MSN Messenger name is geordieno1 ... If I`m online, I`ll probably be logged on ... gimme a buzz ;)
MSN Messenger name is geordieno1 ... If I`m online, I`ll probably be logged on ... gimme a buzz ;)
Member since:02.03.2003
Reviews:13
Motorhead? It`s OK, you`re safe this time. Lemmy isn`t going to jump out and do a rendition of Ace Of Spades. Rather than give the DC05 a new model number, Dyson have simply added the affix to give the full model as DC05 Motorhead.
The Motorhead is designed to pick uppet-hair. As many of you already know, I have two Boxer dogs. Boxers have short coats and seem to moult constantly. The Motorhead combined with the vacuum removes all of the pet-hair from carpeting!
Judging from the dates of other opinions here on Caio, the DC05 has been around for a while now. I reckon the Motorhead was added about 10 months ago as it was promoted as a new feature when I purchased mine around 8 months ago. There may have been other design changes too so lets go over what you get for your money in more detail.
The DC05 is a cylinder type vacuum cleaner. This means that the main unit stays on the floor and you hold the hose plus attachment, though the main body is mounted on wheels, two large ones straddling the main unit and a 360 degree rotating wheel assembly underneath allows the main unit to be turned quite easily. The main advantage I see with this arrangement is that you can use both hands to grip the hose attachment, which should be better for weaker individuals. Usually, an upright cleaner is held and pushed by one arm only.
The hose attachment itself has a telescopic arm. This means that a plastic ring can be lifted up with one hand and the arm can be pushed in or out until the desired height can be achieved which is most comfortable for the individual using the appliance. Releasing the plastic ring locks the arm into position. The DC05 is suitable for either left or right-handed people.
The power switch is located on the ergonomic handle for the hose assembly arm and is easily operated by the thumb. There are 4 settings:
Power off
Suction only (for hard floors)
Suction and Motorhead
Low power brushbar only for Zorb insertion. Zorb is a Dyson product that is used for dry carpet cleaning. Simply sprinkle Zorb onto your carpet, use the Zorb setting to massage Zorb into carpet, wait 30 minutes then vacuum clean.
The DC05 comes with 3 additional attachments. These can be used in place of the Motorhead, or the entire telescopic arm can be removed and the tools can be inserted here. You get a stair tool, a crevice tool and a brush tool. When not in use, these tools are placed in a holster located directly around the hose. This is a poorly thought out position because the to and fro action you utilise when vacuuming can not only shake them out of the holster, but can strike furniture and doors too which can lead to damage. I find it better to remove these and put them in a drawer.
That`s the telescopic arm and hose function and additional tooling covered, now on to the main body.
As with all Dysons, the DC05 is bagless. The receptacle where rubbish is stored is manufactured from clear plastic with a “Max” level clearly marked, so you know exactly when to empty it. To empty, simply use a thumb to pull back a springed button which allows the main motor to be tilted back. The rubbish receptacle is then lifted clear, and the contents can be placed in the dustbin. If you prefer, you can wash out the receptacle but be sure to ensure that it is bone-dry before using again!
Whilst the motor is tilted back, you will notice that a removable filter is installed. It is recommended that this filter be cleaned every 6 months. A calendar is located here too so you can tick off the intervals between cleanings. Cleaning is achieved by running the filter under warm water, and allowed to dry naturally overnight.
There is also a micro-dust and pollen (HEPA) filter located under the rubbish receptacle, but this is a sealed unit and there for life, therefore no maintenance is necessary.
To the rear of the main body is a slot where the entire hose attachment assembly can be stored. On the top of the main body is a handle, so if hose attachment assembly is parked up, the whole unit can be lifted quite easily and carried upstairs.
The DC05 comes with a decent length of cable and moulded 13 amp plug. A foot switch is located on the main body to facilitate automated re-coiling of the cable. I would advise to wipe this clean periodically so as to prevent too much dirt from entering this sealed chamber. I learned this the hard way as my old vacuum cleaner had this function, but stopped working as the chamber became too dirty!
Another handy feature of the DC05 is it`s ease of use on staircase. The main body can be stood up so as to nestle snugly on one stair. You then have both hands free to grip the hose handle and balance yourself so you don`t fall!
Another small feature is a suction release valve located on the handle. This is very handy when doing hard floors because of the powerful suction power of the DC05 … you literally cannot sometimes move it as it`s nigh-on glued to the floor!
During my ownership, I had to call out an engineer to repair the Motorhead as it stopped working. There is a light on the Motorhead, green for good, red for bad (usually if something becomes entangled around brushbar!) but in this case the light was not apparent at all! The engineer replaced entire hose assembly plus the telescopic arm as there was an electrical fault. This was covered under standard 1 year guarantee however.
The DC05 looks quite good too. Silver and purple! The purple can be a bit “in yer face” at first but I think it`s kinda funky!
I could go on and on listing technical specifications, though this never really gives us a portrayal if something is good or bad, so I have decided not to bother. You can get an entire overview of these if you so desire however. Just Copy and paste this link in your browser:
Thanks for reading, hope this helps if you are looking for a new vacuum. The price may put a lot of people off which is circa £280.00 but I reckon you get what you pay for!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Lightweight, no bags or filters to buy EVER, HEPA filtration means only clean air comes out, and a mega dirt sucker upper on carpet or hard floors, incl pet hair Disadvantages: ouch at the price new.
Shroud 08.09.2004 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of
Dyson DC05
Advantages: Compact, sturdy, no need for bags/filters, excellent suction Disadvantages: Small attachments get in your way, plastic parts on tubes break easily, won't sit on stairs
MadCat 17.01.2004 (17.01.2004)
·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of
Dyson DC05
Mar 13th, 2003
very helpful by (100%):
