Dyson Digital Slim DC35 Multi Floor Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

This cordless vacuum really works and is a pleasure to use. If you've ever used another upright cordless, you'll know what I mean. (If you've never used a cordless vacuum, imagine the difference between a mains-tethered motormower and petrol-powered version.)

Here's how the DC35 stands out:

* Power. While less powerful than a mains-powered vacuum, it's surprisingly good for a cordless and only occasionally annoys you by failing to pick something up. (Others are so weak you end up wishing you lugged out the mains-powered vacuum). Dyson say the power doesn't drop as the dust container fills, and this seems to be true from using it. Looking at how it's constructed, you can see why this is so - other manufacturers, take note!)
* Ease of emptying. For obvious reasons, portables have a small capacity and need frequent emptying. This model is (possibly?) unique in that you just press a button and the waste flicks cleanly out the bottom without an airborne dust explosion.
* Build and design quality. It's clear that the manufacturers have avoided cutting corners (and the price reflects it).

It doesn't entirely replace a mains-powered vacuum (or a hired cleaner), but I find this cordless does 95% of what's important. Battery life is only 13 minutes but life is too short to spend longer than that vacuuming. Once you get skilled at using it, 13 minutes of run-time is enough to do the main area of a medium-sized house plus half of the remaining rooms (which you alternate each time you vacuum). Perfect.

The motorized head is effective on both hard surfaces and carpets. It also comes with crevice/brush tools for getting into corners or cleaning the car. (Again, 13 minutes is a sensible time limit for vacuuming a car!) Unlike the Electrolux Boss I had before, the filter in the DC35 is not made of fragile paper that you have to periodically replace. It's solid and washable.

I should also say this has a great 'feel' and is as fun as vacuuming gets. This is the vacuum for people who have things to do in life besides cleaning.

I purchased this (not on Amazon as I found it cheaper elsewhere) after seeing a friend's. I wouldn't have paid the scary price if I hadn't seen it in action. I bought it because I am sick of seeing cat hair swirling underneath my sofa and dining table even when I sweep every day. Also, the baby makes crumbs around her highchair, and sweeping between chairs and table legs is a chore I could do without. This vacuum will revolutionise my cleaning. That sounds overly dramatic, but it's true. The clumsy broom and brush and dustpan will be banished to the shed, replaced by this neat little vacuum on its tidy docking station. I didn't expect it to perform as well as a regular vacuum because of the battery life, but this wasn't a problem. I've done the whole of my ground floor, the stairs and de-cobwebbed in less than 4 minutes. Even though I swept this morning, I have had to empty the drum twice - I just can't believe how much dirt it found. That is the scary but strangely pleasing thing about Dysons though.

If you have laminate or similar floors, are tight for space, have a bad back etc this is the vacuum for you. It is amazing! I'm not sure how it would cope cleaning carpets on a regular basis, but it coped well with the muddy back door mat, even before I'd worked out where the maximum power button was. It is smaller than it looks in the pictures and light enough that you don't feel any strain, even when doing the ceilings.

The only possible thing that could have made it better would be if the docking station actually charged it too. Instead you have to manually insert the charging cable, then hang it on the docking station.

This vacuum is worth every penny. Just shop around as it is available cheaper with web offers etc.

EDIT
Since writing this review, I have had a couple of problems with the Dyson. The battery died inexplicably and the trigger stopped working. To be fair, Dyson did replace the parts by first class post. The trigger problem was due to the filter not touching a sensor when the trigger was pulled. But I am downgrading my rating to 3 starts because I do not expect these 'teething problems' from such an expensive vacuum. I have also found that it gets clogged up easily when the battery is reaching the end of its charge as there isn't enough power to suck dirt though. I can only hope that they will offer a voluntary extended warranty if it continues to go wrong. My love affair with this machine has ended

EDIT
After several requests for a further update, I can confirm that I have had no more serious issues with this Dyson (as of Jan 2013). It is still in daily use. It is beginning to show signs of this frequent use, with a cracked drum which I have fixed with tape to maintain suction. While I would probably buy another, I would buy an extended warranty for it.

I recently purchased the Dyson DC35 Multi Floor Hand held vacuum cleaner and I can honestly say it's the best buy I think I've ever made ! It's light weight, easy to use, multi functional, easy to store on the wall and out of the way.
I have a dog and cats and it picks up all the fur without any problems. Infact I use this more than my large Dyson now as it's a lot quicker to give the floors a quick wiz around.
I was originally looking at purcahsing the DC31 Animal but I'm glad I didnt now as this is so multifunctional with the long handle and the large floor head and not forgetting the stairs - quick & easy to use.
I highly recommend this cleaner !