Are You Unhappy With Your Dyson?

lovessister2 · ‎04-04-2012

I was so happy to receive my Dyson DC Animal 41 two years ago. It was so beautiful. Loved the purple color. But because I used it yesterday, and its flaws are fresh in my mind, I wanted to have a discussion. First, I have a few cats and a few litter boxes. The clay powder from the litter coats everything, including the inside and outside of my Dyson. One poster wrote that you need to keep your old vacuum cleaner so you can clean the Dyson with it. That is so true. Sometimes when I push the power button, it comes on for 2 seconds and then dies. That button gets hung up with the roller On-Off button, I think. The crevice/brush attachment that rides along on the Dyson no longer works. You cannot keep the brush snapped into place--it keeps sliding back so you can only use the crevice tool. I don't like that my long hair gets wound up in the rollers constantly and that I need to pick it out. One vacuum cleaner shop told me all brands do this and that everyone has to pull hair and string out of theirs, too. Recently, my Animal won't pick up dry cat food bits. I will run it over the same kernels, but it keeps missing. I will think it was picked up, but it was just pushing the kernel around! But my biggest complaint is the dumb hose. It is so tight and difficult to hold. It constantly pulls back into the vacuum, and wrestling with it is tiring. If you try to clean something high up, the machine will fall over against you. Yesterday, I almost tripped twice, while holding the too-long cord in one hand and the hose with attachment in the other. Usually, I have to drop the cord because holding the hose takes two hands: one hand to keep it from retracting back into the unit and one hand to hold the attachment to clean. Dyson folks said the hose would loosen in time and recommended stretching it. Believe me, no amount of stretching or use has changed anything. It annoys me that when the Dyson t.v. rep demonstrates using the hose for high places, SHE NEVER POWERS UP THE VACUUM. She does not want anyone to see how the hose suction yanks the hose back into the unit. Watch sometime and see what I mean. I sure would like to know which brand to buy next. It won' be a Dyson.

Allegheny · ‎03-19-2010

I have a Shark, and woefully it has many of the same issues you experience with your Dyson. The stiff hose, the unit falling over, the powder on inside of canister and hair around the rollers. Some of these issues are inherent to many types of these vacuums. Every bagless vacuum will accumulate dust on the inside of the canister that has to be manually cleaned out as well as hair and threads in the rollers for all vacuums.

All these companies try to come up with the "better mouse trap", but a lot of times it seems when they do it creates a whole set of new issues. While I like the power and suction of the bagless models, I am seriously considering going back to a bagged unit. In fact I have a 25 year old Kenmore canister down in the basement that I am considering resurrecting.

Do you still have any warranty coverage on your Dyson that may cover the issues with the power button?

hennypenny · ‎03-10-2010

We have a dyson cordless that we use on the back porch to take care of kitty tracking. For the rest of the house it is a canister Miele. The Miele is the best I have ever owned and I am no spring chicken.

faeriemoon · ‎03-14-2010

I am one of those people who has always preferred a vacuum cleaner with a bag. The bags filter out so much dust and so many allergens, and if you buy the right kind of vacuum (I have Electrolux) the bag is so EASY to change. I would rather empty a bag once every month than every time I use the vacuum, because with animals, I may go for the vacuum several times a day. Plus, when you dump that plastic receptacle, the dust poofs everywhere. Also, if you run the vacuum over the kitchen floor and there happens to be a couple of drops of water on the floor, you have an instant dust/mud mess inside the plastic thing. Give me a bag any day!

~What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.~ William Shakespeare

Marp2 · ‎01-31-2012

I have found that if I vacuum the carpet with the bare floor setting first it significantly reduces the amount of hair and fur that gets wrapped around the rollers.

Free2be · ‎03-10-2010

Marp, good idea about using the bare floor setting first. I love my upright Dyson but agree that the hose is a struggle which is why I also bought a stick Dyson which I thought would avoid needing the upright hose.

The stick has it's own unwieldy issues but between the two, I manage somehow. I think all vacuums have drawbacks.

lovessister2 · ‎04-04-2012

On 1/19/2015 Allegheny said:
I have a Shark, and woefully it has many of the same issues you experience with your Dyson. The stiff hose, the unit falling over, the powder on inside of canister and hair around the rollers. Some of these issues are inherent to many types of these vacuums. Every bagless vacuum will accumulate dust on the inside of the canister that has to be manually cleaned out as well as hair and threads in the rollers for all vacuums.

All these companies try to come up with the "better mouse trap", but a lot of times it seems when they do it creates a whole set of new issues. While I like the power and suction of the bagless models, I am seriously considering going back to a bagged unit. In fact I have a 25 year old Kenmore canister down in the basement that I am considering resurrecting.

Do you still have any warranty coverage on your Dyson that may cover the issues with the power button?

Yep, my Animal is only 2 years old at the most. But as long as I can eventually get the power on (after 2-3 tries), I don't look forward to the hassle of arranging warranty work. Thanks for your insight about other brands having identical issues. One of the BEST vacuums I have owned in the last 20 years is the Simplicity 7 Series upright. It uses bags and belts both (the belt being very difficult to change out). I still have it. It was recommended by a local repair shop.The owner showed me all the metal parts (vs. plastic) and allowed me to operate it around his store to get the feel of it. It was like driving a Cadillac. I paid way more for it than I did the Dyson. But I tired of the belts breaking and the smell of burning rubber. It wasn't great for cat hair, and it was heavy to push. But I really miss the headlights in front cuz sometimes I vacuum after dark. I can still use the hand held parts (like to clean the Dyson!) and keep it for my stairs and under the beds.

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

I have a dyson canister vac and absolutely would never trade it in on anything else.I have never had a problem with it. The cleaning it is a pain in the neck but my DH does that for me.

lovessister2 · ‎04-04-2012

On 1/19/2015 Marp2 said:
I have found that if I vacuum the carpet with the bare floor setting first it significantly reduces the amount of hair and fur that gets wrapped around the rollers.

Thanks, Marp2. I will try this!

Lipstickdiva · ‎03-10-2010

Dyson's aren't even rated in the top 5 in consumer magazines. Don't know if that has changed or not but they are notorious for problems.

My SIL has one of the regular uprights and loves it. She loved it so much she bought a different model but I really don't khow why as her house is all one level and these things aren't cheap. She's not had any problem with either machine.

She talked her aunt into buying one and the poor aunt has had nothing but problems with it. It has died a couple of times now and she said 1 more time and she's pitching it.