Dyson DC31 Motorhead

Only works for a few seconds – I had the problem where it would only work for a few seconds. I disconnected the battery and clean the contacts on both the battery and unit with methylated spirits and that made a huge difference. I still think my battery is close to expired but at least it would run for a couple minutes. Show details

Support/Parts for DC31 Motörhead experience from Dyson – I have had the DC31 for approx. 7 years and has performed reasonably well during this time. Unfortunately the battery decided to die, after 7 years of use that’s fair enough, time to get a replacement battery. I decided to contact Dyson direct to order the battery, not so easy, the DC31 is no longer manufactured, again fair enough, however the… Read more

worst was yet to come, no replacement batteries are available. I was offered a replacement vacuum at a special price, hopefully this wasn’t going to be a refurbished unit, this happened in a past experience I had with Dyson.

This is not why I purchase expensive products and why I have decided to replace all my Dyson products with an alternative manufacturer that does provide backup service and replacement parts.

My recommendation is don’t buy Dyson unless you have deep pockets and a desire for poor backup service.

So disappointed! – I love Dyson products, BUT!! I have contacted Dyson to get a replacement battery for my DC31 Motörhead- admittedly it is 7 years old, still in perfect condition other than the battery and they can't supply me with one- not longer available. So disappointed!! Offered a discount on a new model- if the same thing happens I will be "really" furious.  Show details

Trigger's Broom – The vacuum is powerful when it works. The design looks great. Shame that it is just not reliable as I have had to replace the main body as the switch failed, the battery as that failed and now the charger had given up. I will definately not be getting another, it was expensive even before buying the replacement parts which I now wish I had not… Read more

done. Should have purchased cheaper and thrown away, instead of expensive and unreliable. Never again Dyson. Such a shame.

The most powerful hand held vacuum cleaner – I bought this model at least four years ago and it's never disappointed us. We use it daily for spot cleaning around our house which has timber floors (very easy to spot dust on polished floorboards!) and have purchased the entire range of accessory tools to reach cobwebs in the ceiling corners, dust on top of bookcases, picture rails and… Read more

skirting boards. Having gone through a series of less expensive dustbusters over the years, we were really impressed with the suction power of the Dyson, its lighter weight and even the pistol grip being vertical (compared to dustbusters which have a horizontal grip and more tiring to hold). The Dyson is excellent to use for vacuuming the car too, and we were really pleased to find that all of the accessories which we bought also fit our Dyson barrel DC29.

As the battery lasts for 15 minutes before needing recharging, we solved that problem and simply bought a spare battery from the Dyson Australian call centre. That way, without breaking out the DC29, we can keep on spot vacuuming, swapping battery packs when one needs recharging. We were initially concerned about buying a UK brand but were very happy to find that Dyson have an Australian call and service centre. When we couldn't easily find the battery for the DC31 on Dyson's website, we phoned them and they immediately found and supplied us with the correct battery.

The best things about Dyson are no more vacuum cleaner bags and interchangeable accessory tools between models. Whilst more expensive, the trick is to wait patiently for store sales and price reductions.

Very disappointing – The battery didn't last very long at all, in spite of minimal usage and wall-mounted near a power-point. I now get only a one-second burst before it dies and I have to try for another one-second burst and hope I get a small job done. Looks like it is headed for the rubbish-bin. I changed all the filter pads but it made no difference. The bottom… Read more

clip doesn't let go easily to empty the canister either - I have to use pliers to undo it. The button that is supposed to press it open has NO chance.

Great performance, lousy battery – We bought on of these 2 years ago & used it lightly. Great for keyboards & anything up high. Brilliant for small spills, saves getting the big Dyson out. This is the 3rd Dyson vacc we have & I really miss it. Why do I miss it, after about 1.5 years the battery gave up the ghost & I can't get a replacement battery for sensible money. I… Read more

would have given it 5 stars but for the battery. For a handheld vacc it really performs extreemly well Short battery life & very expensive to replace.

Best Christmas present ever! – I wasn't at all put out when my husband bought me a Dyson Motorhead for Christmas about 2 years ago - it was exactly what I wanted. Cleaning our carpeted staircase was one of the worst chores with our large Dyson - dragging and balancing the unit mid-stairs to vacuum was such a pain that often I just didn't get around to it, but with the "baby"… Read more

Dyson I can quickly clean all edges with the pointy tool and use the motorhead for the body of the stairs without any real effort. I don't experience the same battery rundown as others when cleaning the car - I usually remove the car mats and bang as much dirt from them as possible, then use the motorhead on the seats, carpet and mats, and pointy tool for the hard to reach areas. I bought the tool accessories to complement the "baby" Dyson and I find them very handy. If the car is cleaned regularly I don't have to spend excessive time on it and the battery doesn't run out before I'm finished. I also find after young family members visit that crumbs and dry food messes are quickly cleaned up, and it's especially handy for a quick run over the messy high chair. I leave the Dyson Motorhead charging all the time, ready for instant action clean-ups, and would be lost without it now. compact, easy to clean, powerful, extremely portable would be nice if the battery charge lasted longer

How did i live without this? – Friends had always seemed surprised that I didn't have a dustbuster, so I finally succumbed, & read heaps of reviews before making a purchase. A lot of people seemed to me, to be unimpressed with the standard cheap models, or perhaps their requirements were less than mine. I have 3 dogs & 2 cats, all with long hair, & a 2-storey house with a… Read more

carpeted staircase. Having a shoulder injury, & after battling with electrical cables, & flex hoses that pull against you & want to recoil, I discovered the Dyson DC31 Motorhead. As the name implies, the motorhead attachment has an additional separate motor. I was aware from reviews I had read that the battery charge lasts only between 6-10 mins, depending on whether you use the Boost option which requires more power. But I decided I could live with that &, with economical use, ie. not running the motor continually, but instead, each time I lift the machine, releasing the trigger, I can complete the whole staircase without the battery dying. It is quick to recharge & I keep it charged all the time.

In the rest of the house, I do a major vacuum with my upright Dyson, & do minor tidy-ups with the DC31 throughout the day as required. The motorhead makes the suction more powerful, it has a little rotating brush inside which is great for removing pet hair, & is easy to remove to release the hair. I vacuum my mattress with the motorhead, & you can see in the clear canister, just how much dust & fluff the machine removes. This is one powerful little hand-held vacuum &, although expensive in comparison to others, it is a true vacuum cleaner, just small & lightweight which can be a huge advantage. It has 2 other attachments, a long crevice cleaner, and a brush for upholstery. It is easy to empty into a bag or bin with the press of a button & you don't need to dirty your hands. So if you want a serious little hand-held vacuum cleaner, I would recommend spending the extra money & buying this little machine. So handy, reliable, powerful, yet lightweight. Expensive, but worth it

Expensive – Cheap units always failing I decided to bite the bullet & buy the 'best' (most expensive). It does work better than others but has limited endurance which can be frustrating. Best of a bad bunch Expensive, poor battery life.