Dyson DC19

I recently damaged my Dyson DC 04. We had it 8 years and I must admit that I hadn't been very gentle with it. It was quite heavy and used to find it quite difficult carrying it up and down the stairs and often banged it against the wall or the banister. A few bits had broken off it, and, to top it all off I dropped it down the stairs. I did manage to get the hose bit working but unfortunately it wouldn't work when it was upright. So, the time had ...
...visited Dyson, I had a Dyson before and I knew that they were good so I looked at their cylinder models.

I finally made my mind up after reading a few reviews, looking at power, suction etc. I was going for a Dyson. Then I had to decide which Dyson I wanted. The 'DC 20,21,22 and 23' versions seemed like a lot of hassle, it looked neat and like it was quite compact and easy to store, but, I'd have to unwind the hose and pull out the ... more

I recently damaged my Dyson DC 04. We had it 8 years and I must admit that I hadn't been very gentle with it. It was quite heavy and used to find it quite difficult carrying it up and down the stairs and often banged it against the wall or the banister. A few bits had broken off it, and, to top it all off I dropped it down the stairs. I did manage to get the hose bit working but unfortunately it wouldn't work when it was upright. So, the time had come to get a new vacuum cleaner. Now, I've only ever owned one so I didn't realise how many vacuums were out there or how difficult it would be to choose one.

So, I got the Argos catalogue out. Then visited Currys online followed by a few other online stores - I was still none the wiser. I then spoke to my older and wiser sister, she said it might be a good idea to go for a cylinder rather than an upright beings I have laminate and tiled floor downstairs, it would also be easier to clean under the table and chairs etc.

So, a seed had been planted in my mind. I then looked up different makes and models of cylinder cleaners.
First I visited VAX, they had many different models and they all looked great.
Then I visited Dyson, I had a Dyson before and I knew that they were good so I looked at their cylinder models.

I finally made my mind up after reading a few reviews, looking at power, suction etc. I was going for a Dyson. Then I had to decide which Dyson I wanted. The 'DC 20,21,22 and 23' versions seemed like a lot of hassle, it looked neat and like it was quite compact and easy to store, but, I'd have to unwind the hose and pull out the tubes every time I wanted to use it. So, I was left with the DC 19.
The best price I found was on Amazon.co.uk, I paid £144.00 for it. I also bought a soft brush attachment and a flexi crevice tool.

DYSON - HISTORY

In June 1993 James Dyson set up the Dyson company. But it was in 1978 when he first had the idea for the Dyson vacuum cleaner. He visited a sawmill and had seen sawdust being sucked into a cone using a spinning column of air. He wanted one of these to use in his own factory but wasn't willing to pay the £75,000 to have one. It was then, he decided to make his own.
The first vacuum cleaner he made was called a G-Force, it was the first one to use cyclone suction technology. It was only sold on the Japanese market as it was licensed to a Japanese company.
But in 1993 the DC 01 was released and was a best seller in the UK.
Since then, more than 25 Dyson vacuum cleaner models have been released.

DC 19

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

So, the delivery man delivered my new vacuum cleaner to my boyfriends parents house. I left work at 3.30pm and made my way in anticipation. I sat down, had a cuppa and a chat but couldn't wait to get home to try out my new toy, so, I made my excuses and left.
I got home, fed the cat, and opened my parcel. Inside I found the DC 19, the main large flat head attachment , a brush attachment, a small flat head attachment a crevice tool and an instruction manual.

Specifications
The DC19 is 345 x 282 x 434mm and weighs 8.56kg.
The suction power is 280 airwatts.
The bin capacity is 2 litres.
Cord length is 6.5 metres.

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

There were two manuals.
It came with a 'Quick Start' manual, this gives you the basics in diagram form - assembling the Dyson, using the tools, storing the Dyson, emptying the Dyson and instructions on how to wash the filter. This little booklet is very easy to follow - even my brother could get it started from these instructions!!

Then there was the main manual. This was also very easy to understand. The instructions are written in 20 different languages. Firstly comes the general safety precautions section. These are written in point form, 26 points in total. I'd say most of these are common sense e.g. Do not handle plug or appliance with wet hands etc. Along the bottom of this page there are 8 safety precaution diagrams with information underneath e.g. Do not use above you on the stairs. All very straight forward.

The next section is a double page containing easy to follow diagram instructions. These show you how to attach the attachments, how to clean the filter, how to clear any blockages , how to empty the bin and what all the relevant buttons are for.

Then there is just one more section. This section gives you very clear points in bullet form. There are 5 categories - using your dyson vacuum cleaner, emptying the clear bin, cleaning the clear bin, washing your filter and looking for blockages.
All in all, very simple and clear.

USING THE VACUUM CLEANER

The Dyson is very easy to use. It has a retractable plug which is great, no unwinding just pull it out and press a button to reel it back in again. So you plug in the vacuum cleaner, then there's a big red button which you press to turn the cleaner on - as simple as that!
You can then choose the relevant attachment for the job you're doing. It's stored with the large flat head already attached so you only need to change it if you are cleaning the stairs or in crevices. You can attach the heads to either the end of the long solid pipe or to the end of the stretchy hose, whatever you think will be best for the job at hand.
I have laminate flooring in my living/dining room and tiled floor in my kitchen. The vacuum cleaner was great on my hard floor, it picked up every speck, I have ridges in between each laminate board so a brush cannot pick up the dust that land here, the Dyson picked it up no problem. It is much easier than the upright I used to have, I can get the DC19 under my dining table and the very flat attachment fits under my television unit. I also have a rug in my living room and I don't need to change attachment to vacuum this.
I have carpet on my stairs and in my bedrooms. Using the DC19 on carpet is great, it has amazing suction and even plumps up the pile in the carpet! I use the small flat head attachment when vacuuming the stairs, you can get this right into the edge of each stair.
Its much lighter than my old upright which makes carrying it up the stairs a lot more effortless.

CLEANING THE VACUUM CLEANER

The DC19 is bagless. The machine needs to switched off before you empty the clear plastic bin. It must be emptied as soon as the dirt reaches the maximum level on the clear bin. To do this, you just press a button and remove the bin section of the vacuum cleaner, you then take it to your outdoor bin, they suggest that if you suffer from allergies to empty it into a bag first.
The outside of the vacuum can be wiped down with a damp cloth. The clear bin is also cleaned using a damp cloth.
The filter is washable and needs to be cleaned using only water every six months, it must then be left to dry for 24 hours before refitting into the machine.

STORING THE VACUUM CLEANER

Storing the DC19 is not that simple. Even thought it looks small and the base fits into quite a small space, it needs a space high enough to fit in the handle. Luckily I have a space large enough under my stairs. But definitely something to consider if you are thinking of buying a DC19. If you don't have enough space Dyson have models which are much easier to store.

EXTRAS

There are many extras you can buy for your Dyson apart from the ones that come with it. The prices range from £11.74 for the mattress tool, to £24.47 for the mini turbine head.

Hard floor tool - this attachment is better at picking up on hard floors. It has long bristles to prevent scratching or marking on wood or delicate floors.

Flexi crevice tool - this attachment extends and flexes to clean awkward gaps. The actual attachment is hard but when its extended it has a section which is made of rubber so you can bend it to reach the most difficult of places.

Soft dusting brush - it has soft bristles to gently dust around the home. Easy to manoeuvre into narrow gaps. Ideal for dusting furniture and flat surfaces. It's great for dusting my Venetian Blinds.

Mattress tool - this attachment removes dirt and dust mites from mattresses and upholstery. Wide head and lightweight design for easy cleaning around the home.

Stubborn dirt brush - this one has stiff bristles for dried-in and stubborn dirt. It's quite a small tool so is easy to handle and scrub and loosen stubborn dirt.

Up top tool - this one twists to give multiple angles for cleaning hard to reach surfaces. Great for on top of wardrobes or cupboards.

Mini turbine head - this mini turbine head is ideal for removing pet hair and fibres from confined spaces such as upholstery, stairs and the car.

Car cleaning kit - A car cleaning kit in a handy case. Combined price £39.15 (£50.90 if purchased separately).
It contains:
Car turbine head
Flexi crevice tool
Stubborn dirt brush

Home cleaning kit - A home cleaning kit in a handy case. Combined price £29.35 (£41.12 if purchased separately).
It contains:
Up top tool
Soft dusting brush
Stubborn dirt brush

I own the soft dusting brush and the flexi crevice tool. I've used the dusting brush on my wooden venetian blinds and it works a treat. I have used the crevice tool in my car and it gets to places I could never reach with the hard plastic tool that come as standard with the Dyson.

DYSON CUSTOMER CARE

There are a number of ways to contact Dyson.

By post -
Dyson Ltd
Tetbury Hill
Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN16 0RP

By telephone - 0800 298 0298

By email - service@dyson.co.uk

The Dyson also comes with a 5 year guarantee which you can register online, by phone or post. The repair or replacement of the machine is covered if it is found to be defective due to faulty materials, workmanship or the function of the machine.

WEBSITE

The website is very helpful. Not only does it give you information on the Dyson products and the technology involved but there is also a 'Support' section.
The support section is divided into the following
Help with your Dyson
This section gives you help if you are experiencing problems with your machine, you will find a list of common problems. It also gives advice on using and maintaining your Dyson.
Online shop
This section gives you information on buying, returning, placing orders on Dyson and parts and accessories.
Guarantee and Registration
You can register your Dyson guarantee here. You can also update your details and read the terms and conditions. It also answers questions such as how your guarantee will be affected if you move abroad.
Repairs and Servicing
You can arrange a service or repair in this section. It'll answer questions such as how much it'll cost, when the engineer will arrive and what is involved in a service.
FAQ's
Some basic frequently asked questions are answered here. Questions such as, how to assemble the machine, how to clean the filter etc.
Additional Services
The additional services include information giving you cleaning tips and information on recycling your old vacuum cleaners.

OVERALL OPINION

I am very pleased with my buy. It does exactly what Dyson claims it can do. It has extremely powerful suction, in fact I've stopped using my brush in the kitchen as the Dyson picks up so much more dirt and dust and it is just as easy to get out and use. There's no need to put it together just pull it out and plug it in.
The flat head not only gets under cupboards but you can get as close as possible to the edge of cupboards and it picks up right to the edge.
It's light enough to carry up the stairs.
I find it much easier to use than my old DC04 upright. You can manoeuvre it much easier, under tables and around objects.
It can be used on any surface without the need for turning brushes on or off. This is especially useful for using upstairs, going from the carpeted landing to the lino flooring I have in my bathroom.
So, all in all, I love my Dyson and I much prefer vacuuming now than I did before - but don't tell my boyfriend I said that!!

 

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