Dyson DC40 Allergy

Brilliant machine- great suction and it's quiet! – This was an exchange machine from Dyson as our old one had way too much suction on our pile carpet (long story). The first thing I did was look at the base plate to see any design changes. Brilliant, I could immediately see the designers had put 2 notches in the front of the sole plate to allow extra air in and an adjuster switch to regulate the… Read more

amount of suction. Anyway, suction is perfect, works like a dream on our normal pile carpet, and on wooden floors it is again perfect with the notch holes closed. It is also surprisingly quiet! This type of design is also highly manoueverable, allowing access to tricky corners. Now that's a clever design, I marvel at how their engineers did that without losing motor revs and suction power? My wife is really happy with this machine, she even cleaned our computer keyboards this morning with the appropriate attachment! Thank you Dyson, great engineering and super customer service!

Over-priced, poor design, average results – We have the DC40 version of this cleaner, and are not happy with it at all. The cleaning ability of this unit is no better than Miele units half the cost. Using the retractable hose is difficult at best, given that it includes a rigid pipe that must be fully extended before use. This makes getting back down to the floor (corners, etc.)… Read more

difficult, as the flexible hose must be bent sharply in order to do so. This results in a kink and loss of suction.

Being completely plastic, the handle seems wobbly and not as sturdy as I'd like it to be.

Using the vacuum on hard floors is marginal at best, as it really does not do well at picking things up from hard surfaces. This may be due in part to the loss of the rollers in the power head, but it makes for some frustration given that about half of the area it is used on is tile.

All in all if I had it to do over again, I'd not go with the Dyson. The premium prices just do not translate into results on caliber with the price paid.

Seeing is believing – We had heard about Dyson so we purchased one, a DC 40. When we got home I got the old packback and vacuumed the lounge. The packback has really good suction and usually does a good job. Then I vacuumed again using the new Dyson. I could not believe how much dirt and grit the Dyson picked up. The container was nearly half full. It was even better than I thought it would be.

Excellent machine – I purchased this machine secondhand. This is a much better model than the older ones (14years ago). It is reliable, easy to use and works well. It converts quickly to a hand held extended pole. It manoeuvres well, has good suction and is light to push. The only flaw to watchout for is the dirt canister not opening into the rubbish bin by its quick… Read more ·  1

release button. I have to open it down at the bottom of the canister by unclipping it, something that is a bit fiddly. I am ok with it because I bought it cheap secondhand, but the newer models may have the same release mechanism and it will fail over time. Can you deal with that? No biggie but still it is a design flaw. Otherwise it is a great machine. This is my second Dyson after the previous one, also bought second hand, died after 10 years.

An abomination !! – We have had this DC40 for over a year. We hated it after a few uses, but thought we might get used to it. We haven't. It really is a dreadful machine. For many years we had the wonderful DC01, which after many years of loyal service had to go. Regrettably, we purchased the DC 40. What a mistake that was. It is so difficult to use- so hard on… Read more

the wrist. It is wobbly and unstable, and falls over so easily.

The dust container fills up very quick, but is too small and the dust and fluff get jammed into it and won't pour out. A stick to drag it out has to be used.

A truly terrible model and we wish we hadn't bought it. Too new to go to the tip just yet.

Dyson - please bring back the excellent DC01. Stop trying to be so clever with these new fancy innovations e..g. to roller ball - what's that all about. All it does is make it so hard on the wrist.

The one good thing is that it is very efficient at picking up dust - but that's the only good thing about it.

I would recommend NOT buying this model.

From someone who has used this machine for about two years now - so I know what I am talking about.

Love the Dyson – Have had my Dyson for 4 years now and its the best vacuum cleaner Ive owned. Before this I had a Kirby with all the bits and pieces. When I bought the Dyson it was because of the Ball design which make it easy to maneuver around and the claim you would not loose suction as it filled. I love this vac so easy to vacuum the house with. Only down side is trying to remove long hair from the roller, apart from that its awesome.

Carpet cleaning is a struggle – Love the DC40 for tile floors, but have just discovered it is totally useless for thicker carpet. The vacuum cleaner has too much suction and it is impossible to move it once it is on the carpet. There should be a control that allows you to adjust the suction for hard floors or thick carpet.

Too hard to push on rugs – I was very excited about buying a Dyson. However so disappointed as it is virtually impossible to push across rugs. They are large and short pile so nothing out of the ordinary. I expressly wanted a cleaner I could use on hard floors and carpet. It is a dc65. I rang customer support but they had no solutions other than using the wand, which would… Read more

take forever and totally defeats the purpose of buying an expensive vacuum cleaner. I will be taking it back.

Avoid unless you want a work out! – Having purchased this machine I was pleased with the results until I tried it on quality carpet. trying to push this dyson over a good pile carpet is next to impossible unless you want to pull the carpet up, I'm a mid life male in a manual job and using this dyson is a kin to a 20 minute session down the gym. we have to go grab the 10 year old… Read more

hoover to do the job the dyson can't. I have tried every button, knob and setting on the machine with no luck. A true multi floor dyson unless you have a very good quality deep pile carpet!

First Dyson- Won't Be Buying Again – This vacuum is constantly blocked! It loses suction at the slightest blockage (and is always blocked). I have had to send it back twice and been left without a vacuum. The 2nd time I was told it was just blocked yet when I asked for further details about what was done a number of things were actually replaced. It's heavy, the head is too big and… Read more

doesn't fit under furniture.

The cord having to be wrapped around the wand is a pain especially when you want to just quickly vacuum a little area.

It is very loud and the wand itself has poor suction and is awkward to use.

The blockages are very difficult to find and remove.

I would never buy this vacuum again. I have to put up with it because it was so expensive.

Useless machine – One look at the instructions for maintaining the dc40 shows how much time and effort is needed as it has to be dismantled to wash both filters, the brush bar has to be dismantled to be cleaned properly, the whole thing needs someone with a technical degree! I have had mine for just a year and would gladly bin it, the dust it picks up goes into… Read more

every crevice of the machine, blocking it so it stops working altogether, just altogether a complete waste of time and money.

Dyson DC40 – After putting up with this vacuum for approx. 2yrs I would freely give it away. It has a high pitch whistle, it has lousy suction and the hand wand does not suck ( it is useless) My wife bought this because of their reputation (?) but I would advise everyone to buy a cheaper better model. Before we moved in together I had an old wertheim, this… Read more

is now 15yrs old and is a better vacuum to use, tonnes more suction for a heaps better job.

We have both hardwood and carpet floors. Purchased for it's " Allergy ' component -pending birth of first child.

I suggested to my wife to return it not longer after we bought it, but she was reluctant, now she has come to the realisation that this vacuum is a dud.

DC 40 failure – I have just returned this vacuum after using it on a New wool cut pile carpet the small under wheel on the front head mwas leaving deep marks all over my carpet. I could not possibly keep it-has anyone else had this problem

I regret the purchase – I owned an Amway CMS for 20 years and loved it. When it wore out I went for a Dyson because of its reputation and similar action to my Amway. Good looking, relatively lightweight and easy to carry, good manoeuvrability, and amazing suction. Using the hose though is a huge problem as it resists every inch of the way. Trying to clean in difficult… Read more

places, especially cleaning the car, is a nightmare as the hose is constantly pulling strongly back to the machine. Hard back-breaking labour. Also very disappointed to find the hard extension on the hose is too short to reach pelmets and such. The brushes are too long and collect hair which has to be removed by hand! My old Amway had a compartment above the filter for collecting hair. I regret the purchase and miss my Amway, which was much better designed.

Awesome – This Vacuum Cleaner is extremely powerful and very maneuverable. I look forward to vacuuming these days because it's over in no time and the house looks so much better for it. The first time we used it we had to empty the canister 4 times because it was pulling that much junk out of the carpet. The wife is the Allergy sufferer which is why we… Read more ·  1

went for this model and we couldn't be happier. It sucks!! Really hard!! In a good way. Vacuuming places like beside the fridge are a little more cumbersome with the built in hose compared to our previous barrel vac but it's not a big deal, just a little more work than it used to be.

Doesn't live up to the hype – Where do I start? First time I bought an upright never again. This machine is heavy and hard to manoeuvre especially around corners. Find it bad on hard surfaces. Cord gets in the way. But my main gripe less than 3 months old the past four times I have used this machine it gets blocked up. I have to dissemble the machine to unclog it which isn't… Read more

an easy thing to do. It's getting blocked in 3 different areas. Takes about 20 minutes to do each time, when you have a 5 bedroom house to vacuum you really don't have time to stop and fix it up and get dust all over you. But it gets even better it is now overheating using it less than 10 minutes we have to wait 10 minutes for the power to go back on.This is the first and last time I will buy a dyson. I have had a wetherim and an Electrolux, these were far better than this. Most overrated product ever. Don't believe the hype. Hopefully Harvey Norman will help trying to resolve this.

Overheats, constant blockages, not good on hard surfaces, heavy, cord gets in the way, hard to move around corners, canister not big enough, noisy, very plasticy

Love my Dyson - hoovering is no longer a chore – Having a dog I needed to find a vacuum cleaner that could pick up pet hairs. I had spent a lot of money on a heavier Hoover model but found it awkward and hated cleaning. Finding this Dyson has been the best thing. I don't mind cleaning anymore. It's easy to store, no bags and picks up the dirt really well. It's easy to change attachments and has… Read more ·  1

a button to change from carpet to wood floors. Will always buy Dyson from now on Light, no bags needed, easy to store, picks up pet hair

Can't go wrong with a Dyson – I bought my Dyson DC40 about 5 years ago and it still sucks like new. We recently moved to a new apartment with new carpet and my Dyson picks up all the new fluff that it lets off, I'm emptying out the canister after every vaccuum, which goes to show the suction power. And after 5 years I just discovered that the extention arm comes away from the… Read more ·  2

extension tube which makes vaccuming difficult areas super easy. Remember to read the instructions! Long lasting and reliable power. A little heavy.

What a Vac! – This is the 2rd Dyson that I have owned and easily the best Vac that I have ever used. Being a long time user of Dysons (the first was the DC03 upright bought back in 1999) I can safely say I have some experience. I was an asthmatic and eczema sufferer till I bought my first Dyson, now those illnesses are completely gone, a testament to how these… Read more ·  1

puppies roll!

The DC40 is an amazing piece of tech. Much better than the old DC03. I have used the Miele S series vacs (bags suck!) and the Electrolux Ultracaptic Deluxe and they pail in comparison to this (and that is comming from a Miele lover!). The ball makes the DC40 extremely easy to maneuver. Power head/brush is mega powerful (almost taking fingers off) picking up dust that other vacs miss. Cyclone tech just keeps getting better and better and the 2 washable, reusable Hepa Filters are a life saver. Being an upright it is slightly heavier, but far eaiser to use and much better on your body and back.

The vac does feel a little (and I do mean little) bit flimsy, but after nearly 2 years of use I can safley say it is super strong. I have kicked it and bashed it over many times and it still has not broken. I spose they needed a balance of weight and strength when designing. This baby gets really used, too. with both my wife and I working from home and having two little ones always with us making huge messes, the house needs vacuuming every couple of days. If it was a mediocre vac, it would not live up to our extreme usage.

You can tell Jim Dyson loves this company and we all know when a lot of love is put into something, you reap great rewards. Highly recommended,

Hanzo No expensive bags. Powerful. No exiting dust. Best head brush ever. Attachments. Ease of cleaning. Ball maneuverability. No bad back. Wished the cable was 1 meter longer.

The best vacuum cleaner that I have every purchased – I had my last Dyson, DC 04 for 10 years. I was unsure of what to purchase again as the last one was so good. It took me a while to select one and I went through most of the uprights but I was not sure of the new ball the Dyson's now have. I love it as it is very easy to move around and so easy to use, much better than my old one that was… Read more ·  1

bulky/heavy and hard to move around which, I thought was great until I tried the Dyson DC40 worth every cent. A very happy customer and Dyson Customer Services was great and very helpful.

none

Cleans well, but annoying to use – Vaccuum cleaners are like cars in our family - we buy the best we can afford and keep it until it stops running. So when our old one started to fail recently, I upgraded to a Dyson. Don't get me wrong, this is a great vacuum - but there are a few things that make it somewhat annoying to use that I really think should have been thought out a bit… Read more

more given this machine's hefty price tag. Don't get me wrong, it cleans well. My house has never been cleaner since I bought it. If you have rugs or carpet you will wonder how you ever managed without it - it is astonishing how much it picks up! True to it's "allergy" claim, the filters seem to work really well and the dust stays in the unit rather than being sprayed out the back of the machine like our old one.

So, the bad stuff -

The cord is too short.

I have to replug it in more often to get the house clean and it slows me down. I don't undertand why they could not have spent a few more dollars on another 2 metres of cord. It's such a little thing, but it annoys me every single time I use it.

It's big. Too big.

The ball that supposedly makes it easier to maneuver also makes it impossible to clean under furniture and into tight corners.

The hose attachment is really badly designed.

The hose attachment (that you use to get into corners and under couches) is very stiff/tight. It's hard to use and frequently I tip the unit over when I'm using it. Things like cleaning the curtains or blinds is pretty much out of the question.

Dust collection container too small.

By modern standards our house is not big, but I find myself having to empty the dust container about twice on each use. Admittedly, we do have pets and there's a lot of pet hair but still... It's just another thing that makes the task of cleaning the house take longer.

Will not pick up debris.

While it's great for getting up dirt, dust and pet hair give the Dyson a small ball of fluff or a sweet wrapper and it is helpless. It's not that it isn't powerful enought - it sucks like you would not believe - the head appears to be designed in such a way to stop large objects being sucked up into the unit. Probably it's made that way to protect the delicate inner workings of the vacuum, however given that this thing's sole purpose is to pick up stuff of the floor this is very very annoying. If you are a bit lazy like me and like to use your vacuum to actually clean your floor you'll have to first pick up everything bigger than a crumb. Unless of course you switch to the hose attachment. Which is too stiff to use. The other things I can live with, but this is a serious problem. It's a vacuum cleaner. It should clean the floor. Given how much it cost, frankly it should do it all by itself and make me a Gin & Tonic while I supervise.

So in conclusion, if your floor is mostly carpet and you enjoy pre-cleaning the floor prior to vacuuming (or have the kind of lifestyle where you never need to), you will love this machine. If like me you have kids that drop cereal or puppies that enjoy tearing up cardboard this is not the vacuum cleaner for you. It is a good vacuum cleaner, but it seems to have been designed without taking into account the fact that it will be used in homes, by people. does a good job, excellent for carpets, allergy friendly, so far reliable very expensive, concerned it won't last due to all plastic parts, badly designed, won't pick up debris.

Best vacuum – I bought a Dyson DC40 today and absolutely love it. Easy to use and empty and the suction is terrific! Have had earlier models of Dyson but found they were bulky/heavy/hard to pull around. The upright is great and can be used with little or no effort. I also got it while it was on special so saved there as well! Everything Absolutely nothing. Show reply

Best vac since we were first married 40 years ago – The DYSON DC40 Allergy is highly recommended. It does everything what it is supposed to do and at a high standard. It is very easy to operate the controls and the attachments. You tend to guide it around rather than push or pull. Very little effort and suitable for people with back problems or joint problems. Light and very efficient. Not cheap like in UK & USA, maybe our tax/tariffs cause this?

Awesome – Great vacuum, we used it on our shag pile rug and couldnt believe the amount of dust it collected as these rugs are very hard to clean. Easy to use and makes the house work a lot easier. Worth spending a bit extra to get a machine that will do the job properly! Compact, easy to use, good to manoeuvre Wish it was cordless

Really is no loss of suction – I bought this on sale after getting fed up with my old Vacuum(Volta Tornado bagless). The old one was quite powerful but lost it's power easily and filters got clogged easily with fine dust further reducing power. Ended up spending as much time trying to clean the machine as using it to vacuum. It really is no loss of suction even when the… Read more ·  2

machine if full to brim. Easy to maneuver. Good for single story place. I think the non-upright versions might be more convenient if you have a lot of stairs or places where you have to lift the machine. It sucks up so much more then the old machine.

Should have bought this first and not wasted money on the other machine. Powerful, easy to clean, filter doesn't get clogged with dust. The hose is a bit hard to use as it keeps pulling the machine around. Being an upright machine it might be hard find somewhere to store.

Ordinary Clean or Dyson Clean? – I have just bought a Dyson DC40 and I was astonished at how much more dirt and pet hair this vacuum picked up -I tested by vacumming with my Electrolux and then going over the same area with the Dyson. This is the first time I have ever used an upright and I have fallen in love with the ease of use. With the tools on board the dusting is quick… Read more ·  1

and efficient and when vacuuming the machine is so easy to manoveur - I love my Dyson. I loved that the tools that are used most often are on board - no more hunting for the tools around the house. Also love the fact that there are no ongoing expenses with bags or filters.

worth every cent! – after many vaccuums and money wasted we decided to invest in a dyson upright, best money we have spent! its does everything advertised, great with pet hair. after a month the dust in our old house has nearly gone. the attachments reach under the bed, spider webs and vaccuums the mattresses. i vaccuumed with our old vaccuum till nothing… Read more

came up then went over with our new dyson and the amount that came up was amazing, ours carpets now feel like new (and they are at least 15 years old!)

we picked ours up for $699 from good guys and i wish we had spent the money earlier. does everything advertised, the change to our house is amazing!, no longer smells dusty and old carpets are like new. can be expensive if you dont shop around, takes a bit to get used to.

Wife loves this machine! – After 3 weeks use, my wife loves this vac. Very easy to empty, she couldn't believe how much our old one was leaving behind. We found the Manual supplied was not as easy to follow as it might be, but website with video clips was great. Not needing a bag is a plus. Cord holder is a simple easy to use system. Cleans the floor well & easy to use, that's what you expect isn't it?  Show 5 replies