Feeling a little miffed at the recent advertising spin on what men don’t get (such as credit cards and certain shopping discounts), I feel it’s high time men finally get something that’s meant for us. Dyson’s new handheld vacuum cleaner is definitely for the macho man out there. It looks and sounds like an oversized muscle car super charger, it could well be a transformer decepticon robot just because evil is cooler. And, if it were a trading card, it would have specs to beat the competition hands down PLUS have the red shiny finishing on the front too. If Arnie was going to take the T-1000 to the cleaners, this would be the bad boy that he’d reach for.
Ok ok, I am milking the fluffy analogies a little too much but, it’s only my enthusiasm for the Dyson V6 Fluffy cordless vacuum cleaner that has me waxing lyrical.
The Dyson V6 Fluffy is the eponymous company’s latest re-engineering of the humble vacuum cleaner. It has a new weight balance and low profile to reach tight spots easily, a new digital V6 motor that rotates at 110,000 rpm (making it the most powerful cordless cleaner available) and a HEPA filter that will expel air cleaner that was taken in at the business end.
The Dyson V6 Fluffy is also powered by a Lithium-ion battery that enables a reported 20 minutes of operation time without using any of the two motor-powered turbo brushes and 17 minutes with. A booster button, to increase the suction power will provide a continuous run time of seven minutes. However, with its finger trigger design, battery life is optimised as the unit is only powered when the trigger is depressed, giving the user about 20 minutes of usage at maximum power. On an empty battery, a full charge takes 3.5 hours. As an improvement on its predecessors, the new Fluffy is 30 per cent quieter than the DC62. In keeping with its cordless design, you are given an option of a wall mounted charging dock which tucks the 1meter long AC cable away from sight.
While other brands have cleaning heads that look vaguely similar, Dyson engineers, known for rethinking and retooling common appliances to perfection, used a combination of carbon fibre to pick up statically charged dust, and stiffer nylon bristles that act as an agitator which performs brilliantly on any surface. Bundled with five different suction heads, no job is too big for the V6 Fluffy.
Let’s take a closer look at the attachments:
The Carbon Fibre Floor Tool (the Fluffy Head) is designed for hard surfaces. The edges of this attachment creates a seal against the surface of the floor to ensure fine dust and allergens do not escape. A motorised row of anti static carbon brushes and soft fluffy felt-like material further ensures that all dirt, large and small, is directed into the mouth and gets picked up. This radical design has been lauded by the industry and other independent reviews as being highly effective at dust busting and at the same time, gentle with surfaces like parquet which can be worn down easily by traditional cleaning equipment.
The Mini Motorised Head has stiff bristles that work best with carpets and fabric surfaces like beds. The stiff fibres agitate debris, allergens and untangles hair, making it easier to remove.
The Mattress tool has red velcro-like material that works wonders at pulling out hair and lint from carpets, mattresses and sofas. If you have pets, this attachment is a god-send. Just look at how easily it dislodges dog fur from this beautiful Afghan carpet.
The Combination tool is also great at removing pet fur due to the red velcro material. Its primary function, though, is for work on removing large chunks of debris on upholstery.
The Crevice tool is for detailed work such as hard-to-reach corners or picking up specific debris. Even this humble tool has been given a look-over by Dyson’s engineers who have added their mark of ingenuity to it. A suction release vent positioned close to the business end of the attachment keeps cleaning motions smooth while ensuring dirt does not escape.
My only gripe is that the V6 operates when unplugged. If you haven’t quite finished, you will have to partially charge the battery at the very least and UNPLUG the Dyson from the mains in order to use it.
The Dyson V6 Fluffy is perfect for modern apartments for busy people. The Dyson V6 Fluffy does not take for granted that you have the luxury of time and knows that you have better things to do. It tailors your cleaning habits to small on-the-spot jobs. It urges you, with a fun trigger activation system to blast dirt and dust at the very instance that you see it.
Coupled with the convenience of a tool always on standby that takes absolutely no set-up time, the house is kept in an overall cleaner condition. The Dyson V6 Fluffy is a well thought-out piece of equipment just right for the working couple that wants to inject some fun into the little time that they have for everyday chores.
The Dyson V6 Mattress, V6 Motorhead and V6 Fluffy retail at S$499, S$899 and S$1049 respectively. They are available at leading electrical retailers.
