how to de-dog a Dyson?

[vacuumfreeeke]

Well... I got my first Dyson. I'm a little disappointed with its condition, but happy to have a Dyson. Unfortunately, I bought it from CL from a female with long hair and a dog. When I got it home, I realized that it smelled AWFUL. Hair and stuffing were wrapped around the brush roll something terrible! I'm surprised it runs! Above the brush roll, there was caked on dog hair that looked like the lady had sucked up wet hair! I got the brush roll looking pretty good (which is a miracle since the user can't remove a Dyson belt)... and I've washed the dirt bin, bottom plate, filter, and U-bend in the bath tub. Actually the blue filter is soaking in Oxi-clean now.

Anyone know if I can also wash the "lifetime" HEPA filter, or do I need to buy a new one?

What tips do you have to get the dog smell out of a machine? Should I suck up a lot of baking soda and just let it sit in the machine? I think I've washed all the removable parts, and unfortunately, I can't put the whole machine in my bath tub or dishwasher... so any advice would be welcomed. I just wanted to play with and enjoy the machine, and now I have to go through all this before I can even begin to enjoy it! At least I saved a TON of money not buying new... I wonder if it was worth it though... only time will tell.

It's the DC 14 Animal... I didn't know the reason it was called Animal is because it smelled like one!

Thanks for ANY advice )

 

[gottahaveahoove]

Have you tried

BORAX> It's great on a lot of things

 

[myhooverco]

You could always set it on fire! Just a joke You will have to take as much of it apart and wipe it out. I like the scent of Simple Green. It works well on plastic parts. The filters will probably have to go.

--Tom

 

[shanonabc]

NO!!!! WASHING THE HEPA FILTER IS BAD!!!

The HEPA actually needs to be replaced... Seen the effects of washing HEPA filters at Dyson AU. It is $40 AU if my memory serves me right

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

where can ya buy a new HEPA filter

As Dyson doesn't seem to sell them on their web site...

 

[andy]

Bobby,

I get vacs in for repair every day that smell like yours, and I use this stuff on them. The key is to mix it with WARM water, not hot or cold, so that the bacteria are activated. Spray the parts thoroughly, especially the bin/cyclone assembly and just let it sit. Then rinse it all out very thoroughly. This is especially important for the cyclone assembly. You need to make sure you get all of the dirt out before it dries.

Here's a link so you can see what it looks like.

http://www.amazon.com/UNIQUE-Natura...ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1214975967&sr=8-3

 

[rolls_rapide]

The problem with Bagless cleaners is...

That they all allow the fine dust to 'cake' in awkward-to-clean places. This dust can smell quite sour if not thoroughly removed.

On the DC14, this fine dust gathers in the domed ceiling of the inner chamber, as it is flung out of the high-efficiency cylones.

There is a lot to be said in defence of decent bagged machines.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

thanks

I much prefer a bagged machine, as far as colleecting... but I thought it would have fun to have one bagless upright. The smell is diminishing... I used some enzematic pet odor eliminator (though not the brand mentioned here), and sucked up some baking soda. I'm going to buy some borax as well. Maybe I should lock the silly thing in my closet with the Ionic Breeze and see if that can "eat" some of the smell. I cannot believe how people abuse their cleaners!

I wish I'd gotten the DC07, the telecscoping wand assembly on the DC14 is just dreadful!

 

[shanonabc]

OK... Ring Dyson. OIt can be replaced at home without requiring service... The cover just needs to be levered up with a long flat headed screwdriver...

 

[tolivac]

De-Dogg the Dyson---Replace the HEPA filter don't even bother trying to clean it if the previous user had a dog.the doggy smell is about impossible to wash out.when I got my DC07 from the Kirby dealer-it came from a "doggy" household.also had to take apart the cyclones and top part and wash them-it was amazing how much crud still remains in the cyclones.they are not infailable.like a cloth bag stuff acclumilates in them.You have to wash it out.then let all of the parts dry and put them back together.I bought my filter from Best Buy-I would think any dealer that carries Dysons in your area would have the filter or could order it.Even if I was a frequent Dyson user-at how cheap the filters are I would just replace them at the 6 mo Dyson service interval.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

well

Thanks for your advice here guys. Still has the stink! I took the cyclone back apart (unscrewed the star shaped screws), and ran every part of it through my dishwasher TWICE. It still smells of dog. I let it dry, and put it back together. Now I have a good bit of Borax and some dryer sheets just sitting in the reassembled dirt bin. I've filled the hose up with a box of baking soda and stuffed paper towels in each end... I'll leave it like that for a while. Bought some moth balls as well, I heard they can help to remove odors.

I will go to Best Buy tomorrow to buy a filter (I think I do remember seeing them there when I was drooling over the mini-Dyson)...

What an ordeal! I'm sure the smell will dissipate with time (especially since I won't be adding to it!). It seems that the plastic is better now, but that rubber ring at the bottom of the inner cyclone really holds the doggy smell.

 

[rolls_rapide]

You could try those vacuum fresheners

Some of those 'drop in the bag' things can be used in bagless machines.

But read the instructions carefully; some might not be suitable for intimate contact with plastics.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

finally!

After much cleaning and washing and scrubbing, the machine is finally tolerable. If I get right up to the hose or bin and TRY to smell, I can tell that the machine has been abused by a dog owner. However, if I just vacuum with it, it does not "perfume" the ambient air with any malodorous fragrances.

That said, I am a bit disappointed with the amount of dirt the Dyson got from my carpet. I do have flat carpet, and my usual machines of choice are a Kirby G5, a Royal all metal commercial upright, a Sanitaire SC887 upright and a Kenmore Iridium canister... so I'm sure they don't leave much dirt behind. Still, I expected more from the Dyson. I've read stories/reviews from people who filled up many bins with the their first Dyson use. Maybe when I bring it to friends with inferior machines and thicker carpets to show off, I'll be more impressed.

A gal can dream huh? I just HAD to have a Dyson!

 

[danny]

Dyson a-ok

My cousin's wife's daughter got a Dyson and its just groovy. Danny.

 

[hoover1060]

Dyson,

Bobby,
A few years back I had a chance to use a Dyson for about a month, a DC07 Animal. I had always wanted to try one, but could not see shelling out the $$$ they want for one. So when I friend offered me use of the one in his collection I jumped at the chance.

I was most surprised at how that dinky brush roller groomed the rugs. I have 1/2 inch plush in my LR/DR, and the Dyson really seemed to dig in! It also seemed to get (most) all the dog hair up too. I really liked the hose/tools setup, and the tool suction was excellent.

Now the downside: the dinky brush roll could not cope with Jack's hair, and while most of what was picked up went to the bin, there was a considerable amount that just tied itself around the brush roll. If I didn't clean the brush roll after every use, it got so bad that the bristles would disappear under all the hair!
I also found that contrary to what Mr. Dyson claims, the machine does lose power, pretty much as soon as the bin is full enough for the stuff to stop spinning. The loss was not huge, but it was noticeable. I also compared amounts picked up with other cleaners, and the Dyson was not picking up any more than a Hoover Convertible would covering the same carpet.
It will be interesting to see what happens when you try it out other places.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

hmmm

I wondered why they used that design for the brush rolls. I know that the higher end models use more traditional brush rolls, but I just wonder what reason they chose to use the almost flat brush rolls on the DC07 and DC14.

 

[bimmer740]

DC07/DC14

I have been able to use both models along with the DC17, and if you "just have to have a Dyson", spend the extra money on the DC17. I used to work for a small appliance repair shop that was an authorized Dyson repair center. At the end of the night we often used a Dyson to vacuum the very small sales floor area. There was always a noticable difference between the amount and type of dirt in the DC17 compared to the DC07. The brush roll on the DC07 is an odd shape that becomes easily tangled with debris. The DC07 brush roll also seems to wear down fairly quickly. I still can't see paying $500+ for a Dyson as the build quality leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

Here's a pic of my Dyson

It came without the turbine tool (which I can't stand anyway), and I left the Zorb attachment in the car trunk... I'll never use it. I'm glad it came with the bare floor tool, though... I LOVE that tool.

I was in the store today and noticed what a much better machine the DC17 is than the 14. The auxiliary handle is more comfortable for above the floor use, the tools aren't stored on the dirt tank, has a traditional real brush roll, and a separate power switch for said brush roll instead of the clutch system.

I took the Dyson out to vacuum the car yesterday and I was pretty impressed with its performance there. I also used the attachments in the bedroom and got cobwebs out of the corners that had been there since I moved into this apartment. I had quite a good time!

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

well...

I tried it out at a friend's apartment. He's got much thicker carpet than me and several oriental rugs. He has a 60 dollar Wal-mart Bissell Bagless (you know, the black one with the red rocker switch halfway down the side of the cleaner). I was QUITE surprised that my Dyson didn't get much at all from his floors! It had full suction, the brush roll was turing fine, and it really didn't get much up at all. The only thing in the dirt chamber was fuzz from the oriental rugs! He said it had been a week since he last vacuumed. Tomorrow, I'm going to another friends place... he's got berber. We'll see how it goes there. He's got a Bissell made Singer upright and a Kirby G4 which he says isn't working right. I'll post the results!