Dyson has been around for awhile and no doubt, if you love a clean home, you’re heard of the brand. Why? They’re known to have “super suction” and have a variety of stand-up models, including cordless models. Dyson machines now have smaller multiple cyclones than ever before, which create greater centrifugal forces and capture more microscopic dust (this is critical if you have allergies) than any other cyclones. Those if you who have had to push one of those heavy vacuums around know, they’re clunky, hard to move around and can’t make it under tough to reach spots.
I’ve always struggled with finding a great vacuum and two I purchased in the last ten years still don’t work that well. As you know if you’ve ever had to push one of these around, normal upright vacuum cleaners have fixed wheels and run on a fixed axle. They also move in straight lines, a bit like a push mower. A Dyson Ball machine is different in that it rides on a ball, pivoting on a single point, which allows the machine to move in any direction. That’s the first godsend but once you get down to different models, there’s a whole lot more.
Meet the Dyson V6 Absolute, which we’ve been testing out recently. It looks like there’s a lot of moving parts, but we’ll walk you through why!
One of the coolest parts about this upright machine which comes apart, is that it’s cordless, the first godsend for avid travelers. Let’s face it. For those of us on the road a lot, the last thing we want to deal with when we get home from a trip is vacuuming the house and dealing with cords when we do.
What’s sweet about the V6 is that first and foremost, it’s very quick to get through one room, largely because it IS cordless and because it’s much lighter than traditional stand-up vacuum cleaners. We love this feature and anyone with a busy lifestyle will too! There’s also a lot of options to choose from when cleaning, including a soft roller cleaner head, which is invented for hard floors, another feature that we love! The soft roller cleaner head removes large debris and fine dust simultaneously. We were surprised how quickly it picked up the dust on our hardware floors — we tested it on two rooms, the kitchen floor and a hallway. One thing to note is that because it has such strong suction, you’ll typically have to change the container sooner than you normally would – in our case, we had to do it once for coverage of two rooms and a small hallway. How often you need to clean it will depend on how clean your floors are to begin with and how often you clean.
Next up is the Direct-drive cleaner head, which can be used for very thin throw rugs like the one I’m working on below, or more standard wall-to-wall carpets. The Direct-drive cleaner head drives bristles deeper into the carpet to remove even more dirt and its carbon fiber filaments remove fine dust from hard floors.
One thing worth noting also is that it is so low that I could easily get it underneath furniture that traditional vacuums simply can’t. While there’s no doubt, I’m in love with Rocky, our iRobot Roomba and have recommended it to everyone, what I like about the Dyson is how deep it goes into the carpet to extract even more dirt. What I’d recommend is letting your Roomba run around your house twice a month and the other two weeks, using a Dyson for even deeper cleaning – this is the best formula I know for a super clean house while easing the load of having to clean so hard. Remember that the Dyson is lighter and faster as well and because it’s cordless, you can move from room-to-room more efficiently. It’s a winning duo for any house.
Another thing to note about the Dyson is its whole machine HEPA filtration, which is an added plus for anyone who has Asthma and Allergies. Truth be told, even if you don’t have allergies, dust can cause irritation and frankly, shouldn’t be something you ingest on a regular basis. Dyson is certified asthma and allergy friendly — as an aside, sufferers may also want to know about the useful uHoo air filter which has eight dedicated sensors to ensure you know what you’re breathing in real time. Dyson V6 Absolute uses patented 2 Tier Radial cyclones, a post motor filter and a sealed system to ensure that the air that leaves machine is cleaner than the air you breathe.
The other thing you need to know about is Dyson’s power! Dyson cordless vacuums are powered by the Dyson digital motor, which uses digital pulse technology and a neodymium magnet to spin at up to 110,000 times a minute. Its small size means that the machines it powers can also be smaller and lighter, a benefit I’ve mentioned a few times.
While we’re talking about power, let’s move onto its suction, which I also mentioned above — it starts strong and it stays strong. I was a bit confused when we first tried the Trigger release motion, but the reason for it is to reserve battery power when you’re not cleaning — you can go full force for up to 16 minutes with the motorized floor tool attached.
Additionally, there’s the extra power push, which provides 6 minutes of higher suction for more difficult tasks. Although we don’t own a pet, I would imagine that this standalone tool would be a great option for cat and dog hair which builds up so easily on floors and on furniture. Remember that because all the pieces come apart, you can remove the long tube and use this as a hand vacuum. Yes, really — talk about a flexible tool, right?
Dyson calls it their Mini Motorized Tool, which they recommend for tough tasks. I’d suggest that it can be used for any task. Because it’s handheld, we tested it out on a throw carpet that we have on the patio and it worked wonders. In fact, I’m not sure that carpet has ever experienced that level of suction with another tool, so much so that the color looks more vivid and brighter than it has in years. Ahhh yes, the small things that bring a smile in life and this one certainly did.
It’s also a godsend for removing pet hair and ground-in dirt from furniture, car seats and tight spaces. Other add-on’s include the Mini Soft Dusting Brush, which they recommend for gentle dusting around the home. I used it for desks and dressers on the handheld tool, but you can also use it for stairs as shown below — it’s so quick to take pieces out and add others.
Ready for one of my favorite benefits of the handheld? You can easily snap in the smaller crevice tool which is great for getting to corners and those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Besides stairs and room corners, where would this be the ultimate cleaner? You betcha – your car! LOVE LOVE LOVE this feature!
Now, here’s something you absolutely cannot do with a traditional vacuum — clean blinds, windows and ceilings. What’s nice is their attention to detail, right down to the fact that the wand is a lightweight aluminum wand, making it easy for smaller women to use as well. Let’s be honest: even though I go to the gym and tone my arm muscles, doing housework like this can be exhausting, so the lighter and more flexible the tools, the better.
The last thing worth mentioning is their docking station, which makes it convenient to store. Rather than take up floor space in a closet, there’s charging station that you can screw into the wall near a power outlet and simply hang up. Because it’s always charging, whenever you need to do a quick cordless clean, it’s ready to go, which is as the Brits would say, “brilliant.”
The images below are useful for background of what’s actually in your air. Did you actually realize how much can get trapped into carpets and furniture? Everything from pet dander and industrial emissions to bacteria, mold, pollens and allergens. If you’re sensitive to any of these, having the most powerful vacuum is one way to keep you healthier. It begins with awareness….everything does!
Another thing that makes Dyson unique is their carbon free footprint. Conventional electric motors haven’t changed much apparently in 100 years in that the brushes wear down and emit carbon dust. The Dyson digital motor is different in that it is controlled by a microchip and spins up to 98,000 rpm — five times faster than a modern Indy car engine. Because of its speed, the digital motor is half the size and half the weight. With no brushes or fixed magnets, that also means that it doesn’t emit carbon either.
So, what’s in the box?
What else is cool and I didn’t realize before, is that Dyson machines are exhibited in various museums around the world, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Zurich’s Design Museum and others. More information on them can be found at www.dyson.com.
Go on, get a Dyson V6 and simplify your life! We love its power and what it can do!
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
