Dyson DC55 Total Clean - Review and impressions

[matt8808]

So I've seen quite a few people banging on about how great the mk2 DC40's and 41's are. I'm not a huge Dyson fan, but I'm not a Dyson hater either. I do think bag is best.

Of their recent machines I've had the 'original' DC41 Animal and also a DC39 Animal.

Overall the DC41 wasn't a BAD machine, but it had its flaws. The main reason I parted with it was I didn't like the huge amount of heat it seemed to generate and I was also having issues with the hose seal where the hose connects to the machine.

No major issues with the DC39, but I got rid of it when I bought my Kirby about a year or so ago.

Until today I only had two machines in the house. My Kirby Sentria2 and a Sebo D4 Premium Eco. The Kirby having been my daily driver lately and the Sebo not seeing much use.

Que the DC55 Total Clean... It's basically identical to the DC41mk2 other than the colour and it coming with more tools.

I HAD wanted the DC75 Cinetic Big Ball, however the fact you can't use the cinetic machines on fine dust such as DIY dirt and such like pretty much made it completely unsuitable for me in the long term.
Vacuum some plaster dust or soot up with the DC55 and have to clean the filter sooner. Do that with the DC75? Ruined machine? Who knows. Not something I wanted to take a gamble on. There was only £20 difference in price between the two machines.

Machine came with the Tangle free turbine head, the new design soft dusting brush and some funky tool for cleaning under the fridge and things that also converts into a flexi crevice tool...

 

[matt8808]

I had two and a half old DC07's in the shed, so I made one machine from all the good bits, and one machine from all the bad bits. The bad machine I used as a trade in. Dyson have a nationwide offer on at the moment where you can trade in your old machine. I got £100 for the DC07, meaning I only paid 329.99 for the DC55. Heres a snap of the trade in....

 

[matt8808]

M first impression is that the brush roll is VERY stiff. I mean it's like Dyson gave it viagra.

The little velvet type strips around the floor plate for hard floor performance are a nice touch, however it won't be long till they're worn away to nothing.

 

[dys0nb0y]

ask about what it could pick up and what couldn't only thing is plaster dust but everything else should be fine they said you can pick up ash and plaster dust and things like that but only in small amounts.

 

[dys0nb0y]

and my dyson dc59 has the same strips on the head and it haven't worn away mind is 1 years old and they still there they just flatten out a bit.

 

[dys0nb0y]

viagara lololololol

 

[matt8808]

Right. So. First use. Suction is very impressive for a 700w motor. Machine seems much quieter than the original DC41, and it generates very little heat in comparison. Going from using the Kirby as a daily driver to this the machine seems nice and compact and very easy to steer around things.

Thats the good stuff out the way. Now this outstanding agitation you've all been banging on about - yes I've seen the youtube videos - but on our plush carpets it is very average.
I say average. It's slightly better than the Sebo, but nowhere near as good as the Kirby. It IS however the best Dyson have ever offered. Certainly puts them in line with Miele and Sebo for agitation in my view. So as far as agitation goes, there are worse machines, and there are better machines.

Anyway, I vacuumed the living room with the Kirby yesterday. I did it again with the Dyson today. As you an see it has picked up a huge amount, I feel so dirty HAHAHA NOT!

A small ball of carpet fuzz and cat hair (we have 3 cats), and the bits that look like sawdust are actually small bits of the box from me unpacking the machine. No grit or sand in sight... It's nice to know the Kirby is working well

 

[matt8808]

I then sucked the dirt from the front room carpet back up (testing out the new soft dusting brush) and vacuumed the rest of the house. Again, I'd given everywhere a going over with the Kirby yesterday. This is what I got from the rest of the house combined with what you've just seen from the front room.... Again, no sand or grit, just some fuzz, cat hair and dust. Oh and some stray bits of cat food.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

It is the combination of the agitation and the suction seal which is why this dyson has earned its reputation of the best performing dyson ever. Even on plush carpets, tilt it back and it will grab the carpet and lift it up quite a way, something by felix does not do.

What I find annoying about the new dysons is the huge unbrushed section of carpet housing the brushroll belt. My felix is one clean sweep of cleaning. The lawn mower like strips on the carpets look amazing with a felix, as I am sure you know with your D4 premium.

Credit where it is due, you have to admit this is a very good machine and more worthy of its price tag. Hope you enjoy using it.

 

[matt8808]

At this point I emptied the machine and gave the house an extra good going over.
Under and behind the sofa, the risers on the stairs ect. I even did the car! This is what I got....

 

[dys0nb0y]

I have noticed on plush carpet agitation doesn't show with any vacuum

 

[matt8808]

At this point I'm starting to think the Kirby may be leaving the house TOO clean. Where is all the real dirt??? The nasty stuff?

I've not vacuumed the cats beds for AGES. Time to use the tangle free tool....

BORK!!! Look at all that dander and filth! Vile cats haha

 

[parwaz786]

I cant decide what to get... The stylish DC41 in Satin blue or the big ball without the lovely blue?

 

[sptyks]

Isn't nice to know you can always rely on that good ol' Kirby to keep your house really clean.

 

[parwaz786]

Seriously the Kirby is that good? I MUST get one!
Btw are your carpets thick enough so much so that opening the door needs some energy?

 

[matt8808]

All in all it's probably the best Dyson have offered so far.

I know I've just poked fun at how little it has picked up, but I honestly didn't expect it to, not given the fact my daily driver has been a Kirby Sentria2 and our carpets are only about 2 years old.

I will be keeping it alongside the Kirby, using both as daily drivers and possibly may look at parting with the Sebo.

I will look to making a video demonstrating the difference in agitation between the 3 machines in the near future.

 

[sptyks]

Oli, I think you missed the jist of Matt's review! He's finding that his new Dyson "Sucks" and not in a good way.

 

[matt8808]

Dysonboy - our carpets are plush and we have a premium foam underlay under them. I can feel the Dyson agitating don't get me wrong, it's just nowhere near as much as the Kirby agitates.

Parwaz - Our internal doors were fitted after the flooring so they are cut enough to clear the top of the carpet pile.

 

[dys0nb0y]

no vacuum is going to pick up a lot after vacuum just a day ago.that red does look very nice

 

[sptyks]

<a style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;" name="start_28512.318431"></a>


<div style="margin-top: 85px;">
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">"no vacuum is going to pick up a lot after vacuum just a day ago."</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Especially if the vacuum used a day ago was a Kirby.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;">Remember what you get when you own a Kirby:  "<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Quality, Reliability, Performance"</span></p>
</div>

 

[matt8808]

Yes yes sptyks we get that you're not a Dyson fan

The two are clearly VERY different machines due to one being clean air and one being diry air for starters.

For me the benefit of having the Dyson for me is that it is much more nimble and compact to use.

The benefits of the Kirby are it's outstanding cleaning ability, the amount of tasks it can undertake and the life expectancy.

But then both machines have their drawbacks too.

The Kirby is heavy, loud and cumbersome in small spaces.

The Dyson is plastic and will have a MUCH shorter life expectancy.

I'll always have a second machine alongside the Kirby... Others come and go, but my Kirby is here for the long haul. It's just nice having something different to play with every once in a while!

 

[sptyks]

Hi Matt, FYI - I am not just a Kirby fan, I am also a fan of the Sebo Felix. I am looking for reliable input from anyone who has experience with the Felix. Have you used one?  I am in the market for a good used one if the opportunity presents itself.

 

[marcusprit]

I'd like to see you reverse the test. Don't vacuum for a while go over with the Dyson first then put a new bag in your Kirby and see how much it picks up.

My guess is it won't be a great deal ;-)

You wouldn't expect the Dyson to pick up a lot after recently cleaning with a Kirby which is supposed to be the deepest cleaner available.

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

So sptyks. When did you use a DC55, or DC41mk2, or Dyson cinetic ?

You are a Kirby fanboy, not a vacuum enthusiast.

I however have used a Kirby, used a Sentria 2 as my in laws have one and while it is beautifully built and performance is excellent, I would not have one. Too bulky, too heavy, too loud and a pig to use on hardfloors or any of the attachments.

A sebo felix is a fantastic vacuum and a great all rounder, and is my daily user, other than the dc59.

But you probably are still uncomfortable with the fact some people are actually happy with their dyson and they are good vacuums. I remember this from my dc41 mk2 thread.

 

[marcusprit]

Personally I would only use a Kirby as a deep cleaner every 2 weeks or so and use the Dyson as my daily cleaner

It cleans deep enough for me, it's quieter easier to manouvre around objects you can turn the brushroll off at the flick of a switch, an instant release wand and you can dump the dirt every week so you don't have a smelly rotting bag of dirt and it's performance on hard floors is the best I've seen.

And if the Kirby agitates so much better than the Dyson seen in Oliver's video I would be worried about my carpets wearing away prematurely

 

[marcusprit]

And I agree with Matt it's nice have something different to play with once in a while, which is why I won't be getting married again )))

 

[sebo_fan]

Good post, Matt.

I can't help but feel that either TTI have copied Dyson or ripped it off someone else about the plush velour strips. There's a small bar of it fitted to the underside of the Vax Cordless Air, which I adore. It seems to leave grooming marks in the carpet all by the addition of it alone. But the Vax also picks up a lot more in my home, including top soil wool, which I have to be careful with.

sptyks - for the many posts that I and other Felix owners have already commented or created, its a bit of a smack in the face to read that you still require additional info if you are considering a SEBO Felix. What are you missing that you haven't possibly found on this forum in regard to it?

The biggest machine I have which in terms of bulk is the SEBO 360 in my home. It copes just about as well as it can; the fact that it can clean down low flat to the floor is the best design element for my home.

Kirby and I are seasonal fans; I've used them in schools to clean large and expansive classrooms with and they're excellent, even if coercing around corners of tables and chairs. I'd never have one in my home though - far too big and even with self drive I'd find it a struggle to get down my narrow hallways. I did try it once and it wasn't a successful affair, sadly!

 

[marcusprit]

This was my experience of Kirby yes they are excellent for performance reliability and build quality but not the easiest to use in the average UK home better suited to larger homes me thinks

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

The Dyson and Sebo vacuums deep clean perfectly fine. I really don't see why you should spend thousands of pounds more on a Kirby which will "deep clean even better". I was content when I properly deep cleaned my carpets with my Bissell big green shampooer and found no grit or extra debris coming out of the carpets. The SEBO my mother has had for 21 years has proved itself. The carpets never wore down, they looked happy and healthy and has only just recently replace them because she wanted to change her colour scheme, and they weren't particularly expensive carpets anyway. Longevity? Like I said, it is 21 years old and hasn't even had new brushes on the motor. No service's what-so ever. Even if it needed new carbon brushes that would be understandable. It has had I think a couple of new brush rolls.

As much as Kirbys are good vacuums, I think, and this is my honest opinion and not many will like it, but considering the less expensive alternatives which offer roughly the same performance or as good as anyone needs for at least half the price, I think Kirbys are a rich mans toy, a status symbol. They suit a good amount of people and that is fine, but for most people, a SEBO or one of the new dysons, depending on if they want bagged or bagless, would do most people just fine.

This is not aimed at anyone in particular but the constant bashing of not just dysons now, but nearly everything that isn't a Kirby, is getting silly now.