By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Living and working in an apartment with two cats and an active 8-month old baby just learning to crawl, made getting the right vacuum a priority. Dyson's DC46 Turbinehead Canister Vacuum is put through the ultimate test, let's see how it does.
Apartment living often means having to compromise on space but when one has a baby, this is seriously challenged. Baby's drawers, changing table, playpen, crib, exer-saucer and various play areas and toys can make an already limited space feel absolutely cramped.
Throw in two cuddly but long-haired cats shedding their coat for the Summer and you can easily see the imperative to get a small but powerful vacuum that can manage the tight spaces and get to all the nooks and crannies that babies tend to find themselves in when they begin crawling.
A full-sized vacuum was out of the question as it requires more storage space and isn't as versatile in terms of where it fits. The Dyson DC46 Turbinehead Canister Vacuum is surprisingly compact, has an extending arm and can navigate the most cluttered areas easily thanks to its Ball Technology that enables easy navigation.
In terms of design, the DC46 looks absolutely stunning, the shiny gunmetal plastic merges with the gold coloured 2-tier radial cyclones which flow into the bagless canister which shows you all the dust and and gunk that the vacuum picked up. The DC46 is incredibly lightweight at 6.08kg and is easy enough to carry and move around. The retractable power cord and head make it very compact.
Setting up the DC46 is also very easy and intuitive, you can get away without reading the manual (although, it is suggested you do) and each component snaps securely together so that you're ready to vacuum in less than five minutes.
Once powered on, the Dyson DC46's 32 cyclones work in parallel across two tiers to increase airflow and capture more microscopic dust. The sound is loud but not deafening, everything about this vacuum feels and looks so precise and calibrated and even the sound it makes is so distinct.
My apartment has both carpeted and linoleum flooring. Because I have two cats, there's always fur, dust bunnies and general dirt that need to be cleaned, specially not that my baby is determined to crawl all over the place.
I found that a few minutes of using the Dyson DC46 quickly takes care of most of the dust and dirt as well as all the fur that's usually a chore to remove from the carpet.
Because of the 5 meter long power cord and retractable handle connected to the hose, I don't need to keep moving and re-plugging the vacuum and can reach a larger zone to clean. This is key specially since there's a lot of furniture to get around.
On non carpeted surfaces, the Dyson DC46 works just as well thanks to features like dual-channel floor tool and fingertip brush control help tackle any of the tougher than usual surfaces.
After three weeks of using the Dyson DC46 and comparing it to our old vacuum, it became clear that thhe DC46 could clean almost twice the amount of dirt and fur thanks to the Dyson's unique turbine technology as well as the fact that it can reach around more areas better.
Maintainance and disposal of dirt is also a cinch, thanks to the Dyson DC46's easy push button bin empty function. I wish the canister holding the dirt would be larger so I didn't have to empty it as often but that would impact the DC46's compact size.
Conclusion
The Dyson DC46 Turbinehead canister vacuum is perfect for small apartments, cramped spaces as well as to pack and carry to the cottage or a vacation destination. Small enough to store in a closet or under a couch, it is also powerful and versatile that it can replace a larger vacuum and the accompanying handheld vacuum used for spot cleaning. Build quality and design are superior to many competing models we've seen and practical features don't come at the expense of functionality.
Priced at $549.99, it is an investment, but the bagless technology, ease of use and overall superior performance make it well worth the investment.
Rating: 5 out of 5