I went to this awesome social media influencer conference a few months ago (#STRUT2015) to participate in roundtable discussions about where the industry is heading, where it should be heading and to hear from a few fabulous speakers.
I didn’t expect to walk away with a vacuum. But I did. I won it, actually.
And not just any vacuum — the Dyson V6 Absolute cordless. And because I won it, I’m not beholden to Dyson to write a review. But I’m compelled to, because OMG: this vacuum! We’re in love with it. And by “we,” I mean my husband, because he’s the one who does most of the domestic stuff around these parts. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Mommy Gearest-style review if we didn’t have a few suggestions to go along with all the praise.
THE GOOD
Temporary photo courtesy of hbh-woolacotts.co.uk; I wanted to take a pic of Big B with it so you can gauge the size, but he’s super sweaty from doing other domestic things right now. I’ll upload it as soon as he’s slightly more hygienic-looking.
It’s so light. It weighs just 2.3 kg, and — boy — can you feel it in your hands. It’s even easy for my seven year old to use.
I love love love that the Dyson Absolute is cordless; it makes getting around the house a breeze.
The docking station is amazing. We have it up in our pantry and because this vacuum is ridiculously compact, it lines up perfect with our brooms and Swiffers.
Having a HEPA filter in your vacuum is a must. We’ve had our Miele for about 10 years, which has a HEPA filter, and I don’t remember what it’s like not having one anymore, but I don’t want to find out. I have seasonal allergies, and I know this helps a tonne. If you or someone in your home has asthma, it’s great for that, too. But here’s the real joy of Dyson’s filter: it’s washable! And that means that every single year, you’ll save $$$ because you don’t need to buy a new HEPA filter. Dreamy.
No bags. NO BAGS!!! We have spent a small fortune on vacuum bags in the past decade. Frankly, probably enough to buy a damn Dyson. With the Absolute, you just empty a canister. Easy.
When we first put this baby to use, I did the Dyson Challenge (with which I was familiar because of my friend Kat’s review of the Dyson Animal). Basically, you first vacuum with your existing vacuum and then follow it up immediately with your new Dyson. Now, let me preface this by saying that our Miele has been an INCREDIBLY good, reliable vacuum and I had no complaints; but when we did the challenge, I was shocked. There was a good three or four tablespoons worth of dust, dirt, debris and pet hair that the Dyson managed to suck up. It was a “whoa” moment. (Like the kind of “whoa” that Joey from Blossom might utter.)
You know how the Dyson commercials show the actor swooping in and out of curves and corners? That’s REALLY REAL. It actually does that. I know, because the one time I used it, that was the first thing I tried. True story.
The way the Dyson Absolute goes from upright to handheld vacuum is impressive. It’s easy to convert and beats any vacuum I’ve ever owned to clean my vehicles — hands down.
And all of the attachments are awesome and easy to change in and out of the Dyson Absolute. But…
THE GAFFE
Why can’t there be ONE main vacuum head that can switch more seamlessly between hardwood and carpet? Our trusty Miele upright just has a button that you flip forward or backward to make the switch, which is ultra-convenient. With the Dyson Absolute, you have to change the entire head…not exactly ideal if you have a mix of hardwood and carpet on the same floor.
It takes about three hours to charge, and then you only get about 30 minutes of battery power. Now, this is 10 minutes more than Dyson’s website reports we should get, but 30 minutes isn’t enough to do my house from top to bottom — and half of it is hardwood. For $650, I want to be able to get a solid hour out of a single charge.
THE GEARS
3.5/5
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