handheld vacuum cleaners

[papalazaru]

My second dyson animal cordless vacuum has just died on me. I did love my first even though it had a very dodgy trigger so I bought a second when we moved and it has been brilliant, especially with the doggy hairs that get everywhere. But it too developed a dodgy trigger and now has given up the ghost completely. I don't really want to buy a third dysson because they are so expensive and I know I'll just be asking for trouble. Can anyone recommend one?

Interested to hear what people away. I have been hankering over the new dyson cordless... How long have yours lasted?

Both about 12 months each. The first still worked after 12 months just had this intermittent trigger problem. But the second really has died - actually it's only been 10 months..... I wonder if it's under guarantee??

Im looking for some recommendations too. Have a full size dyson for about 6 years and was thinking about a cheaper handheld brand .

Exactly the same problem here with mine papalazaru. I must say Dyson Customer Service was fab and they sent me a new part.It worked for about 2 months but has now totally died like yours. Havent had time to phone CS yet but I know it will be out of guarantee now as I only just fell within it last time. I have read reports that Dysons handhelds just dont last and the are eye wateringly expensive. Having said that they are so fab I'm almost tempted to buy another one because nothing else comes close. I love the fact you can sweep the floor and then whizz it all up and not have to get the dustpan and brush out. Note to self to get out a bit more!

I also have a Dyson cordless handheld and love it, especially for dusting cornices and sucking out dust from in between the parquet slats.

I love my Dyson cordless too, the battery went a bit funny on mine and Dyson were really good, give them a call, they'll sort it out if it's only 10 months old.

Mine is about 2 years old and is still fine.

Good news - mine came back to life! Still has a dodgy trigger but I do luffs it. It is soooo good at getting the dog hair off the stairs and everything else. Here's hoping it lasts a while..... Because they are super expensive.

Black & decker dustbuster, brilliant even for cat hairs. £22.99 from Amazon.

I have 2 a DC35 and a DC44 and I love them - I nearly cried when the DC35 started playing up - think it is what you describe - trigger seems dodgy and it stops and starts. I phoned up CS who sent me a new battery and told me it was probably just the contacts not meeting properly on the battery as it gets a bit dusty in the battery compartment. In the event, I had a look, took the battery out and it was a bit gritty (toddler comes home from Nursery with half the sandpit). I cleaned both contacts and it now works perfectly again. So I have a spare battery should I need it.

I agree they are very expensive. And you do have to give them a good take-apart clean every 6 months or so for optimum performance. However, they are awesome and no other handheld (or indeed vacuum) comes close for ease of use and performance and sheer keeping-a-house-full-of-kids-and-pets-cleanability.

Customer Service also very good - get any parts replaced during 2y guarantee if any issues.

I have tried a cheap handheld - 25 ish and a dearer one at 80 ish, were both okay, but nowhere near as good as a dyson handheld, gave up on both of them after a few months and just bought what I should have bought in the first place, instead of wasting over 100!