Welcome to Capsule Considers, where we try out and review the latest products on the market and offer our honest, unbiased opinions, free from any obligation or expectation because if you’re parting with your hard-earned money based on any of our recommendations, we’re gonna make sure it’s damn well worth it.
Kelly Bertrand reviews Dyson’s latest offering to see if you should shell out the big bucks for a hoover which, granted, does come with lasers. Lasers!
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first – yes, Dyson has become something of a cult; the shining, expensive beacon on the floorcare world with any influencer worth their salt wielding the latest model and proclaiming loudly #ad ITS AMAZING!
(To be very clear, this is not an ad – we were supplied with a loan model for review purposes which meant a very big box took up residence in my bathtub for a month. The perils of apartment living, right?)
If you’re one of many that gets excited by such things, I’m very sorry to tell you that it is also a sad insight and indication that you’re getting older. I’m betting that 23-year-old you didn’t give a rat’s ass about what kind of vacuum cleaner your flat had – and I’d also hazard a guess that it was the cheapest model Kmart or The Warehouse had to offer.
Or, if you were fancy, a wee number from a 50% Briscoes haul.
But these days, a good vacuum cleaner makes or breaks your household vibe. There is nothing – NOTHING – more satisfying than a good vacuum job.
So, enter the Dyson V15 Total Clean with lasers. Yup, frickin laser beams. (You also have to be old enough to get that reference and if you don’t, please go and watch Austin Powers immediately.)
There’s a whole lot of science with Dyson, and as a journalist on the end of many of their press releases, the want you to KNOW it because they’re very proud of it, and it explains why the price tag of their items is so high.
Obviously the big selling point here is the dust detection technology, which is where the lasers come in.
The lasers are amazing on hard floors. It does what’s billed on the box – you can really see those particles of dust and dirt that the naked eye would otherwise miss, so if you’re carpet-less or have heaps of tiles, wood or lino, then yes definitely, this is going to both satisfy and delight.
I can honestly say my bathroom and kitchen floors haven’t been cleaner, and really those two surfaces really are the ones you want to sparkle.
The V15 is also equipped with sensors that actually tell you what kind of microscopic particles you’re picking up – so if you’re just generally curious about what’s lurking in your home, or if you have family members who are allergic to dust, I’d say this is quite a good investment. For me, I just got a great sense of achievement when I saw the numbers go up and felt like my tiny house was clean.
The head of the vacuum is also brilliant – the swivel on the bottom makes it much easier to get into those weird corners and spots like behind the toilet and under cabinets. You do have to turn down the lights to really see the full effect of the laser, though.
When it comes to carpet, yeah, she goes well, although the fluff off my very cheap and nasty black Kmart slippers needed a few goings over before they were whipped away.
But we have to talk about what is potentially the BEST aspect of the V15 – yup, even better than the lasers. The fancy science folk at Dyson have finally realised the biggest issue with modern vacuum cleaners – hair.
It’s the WORST when you have to actually cut your tightly wound hair from the bristles, so Dyson have actually invented a nozzle where this is impossible – so long-haired people of the world, rejoice, you have been seen. As a woman with VERY long hair that refuses to stay on my head, I was intrigued. So, I vacuumed one side of my lounge with my normal (very good) vacuum cleaner and the other side with the V15. The amount of hair on the normal side was the same as usual – heaps. But the Dyson did an incredible job of sucking the hair straight through and it was glorious.
(Take my word for it, you don’t want to see photos of my manky hair.)
There are a few things to consider – if you’re not blessed with arm strength the V15 is a little heavier than most (there’s a V12 Detect Slim if this is an issue for you but you still want a Dyson) and I didn’t like that you always have to have your finger on the trigger to power the vacuum.
Battery life is pretty good – a normal sized house will only take one battery (maybe get a second one to swap in just in case?) and you get a whole host of attachments, like a crevice tool, wide dust brush and three different heads, so whatever you need vacuumed, there’s a situation for you.
So, is it worth it? Depends, really. There’s no denying it’s expensive. But for the ease of use, quality of the job and the satisfaction of a good clean, I’d say yes.
Did I mention the lasers?
