Features
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum features ball technology, offering excellent maneuverability and stability, making it easy to navigate around furniture and tight spaces. Its powerful suction effectively picks up pet hair, dirt, and debris from carpets and hard floors.
The tangle-free turbine tool effectively removes pet hair from upholstery and hard-to-reach areas without tangling. The combined tool provides versatility with its crevice tool and brush, catering to various cleaning tasks.
The hygienic dirt ejector ensures easy and hygienic disposal of collected dirt and debris. The HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, improving indoor air quality.
The lightweight design makes it easier to move around and use for extended periods. An adjustable cleaning head allows you to customize its height for different floor types. The long power cord offers greater cleaning reach without frequent unplugging.
Performance
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 excels at removing pet hair from carpets and upholstery. Its powerful suction and tangle-free turbine tool effectively pick up even embedded fur.
This vacuum also performs excellently in removing general debris like dirt, dust, crumbs, and other common household messes. It has strong suction and multiple attachments to tackle any cleaning task.
While not as specialized as a dedicated hardwood floor vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 performs well on hard floors. Its brush bar can be turned off to avoid scratching the surface.
The powerful suction and rotating brush bar effectively deep clean carpets and rugs, removing embedded dirt and allergens. This makes it an excellent choice for carpet cleaning.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 handles both thin and thick rugs with ease, removing dirt and pet hair effectively.
The included crevice tool and dusting brush are effective for removing dust from furniture, blinds, and other surfaces.
The ball design and lightweight construction make it easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight spaces.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is not particularly quiet, but it's not excessively loud either.
The vacuum is relatively simple to operate and assemble. The cord is long and the bin is easy to empty.
Regular emptying of the dust bin and filter cleaning is required for optimal performance.
What We Like
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum consistently impresses users with its powerful suction. People rave about its ability to tackle even the most stubborn dirt, debris, and pet hair on carpets, rugs, and hard floors.
Pet owners particularly appreciate the Dyson Ball Animal 2's effectiveness in removing embedded pet hair. The specialized tools, like the turbine head, are designed to tackle this challenge, leaving homes free of pesky fur balls.
The vacuum's ball design and swivel head contribute to its exceptional maneuverability. Users praise the ease of navigating around furniture and tight spaces.
Adding to its appeal is the vacuum's lightweight design. Users find it easy to maneuver and use for extended periods without straining their arms.
Emptying the dust bin is a breeze. The simple design eliminates the need for messy filters or bags, making the process quick and convenient.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 comes equipped with a variety of attachments, including crevice tools and upholstery tools, making it a versatile cleaning solution.
The vacuum's durable construction, built with high-quality materials, suggests a long lifespan.
For allergy sufferers and those concerned with indoor air quality, the Dyson Ball Animal 2's HEPA filtration system is a significant advantage. This system captures dust, allergens, and other pollutants, improving the overall air quality within the home.
What We Don't Like
One of the most common complaints about the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is its high price. It is significantly more expensive than many other vacuum cleaners available, making it a substantial investment.
Another drawback mentioned by many is the vacuum's weight. At 16.6 pounds, it can be difficult to maneuver, especially for individuals with limited mobility or strength. This can make cleaning larger areas or reaching under furniture cumbersome.
The cord length is also a point of contention, as it is relatively short. This can make it difficult to reach all areas of a large room without needing to unplug and reposition the vacuum.
Noise is another factor that some users find problematic. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 can be quite loud, which may be a concern for those sensitive to noise or living in apartments.
Emptying the dirt bin can also be a challenge for some users, particularly when it is full of pet hair.
While the ball design aims to improve maneuverability, some users find it difficult to steer the vacuum on thick carpets. The limited dustbin capacity is another issue, requiring more frequent emptying, especially for homes with pets.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 comes with a limited selection of attachments, which may not be sufficient for all cleaning needs. Cleaning the vacuum itself, particularly the brush roll, can also be challenging, as pet hair can easily become entangled.
The brush roll can generate a lot of noise, which some users find bothersome. Lastly, the vacuum's size and weight can make storage difficult, especially in smaller homes.
Cleaning Tasks
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 excels at removing pet hair. Its powerful suction and specialized tools like the turbine head tackle embedded pet hair on carpets and upholstery effectively.
For deep carpet cleaning, the Dyson Ball Animal 2's strong suction and powerful brush bar remove dirt and debris from carpets, even embedded deep within the fibers. It also performs well on hardwood floors, thanks to its dedicated floorhead which avoids scratching and effectively cleans dust and debris.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 comes with a specialized upholstery tool, making it suitable for cleaning furniture and removing pet hair. Its lightweight design and maneuverability allow for easy cleaning of hard-to-reach areas like stairs and under furniture.
The HEPA filtration system traps allergens like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, making the Dyson Ball Animal 2 suitable for homes with allergy sufferers. Its robust build and powerful suction also make it suitable for cleaning high-traffic areas like hallways and living rooms.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2's large dustbin capacity and extended run time make it suitable for cleaning larger homes or spaces. While not a dedicated spot cleaner, its maneuverability and tools allow for effective spot cleaning.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 has a crevice tool, but it may struggle to reach all corners and edges due to its upright design. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is not designed for cleaning high surfaces, and an extension wand or other cleaning tools are needed for this task.
Comparison to Other Brands
| Feature | Dyson Ball Animal 2 | Shark Vertex UltraLight | Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme | Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 | $499 | $249 | $199 | Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs | 14 lbs | 17 lbs | 14.2 lbs | Shark Vertex UltraLight |
| Suction Power | 220 AW | 150 AW | 160 AW | 120 AW | Dyson Ball Animal 2 |
| Dustbin Capacity | 0.55 L | 0.6 L | 0.9 L | 0.5 L | Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme |
| Attachments | _ Tangle-free turbine tool _ Crevice tool _ Combination tool _ Up-top adaptor | _ Pet Power Brush _ Crevice Tool _ Dusting Brush _ Upholstery Tool | _ Pet Hair Tool _ Crevice Tool _ Dusting Brush _ Extension Wand | _ Pet TurboBrush _ Crevice Tool _ Dusting Brush _ Extension Wand | Dyson Ball Animal 2 |
| Features | _ Ball technology for maneuverability _ Hygienic dirt ejector _ Self-adjusting cleaner head _ HEPA filtration | _ Lightweight design _ Zero-M™ self-cleaning brushroll _ Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology _ LED headlights | _ 3D WindTunnel Technology for powerful suction _ Swivel steering for maneuverability _ Anti-allergen HEPA filtration _ Bagless dust cup | _ Swivel steering for maneuverability _ Pet TurboBrush for deep cleaning _ Easy-empty dust cup _ Multi-level filtration | Dyson Ball Animal 2 |
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 has the highest price at $499, followed by the Shark Vertex UltraLight and Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme at $499 and $249, respectively. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet has the lowest price at $199.
In terms of weight, the Shark Vertex UltraLight is the lightest at 14 lbs, closely followed by the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet at 14.2 lbs. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 weighs 16.5 lbs, while the Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme is the heaviest at 17 lbs.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 boasts the strongest suction power with 220 AW, significantly higher than the other contenders. The Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme has 160 AW, followed by the Shark Vertex UltraLight with 150 AW. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet has the weakest suction at 120 AW.
When it comes to dustbin capacity, the Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme offers the largest dustbin at 0.9 L. The Shark Vertex UltraLight has a 0.6 L capacity, followed by the Dyson Ball Animal 2 at 0.55 L. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet has the smallest dustbin at 0.5 L.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 comes with a comprehensive set of attachments including a tangle-free turbine tool, crevice tool, combination tool, and up-top adaptor. The Shark Vertex UltraLight includes a Pet Power Brush, crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool. The Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme features a Pet Hair Tool, crevice tool, dusting brush, and extension wand. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet also offers a Pet TurboBrush, crevice tool, dusting brush, and extension wand.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 features ball technology for maneuverability, a hygienic dirt ejector, a self-adjusting cleaner head, and HEPA filtration. The Shark Vertex UltraLight highlights its lightweight design, Zero-M™ self-cleaning brushroll, Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, and LED headlights. The Hoover WindTunnel 3D Extreme features 3D WindTunnel Technology for powerful suction, swivel steering for maneuverability, anti-allergen HEPA filtration, and a bagless dust cup. The Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet boasts swivel steering for maneuverability, a Pet TurboBrush for deep cleaning, an easy-empty dust cup, and multi-level filtration.
Maintenance
Emptying the Dustbin
To empty the dustbin, press the release button, lift the dustbin off the vacuum, empty the contents into a trash bin, and replace the dustbin onto the vacuum.
Cleaning the Dustbin
To clean the dustbin, remove it and detach the cyclone unit. Rinse the dustbin and cyclone unit with cool water. Allow them to air dry completely before reassembling.
Cleaning the Filters
To clean the pre-motor filter, remove the dustbin and lift the filter. Rinse it with cool water and allow it to air dry completely. To clean the post-motor filter, remove the dustbin and press the red button on the filter. Pull the filter out and rinse it with cool water. Allow it to air dry completely. To clean the HEPA filter, remove the post-motor filter and remove the HEPA filter. Rinse it with cool water and allow it to air dry completely.
Cleaning the Brush Bar
To clean the brush bar, turn off the vacuum and unplug it. Find the brush bar release lever, usually located at the back of the vacuum. Release the brush bar and remove any hair or debris wrapped around it. Clean the brush bar with a small brush or screwdriver. Reinsert the brush bar and secure it with the lever.
Cleaning the Tools
To clean the tools, detach them and remove any hair or debris. Clean them with a damp cloth. Allow the tools to dry completely before reattaching.
Cleaning the Vacuum Body
To clean the vacuum body, use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside. Avoid getting water in the vacuum's motor or electronics.
Replacing the Brush Bar
To replace the brush bar, check it for wear and tear. If it is worn or damaged, replace it with a new one. Dyson offers genuine replacement parts on their website.
Storing the Vacuum
To store the vacuum, store it in a dry and cool place. Wrap the power cord around the cord storage area on the vacuum. Store the tools in a separate place.
Troubleshooting
If your Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum cleaner isn't turning on, check the power cord to make sure it's securely plugged in to both the vacuum and the wall outlet. Also, ensure the power switch is in the "On" position. If your vacuum has a replaceable fuse, check if it's blown and replace it if necessary. For cordless vacuums, make sure the battery is fully charged and properly installed.
If you're experiencing a lack of suction, start by emptying the dustbin as a full bin can restrict airflow. Check the hose and attachments for blockages and clean the brush bar regularly as hair and debris can get tangled around it. Dirty filters can also impede airflow, so clean them regularly. If your vacuum has multiple power settings, try a higher setting to increase suction.
If the brush bar isn't rotating, remove any objects obstructing it and check the brush bar belt for breakage or wear. Replace the belt as needed. Ensure the brush bar is not jammed with any objects or debris.
Excessive noise from your vacuum might indicate a problem with the brush bar belt or bearings. Check for blockages and clean the filter regularly, as a dirty filter can create extra noise. Make sure the hose is not kinked or damaged.
If your vacuum is leaking dust, ensure the dustbin is securely closed and the seal is intact. Clean the filters regularly, as dirty filters can cause dust to escape. Inspect the vacuum for any cracks or holes where dust could leak out.
If your vacuum isn't picking up dirt, ensure the brush bar is clean and rotating properly. Try increasing the suction power, check the hose and attachments for proper connection and blockages, and clean the filter regularly as a dirty filter can reduce suction.
If your vacuum is overheating, clean the filter as a dirty filter can cause overheating. Remove any objects blocking the airflow and allow the vacuum to cool down for a few minutes before using it again.
If your vacuum doesn't stand upright, the ball joint may be damaged or out of alignment. Contact Dyson customer service for repair.
Conclusion
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum is a powerful and versatile cleaning machine designed specifically for homes with pets. Its strong suction, tangle-free turbine tool, and specialized attachments excel at removing pet hair from carpets, upholstery, and hard floors. The vacuum's maneuverability, lightweight design, and HEPA filtration system make it a compelling choice for allergy sufferers and pet owners alike.
While the Dyson Ball Animal 2 offers impressive features and performance, it comes at a premium price and has some drawbacks. The weight and cord length can be challenging for some users, and its noise level might be a concern for noise-sensitive individuals. Ultimately, the decision to purchase the Dyson Ball Animal 2 depends on your individual needs and budget. If you prioritize pet hair removal and powerful suction, this vacuum is a worthy investment. However, if you seek a lighter and quieter option, other vacuums on the market may be more suitable.
