To regret buying a cordless Dyson

[Crimson72]

I bought a new Dyson V7 cordless vacuum recently. According to the instructions it only lasts for 20 minutes' worth of vacuuming (or just six minutes on max mode!) before needing a charge, which takes 3.5 hours. I admit I did know this information before I bought it, but I think I was "sucked in" (no pun intended) by the look of it, the convenience of not having a cord, new technology etc.

Now it's arrived and while it is very easy to scoot around with, I'm thinking that 20 minutes just doesn't sound long enough to do a full vacuum of the house - and I imagine that charging it every time after use will be a PITA as well. The drum, where the dirt collects, is tiny and will therefore need emptying on a very regular basis, unlike my old Dyson which had a large cylinder and collected loads of dirt before emptying.

You have to hold down the on button while vacuuming - which isn't too much of an issue I suppose as it's where your finger would naturally rest anyway. The instructions also suggest mounting a docking station on your wall, which I'd rather not do, but it doesn't stand upright in the cupboard otherwise.

I'm now wanting to vacuum my kitchen floor but am unable to as it's only one hour into the 3.5 hour charge.

Does anyone else have one of these vacuums and AIBU to regret buying one? It does have great reviews online so I'm hoping I will grow to love it...

Oh yes, the customer service is great. The battery on the V6 we had died, they didn't have that one in stock, so sent us a brand new V8 instead. (I bought a replacement battery from amazon, so now we have one Dyson on each floor).

Gilles - yes Dyson customer services were great sending out the two replacement heads. But they’ve told us now we can’t have any more as it’s over two years. By my reckoning, it’ll conk out again some time next August and then we’ll maybe have to invest in a brand new one.

I think I'd lose the will to live before 20 mins of hoovering was up! We have a four-bed and pets and it doesn't take that long, although granted we don't do the whole house at one time - high traffic areas are done more frequently and stuff like the spare room, my office are done as and when. I wouldn't generally hoover the whole house in one go.

I've got a vax cordless,I can get 2 to 3 full house hooverings out of mine before it need a charging,BUT I've got an average sized home so obviously doesn't take that long

I got the v10 after lots of research into it and I'm so happy with my choice. DH was sceptical but he's been converted and has actually become slightly addicted to hoovering!

I can hoover the whole house, including using all the attachments to do the skirting boards, blinds, etc without running out of power. I never use the max setting though because I find it too powerful so it's harder to move the Hoover along the carpet. I've never had any problems with clumps of dirt getting caught up in the cylinder, but the filter does need a rinse every couple of months or so.

Have you actually used the V7 yet?

That is what put me off them, I don't want cordless, I want to be able to switch on and use it until I am done. I used to have a little Boss handheld with a cord for the stairs, it was great, there is nothing like it to buy any more and the replacement is rubbish. Still have the Dyson ball one for the house and not prepared to waste money on another Dyson, I don't think they as good any more.

I love mine, but I agree that the holding-down-your-finger thing is a design flaw. I would like the option of not doing that.

I wouldn't want to vacuum for more than 20 mins, and I find that since having the Dyson I'm more inclined to do it more regularly, because it's such a breeze to use, so things don't get as bad.

The older models have much less charge. The V10 is brilliant. I got mine in May and I’ve only used the normal hoover once since.

Can you return it?

We've got a V6 Animal and it's a pain in the fucking arse. Absolutely crap on lino flooring, as it just blows shite everywhere and I'd have an easier time using a dustpan and brush.

I have long hair and am a shedder, so whilst I vacuum every other day and don't expect it to pick up all my loose hair, it clogs up after about 30 seconds and I spend more time cutting the hair out of the spool than I do actually cleaning.

DH and I are looking into buying a Shark, which I really hope is more efficient!

I love mine (it lives in the garage for charging), but we do also have a Hetty for a more thorough clean.

I couldn’t live with it as my only vac (2 dogs, 2 children and wooden floors), but I love the fact that it’s so easy to give a quick clean (and get rid of the dust).

I’ve got a cordless Vax and I love it. I only ever hoover upstairs or downstairs in one go, never both.

It’s great on carpet and hard floor.

I wouldn’t go back to my heavy, hard to manoeuvre corded Dyson.

I love ours. I can do the whole house (small 3 bed) superficially in the 20 mins, or more commonly will do a proper hoover of downstairs, let it charge up and empty it, then do upstairs later in the day. It's only annoying if we have guests coming and it cuts out before everywhere is clean.

Having to empty it is kind of annoying, but not enough to put me off (I use a pencil to get stuff out). And yes long hair clogs up the wheels, but it's quite satisfying to clean and doesn't need doing that often.

We don't even own a plug-in hoover anymore, there's no point.

In my experience it does not last anywhere near 20 mins! Like someone said, it's great to have in addition to a proper hoover to do stairs, corners of the ceiling or to clear up something that's been dropped or spilled etc.

We had ours a year and then I got rid of it and got a big dyson.

I have a cordless vacuum cleaner and I hate it. I find it is rubbish compared to my old faithful Henry.

And yes long hair clogs up the wheels, but it's quite satisfying to clean and doesn't need doing that often.

It's not satisfying if you just need to get shit done.

Takes me over half an hour to hoover a two bed thoroughly - how on earth can you do a house in 15 minutes like some PPs

Try other brands. Go to Currys, you can try them there. Some good ones online (Amazon - read the reviews thouroughly!).

I tried Dyson cordless in Currys, and wasn't that impressed to be honest. It was noisy and I don't want to hold the button down. Got a cheaper cordless one - AEG Animal - and find it useful to do more regularly and to do the stairs . But like others, I use a power mains one (Shark) every few weeks to do a more powerful job.

I mean in my branch of Currys you can actually try them out, as there is a small batch of them plugged in!

I'm with you Crimson. Had a Dyson and the 20 mins and charging thing just isn't practical. Especially when you have a 4 year old and a cat. You need a hoover that does just that. When you want and need it to. Have just thrown it out. A bit broke and Dyson wanted 40 quid to replace it
We replaced Dyson with a cheap, Argos, corded for 40 pounds. Much better. I can actually use it when I want to.

Love ours and find 20 mins is enough even with all our stairs .
I hate corded ones so this one is so easy and it lives in the charging unit so it always has charge anyway

@Ruddle91 - how much of the time you spend is adjusting the hoover or double-backing? Just because you spend ages doesn’t mean your house is cleaner!! I used to spend 45 mins hoovering my house with a Henry. Then 35mins with a full sized Dyson. Now 15 mins with the handheld V10.

Love my dyson. One of best things I’ve ever bought. Just do downstairs then charge then do upstairs. I vac a lot more now. We do have it wall mounted in utility room.

We got our cordless Dylan BECAUSE of the docking station. Hangs neatly in the hall ready to go when needed. Can do our 4 bed house easy. I sort and tidy downstairs. Vac. Put on charge while I tidy and put away upstairs then vac again.

As long as it's maintained and kept clean it does a fab job. Just keep on top of cleaning the filter.

I've heard it combines nicely with a rooms or robot Hoover.

I bought one, it's feckin useless. It's got no suction.