Dyson DC16 Root 6 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
by Dyson
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Our Price: $139.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Dyson DC16 Root 6 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Customer Review: My favorite vaccuum
Summary: 5 Stars
When I bought this vacuum, I was so excited to get it out and try it right away that I opened the box in the car on the way home from the store. I almost made my husband turn around and drive us back to the store when I read the "Lasts up to 6 minutes!" on the box...somehow I had missed reading that before I checked out. But we were already on the thruway, so I shrugged and said, "It better be a spectacular six minutes."
It was. I'll break it down a bit more for you.
Pros:
* Great suction! Amazing. It really doesn't lose suction. When it's dead, it's dead...no winding down transition that I have noticed.
* Charges quickly. A couple of hours and you're good to go again. It also has little lights that let you know about how much power is left and when it's on the charger they let you know when it's at full blast again.
* Attachments (crevice tool, duster brush, also it appears as though you can use other Dyson attachments not included)
* So easy to maneuver when vacuuming out the car as compared to something that uses a hose...hate hate hate a hose catching on everything. I didn't even use the crevice tool because the regular attachment seems to get everywhere.
* Easy empty...you push a button, the bottom drops out, dirt falls into trash. Pet hair tends to end up in a ball that you might have to swish out with your finger or a pencil, but it's still quick and painless.
* No filters to buy! Directions say to hand wash a part, but I havent gotten it dirty enough yet, so I dont know if it's a pain or not.
* Sucks up big klunky things seemingly without any damage. I know this because my son broke a salt shaker, and I tried to pick up the big pieces by hand but missed one. It sucked it up with no problems. It's also picked up pennies and stuff like that with no damage.
Cons:
* not the greatest with dog hair embedded in a couch, although, to be fair, it's the same with dog hair as any other vacuum that doesn't use brush rollers. It'll get it up, but you have to run over it a zillion times.
* advertised run time is 6 minutes but actual run time I found to be a bit longer...maybe 7-8 minutes, and the nice thing is that as long as you aren't holding down the button continuously that whole time, you have enough time to vacuum a big staircase, or a car. If you wanted to do both right in a row, you're out of luck.
I'm so glad I didn't take it back, because I dont have time to tackle a lot of vacuum projects at once anyway, so it's not an issue for me. I like that it's small enough to just always keep out...no dragging the big vacuum out and then putting it all back. I've had other hand vacs and never ever used them because they didnt suck anything up. I mean NOTHING. It was literally quicker to pick lint up with my fingers. This handheld Dyson is like having a mini full sized vacuum.
I highly recommend this vacuum for multitaskers like me who move quickly from one chore to the next...if you have 15 minutes here and there to clean, this is the one for you. I vacuum something, then move on to dishes and laundry as it's charging. If you're flexible like me, it can work. If you're hoping to use this to clean your whole house in one shot, you should get a full sized vacuum instead.
Customer Review: For Those Who Cannot Read . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
For those who cannot read, I suppose this review will be pointless; but, perhaps someone else can read it to you ---- which, incidentally, is what you should have done before purchasing this gorgeously designed tool! ON THE BOX, it says "6 Minutes" --- and, yet, there are so many, many, MANY complaints about it 'only' lasting 6 Minutes!!!! Gee . . . Dyson SURE FOOLED YOU!!! -- I mean, they said 6 MINUTES, and, oh WOW! -- It only lasts 6 MINUTES!!! --- AMAZING! ;-)
Okay, here is my review . . . I purchased, along with the Dyson, the top-of-the-line Black & Decker for $65, and a lower version for $20. The more expensive B & D worked better than the $20 model (naturally), but, both were COMPLETELY blown away by the Dyson. In addition, the Dyson's long, skinny nozzle gets behind (and under) so many things, it is truly indispensible. Another thing to note, my $65 model says it takes 21 Hours, TWENTY-ONE HOURS!! to charge -- now, even if I got the 20-30 minutes out of this machine, lets see --- 24 hours, divided by 3 is 8, times 6 minutes --- is 48 minutes of time, versus 30 minutes of the other---- okay, so Dyson still wins, by 18 minutes! ;-) . . . Another consideration, it picks up TWICE as much, TWICE as fast -- so, that 6 Minutes, is like 12 minutes with my $65 model--- which really gives my Dyson 96 Minutes, to the Black & Decker's 30 -- So THERE! The ROOT 6 WINS!!! :-)
I really like the trigger hold -- it only requires a light touch, and is a part of the grasp, so that, it is precisely where you would have placed your finger anyway! The weight is EXCELLENT -- compared to the other 2 Black & Deckers I tested, it weighs about the same as the $65 model, but is balanced so much better, that it feels to weigh about a third less -- so impressive! (Note -- probably too heavy for great-grandma -- but 'light as a feather' for those accustomed to toting way heavier things -- like, 30 pound briefcases or toddlers! ;-)
Plastic is -- plastic. But, the Dyson plastic is FAR-Superior to the B & D -- much heavier weight -- and smoother/more attractive in appearance. I share the same sentiment as other reviewers about the inadequacies and inherent cheapness of plastic, but it appears to be a necessary evil -- and I will say that the Dyson plastic is TWICE as nice as the $65 B & D -- none of the rough edges from the molding process, and the paint is glossy and has depth, as opposed to cheap, and easily scratched off. Very well done -- if it has to be plastic (of course, can you even imagine the weight, or the heat transfer for that matter, if this thing was made of metal??! ;-) . . .
Last thought -- as a busy mommy of 2 toddlers -- I need a handheld that moves fast, works fast, and recharges fast --- the Dyson was the only one that could do all 3 -- sure, it would be great to make that 6 minutes into 20 (without sacrificing power), but, honestly -- if I left my two (ages 2 and 3) unattended for 20 minutes, I would be needing the upright vacuum instead! ;-)
LOVE IT.
Customer Review: After 147 reviews...
Summary: 5 Stars
I read almost all the reviews here and wasted $60 a couple weeks ago on the top-of-the-line Black & Decker handheld because of the complaints about the DC16 battery life. Earlier today I vacuumed with the B&D. I had to go over and over each little spot on each rug to get up the dust and cat fur. Sometimes I had to pick it out of the rug and stuff it into the vacuum nozzle. During cleanup I got wet power-spraying the dust out of the miserable little filter from the B&D. Every time I used the B&D, the filter had to be washed. So I sat down and reread these reviews, looking for the positives. One thing that occurred to me was that 6 minutes is a long time for my space.
One of the reviewers mentioned Bed Bath & Beyond's liberal return policy, and I had a 20% off Linens n Things coupon, which B3 honors (sorry Amazon) so I picked up a DC16. Charged it up and revacuumed the same space that I had just done with the B&D. It took 1/10 the time to clean the rugs well, and, like another reviewer noted, it was embarrassing how much extra dust and fur the Dyson picked up.
I think the hold and vac button is smart, because it's easy to release to save battery time while moving from spot to spot or changing attachments. I'm 64 and didn't find the pressure required or weight of the vacuum a problem. Emptying the dust chamber is so much easier than cleaning the B&D. Granted, the release button is a bit tight, but I think there's a technique to releasing and reclosing that I'll figure out.
As for the 6 minutes, I was running out of things to do. I was about to start vacuuming my socks just to run down the battery. Decided to give up instead. I have a 24' motorhome with cloth walls, which also need the Himalayan cat's fur vacuumed off now and then. It worked great, and the narrow wand got into little spaces.
I'm relieved to be back to a Dyson. I feel things will be clean again. The Dyson canister I had before was just too large and cumbersome for in this small space, but this handheld is perfect. The attachments provided are sufficient. The wand could be a little longer. They might consider a short, maybe 2 feet long, 1 inch in diameter, flexible hose attachment to which the other attachments could be added. I found such a hose quite handy vacuuming under car seats. I've used the Dyson flexible wand and found it pretty awful.
The DC16 motor is surprisingly muffled. Much quieter than the B&D.
I think the suggestion to make an a/c adapter to attach to this vacuum is quite apparently worthwhile. I would hate to see such a good handheld discontinued because so many people need more run time.
Customer Review: Is it worth it? You bet!
Summary: 5 Stars
We have a two full-size vaccums; a Miele and a Dyson, both of which work very well. But sometimes you just need something small to pick up spills or cat hair, or to vacuum the stairs (we have 3 staircases) instead of wrestling with the big vacuum. Over the years, we have owned at least 5 hand vacs, all of which were unsatisfactory; they spewed dust into the air, broke, and had lousy suction. I was so impressed with our Dyson Slim that I decided to take a chance on the DC16.
What comes out of the box looks like a cross between a ray gun and a coffee maker. There is no assembly required; just plug in the charger, slide the vacuum into it, slap on a nozzle, and wait for a full charge. (it takes 3 hours). It comes with 2 attachments as well as a nifty adapter that lets you use some of the attachments made for the bigger Dysons. I found the DC16 light and easy to use, and easy to maneuver into tight spaces. It has really impressive sucking power, and it doesn't lose suction even when the dirt bin is full. Then you go to the trash can, flick a lever, and the bottom of the bin swings open and deposits more crud than you ever knew you had in the trash. Simple!
Reading all the reviews, I find that the most frequent complaints have to do with cost and very limited run time on a charge. As to cost: I must have spent over $150 on a succession of terrible hand vacs by now. Viewed in that light, the $130 I paid doesn't seem all that unreasonable.
The DC16 isn't meeant to replace a big vacuum. It won't do a whole room. The instructions tell you right at the outset that running time on a charge is 6 minutes, which I have found to be ample for the type of cleaning I bought it for. I think the short run time is why you have to hold the trigger down to keep it running; anything else would waste juice. On my first test run, I did most of a staircase, got dust bunnies from behind a door, did a kitchen floor mat, vacuumed up some stray cat litter, got cat hair off a chair cushion, and still had some charge. There are 3 indicator lights that tell you how much of a charge you have left.
The DC16 is the first hand vac I ever owned that did what it's supposed to do. It's powerful, convenient, doesn't throw dust in the air, is easy to use, and doesn't require you to buy bags. That's why I gave it 5 stars in spite of the short run time. By the way, my better half, who is not an enthusiastic housekeeper, has been known to bestir himself and use the DC16, because it's so easy. Hurrah!
Customer Review: Worth Every Penny
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been intrigued by Dyson vacuums for years. They seem well designed but could they really be worth the high price?
We've kept a Dustbuster around, mainly for cat litter clean up and the small bits that don't require getting out the big upright. Like clockwork though, we've had to replace them every couple of years because the batteries develop memory charge issues. The unit will run at full strength for a few seconds then start slowing down. Cleaning them is a pain, too. The filter stacks on top of the cup that collects the dirt so you have to touch it and get dirty while emptying the unit. Replacement filters can be tough to find. And the most recent unit we had invariably seemed to exhaust a fair amount of dust right in your face the first time it ran after a cleaning.
When the last Dustbuster started dying after only a year or so, I decided to splurge on the Dyson DC16. Haven't had a moment of regret.
It's powerful. There's no drop off because the li-on battery isn't subject to memory issues like older, cheaper technology used by competitors. I've seen other reviewers complain about how long a charge lasts and I don't understand the concerns. The DC16 is far superior to any other cordless unit in terms of battery power and life.
It's well designed. The battery pack can be easily changed. One-button empties the bin and you don't have to touch any dirty areas. The brush slides out of the way when you don't need it so it can't get lost.
It's easy to maintain. Dyson recommends cleaning the filters every three months. The first time I did, I was delighted to realize that the entire unit comes apart when you press a few tabs. This allows you to wash and dry all the areas that contact dirt. The motor and electronics are housed in the handle section and protected by the filters. Then everything easily snaps back together. I've had mine eight months so it's been washed twice. After cleaning, it feels brand new again. No grime buildup. No dust in the face.
Yes, the Dyson DC16 is expensive. But after living with it for eight months, I feel it's worth every penny.
If you keep a Dustbuster-like cordless around for quick cleanups and you're tired of replacing it every couple of years because of its designed-in obsolescence, get the Dyson.