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