Mum has a new weapon in her cleaning arsenal with the arrival of a cable free Dyson DC-35 vacuum cleaner.
It arrived a few months ago and has been in use almost daily around the house sucking up fluff and general muck. So we think it is about time we gave it a review and shared our experiences.
The purchase of this new Dyson cleaner was quite a decision, coloured by the purchase of an upright model many years ago. That machine, which is still in use, is very loud and is not used when we are around incase it hurts our ears.
So it was quite a leap of faith for mum to purchase a battery powered unit within the same brand.
Dyson DC-35
Easily assembled and installed, the vacuum cleaner, because we can not call it a Hoover as this is another trademark, was quickly put to work and we have to say we were quite impressed.
When not in use the gadget hangs in its charging unit along with the assorted tools, so is kept out of the way.
One thing to note is that because it needs mains power to recharge, the usual cupboard under the stairs location may not be suitable, unless it has a power socket.
Fully charged, the boffins at Dyson estimate that it has a 15 minute run time (13 with the floor tool attached) – or 6 minutes on Boost mode. This initially seems a short length of time, but for the quick run around a few floors and the stairs this has proved ample.
It takes around 3.5 hrs to fully charge the Lithium-ion battery.
Powered floor nozzle
Unusually for many cleaners the DC-35 has a powered brush head attachment.
Other units rely on suction to turn the brush head often leading to non rotation after a few months of use. A powered rotating head easily allows the removal of any fluff, usually left by Charlie, from carpets.
The brush mechanism can be easily removed from the head to allow for cleaning or replacement.
The carbon fibre brush bar has rows of ultra-fine filaments engineered to remove fine dust from hard floors. These filaments are made from a material selected for its anti-static properties. There are also stiff nylon bristles for carpets to remove any ground-in dirt.
Root Cyclone™ technology
As expected, beneath the cover is a load of gadgetry now associated with the Dyson brand.
Powerful centrifugal forces spin dust and dirt out of the air and into the collecting bin, with no loss of suction.
It is quite amazing to watch the clear plastic body fill with sucked up fluff and the occasional biscuit.
Mum likes this machine because it is easy to reach up into corners to get those pesky cobwebs and is really good at cleaning fluff from curtains and soft furnishings.
The release of a simple catch flips open a door and releases debris into a waste basket emptying the DC-35.
Cable free
Being battery powered the DC35 does not have any trailing cables. One benefit is we can not get caught up the lead when we are seeking out that lost chew or hidden biscuit behind the couch.
Your human will also find it easier to suck up fluff left behind on the stairs and in the car, as the cleaner weighs around 2kg (4lbs). Gone are the days of them balancing a big noisy machine whilst they clean.
If we to be very picky it would be that the on/off switch be latching and made a little bigger. Being of a trigger design results in one finger being needed on the switch at all times when in use.
Some humans may find that this is a little awkward especially if they have limited mobility or strength in their hands or wrists.
As a development solution we could easily see this sort of cleaner having a harness arrangement to allow for the weight to be carried on the shoulders and not on the lower arm. This arrangement and a latching on/off switch could open up new markets for the battery powered cleaner.
Review and conclusions
Having used the Dyson DC35 for a few months we would recommend every two legger to get one to clean up after us. It is not a replacement for a full upright unit, it is not designed to be. However, it is ideal for a quick run around the house or to keep on top of general day to day muck.