Dyson DC31 Handheld Animal Vacuum Cleaner

Comment: Terrific machine! Used it on some loop and pile carpet and could hardly believe how well it picked up lint, pet hair and everyday crumbs, paper scraps, etc. The extra 'beater" tool that comes with this model (not included on the DC31 [non-animal] handheld model) did an amazing job vacuuming up cat hair that was well embedded into the mock-fur lining of a cat carrier, and was equally impressive removing cat hair from a fabric covered couch. Did it grab every single strand of pet hair? Of course not. Nevertheless, this vacuum is far superior to any of the other heavy-duty "dust-buster" type handhelds I've used. I find it to be as effective as a high-end upright, only a lot less heavy and bulky. Despite the substantial price tag, the strong performance makes it an excellent value.

Unless you need to use it a lot longer than the ten minutes or so you get per charge, I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't be delighted with this handheld. Personally, I got an awful lot of vacuuming done on a single charge, in part because it worked so well I didn't have to go over the same area numerous times.

The only minor item that could be improved is the pictorial instruction sheet; it's not terrible, just not as clear as it could be.

Comment: This is my third Dyson Animal (I bought the 1st gen. upright and then I bought the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball, because it's so much easier to maneuver whilst being in a wheelchair). I love them all, but being able to pick up the Dyson DC31 Animal handheld and quickly dust before visitors arrive is just priceless. I have a cat and the Dyson DC31 Animal takes care of all cat-related fur, missed treats, & any stray litter bits. I love the Dyson's power and I'm able to clean my living room, kitchen, dining room, foyer, and almost my bedroom & bath on one charge.

The manual recommends cleaning the filter monthly. I thought it was going to be a chore. Ha! Cleaning the filter = "user friendly". No manual needed at all. I popped the unit open and the filter itself has images of a faucet on it. Brilliant!

I can't recommend the DC31 Animal handheld highly enough.

Comment: My wife did not want to spend the $$$ on this product even though we have a Dyson upright.
She kept pointing to the other less expensive options from other vacuum makers.
Finally I was able to talk her into it, now she loves it.

It's a DYSON, so I knew (from experience with the upright) that the suction was going to be good, but the true beauty was in the attention to detail like
1. Its light and easy to hold
2. Canister is easy and quick to empty
3. Attachments are easy and quick to swap
4. Battery module conveniently pops out so you can charge it inconspicuously.

It's strong suction, it's quick, it's easy, it's Dyson*

* Yeah I love Dyson... Because I had an upright for years and it works today as the day I bought it 5 years ago. This is after a series of disappointments with other makers.

Comment: I have had the Dyson for about a month or so now and I give the device a lot of praise. Definitely the most powerful little hand-held vac around. I purchased it because I have two cats that shed a decent amount all over the furniture and it does the job in terms of removing the pet hair. The only small complaint I have is that hair can get caught up behind the gear in the housing of cleaning brush extension after use in a significantly dirty area. It required some dismantling and use of tweezers to get at and remove the hair but it was a fairly simple process. Other than that small nag, no complaints here!

Comment: I was expecting a bulky vacuum but I was surprised with the size ,it's smaller than I though and way quieter than I expected so far it is worth the price since it cleans deeply and come with accessories.
The downside: It doesn't come with a wall bracket bummer!, but you can order it separately.
Other good thing is that you can order the battery instead of getting rid of a perfectly fine hand held vacuum like I'm doing with my old black and decker just because the battery doesn't work anymore.