** Note ** - As of this writing, Amazon is pricing a non-refurb model (or if it is a refurb it isn't listed as such) at a lower price compared to this refurb. Amazon prices change periodically so this might not be the case when you read this**
I was recently in the market for a vacuum to replace my aging Bissell bagless unit, which even when it was new was just a mediocre product. I didn't know much about vacuums, but based on customer reviews and word of mouth, I was under the impression the Dyson was one of the better products on the market. I debated between the DC17 Animal and the DC25 Animal, and ultimately decided to go with the former because I have a single story house, so the added heft of the DC17 (which seems to be the main drawback vs. the DC25) wasn't that big an issue. Note I live in a ~2000 sq ft single story ranch, with mostly wood floors and area rugs with some tile (bathrooms, kitchen), and I have a large dog that sheds a lot. At the time of my purchase, I didn't know much about the pros/cons of certain types of vacuums (i.e. upright vs. canister, bag vs. bagless), but the product description for the Dyson said it works well on all types of floors and my previous vacuum was an upright, so I figured the DC17 would be a good choice and purchased it from Amazon.
I used the Dyson for 2 days before returning it to Amazon, and I have to say overall I think this product is mediocre at best and is dramatically over-hyped, the result of a very effective marketing campaign. The primary reason I returned the Dyson is because I feel it is too harsh on many types of floors. Many of the other reviews complained that the Dyson sucked up large quantities of carpet fiber, and this didn't really bother me since all rugs/carpets do shed to some extent and a vacuum picking up fibers doesn't necessarily indicate damage to the carpet/rug. Well - after vacuuming my expensive persian area rug only twice, I noticed the rug was starting to fray in certain areas. The damage wasn't terrible, but the fact that it was apparent after using the Dyson only twice was extremely disconcerting - I imagine within a few months the dyson would completely destroy the rug. The problem, in my view, is the brushes are too stiff and the brushing mechanism is too strong. While it is true that the brushes can be turned off, I found that with the brushes off the Dyson didn't do a very good job of picking up pet hair on the rug. Additionally, the brushes turn on automatically every time you turn on the vacuum, so it would be extremely easy to accidentally run the brushes on floors that could potentially be damaged (wood floors in addition to rugs). I also ran the Dyson over a small, cheap bathroom area rug and the Dyson literally picked it up and tore out the fibers in only a few seconds - not a big deal since it was a cheap area rug, but highlights the disadvantage of having only suction setting - you can forget about using the Dyson on any small, lightweight area rug, it will pick it up.
Pros:
1) Strong suction, although this "pro" can easily become a "con" because it cannot be adjusted
2) Amazon has a relatively painless return policy
Cons:
1) DC17 is, in my opinion, way too harsh on many types of flooring. It can damage rugs, and I didn't feel too comfortable using it on my wood floors, either.
2) Terrible included instructions (no mention of what types of floors the brush should or should not be used on, or what the various attachments are intended to be used for)
3) Overall cheap build quality and materials - this was a bit of a surprise given the price. The machine doesn't feel very well put together, and is constructed mainly of extremely cheap feeling plastics (of the brittle type that typically don't last long).
4) Overpriced
5) Large, cumbersome, and not very maneuverable. This lack of maneuverability is a big issue given the brush is so harsh - for example if you want to avoid a certain area (such as the tassly fringe of an area rug - no this is not the part that I damaged) while still vacuuming the surrounding area is not very easy. You'll have to use the want for such areas.
In the end, I returned the Dyson and purchased a Miele S4212 Neptune Canister vacuum (All New Miele S4212 Neptune Canister Vacuum Cleaner With STB 205-3 Turbo Tool). While it's a bit of an apples to oranges comparison (bagless upright vs. bagged canister), I feel the Miele is a vastly superior product in virtually every way - it also has strong suction, but the suction is adjustable, it's infinitely more maneuverable, employs better materials and has overall better build quality and fit & finish, and it's suitable to a wider range of floors (includes both a parquet attachment for wood floors, and a turbo brush for rugs/carpets - and the turbo brush is much gentler on rugs yet still picks up the dog hair).
I will admit, there are certain situations where the Dyson would be a suitable choice, and for that reason I give it 2 stars rather than 1. In my opinion, the ONLY situation where I'd recommend the Dyson is if a) your home consists almost entirely wall to wall carpeting (with maybe a little tile, but no wood floors or rugs) and b) you have messy people and pets living there and need the above average suction. For example, the type of apartment a lot of college kids live in typically has entirely wall to wall carpeting and lots of big messes, but what college kid drops $400 on a vacuum? And even if you do have such needs, there are surely better built options in this price range.
Conclusion: Overhyped, overpriced, and in the end just not that good of a product. It has a narrow range of situations in which it excels (wall to wall carpeting with lots of dirt and pet hair), and a lot of situations in which it really isn't the best choice (wood floors, rugs, anything that requires maneuvering in tight spaces, and any task that requires the ability to turn down the suction such as vacuuming drapes, furniture, light area rugs etc.). It's a sledgehammer (and an overpriced, cheaply constructed sledgehammer at that), and unless you want a sledgehammer for every cleaning job, I'd consider other options.
(155 customers reviews)Customers Rating=4.5 / 5.0
More Detail For
Remanufactured Dyson DC17 Animal Cyclone Upright Vacuum Cleaner- All-floors upright vacuum cleaner with motorized brushbar
- Level 3 Root Cyclone technology ensures powerful, consistent suction
- Quick-draw Telescope reach; mini turbine head; low-reach floor tool
- Hygienic 5/8-gallon dust bin; lifetime HEPA filter;
- Measures 26-2/3 by 13-1/5 by 43-1/2 inches; 6-month warranty
