Pros: Will suck a bowling ball out of the closet. Empty dust bin without getting dirty.
Cons: Short battery life requires organized approach to cleaning. Expensive.
The Bottom Line: RECOMMENDED for people who clean regularly, who need a small, compact, and portable vac for spot cleaning and don't mind spending the extra dollars to get efficient suction.
auntieruth's Full Review: Dyson DC16 Animal Bagless Handheld Cyclonic Vacuu...
I was looking for a small lightweight vacuum that would function for short cleaning tasks. I wanted something rechargeable, easy to empty, and that had sustained suction. Furthermore, since I have asthma, I wanted something that would not aggravate my condition. An elderly cat, an elderly Border Terrier, and a middle aged Cherrier (Chihuahua and Terrier mix) live here. The cat sheds like crazy, the BT also sheds, the Cherrier not so much.
My previously purchased Dirt Devil is impossible to open and empty the cup without tools, the Black and Decker isn't much better, and both loose suction very quickly. A corded Euro Pro looses suction and constantly needs new filters, and a corded Black and Decker hand held is equally poor.
I was attracted to the Dyson Root 6 because of its promises (1) not to loose suction; and (2) to be easy to empty. I was deterred from it by its price, which is extravagant. Ultimately, my need for suction won out over the price. I figured if I didn't like it I could recoup part of my investment on Ebay.
Now, after having it for about 2 months, I can't imagine trying to sell it (and have indeed tossed out the box). Yes, it was an extravagance, but it has made life much easier so far. As far as suction power goes, I can clean up cat and dog hair with it, and it has some narrow tools that help get into corners. I use it primarily to clean the couch, and to get dog hair off my bed. I also use it in the bathroom to get around the back of the toilet, where my upright Kirby does not reach easily.
It is by far the easiest to empty of any vacuum (large, small, canister, upright, etc.) I've ever owned. One push of the button, and the lid drops down, and dust falls out. Sometimes if I have overfilled the dust cup, or there is a particularly high volume of cat hair, I have to help it along, but this is minor compared to the problems I have had emptying the Euro Pro, and incredibly minor compared to the problems emptying the dust cups on the B&D and the Dirt Devil. With those, I practically have to get out tools (pliers and wrenches) to get the dust cup to release. Even though I have relatively big hands (for a female) and am fairly strong, I cannot open the Dirt Devil at all.
The Dyson is easy to use, as well. Although one has to keep the on/off switched manually pushed while vacuuming, this is fairly easy to do. It is flexible, and light weight, and is perfect for small chores.
Small chores is the operative word, because you have 5-6 minutes per charge of operation. There are three lights on right on the handle (above the switch to open the dust bin), and these indicate how much juice has been used. When all three are lit, the vacuum has 5-6 minutes on it. When 2 are lit, it is half discharged, and when only 1 is lit, I have about 30 seconds or so of suction before it shuts off. And when it shuts off, it is OFF. There is no halfway about it. Then it requires about 3 hours to recharge. So, with 5-6 minutes of charge on it, it is good for only very short tasks.
Dyson Root 6 is a vacuum only for contained, short-term tasks, but for those specific tasks, it is very good.
Examples: with a full charge, I can:
clean the couch, vacuum a standard flight of stairs and landing, vacuum the tile floor and behind the toilet in the bathroom, and vacuum the edges of the upstairs hallway.
OR I can:
clean the couch, two arm chairs, and the stairs.
OR I can
vacuum around the baseboards on the stairs to the basement, and in the kitchen and powder room.
As far as gadgets go, it has the typical Dyson look about it. Very gadgety, very appealing to people who like that sort of look. I really didn't care what it looked like, I was sold on it by its promise to maintain suction, and its ease of emptying. I was also sold on the promise that it didn't require replacement filters after a few uses, that the filters didn't need cleaning after every use, and that the air that came out of it would not be laden with dust mites and crap.
The key to using this vacuum is to be organized to start with. Since it has only 5-6 minutes of run-time, it's not something to waste time waving around. Vacuum and run. But this is the way I clean, so it is perfectly suited for me.
Bagless handheld vacuum cleaner with Root Cyclone technology Twice the suction of other handhelds; recharges 3 times faster Cordless; picks up large d...More at Amazon
Dyson DC16 Root 6 features twice the suction of other handheld vacuumsBagless, cyclonic vacuum cleaner uses Root Cyclone for constant powerful suction...More at Overstock.com
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