So long, Suckers! (Dyson DC07 Allergy)

Member Name: LegendaryMrDude

Product:	Dyson DC07 Allergy
Date:	02/03/02 (1100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Power, Colour

Disadvantages: Cost

With not so much of a bang as a whimper, my old Hoover Vortex shuffled off it's mortal coil (for the second time). So unimpressed had I been with it's performance over the last 2.5 years that I decided to replace it completely rather than spend another £75 on having another new motor fitted.

The candidate for immediate replacement was a Dyson (obviously), coming highly recommended from all fronts, my mum has one, my mates have them and Doo-Yooers seem to love them as well. So a visit to the local Currys fouond me standing in front of a bewildering array of vacuum cleaners. I wanted an upright. First decision made then as the only upright Dyson on display was the new DC07. Next decision seemed to be choosing the colour and what a range to choose from! From 'traditional' grey/yellow to decidely garish spangly purple/lime-green with most combinations in between. But hang on a second... it's not just a choice of colours. Each colour indicates a different set of features, and commands a correspondingly higher price tag. This is where things could start to get tricky. It turns out that in the DC07 range there are actually 6 different models, ranging in price from £229 up to £289. So what do you get for your money?

First off, the new DC07 uses a new "Root8" technology which increases the suction power by 45%(!) over the original Dysons, this is common across all models in the range. All models also feature a "remote trigger" release mechanism for emptying the dust into the bin. This puts an end to the carrying of an open-topped plastic jug to the bin and uncereminously tipping it in to see clouds of dust billow everywhere, now you just hold the container over/in the bin and press the trigger. The bottom opens and the dust falls out. No mess, no fuss. As with previous Dysons there is also an built-in hose with 'performance' hose attachments tucked away in the actual body of the vacuum cleaner. So that's
the basics covered... What do you get extra on the cheapest model? Ummmm, nothing I'm afraid. You just get a bog-standard grey/yellow DC07 with the features above.

If you want to splash out an additional £20 you get the next in the range, the deliciously coloured grey/turquoise DC07 with Brush Control. This basically gives you an on-off switch for the spinning brush-bar at the front of the machine, particularly useful if you have hard floors or you want to use it for cleaning the car (where it would be pointless to have the brushes turning all the while you're using the hose attachments).

Next up, and weighing in at £269 (costing £40 more than the basic model) is the blue/turquoise OR purple/lime model which not only comes with brush control but also with a HEPA filter. We've already established that brush control is a good thing but what about this filter? Basically it's a very high-performance filter that is capable of trapping exceedingly small particles, with the added bonus of an anti-bacterial screen to kill any nasties that may be hanging around. The Filter itself is supposed to last the lifetime of the vacuum cleaner. I imagine this would be a useful addition if there are members of the household with bad asthma or house-mite allergies.

Topping the range (and costing £289) are two models which boast an additional tool each. The first is the purple/red HEPA+floor-tool. It comes with the afore-mentioned brush control and HEPA filter and has the added bonus of a hose attachment similar to those found on cylinder vacuum cleaners. A wide, flat head with wheels and lots of small 'bristle pads' on the underside, it has been designed for cleaning under furniture and other confined spaces and it does a pretty good job of it too. It is worth pointing out that the floor-tool doesn't have powered brushes though, it's more passive than active when it comes to brushing the carpet. The second range-topper is the
DC07 "Animal" which again comes with brush control and HEPA filters as standard but also comes with an exclusive hose attachment. This time the attachment is in the shape of a turbo-assisted brush attachment which has a rotating brush bar, driven by the in-flow of air. It has been designed to aid in the removal of animal hair from upholstery, hence the "animal" part of the name I suppose.

As it happened, the DC07 HEPA+floor-tool was on special offer for £259 in my local Currys so 5 minutes later I was the proud owner of a purple/red vacuum cleaner.

On getting home I set about the task of building the Dyson, a simple matter of 3 minutes work following the well laid out instructions. Plugged it in and I was away. The first thing I noticed was how difficult it was to push compared to my old Hoover. So I turned it off, unplugged it from the mains and flipped it over to take a look. Surely I must have missed something when I was building it. A set of wheels, a height adjuster or something? Nope, all was as it should be so I set back to vacuuming again. It was then that I noticed it... the reason why it felt harder to push was because the suction is SO strong that it was actually lifting the carpet from the floor!!! As I pushed the Dyson around the room I could see a wave of carpet being lifted up. This combined with the fact that I could see the dust coming from the carpet left me feeling satisfied that it was money well spent. Later on I used the hose and attachments. After an initial battle, I had the hose ready to use and I fitted the 'floor-tool' to it. Considering the hose compresses to fit neatly on the back of the vacuum cleaner, it stretches to an absolutely amazing length. I've not measured it but I'd guess you would need an unusually long flight of stairs to beat it (I live in a ground-floor flat, so I can't actually vouch for this). As for the floor-tool, it does exactly what it said on the box. It mak
es cleaning under tables/chairs etc much easier. No more re-arranging of the furniture every time the vacuuming is done and it's also a lot easier to get into corners and do around the skirting boards too.

So I am happy with my Dyson, but are there any niggles? There are, but they are very minor and probably the result of familiarity with other brands. First off is the location of power switch. It's right in the middle at the front which is actually more out of the way than it sounds. Second on the list is the way you 'unlock' it from the upright position. Everything I've been used to has involved stepping on a button at the back of the machine while pulling the handle towards you. Not so the Dyson, this time you have to stand on a corner at the front while pushing the handle away from you. As I say, it's most likely the result of years doing it the other way that leaves this feeling awkward but awkward it does feel. Finally, I was molly-coddled by my old Hoover which had an automatic cord rewind, but I miss it. I used to just press a button and watch the wire snake across the floor and lovingly try to whip out my eye as the plug flew up towards my face. At least with the Dyson I suppose I can count winding the cord up as a bit more exercise ;-)

I'll leave you with one last point before I go... all of the above models come with a basic filter, even the ones with HEPA filters. These basic filters need cleaning every 6 months or so, but be warned! When washed, they can take up to 3 days to dry and should you put them back in your vacuum while they are still damp you run a srious risk of burning out the motor. Better to buy a spare filter for when you need to clean it so that you can simply swap the old for the new... still clean the old one but put it aside for 6 months ready for the next change-over, it should be dry enough by then!

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