Perfect for those small spills around the house, the Dyson DC31 handheld vacuum cleaner is
the perfect solution for quick clean up jobs. With amazing suction and power all wrapped in a
small, lightweight design, this handheld is durable, easy to use, and a breeze to maintain. The Dyson DC31 has 2 suction
settings to give you greater versatility and longer run times. The DC31 is even a great gift idea for this holiday
season!
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Dyson DC31 Handheld Vacuum
The Dyson DC31 Handheld Vacuum features a new motor and improved suction, all while being Energy Star
certified. Lightweight and fitting
easily into your hand, the DC31 is a simple and effective way to tackle small messes around the house without lugging out your
full-sized vacuum cleaner. With my trusty test model in hand, I took it home and put it to the test.
What I liked about the Dyson DC31
The new motor design for the DC31 handheld is a big plus. Not only does it consume less power and is Energy Star qualified, but
the lack of carbon brushes in the motor means there is no carbon dust coming from the exhaust. This has long been overlooked in home
appliances. Why dirty up the air in your home while you're supposed to be cleaning? The other plus to this new motor is you get more power
in a smaller package. Overall, Dyson was able to further reduce the weight of the DC31 so now it falls just under
3 lbs. This is good news considering we're talking about a small home appliance that will be solely supported by your hand and arm while you use it.
This latest Dyson handheld is ideal for small jobs.
Using it to pick up dirt my dog tracks in just beyond the doorway and using it to quickly vacuum out the floorboards of my truck, I found it to be particularly useful in pulling up pet hair from carpet. The
included accessories are good enough for most uses with the brush working well in loosening up pet hair, while the crevice tool worked
wonders in getting between the seats of my truck.
The DC31 Handheld essentially has two settings. There is a small "65 AW" button on the back of the unit just above where your hand rests. So
you can either select the full power or the lower power of 38 airwatts for smaller jobs and a longer run time. This gives you
some measure of control that most other handheld vacuums lack.
Like all Dyson vacuums, the dust bin is clear, so it's easy to tell when it's full. Additionally, the filter is fully washable which
saves you the expense of replacement. Cleaning the unit is simple, and the DC31 can quickly be taken apart, cleaned, and reassembled. The wall
charger fits any standard 110V outlet.
What I did not like about the Dyson DC31
The biggest thing to keep in mind with any handheld vacuum is it is for limited cleaning. Because it lacks a cord, you
will always be limited by the battery power, and the greater the suction, the quicker the battery dies. I actually got a little over 11 good minutes
of use with above average suction. Though the overall duration was still short, the suction couldn't be beat.
The run time surpassed the stated time primarily due to the fact that the DC31 really only uses its charge while you are squeezing the trigger. As a side note,
recharging took around three hours to complete once the battery was completely drained. So for quick jobs, it's perfect. Just don't expect to
be able to clean an entire stairway.
My only other concern with this was the dust bin. I actually attempted to suck up some Kibble 'N Bits. I
know, likely not the best idea, but I was testing this and that seemed like a suitable situation. While it
would pick all of the kibble up, the problem was that with the smaller neck that empties in the dustbin,
larger chunks would get stuck. Imagine two elephants trying to squeeze through the same doorway at the same
time. Truthfully, sucking up a cup of doggie kibble was likely a better job for the broom and dustpan.
I didn't mind the sound, but I am fully aware that is largely due to the fact that it sounded like an air power tool. Overall, I found
the Dyson DC31 to be a respectable handheld vacuum cleaner well suited for most quick clean up jobs around the house. Compact but with
great suction, this handheld packs a punch. For many it may be beyond what you would normally pay for a similar model, but with the DC31
you get well beyond ordinary suction.
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