Dyson DC25 Animal Vacuum Cleaner Review

The Dyson DC25 Animal is a lightweight bagless upright vacuum cleaner, and one of the bestselling vacuums tailored towards pet owners. Here's why.

The technical stuff...

When it comes to vacuum cleaner technology, Dyson are the forerunners in intelligent and innovative design. Here are some of the clever features of this product.

Ball technology - Most people are now familiar with the ball design Dyson use as standard in all their upright vacuum cleaners. The ball was the solution Dyson came up with in response to the problem of a lack of manoeuvrability in upright vacuums, and it works brilliantly.

It is much easier to guide the product around awkward furniture and corners with a simple turn of the wrist. This is further helped by the fact that Dyson moved the motor into the ball. A low point of gravity makes it less cumbersome to turn.

Powerful brush bar - Cylinder vacuum cleaners are not as effective as upright models in removing pet hair. This is because some hairs need to be dislodged before they can be sucked up. Upright cleaners achieve this with a motorised brush bar that penetrates the fibres of carpets and rugs. The Dyson brush bar is particularly powerful and can revolve up to 90 times a second, helping remove far more animal hair and dirt than other brands.

Transparent dust compartment - This DC25 vacuum cleaner is so effective that it fills up quickly. The clear plastic cylinder lets you keep track of how full it is. The simple release switch helps you release the compartment quickly so it is no bother to empty, keeping the product working at peak performance.

Extendable telescope wand - Dyson like to take negatives and find a solution. One of the cons of upright models is that they aren't as versatile as cylinder cleaners - you can't bet an upright one into those little nooks and crannies. Dyson have solved this by the addition of a telescopic wand that will let you reach those hard to vacuum areas.

Different attachments can be fixed onto the wand to optimise cleaning performance. It comes with the combination tool, stair tool and mini turbine brush. But you can also buy additional attachments for specific jobs such as a mattress tool.

HEPA filter - The High-Efficiency Particle Air filter prevents your vacuum cleaner from spewing minute particles such as dust mite faeces, pollen and mould spores back into the air as you clean, reducing the number of allergens in your environment.

For improved hygiene, the HEPA filter is washable. It is recommended you rinse it through with cold water every three months or so.

What's the difference between the Dyson DC25 Animal and the DC25 All Floors?

To put it succinctly; colour, cost and a mini turbine head. The mini turbine head which comes with the Dyson Animalattaches to the telescopic wand and is designed to help pick up those pesky dog and cat hairs from harder to vacuum areas such as upholstery, your car interior and underneath furniture.

The mini turbine attachment can be purchased separately and is compatible with all Dyson vacuums, but it works out cheaper to buy it as a package with one of the Animal models.

What are the good points of the DC25 Animal?

The thing customers rave about the most is that the DC25 really works. However clean and house proud you may have been before purchasing the Dyson Animal, you will likely be surprised by how much dirt comes off your floors the first time you use your new vacuum cleaner.

The motorised brush bar and the mini turbine head are both great at dislodging pet hairs - if you have a cat or dog you'll know how their hairs can stick to everything and can be stubborn to remove - and they don't stand a chance against the powerful suction. The extra attachment does justify the slight price increase on the All Floors model, if you want your home to be almost entirely hair free.

Allergies are on the increase, and therefore many households can benefit from a vacuum cleaner which is approved by the British Allergy Foundation. Not only is the Dyson DC25 Animal BAF approved, it is also approved by another 11 allergy associations throughout the world. Its patented root cyclone technology gives it unfailingly powerful suction, however full the dust compartment, so that it is consistently removing allergens as you vacuum.

Finally, this product is very easy to push around and fairly hassle free to carry up and down flights of stairs. Upright vacuums normally have the disadvantage of being heavy and cumbersome, but the DC25 Animal is a relatively lightweight 7.4kg.

Any negatives?

There aren't any big issues with this product. Some customers have mentioned that they would prefer a longer cord on it because they have to re-plug it in as they move from room to room, but this is only a minor niggle.

Another slight negative is that customers should be prepared to empty the cylinder more frequently than they might be used to with their current vacuum cleaner. This is mostly because the DC25 is so unbelievably efficient at picking up pet hairs and dirt that the dust compartment fills up fast. However, Dyson have made it very simple to empty and reassemble so that it doesn't become an irritation.

What do customers say about their new vacuum cleaner?

Here is a tiny sample of the great things people have said about their Dyson DC25 Animal vacuum cleaner. You can read more on the Amazon website.

"The first time you go over (what you think is) a clean carpet, it comes back with a whole cylinder full of hair. It's shocking and perversely pleasing. Makes you want to do the chores SO much more! Excellent buy!"

"I just have one word to describe this vacuum cleaner - amazing."

"Excellent product. Lightweight and very manoeuvrable yet retaining its great suction power. Additional pet hair tool is extremely useful."

"Since getting my new Dyson, my carpets look like new and are HAIR FREE! YAHOO!! Best vacuum I've ever had."