Dyson DC39 Multi Floor Canister Vacuum Cleaner - Powerful Suction for Carpets & Hard Floors | Ideal for Homes, Offices & Pet Owners

This canister vacuum has made cleaning so much easier for me. I recommend this lightweight canister to anyone, but especially to those who suffer from an illness such as rheumatoid arthritis where everyday things can be so challenging. It is wonderful when we find things that make our lives a little easier. I bought this canister and attachments because using an upright made my hands hurt. I use this caniter to vacuum the high shelves, the curtains, ceiling fans, window sills, lampshades, furniture, under the beds, etc. It has worked wonderfully. And I also want to mention that is an easy way to get rid of unwanted visitors, like spiders on the ceiling (and the cobwebs they leave behind.)This kit has great tools, I recommend it: I previously owned a Dyson upright which I liked. After a brief intermission with a small thirty dollar Dirt Devil (which actually had a lot of power when the filter was clean and lasted a long time, but was ear-splitting and too small), I decided on this canister - kind of retro but smart to not have to lug the whole machine.Overall it's a good machine, a pleasure to use.The brush bar is a bit weak, just doesn't beat the carpet like a belt-powered bar. Yet it does fluff up my low-shag carpet and gives it that 'just vacuumed' look and feel. And smaller carpets it lifts to itself and there's lot of friction with the brush bar then, so height counts, but in general it has a weak feel if you're used to something that really beats and vibrates the carpet. Sometimes I need to go over a spot a few times to get it fluffed. And this weakness affects its ability to pickup heavy small stuff that requires a beating to lift, like cat litter in a carpet, but it still does well - at least as well as the Dirt Devil which had a powerful brush bar and good suction.I'm less concerned with the brush bar the more I use it - it does clean well and what the brush bar lacks in force, the sheer suction makes up for. And with no belt, there is no cord required to the part you hold, just the hose, making it a light setup.It's easy to underestimate this machine because it's fairly quiet, lightweight, and easy to move - it just glides along. It's almost like you're just pretend-vacuuming with a toy - just making the motions. Yet it leaves the carpet looking great and the dust bin reveals it's doing its job well. I would especially recommend this vacuum for persons who can't lift and lug.The other minor weakness is the crevice/brush tool, which has a brush which slides along it and locks to the end of it, or retracts to the base. The crevice tool is short and fat (large enough to suck keys off a keyboard) and not suitable for any narrow space due to the wide brush and handle. But the brush works well - the finer longer bristles work well because they clean themselves and dust better than short stiff brushes.Great suction. When using the hose it WILL grab everything within your reach - carpets, drapes, curtains, even just stick itself to the wall or floor. It's a comedy of errors at times - the force required to remove it from one thing will stick it to the next (until you learn to use the suction release, which somehow releases all of that suction easily with just one finger).I like the power and cord retract buttons on the canister - they're clearly meant to be foot-operated and work easily. Cord retraction is excellent - a treat after owning uprights. Dust bin removal and emptying into a bag is very smooth and easy, with a decent size bin. Cord is adequate length - covers a large apartment without swapping plugs.Canister rolls and turns easily and mostly keeps its balance. When it does tip it doesn't seem to mind it - no change in sound even. I much prefer the idea of a lightweight hand piece and the canister that follows easily. Plus the air is being blown out far from where you're vacuuming, so it's pure suction at your end (unlike an upright which will blow stuff around as you're trying to vacuum it).Wand button to switch off brush bar is handy - a little touchy but you get used to it - speed counts. And there's a pull-lever that releases the suction momentarily, which is handy. Does fine on hard floors.My last Dyson the attachments were forever sliding off while in use. These attachments have locks that can support your body weight if required. Not the easiest to remove them due to odd placements of the buttons - but well made, smooth and secure. I prefer them staying on until I remove them, even if it takes a moment of effort.This machine has great reach under beds and smaller furniture, up the air, etc. So light you can twist and turn the end around table legs and into the smallest spots, has great flexibility. I find the hose just the right length, and the wand long enough at full extension (I'm about 5'10" with longish arms).Mostly I find this a good vacuum cleaner. I think Dyson might have been better off putting a belt-driven brush bar on it, but without it you gain a lighter head, no cords to that section, and it still seems to do the job well. And come on - give us a real crevice TOOL, not a toy. But mostly this machine behaves as a well-engineered tool, without being super noisy or heavy.