Dyson DC21 Stowaway

[westytoploader]

Now, back to the machine

Here's the back, where the tools mount. The crevice tool (which, as you can see is curved slightly for better use near baseboards) and bare floor tool are great, the dusting brush and upholstery nozzle, however...eh. I can't complain too much, though, tiny upholstery tools and dusting brushes with 1/2" bristles that get even stubbier and scruffier with use seem to be a trend nowadays.

 

[westytoploader]

The serial number tag. It's hard to see, but this is number 38 in the US!

 

[westytoploader]

Pre-motor filter, which is supposed to be washed every 6 months. It is accessed here.

 

[westytoploader]

The 2-piece pre-motor filter, removed and separated:

 

[westytoploader]

The motor is mounted behind here (where, incidentally, the pre-motor filter goes!)...you can sort of see the fan through the opening.

 

[westytoploader]

HEPA exhaust filter compartment. This one here is a lifetime filter.

 

[westytoploader]

Now for some DIRT!

The first test of the DC21 was the room-sized rug in my room, which I vacuum regularly. Here are the results from the first use here, very impressive. I was amazed at the amount of powdery brown dust it picked up...no doubt there's more in the rug.

 

[westytoploader]

Warning--not for the squeamish

Here are the results from my mattress. I used the Motorhead and started with a clean (rinsed-out and dried) bin. Lots of white powder which are dead skin cells. YUK!

It's not like the mattress gets untouched either. I did make a habit of vacuuming it, most recently with my Kirby Ultimate G.

 

[westytoploader]

View 2 of the mattress schmutz, to show how much it actually did pick up.

I have to say, after using it a few times, the DC21 has me sold. It really is a fantastic machine, not to mention very fun and easy to use. On carpeting of average density, the Motorhead becomes self-propelled. Then there's the performance...great suction (131 inches of water lift), airflow, and cleaning ability on both carpets and bare floors. The electric power nozzle really has a lot to do with it, in my opinion. In addition to my rug and mattress, I also tried it on the living room rug, where it removed quite a bit of cat hair, and the 5-year-old berber in the back room, which has always been a heavy traffic area. I heard the constant noise of dirt going up the hose, picked up quite a bit of pet hair there as well, and I had to empty it 3 times! Simply amazing.

After the bin assembly is removed, the dirt cup separates. There's no trap-door to release a mushroom cloud of dust...controlled emptying here! As a Dyson first-timer, I find that emptying this one is no messier than folding up and throwing away a bag. Even with bags, unless they're self-sealing, *some* dust is bound to escape the trashcan.

I will admit that as with any machine, there are some things that could possibly be improved (like the dusting brush and upholstery nozzle), but here, the pros FAR outweigh the cons. Definitely a machine worth recommending.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Very nice Austin, congrats on getting it finally after the shipping incident.

I always thought Dyson vacuums were very fun looking, I love the colors and the see-thru areas. If I designed appliances my machines would look similar.

 

[tlee618]

Austin thanks so much for the detailed report on the Dyson! It looks like it would be a fun machine to use and the results you have gotten are impressive. Keep us posted as you get to know this machine better. Terry

 

[skip]

Austin

Boy that looks fanastic now it is on my want list for sure. I just got a Kenmore irudium I'm very impressed with the kenmore as Tom did say they were based on the Dyson and I still love my DC02 very much

 

[mixfinder]

Mattress Schmutz

I saw a sepcial on the Opray Winfrey show in 1992, telling about the effect of dust mites on our health. I have always been a neat/clean advocate and fifteen years ago, in my youth and vigor, I cleaned and vacuumed daily.
Following the advice of the expert, I put a clean bag in the Electrolux and vacuumed our bed. Gross!!!!! Then I did the same for the kid's beds. Super Gross!!!!
I threw the bag away after I called Macy's and ordered 6 new mattress and box springs sets.
The same report also urged everyone to wash sheets regularly, at least once a week, in HOT water. I was a zealot for the next four years and then it slowly wore off. A vacuum has never met the bed I have now, that was new in July of 2004. I just don't want to know. It has had a feather mattress topper which I do wash occassionally. Next time I'll use Mans-Clout.
Kelly

 

[vinvac]

Great Vacuum

Austin,

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I very much prefer an electric powerhead to an air powered unit. What is the length of the hose and does it come with a bare floor tool as well.

Morgan

 

[scott55405]

Austin, thank you for your extensive pictures and report! I hope you enjoy your long awaited machine!

Kelly, I vacuum the bed, comforters and all that each time I change the sheets, which that and the mattress pad are washed in hot water. If the hot water makes them wear out a bit faster, that is a price I will pay.

 

[vinvac]

Mattress

Scott and Kelly,

I also vacuum the mattress every time I change the sheets. Kirby used to do a demonstration...YUCK!!! I often will just use the power-mate on my canisters or lock the handle on my Kirby's and Royals, just using it in upright mode. I also turn and flip the mattress on a regular basis.. it makes a huge difference. Also, I love using the Rainbow mate or the Electrolux Sidekick... they work very well.

Morgan

 

[petek]

Thanks for the great pics. Oh I'd have been some pissed off if it was me all that had happened even knowing that of course a certain percentage of deliveries have to fail sometimes,it had better not be mine. LOL

 

[westytoploader]

Morgan, I just now measured the hose and it's approximately 9 feet starting at the end where it connects to the machine to where it enters the wand (excluding the length of the wand which is about 22" when retracted). About 20 inches of hose retract into the wand when it is fully extended for power nozzle use. The long hose definitely comes in handy when cleaning a wide area of carpeting and around many obstacles; both situations where you wouldn't want the machine to be right behind you.

It does come with a bare floor tool, and I really like it. The bristles are staggered in the front (reminds me of a 50's Kenmore floor tool), and it's fairly wide as well. Here's a picture of it.

Skip, while we're on the subject of bagless, why don't you post some pictures of your new Kenmore Iridium? I'm curious to see what it looks like up close...the only pictures I've seen of one were taken from a distance. It's a shame Sears has discontinued them as I heard they were good machines, being an exact copy of a Dyson (which, due to lawsuits, is why they discontinued it in the first place).

Another thing worth mentioning about the DC21. The reason there's no on/off switch on the hose handle (and the brush on/off switch is on the nozzle itself) is to eliminate the PC boards common to failure on canisters that are equipped with them. That's right, as modern as it is, there's no PC board to short out (consequently rendering the machine useless) in this machine! Much less complicated and more reliable that way.

Austin

 

[westytoploader]

Size comparison

In front of my Hoover Model 62. Quite compact compared to the "wide-body" canisters.

 

[gansky1]

Wow - that's quite a vacuum cleaner. It looks like something from outer space!

Take a picture of the distribution chamber after a couple of months of use - I'd love to see one "broken in" with regular use.