NOW CLOSED: Dyson Digital Slim DC44 Tester feedback review thread – Non testers – you could win a Dyson

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the testers currently putting the Dyson Digital Slim DC44 through its paces this Christmas.

Once you've received the Dyson and have had a play please let us know your first impressions.

Then let us know - across the next couple of weeks - how you're getting on with the challenges (do also let us know if you've invented or discovered any other ways the Dyson helped out!).

Here's what Dyson say about their challenges:

The balance challenge - "We know that often busy parents need to multi task. So can you still vacuum with the Dyson digital slim whilst the other hand is doing something else - carrying the baby, the dog, the phone, cooking, putting things away (you name it)".

The versatility challenge - "how useful are the different attachments in cleaning those hard to reach places?"

The cobweb challenge - "can you reach those high up cobwebs that have been sat there lurking for a while?"

The family mess challenge - "pets, children, mud, crisps, crumbs? what family mess can the Dyson digital slim pick up?"

The 20 minute dash challenge - Guests turning up announced? How much of the house can you clean in 20 minutes with the Dyson digital slim?

You will need to add feedback at least twice - once everyone has added their feedback on the challenges we'll add some questions to find out your overall views.

If you're not a tester, we've persuaded Dyson to give one lucky MNer the Dyson machine of their choice - all you need to do is, on this thread, share your cleaning tips and/or the hardest place you've had to reach when cleaning and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a Dyson (could be vacuum, an Air Multiplier fan or a Dyson Hot).

Thanks, MNHQ

[FrillyMilly]

Please tell us your overall opinion of the DC44
Overall I think it's a great lightweight handheld to have in addition to an upright

What have you found it good for around the house?
Good for quick tidy up and for mess after mealtimes. Also great for the car and getting the cobwebs. The ball makes it really easy to get under the couch, around toys and under the bed.

What about the features such as: weight of the vac, recharging time, charge time, accessories etc
It is really lightweight for the power it has. The charging time is way too long for 20 minutes cleaning power although I tend not to let it run out. The accessories it came with seem sufficient for what it gets used for.

Do you think you'd recommend to other people (if asked)?
I would definitely recommend it but unless you had a small living space I think it would be a luxury to have along side an upright. Given the price that may stop me recommending it to some people.

[Nooneelseisallowedafergus]

Cleaning tip for anyone living with boys / men:

Keep a jug near the toilet. Then, if the wee hits the upper inside part of the toilet (that doesn't get touched by the flush) all you / they have to do, is fill the jug with water from the sink and pour on the offending area to stop the stale wee smell.

[stealthsquiggle]

Not a tester. Not bitter about that (much). Really really want a Dyson (no offence to our Henry, but parts of the house are finally emerging from the state in which what we need is a builder's vacuum, and it would be nice to be able to treat them as such)

Hardest place to clean - that would be the window/windowsill which is ~10ft from the floor, above the front door, and about 6ft away from the nearest bit of landing (which has a bannister that I would really not want to trust with my life). I still haven't worked out how to solve that one - the joys of an old, and converted, house. We have another windowsill similarly stranded but you can reach across the gap from the landing with a long enough tube.

Cleaning tip - if you are doing the mad panic pre-visitor clean up, then don't get the DC to vacuum - they may love doing it (or are my DC really strange?) but speed is not their strong point. Instead, give them other tasks - DC1 is good at putting stuff into neat piles (to be relocated if there is any time left), and given a spray bottle of glass cleaner and some kitchen towel, DC2 does an outstanding job on the bottom half of windows and mirrors, and the granite worktops in the kitchen which may be because she likes admiring her reflection in the nice shiny results.

[PartTimeModel]

I went and brought one of these Dysons and I LOVE it!!

It got delivered to work & my colleague saw it - and she went and brought one too! I think Dyson might have (another) a hit on their hands here.

[PartTimeModel]

I did dither about buying one as I felt the lack of on/off switch (mentioned by some above) was a real negative, but now I am using it, it isn't an issue at all. In fact I love the trigger switch. I have a small flat and use the Dyson with various attachments for everything and move stuff as I go, so the trigger works really well.

[swallowedAfly]

the trigger switch is fine unless you have carpel tunnel, arthritis or anything else (including old age) that effects the strength in your hand or makes you susceptible to hand pain. i think tbh there should be a warning regarding that for the product.

[rusmum]

Non tester 😞worse place to clean is down the back of the radiator! Bits of toys sweets at. All stuck between pipes. Fiddly and annoying job!!!! Always end up scraping my knuckles and not quite bring able to reach that....,,,, but if Lego , glittery rubber, bar is shoe or jelly baby stuck down there!

[hanbee]

Hi my cleaning tip is a cap full of white wine vinegar in the rinse compartment (the bit where you'd otherwise put fabric conditioner) when you wash your towels. Don't add fabric conditioner. The vinegar strips the old soap from the towel which makes the towel go hard, and restores its softness without leaving a smell. Cheap too.

[Babycarmen]

Ooh I wish I could have tested one of these! I have to Hoover out the vent in my bathroom because the fan broke and I almost always hurt my back trying to reach! :)

[peronel]

My cleaning tip: if you have a job that needs to be done regularly, but that you hate - here's how to make it bearable. Set a kitchen timer for 10 minutes (or whatever time you allocate). You will be surprised how much easier this makes, say, cleaning the bathroom. And promise yourself a small treat when you've finished!

[Dwagon]

I agree that one of the hardest places to clean is behind the TV: the static electricity sucks in dust and as I still have a huge and heavy early 90's Flintstones style TV I find it almost impossible to move more than once a year, by which time the plugs, wires, skirting boards and lower walls all look as though they have been heavily flocked in dead mouse.

My top tip is that the aforementioned flocking, and indeed general dust, never gets beyond an inch deep, so once a year with the Dyson should do the trick.

[mamamibbo]

when i was pregnant and nesting i vaccumed all the ceilings, seemed important at the time, that was pretty hard heavily pregnant

my cleaning tip as a mum of 4 is to leave it till they are asleep, cleaning while they are awake and 'helping' is pointless

[Strontium]

My only tip is: Nappy wipes! Unfragranced nappy wipes are useful for cleaning walls, sinks, muddy bits of the floor... they are always there and ready to help. For floors, a quick going over with the vacuum and then a strategic few minutes with the nappy wipes can fake a proper mop when people are coming over. Cheating? Yes. But in a good way.

[SirBoobAlot]

(Video clips sending currently)

Please tell us your overall opinion of the DC44:

Overall, I think the DC44 is brilliant. One handed it is a breeze to use, a pleasure to handle, easy to empty. It is so lovely not to be tripping over a wire constantly.


What have you found it good for around the house?

Just the general suction power in itself has been brilliant. Because of the slim design and wonderful maveouverability, it has fit wonderfully into all the places you normally struggle to reach - under the sofa, tight corners, down the side of the cooker.


What about the features such as: weight of the vac, recharging time, charge time, accessories etc.

Charge time couple be slightly quicker, but then again, for the power of suction you can't really complain. The weight is fabulous; light enough not to be completely exhausting, but heavy enough that you don't feel like you are holding thin air. The weight balance between the main unit and head is also superb.


Do you think you'd recommend to other people (if asked)?

Yes, and have done already, especially to my disabled friends.

[SuzysZoo]

I am posting my final responses to the additional questions.

Please tell us your overall opinion of the DC44
This is an excellent product for spot cleaning/dusting and has certainly made me much more relaxed about mess around the house!

What have you found it good for around the house?

Spot cleaning crumbs, debris from craft activity, the hallway, stairs, small areas not reached by large upright vacuum cleaner

What about the features such as: weight of the vac, recharging time, charge time, accessories etc

I keep the vacuum on charge all the time so I have not had a problem with the recharging. 20 minutes is long enough to hoover for anyone! The product is lightweight - it could be lighter but there is probably a limit to how light it is possible to make the product and maintain efficiency. As mentioned many times by virtually everyone who uses this, the flaw is the on/off switch. I do not understand this element of the product's design. If Dyson read this I expect a new model with simple on/off switch soon!

Do you think you'd recommend to other people (if asked)?
Yes, it's great. It would not disappoint and is a great little machine.

[Fredstheteds]

Get a dog in the dyson daily

[mummyofcutetwo]

I wasn't lucky enough to test drive this one.

The hardest place I have to clean (on a ridiculously frequent basis) is the condenser unit of our tumble drier. I just can't get between the cooling fins and the unit gets soooo clogged up with lint and hair (my hair drops out at an alarming rate), which means it doesn't dry the clothes properly.

[SirBoobAlot]

ARGH was sending the video clips, it was taking four bloody hours, was waiting up to make sure they sent, and shockwave or whatever it is bloody called has just crashed with ten minutes to go.

I am actually going to cry.

Resend them too.

But first cry.

[stealthsquiggle]

Mummyofcute2 you just wash the condensor through with lots of water - from back to front, IYSWIM.

[Indith]

YOu know what we really need?

I know lots of you do the sock on teh end of the hoover thing but that leaves half the dust bunnies behind. What we need is a hoover with an automatic separation thingy for heavy things so little bits off shite lego and playmobil and sylvanian bloody families get put in their own little section and we don't have to rootle through the dust every time we hear that dreaded rattle of something toy related going up the hose.

You listening Dyson?

then get me to test it because I could never afford a Dyson

[peanutMD]

Please tell us your overall opinion of the DC44

I absolutely love the DC44 and like others would not give it up now that I have tried it out, it's convenient to grab for a quick dash and has been a god send the last few weeks when my SPD has been acting up because I don't have to twist and turn so much and it is pretty lightweight.

What have you found it good for around the house?

To be honest it has taken over as our main vacuum and seems to be able to cope with this but it has been used for jobs which I would never have dreamt of using our big upright for such as getting up into those hidden corners in cupboards, stairway, around the base of the fridge and inside awkward glass star shaped lightshades!

What about the features such as: weight of the vac, recharging time, charge time, accessories etc

Weight - It is incredibly easy to just grab and go because it is so lightweight.

Recharging time - I did think the charging time vs work time was ridiculous on paper but when actually using it, 20 minutes is adequate for (most) jobs and we just put ours back on the charger when done so it's always ready to go and we don't really notice the charge time now.

Charge time - Again 20 minutes is adequate for most general household jobs but if a longer life battery were available it would be handy as sometimes you just need that bit of extra power, especially if using the MAX button which drains the battery in 6 minutes!

Accessories - All of these have came in handy one way or another and they do the job well, although like another poster the red strip on the small head came off after using once which made me question the durability. I was also a bit confused by the fact that there are 3 accessories supplied along with the pole and large machine head yet there only space to store 2 of them which could lead to them become lost/broken.

Trigger - This was my main issue with the DC44 as it is with a lot of people. The fact that you have to pull it in continuously can lead to discomfort after 5 minutes or so BUT I do appreciate that this helps to save power/time when using as it means there is no faffing about to press buttons to switch off if required. However I would like to see a clip of some sort in future that can be used to hold the trigger in place if you are using for a long period of time to avoid muscle strain and discomfort.

Do you think you'd recommend to other people (if asked)?

I would definitely recommend and have done already to friends and family who have asked how I am getting on with the DC44.

[AnnMumsnet]

SirBoobAlot - the video has arrived...sorry it was painful!

[alemci]

bobalot, if it is any consolation, mine have had to go in 4 lots and each lot seems to take about 4 hours. They are only video clips but our internet isn't brilliant.

here goes with lot 3.

[SirBoobAlot]

Thank goodness for that. Thank you!

[Pisces]

Please tell us your overall opinion of the DC44

Overall I have found it a really useful tool. It can perform a really good quick clean up which is excellent.

What have you found it good for around the house?

I have found it really, really useful for cleaning up after my pets - they shred hair all over the place and to be able to just pick up the Dyson and attack the hairy area with no need to plug the hoover in, stretch the lead etc, brilliant.


What about the features such as: weight of the vac, recharging time, charge time, accessories etc

In the beginning I found the weight of the Dyson to be quite heavy but I have got used to it now and it does not bother me. I would say persevere to anyone who goes ahead and buys one.

The recharging time is quite long but, this is not your No.1 main hoover, it is a secondary one and if you have not managed to run around the house in 20 mins for a quick clean with it then you have bought the wrong appliance.

The accessories are quite adequate. I will be buying (if I can) the special pet brush and if there is one available, another wall hanging appliance holder as at the moment the Dyson kit does not have room for all the appliances.

Do you think you'd recommend to other people (if asked)?

I would highly recommend it to others. In my product review I likened it to the modern day equivalent of our grandmothers' cordless carpet cleaners and I know my Nan still has hers and raves by it!

As much as I do love it, I would have to say that even though I recommend it, it could for some be a pricey secondary vacuum.