How to Pick Up Dog Fur & More w/ Ease — Dyson Ball Animal

A couple of years ago, Frans and I decided to invest in a Dyson. We both have dust allergies and, after we moved into a place with wall-to-wall carpets, the vacuum we owned at that time just wasn’t cutting it. We decided to bite the bullet and get a Dyson canister vacuum. After we saw how much dirt, dust, hair, and fur it picked up compared to the other brand we had, we were sold. However, when I was asked if I wanted to try out the new Dyson Ball Animal, I jumped at the opportunity.

Dyson Ball Animal Review — Details & Setup

We had moved into a smaller place and finding a spot to store our Dyson canister vacuum was always a challenge. Would the upright be a better fit in our home? Plus, I was curious to know if the updated design and new technology applied to it would actually make a noticeable different in its performance. This model of the Dyson Ball Animal was just launched on January 1, 2016 (available at Best Buy), so when I say “new” I mean super brand spanking new!

Before you can start vacuuming the house (which is strangely exciting when a Dyson is involved), you have to put the machine together. Don’t worry, it’s not hard at all. The setup instructions are in pictures and fit on one sheet about 4” x 6”. As I started to assemble the vacuum, I made sure to time myself. It only took two minutes and 1.83 seconds to complete the process (let me know if you need the screenshot 😉 ). This includes time used to look at and carefully follow the instructions step-by-step.

Dyson Ball Animal Review — Use & Maintenance

The Dyson Ball Animal glides smoothly across carpet and is easy to maneuver around furniture. There is a button that turns off the rotating brush for vacuuming on hard floors such as wood and tile. So, if you have a combination of flooring types in your home, this is safe for and will work on all of them.

The upright has HEPA filtration and the bin is easy to empty with just the touch of a button. The filter only needs to be rinsed out (and dried) every three months but, again, there are clear instructions how to do this. We still have to clean out the hair that gets around the brush periodically but it’s as easy as cutting the hair and pulling it out. Since it’s mostly Munchkin’s hair, this part of the vacuum maintenance is her responsibility.

The wand (which is housed in the handle) can be extended and attachments can be “clicked” on for other cleaning needs. The hose is a bit stiff and can be awkward to manage at certain angles sometimes.

I use the narrow piece with a rectangular end to get all of the fur which collected near the baseboards. The furniture attachment helps to keep our sofa looking like new. There are two attachments that help with dusting but one is curved and the angle can be adjusted for high, tough to reach spots. These make the Dyson Ball Animal extremely versatile. The included pet brush does wonders on our dog’s bed.

Dyson Ball Animal Review — Operation & Overall Impression

If you have a good amount of carpet in your home, and especially if you have pets, this Dyson Ball Animal is indispensable. The amount of dirt it catches, even if we don’t wear shoes in the house AND vacuum regularly, is crazy! Is it any better than our older model? To find out, I first vacuumed the house with our older Dyson (which way outperformed other brands we have owned) then went over the same areas with the new Dyson Ball Animal. This is what was picked up in just one 10 by 10 area…EIUW!

The updated model clearly has much stronger suction power. It’s also very quiet. Usually, Speckles runs away the minute the vacuum goes on but, with the Dyson Ball Animal, she just casually watches it and is unbothered unless it gets just a tad too close for comfort. If you currently have a Dyson and are wondering if you need to upgrade, I would consider how old your model is. If it is two years old or more, then the new design is a significant improvement. I am impressed by how much better the new model performs in comparison to our older one.

We are very happy with the Dyson Ball Animal and it has now taken the place as our primary vacuum. The upright is easy to store since it takes up only a small space, cleans better than anything we’ve owned before, seriously sucks (which is a good thing when it comes to vacuums), is easy to use, has minimal maintenance, and comes with a nice warranty. The saying, “You get what you pay for,” definitely applies to the Dyson Ball Animal and is worth every penny! Check it out at Best Buy!

I was sent a product for review purposes. All opinions are my own.