Animal

The Dyson DC14 Animal, to be exact. Color me impressed.

First off, it’s not as big I guessed it would be, and a few of the parts seem a little iffy. For instance, the ears that hold the power cord in place… they’re a bit flimsy. Most everything else seems to be put together pretty well. The canister mechanisms are all very tight and feel quite solid. When it comes to actually doing it’s job, I couldn’t be happier. I sucked up enough hair to make another cat (and this was after vacuuming with my old vacuum just two days before.

While doing my pre-purchase research, the only consistent complaint I found was that the machine is heavy. At 18.5 pounds, you’d think it’d be difficult to push around, but I found it remarkably nimble. It hugs the carpet nicely and doesn’t feel at all loose as you push and pull across the floor. Granted, I’m a bit stronger than the average housewife, but still—it’s a smooth operator.

I was also surprised by how quiet it is (as was my cat, I think). Normally, as soon as I pushed the button on my old vacuum cleaner, she was off like a rocket up the stairs to hide in the bedroom. When I cranked up the Dyson, she just sat there, keenly aware of the new purple monster in the room—wary, but not necessarily afraid. I’d wager that it’s quieter than most machines on the market (or at least quieter than any vacuum I’ve ever owned).

Emptying the canister was a cinch. Push one button to release the canister from the machine, and another to drop the bottom and dump the dirt. Some folks commented that it seemed a tad small… maybe their carpets are just particularly dirty.

My old Eureka Whirlwind has seen better days, but I think I’ll give it a good overhaul (new belt, filter, and remove the casings for cleanup) and move it permanently upstairs.

In the end, I’m glad I ran across this deal. I was really close to buying another brand and I’m sure, no matter how pleased with it I had been, a small part of me would have likely regretted the purchase. Instead, I got the one I really wanted, and it’s living up to all the hype. Say what you want about Dyson the man, he makes a damn good vacuum cleaner that doesn’t, er… um, does… suck.

One Response to “Animal”

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  1. [...] The Litter Robot is a clever design, but it seems to me to be overpriced for what it is. Sure, I’ll pay $350 for a vacuum cleaner, but $300 for a cat litter box is a bit much. Littermaid’s prices are better, but the design just didn’t do it for me. There are just too many cracks and crevices for dust and whatnot to get into (the water fountain I bought for my cat has similar design deficiencies, but that’s a review for another time). Plus, you have to use a clumping litter, and the cat and I had already moved on to something much, much better. [...]

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