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Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Review

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From Dyson comes the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum. The DC41 Animal Complete is engineered for outstanding cleaning performance and features extra tools for pet hair and ground-in dirt. As the owner of three pets (two dogs and one cat) and as the mother of an active toddler, I need a vacuum that cleans the floors of my home thoroughly and quickly. When Dyson recently offered me the chance to review a DC41 Animal Complete, I jumped at the opportunity to test out a powerful vacuum designed especially for homes with pets.

Specifications

The Dyson DC41 Animal Complete is an upright vacuum with superior technology for removing pet hair from carpets and upholstery. The cleaner head self-adjusts for different carpet lengths and hard floors, meaning the vacuum never loses suction due to air gaps as you move between the different flooring in your home. The Tangle-free Turbine uses counter-rotating heads with brushes to remove hair and dirt from carpets and upholstery. The Ball™ technology allows you to maneuver the DC41 Animal Complete with the turn of your wrist. The Radial Root Cyclone™ technology captures dust, dirt, and allergens while expelling cleaner air. Many of the parts of the vacuum are made from polypropylene reinforced with 20% glass fibers and high-impact PC-ABS.

Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Box

Other specifications of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete include the following:

  • Patented cyclone technology: Radial Root Cyclone™ technology
  • Suction power: 235 AW
  • Movement type: Ball™ technology
  • Filter: Lifetime washable post filter
  • Cleaner head: Motorized brushbar
  • Stair cleaning: Instant high reach wand
  • Bin capacity: 0.55 gallons
  • Dimensions: 42.4 x 13.4 x 15.4 inches
  • Maximum reach: 51.7 feet
  • Cord length: 35 feet
  • Weight: 17.1 pounds

For more information, visit the DC41 Animal Complete product page on the Dyson website.

Assembly

When I first opened the box to my new Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum, I was a little wary of all the parts. However, as I quickly figured out, assembling the vacuum was incredibly easy! Instead of a huge manual with complicated instructions, I found a single sheet with a clearly labeled step-by-step guide. By following the numbers, I quickly put the vacuum together. All of the parts snap together easily. No additional tools are required for assembly. The only problem that I had was with the last piece that holds some of the accessories. However, my husband quickly and easily figured out how to put the final piece on. Therefore, in terms of assembly, I rate the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum very highly.

Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 1 Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 2
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 3 Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 4
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 5 Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 6
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 7 Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 8
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 9 Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 10
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 11

Quality

Prior to receiving my Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum, I equated Dyson with high quality products. Upon using the vacuum for a couple of weeks, I am pleased to report that the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum performs highly despite the repeated abuse of my cleaning routine. Despite my best efforts, I have accidentally knocked my vacuum over a few times while moving the cord from plug to plug. Even after crashing to the floor, my Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum is still in perfect working order. Not a single piece has broken. I expect the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum to hold up perfectly for many years under both normal wear and tear and my more accident-prone usage.

Dyson DC41 Animal Complete

As advertising for the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum claims, I am also happy to report that my new vacuum never loses suction. With my old vacuum, I had to empty the canister frequently because, once even slightly filled, the suction noticeably weakened. With the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum, I can allow the canister to fill up to the fill line, yet I never notice any reduced suction. With two dogs, a cat, a toddler, and a husband, I need a vacuum that really sucks (pun intended). I can use the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum throughout my entire home without having to stop to empty the canister.

Thick Shag Carpet Full Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum
The Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum is also perfect for any type of floor covering. The flooring in my home consists of shag carpet, linoleum, tile, hardwood, and industrial carpet as well as a few area rugs. With the push of a button, I can easily move from the carpeted to uncarpeted rooms in my house. The Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum works to clean all of my floors evenly. Although I used to spend a good half an hour vacuuming my home with my old vacuum, I can now clear my entire house in just ten to fifteen minutes with my new Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum. I know that I can go over all my flooring just once and end up with a beautifully clean floor. The Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum really does work that well!

Ease of Use

In addition to the ease of assembly, using my new Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum is also super easy. Unlike conventional upright vacuums, my new Dyson does not require a foot lever to move the machine into position. I simply tip the handle backwards and start vacuuming. When I am finished vacuuming, I just tip the handle forward to lock the canister back in an upright position. I never even need the use of my feet (other than to walk around) to use the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum. Because of the lack of foot pedal, I highly recommend this vacuum for parents with young children. Babywearing parents can easily work the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum without having to balance on one foot even momentarily to put the canister into position.

Handle of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Self-Adjusting Cleaner Head
Turning the brushes on and off in the vacuum head of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete is also easy. The brush button is located right next to the power button. Because I am used to the brush button being located on the handle, I am still getting used to the new location. One minor complaint that I have about the brush button location is that I have to use two hands — one to hold the handle and the other to press the button — when I switch from carpeted to uncarpeted floors. If I could make one improvement to the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete, I would move the brush button up to the handle of the vacuum. However, once I get used to the location of the button, I should not have any problems.

Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Accessories Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Tangle-free Turbine Tool
Using the extra features on the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum is also incredibly easy. The most common attachments live on the vacuum. When I need to dust or vacuum along the edges of a room, I simply pop the attachment off the vacuum, move the hose from the handle, snap the attachment on, and turn the vacuum on. The more specialized attachments live in a handy hanging bag but attach to the hose in the same way. Three of the specialized attachments include the Dyson Multi-angle brush, the Dyson Stiff bristle brush, and the Dyson Soft dusting brush. Dyson pretty much makes an attachment for any vacuuming or cleaning need. The handheld Tangle-free Turbine tool also features counter-rotating heads with brushes that easily remove hair and dirt from carpets and upholstery. And using the attachments is so easy. My only complaint is that the suction in the hose is so strong that sometimes I have trouble extending the hose completely. But, with such strong suction, I am able to clean my home incredibly quickly!

Finally, emptying the canister of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum is also super simple. Although my husband used to empty my old vacuum for me because I had problems opening and closing the canister, I can easily empty my new Dyson DC41 Animal Complete on my own (although I still ask my husband to do the job). To empty the canister, simply press the canister release button and pop the canister out. Empty out the debris and snap the canister back into place. With the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete, you never need to mess with dirty bags!

Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Full Canister Emptying the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Canister
Cleaning Power

In terms of cleaning power, I have never owned a vacuum more powerful than the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete. The shag carpet in my living room and hallway is the bane of my cleaning existence, especially with two dogs and a cat. Although I had vacuumed the week before, I was surprised to find that the canister of my Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum filled up with dust, dander, dirt, and pet hair so quickly. My old vacuum simply did not clean the shag carpeting in my home as well as my new Dyson.

Moving from the shag carpeting to the linoleum, hard wood, tile, and industrial carpet in my home further proves the cleaning ability of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum. For example, in my kitchen and dining room, I used to have to always use the edging attachment to vacuum up the dust, dirt, and other debris from along the base of my walls. However, the suction on the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete is so powerful that using the regular vacuum head along my walls sucks up almost every crumb, animal hair, and dust bunny on my tile without needing to switch to a hose attachment. The DC41 Animal Complete makes vacuuming my home so much easier and quicker than ever before!

Final Verdict

I cannot give the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete enough high praise to do the vacuum justice. The suction is incomparable to other vacuums. Even with the thick shag carpets in parts of my home, I can see that the DC41 Animal Complete is getting my floors clean as I watch the canister fill up with dirt and animal hair. Both assembly and use of the vacuum are incredibly easy. Emptying the bagless canister makes getting the debris from your floors out of your home quick and painless. If you live with pets, small children, or both, I cannot recommend the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete vacuum enough. At $649.99, the DC41 Animal Complete is well worth the investment!

For more information or to make a purchase, visit the Dyson website. You can also follow Dyson on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

Image Credits

Dyson Logo © 2013 Dyson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Box © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 1© 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 2 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 3 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 4 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 5 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 6 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 7 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 8 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 9 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 10 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Assembling the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum 11 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete © 2013 Dyson
Thick Shag Carpet © 2013 Heather Johnson
Full Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum © 2013 Heather Johnson
Handle of the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum © 2013 Heather Johnson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Self-Adjusting Cleaner Head © 2013 Dyson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Accessories © 2013 Heather Johnson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Tangle-free Turbine Tool © 2013 Dyson
Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Full Canister © 2013 Heather Johnson
Emptying the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Vacuum Canister © 2013 Dyson

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