bit-tech Shopping: Dyson Animal DC07 Vacuum

• Bare Floors
• Carpets
• Curtains/Drapes
• Stairs
• Upholstery

• Attachments
• Automatic Carpet Height Adjustment
• Lifetime Filters
• Telescopic Handle

• Crevice Tool
• Dusting Brush
• Upholstery Nozzle

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: good suction, easy empty canister, attachment easy to use

Weaknesses: no storage for the low-reach attachment + animal attachment

Summary: it is indeed lighter then some of other brands of vacuum I have used. suction is quite good. the only bad thing is, no place to store the additional parts (low-reach and turbo animal).

Rating: 10

Time with product: 30

Strengths: WORKS AMAZINGLY

Weaknesses: CAN'T GET THE KNOB TO STAY SELECTED ON BARE-FLOOR

Summary: THIS IS A GREAT VACUUM. IT WAS WELL WORTH THE MONEY THAT WE SPENT ON IT. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE'VE HAD IS THAT THE KNOB WON'T STAY SELECTED ON BARE-FLOOR WHILE VACUUMING (BUT I MIGHT HAVE BUMPED INTO A CABINET WITH IT, BREAKING IT MYSELF) GREAT PURCHASE. THE HARDEST PART WAS WAITING FOR IT TO ARRIVE..WE HAVE 2 ROTTIE'S THAT SHED LIKE CRAZY.....THIS PICKS EVERYTHING UP!

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Years

Strengths: Awesome Suction

Weaknesses: None to mention

Summary: I have been using my Dyson for a year now and swear by it. The suction is awesome and does a beautiful job in cleaning. All attachments fully meet my expectations. We recently did some remodeling and had construction dust everywhere. The Animal lived up to its name in cleaning this stuff up. I do love the duster attachment for cleaning walls, blindes, etc. I do take great care in cleaning the unit after use. I bought a Dr. Brown Baby bottle brush to clean inside the cone and use a flexible head hard bristle toothbrush to clean the air holes on the cone outside. The clear canister is thoroughly cleaned and dried and I clean the hepa filter. It might be overkill but I want this vacuum to last a long time.

Rating: 2

Time with product: 1. Years

Strengths: Looks pretty

Weaknesses: Where do I begin?

Summary: The cleaner weighs a ton, the roller must be wrestled free using massive strength, don't even know how the belt could ever be changed except by paying a professional since it doesn't come off. Getting its roller back in place is a job for Einstein and Atlas combined. If the roller is off by a milimetre, the cleaner will not suck. My Dyson Animal 07 makes a high decibel racket on area rugs like a bag of oversized metallic marbles, and it collects my own long hair on its roller until it's riding on hair (sucking up nothing). Worst of all, Dyson is indifferent to the problems I've encountered with this thing. Customer service sucks, not the vacuum. Perhaps it's my long hair. If you have long hair in the house, buy something much cheaper. On second thought, buy something cheaper anyway. On its best day (at my house anyway), this vacuum does not work two or three times as well as its competition. I like the Hoover Wind Tunnel much better.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1 Weeks

Strengths: Goes easily from carpeting to hard surface floors.

Weaknesses: The hose is still a bit awkward but better than other brands.

Summary: My son has had an Dyson animal for a couple of years and still raves about his, but he wouldn't let me borrow it. My daughter just bought a new Dyson (not the Animal) and let me borrow it for one day. My granddaughter and I moved everything but the TV equipment in a 14x25 carpeted family room. The carpet is OLD but it's holding up and we aren't ready to replace it. We have (among others) a Hoover Wind Tunnel bagless, self-propelled vacuum. My husband was so impressed with the amount of dirt/fur/sand/grit that we pulled out of that room that he gave me the go ahead to get a Dyson. I might also add, we have a 4-year-old Black Lab who sheds without mercy! Using my daughters machine we had to empty the canister three different times on the first cleaning. When I got my model, I had to empty it three times too. When we remodeled the kitchen I had all of the halls and the dining room covered in laminate flooring. The Dyson Animal goes easily from carpeting to laminate with just a touch of the button located next to the on-off switch (a new feature on the latest model). When working on hard surface floors the brushes do not work, it is only suction power. It picked up all the dog hair and did not fluff the stuff around the room. The canister is very easy to empty and replace. I was not impressed with the on-board tools. The one little brush and crevice tool keep popping off the machine. In my opinion, for the money they could have been of a higher quality. My Animal version (purchased from Sears) came with two other attachments. I stair brush and a 3 1/2-inch high attachment that will go under a sofa or bed frame. Haven't tried them yet. I did purchase a special crevice tool that extends and it is well made and sturdy. Also, they have a special mattress brush and a bristled brush for use on things like ceiling fans. I will be ordering those two pieces. Another plus for the machine is the 35-foot cord. I can go a lot further without having to unplug and re-position! My old beat up carpeting is starting to look much better, even in high traffic areas that were heavily matted. The hose is still awkward but it is not as bad to operate as the Windtunnel. The machine is a bit on the heavy side - not as heavy as the Windtunnel and it does roll very easily when tilted back on the back rolls. Also, the top of the dirt canister has a handle that doubles as a carrying handle. I'm very, very pleased with this Dyson Animal. The old windtunnel is being exiled to the second floor.