The Dyson D-16 handheld: Pet hair, beware
By Gina Spadafori
March 30, 2008
If I weren’t a Dyson cult member before (I love my DC-15 Animal upright), my adoration of the Dyson DC-16 Animal bagless handheld vac.would surely put me in that category now. Dyson sent me a test model a few weeks ago. The charger base mounted easily on the side of my garage cabinets and the vac slipped just as easily onto that base. Charged it up overnight and took it for a spin in the morning.
Mind you, I feel sorry for vacs in this house. At this time of year my dogs shed enough every day to make a cat. I can vacuum a furball that’s clinging to a table leg, and an hour later there’s another in the same place.
I slipped the crevasse tool onto the Dyson and have been using the lightweight and easy to maneuver handheld a couple times a day since. As advertised, the thing sucks like a demon and doesn’t lose power as you work. When it’s time to empty the cannister — every few minutes, in my case — simply hold the unit over the trash can, press a button and all the crap drops into the trash. Snap the bottom back into place and off you go.
Like all the Dysons, high performance doesn’t come cheap — the DC-16 retails for $200. But its smart design and great performance will make you happy you popped for the little beast. Hair-Be-Gone.
Gina,
I have heard the battery lasts only 6 minuntes of continous use. Are you finding that true?
Comment by Bridget — April 3, 2008 @ 6:35 am
True. Hasn’t been a problem for me, since I’m using it for quick pick-ups and generally use it for only a minute or two at a time.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — April 3, 2008 @ 6:48 am
Dyson’s stuff is very sleek but I don’t know if I’d pay $200 for sleek. A regular vac with a serious HEPA filter has worked for us (three cats plus at least two foster cats most of the year), with occasional touch-ups from this pet hair lifter thingie (like a lint roller, only not nearly as annoying— goes into crevices too).
Comment by Nora — October 1, 2008 @ 11:37 am