Features
The Dyson DC50 Animal features Ball Technology, which allows for easy maneuverability and effortless steering around furniture and obstacles. Its powerful suction effectively picks up pet hair, dander, and embedded dirt from carpets, upholstery, and hard floors.
The Tangle-free turbine tool is designed to remove pet hair from furniture and upholstery without clogging. The combination tool includes a crevice tool and dusting brush for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
The Dyson DC50 Animal features a hygienic bin emptying system that allows for easy and mess-free disposal of dirt and debris. It is lightweight and compact, making it easy to store and transport.
The HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, helping to improve indoor air quality. The Dyson DC50 Animal offers a variety of attachments for specialized cleaning tasks.
Performance
The Dyson DC50 Animal excels at removing pet hair, thanks to its powerful suction that efficiently tackles carpets, upholstery, and hard floors. Its strong suction and rotating brush head effectively remove dirt, dust, and embedded debris from carpets, making it a good performer for carpet cleaning. For hard floors, the rotating brush head can be deactivated to prevent scratching, and the strong suction effectively picks up dirt and debris.
The Dyson DC50 Animal comes equipped with tools like a crevice tool and dusting brush, enabling efficient dusting and reaching tight spaces. The HEPA filtration system traps dust mites, pollen, and other allergens, making it suitable for allergy sufferers. The lightweight and compact design with ball-joint steering allows for easy maneuverability around furniture and tight spaces.
Simple controls, including a trigger for power and a button for changing suction levels, contribute to the ease of use, and emptying the dustbin is also straightforward. While generally known for its high-quality construction and reliable performance, the Dyson DC50 Animal can be noisy, especially at higher suction levels. However, its long cord provides greater reach without constant unplugging and re-plugging.
What We Like
Customers consistently praise the Dyson DC50 Animal for its powerful suction. This strong suction effectively tackles pet hair, dust, and debris, making it a popular choice for pet owners.
Despite its powerful suction, the DC50 Animal is surprisingly lightweight and maneuverable. This makes it easy to navigate around furniture and into tight spaces.
The DC50 Animal boasts an excellent HEPA filtration system, making it ideal for allergy sufferers and pet owners. This filtration system effectively traps allergens and dust mites, providing a cleaner and healthier indoor environment.
The included attachments, such as the crevice tool and upholstery brush, contribute to the DC50 Animal's versatility. These attachments allow users to clean a wide range of surfaces and areas, making it a comprehensive cleaning solution.
Dyson is known for its quality and durability, and the DC50 Animal lives up to this reputation. Customers consistently highlight the vacuum's robust construction, ensuring it can handle everyday cleaning tasks with ease.
The DC50 Animal's dustbin is easy to empty and clean, making the cleaning process more convenient. This simplifies the task of disposing of collected debris, enhancing the overall user experience.
The specialized turbine tool is a highlight for pet owners. This tool effectively picks up pet hair without tangling, making it ideal for maintaining a clean and fur-free home.
The DC50 Animal comes with a long cord, providing ample reach for cleaning large areas without constantly unplugging and replugging. This feature ensures uninterrupted cleaning sessions, enhancing convenience and efficiency.
Beyond its functionality, the DC50 Animal features a sleek and stylish design that complements most home décor. Its modern aesthetics add an elegant touch to any space.
What We Don't Like
The Dyson DC50 Animal is a high-quality vacuum cleaner, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Some users find the cost to be prohibitive. The short cord length can be frustrating, requiring frequent outlet changes. The vacuum's weight can make it difficult to maneuver and potentially uncomfortable for extended use.
The DC50 Animal can be quite noisy, especially at higher suction settings. The reach of the attachments, such as the crevice tool, can be limited, making it difficult to access tight spaces. Emptying the dustbin can be tricky, particularly for users with smaller hands.
Regular filter cleaning is necessary, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient. Some users have reported durability issues, including broken parts and malfunctions. Compared to newer Dyson models, the DC50 Animal lacks some features such as automatic power adjustments or self-emptying technology.
Cleaning Tasks
The Dyson DC50 Animal is highly suitable for pet hair removal due to its powerful suction and turbine tool designed to tackle embedded fur and dander on carpets, furniture, and upholstery. It is also suitable for general carpet cleaning thanks to its powerful suction and specialized tools, like the combination nozzle, which effectively remove dirt, dust, and debris.
For upholstery cleaning, the DC50 Animal's upholstery tool with a soft brush attachment gently cleans delicate fabrics, removing pet hair, dust mites, and dirt from couches, chairs, and other upholstered surfaces. Its crevice tool and combination nozzle effectively clean hard floors, removing dust, crumbs, and pet hair, making it suitable for hard floor cleaning.
The DC50 Animal has a lightweight design and a reach wand, but lacks a telescopic extension tube, making it moderately suitable for cleaning high places. However, it is suitable for dusting and cobweb removal due to its crevice tool and dusting brush. Its HEPA filtration system traps allergens, dust mites, and pollen, making it suitable for allergy sufferers.
The DC50 Animal's lightweight design, crevice tool, and upholstery tool are helpful for cleaning car interiors, including upholstery, carpets, and hard-to-reach areas. While its lightweight design and reach wand are helpful for cleaning stairs, the lack of a telescopic extension tube may limit reach for higher steps, making it moderately suitable for this task.
Comparison to Other Brands
| Feature | Dyson DC50 Animal | Shark NV356E | Hoover WindTunnel T-Series | Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $399 | $249 | $199 | $149 | Bissell |
| Type | Upright | Upright | Upright | Upright | N/A |
| Suction Power | 150AW | 120AW | 100AW | 90AW | Dyson |
| Weight | 16.6 lbs | 14 lbs | 15.5 lbs | 12 lbs | Bissell |
| Dustbin Capacity | 0.5 gallons | 0.5 gallons | 1 gallon | 0.75 gallons | Hoover |
| Attachments | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush | N/A |
| Filters | HEPA | HEPA | HEPA | HEPA | N/A |
| Pet Hair Removal | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Good | Dyson |
| Carpet Cleaning | Excellent | Very Good | Good | Good | Dyson |
| Hardwood Floor Cleaning | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Dyson |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | Dyson |
The Dyson DC50 Animal is a high-performance upright vacuum cleaner priced at $399. It boasts impressive suction power at 150AW, outperforming the Shark NV356E (120AW), Hoover WindTunnel T-Series (100AW), and Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet (90AW). Despite its powerful suction, the Dyson DC50 Animal weighs 16.6 lbs, making it heavier than the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet (12 lbs).
In terms of dustbin capacity, the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series stands out with a 1-gallon capacity, exceeding the 0.5-gallon capacity of both the Dyson DC50 Animal and Shark NV356E, and the 0.75-gallon capacity of the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet. All four vacuum cleaners come equipped with similar attachments: a crevice tool, upholstery tool, and dusting brush. They also all feature HEPA filtration for allergy-friendly cleaning.
When it comes to pet hair removal, the Dyson DC50 Animal excels, offering excellent performance. The Shark NV356E follows closely with very good pet hair removal capabilities, while the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series and Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet provide good performance in this area. For carpet cleaning, the Dyson DC50 Animal again leads with excellent performance, followed by the Shark NV356E's very good rating. The Hoover WindTunnel T-Series and Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet offer good carpet cleaning capabilities. The Dyson DC50 Animal also shines on hardwood floors, providing excellent cleaning performance compared to the good ratings of the other vacuum cleaners.
Maintenance
To keep your Dyson DC50 Animal running smoothly, follow these maintenance tips.
Emptying the Dustbin: Regularly empty the dustbin by pressing the red button to detach it, opening the lid, emptying the contents into a trash bin, closing the lid, and reattaching the dustbin.
Cleaning the Dustbin: Remove the dustbin, open the lid, and wash both the dustbin and cyclone with warm water. Ensure all parts are completely dry before reassembling.
Cleaning the Pre-Motor Filter: Locate the pre-motor filter behind the dustbin, remove it by pulling downwards, rinse it under running water, and let it dry completely before reinstalling.
Cleaning the Post-Motor Filter: Turn off the machine and unplug it. Locate the post-motor filter at the back of the machine, remove it by pulling downwards, rinse it under running water, and allow it to dry completely before reinstalling.
Cleaning the Brush Bar: Turn off the machine and unplug it. Use a small, soft brush to remove hair or debris from the brush bar. Check for loose or damaged bristles and replace the brush bar if necessary.
Cleaning the Telescopic Wand: Remove the wand from the machine, wipe it down with a damp cloth, and ensure it is dry before reattaching.
Checking the Power Cord: Regularly inspect the power cord for damage or wear. If the power cord is damaged, replace it immediately.
Replacing Filters: Replace the pre-motor filter every 12 months and the post-motor filter every 18 months. Refer to the Dyson website for official replacement filters.
Storing the Dyson DC50 Animal: Empty the dustbin, clean all filters, and store the machine in a cool, dry place.
Lubricating the Wheels: Occasionally lubricate the wheels with a light oil to ensure smooth operation.
Troubleshooting
If your Dyson DC50 Animal isn't powering on, first check if the power cord is securely plugged in. Also, check the fuse in the plug (if applicable) and the power switch on the machine. For cordless models, ensure the battery is charged.
If the machine is struggling to turn on, ensure the power button is pressed and held. Also, check for any blockages in the dustbin or filter area. If you're using a cordless model, try charging the battery.
Weak suction could be due to blockages in the hose, nozzle, or brush bar. To rectify this, clean the dustbin, filter, and brush bar. Make sure the filter is properly installed and free of dust. For cordless models, check the battery level.
Overheating can be caused by blockages in the dustbin, filter, or hose. Unplug the machine and let it cool down. Clean the dustbin, filter, and brush bar. Make sure the brush bar is spinning freely.
If the brush bar isn't spinning, ensure it's properly installed and not clogged. Check the brush bar belt for wear and tear. Inspect the brush bar motor for any damage.
Loud noises could indicate blockages in the hose, nozzle, or brush bar. Clean the dustbin, filter, and brush bar. Ensure the brush bar is spinning freely and not rubbing against anything.
Leaks may be caused by damage to the dustbin seal. Check if the dustbin is properly secured to the machine. Inspect the filter for cracks or tears.
For cordless models experiencing battery issues, try charging the battery for a longer period. Check the battery charger for any damage.
Conclusion
The Dyson DC50 Animal is a powerful and versatile upright vacuum cleaner designed to tackle pet hair and other debris with ease. Its strong suction, specialized tools, and HEPA filtration system make it a popular choice for pet owners and allergy sufferers alike. While it excels in cleaning carpets, upholstery, and hard floors, its high price tag, limited cord length, and occasional noise may be drawbacks for some users.
Overall, the Dyson DC50 Animal offers a compelling combination of performance, convenience, and features, making it a solid choice for those seeking a top-tier vacuum cleaner. However, it's important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a purchase, and consider whether the cost and potential drawbacks are justified for your specific cleaning needs.
