones, because the mighty suction causes the rugs to adhere to the bottom of the vacuum--I wish there were a "reduced suction" setting for these.
- Obviously, it will suck up the fringe on Orientals, so steer clear.
- Neither of the 2 "offboard" vacuum attachments (also meant for stairs and cars) will flatten out at the end of the wand quite enough to get completely under a queen or king-sized bed the way my old Rainbow could (which is too bad, because my Corgi sleeps under my daughter's bed). I wish the vacuum attachments would swivel just a bit flatter.
- While it is easy to empty the bin in theory, I must do it outside in a cinched plastic garbage bag to keep the dust from flying all around, and sometimes the accumulated hair has to be manually "helped" out of the bin, which could be a problem if one were really allergic to dust. I tie up and dispose of the plastic bag to keep the dust/hair in, so I guess it's not a truly "bagless" vacuum.
But even with these considerations, my house has never been cleaner--hair, dirt and dust-free!