I like using cordless vacuum cleaners – much safer as you won't trip over a wire or be limited by the extent of the cord or be tempted to stretch that little bit further until the plug comes out of the socket.
Dyson has become known as the Rolls Royce of vacuum cleaners and The Dyson V6 Total Clean is rather different from others I have reviewed as Dyson technology has reversed the the usual design so that the motor is at the top of the appliance with can then be used as a handheld unit to clean up spills or to get to awkward places with the combi-tool crevice nozzle.
My favourite attachment it the mini motorised tool which is perfect for removing cat hairs from soft furnishings. My ginger and white cat takes up residence on my office chair as soon as I move from it, leaving an abundance of hair. This tool removes it effectively in seconds. This is also excellent for cleaning stairs.
V6 Total Clean comes separate heads for use on carpets and hard floors. For carpets there is a direct-drive cleaner head which allows bristles to push deeper into the carpet to remove ground-in spills and stains while the soft roller cleaner head with carbon filaments to remove fine dust is ideal for hard floors.
There is a docking station, which has to be wall mounted, to hold additional attachments and stores the vacuum. Plus the idea is to charge the battery integral battery here. This is one drawback I can see, as usually you would store your vacuum cleaner in a cupboard where you are unlikely to have a power socket. So I charge the V6 Total Clean unit before putting it away.
V6 Total Clean takes three and a half hours to charge and gives about 30 minutes cleaning. This is deemed to be enough time to clean an average house but you could find you run out of charge especially if you've used the "max" but for a more intense clean.
Another disadvantage I experienced (and this could just be me) is that you have to hold down the on switch while operating which I found uncomfortable and the handle end does feel heavy. However the "stick" design means that you can use the crevice nozzle or the combi-tool to get at cobwebs and dust in hard to reach places.
TheV6 Total Clean manoeuvres well and glides over your floors with great suction power. The filter needs to be washed and dried in the air once a month and the clear bin is easy to empty and clean.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
The Dyson V6 Total Clean is available exclusively from Currys and retails at £429.99 and you can save £100 when you trade in your old appliance.