Dyson DC23 Motorhead Vacuum Cleaner Review

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The Dyson DC23 Motorhead vacuum cleaner is not the most popular Dyson and there is little written about this particular machine.  However the few consumer reviews available do give it good ratings.  This is a bagless, canister vacuum with tremendous power and like most Dysons is fairly expensive.  [REF Dyson Vacuum Cleaner Reviews 2009]

As mentioned there are few consumer ratings for the Dyson DC23 but those that are available provide the following:

Like other Dysons the Motorhead uses Root Cyclone technology that applies centrifugal force to spin dirt out of the air.  The technology, as claimed by Dyson, ensures that the vacuum does not lose suction and that there is no clogging.  In the case of the DC23 Dyson engineers have combined Root Cyclone technology with a core separator.  This separator is an extra cyclonic stage between the outer and inner cyclones.  This extra stage helps to separate out particles as small as 0.5 microns from the airflow.  Dyson call this “Level 3 Root Cyclone technology” and it is Dyson’s most powerful system.

The DC23 is bagless and uses a clear dirt container (0.44 gallon capacity) which can be emptied and placed back in the vacuum.  The dirt container is easily emptied with a push button release that consumers report is very easy to use (although like most bagless vacuums there are comments that emptying the container can be a bit messy).   The DC23 has a 12 amp motor that delivers a healthy 220 air watts of suction.  This vacuum cleaner is good for hard floors, upholstery and carpets and has a motorized powerhead with brushbar to help lift dirt and pet hair.  There are several consumer complaints that the brushbar can be too powerful however and can potentially damage delicate rugs.  The brushbar can be turned off but the power of the vacuum cannot be dialed down (like the Miele S4210/S4212 for example).
 
The Dyson Motorhead comes with a lifetime HEPA filter.  A HEPA filter (high efficiency particulate air) is a high-efficiency air filter that is capable of removing at least 99.97 percent of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers or larger.  These filters are used for many applications in the nuclear and biomedical industries but have more recently found a home in the newer vacuum cleaner models.  They are especially helpful to those suffering from asthma and allergies.  Dyson claim that air expelled from the DC23 contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than typical breathing air.   The HEPA filter used by Dyson is washable and designed to last the lifetime of the vacuum. 

The Motorhead comes with several tools (these are stored on the machine itself):

-Brush tool: has long bristles and aids in removing cobwebs and can be used for delicate cleaning.
-Stair tool: special tool for removing dirt and debris from stairs
-Crevice tool: a tool designed to get into hard to reach areas and also to create high velocity airflow.  Useful for cleaning baseboards and getting in-between furniture.
-Hard floor tool: a tool with long bristles designed to help dirt pickup and to prevent scratching on hard floors

The DC 23 is a fairly heavy vacuum weighing in at 19.3 lbs and tips the scale at almost 24 lbs with attachments.  It has a power cord 21.3 feet in length that in our opinion is a little short but it has a 9.5 foot long hose.  Also provided is auto-cord rewind which is a nice feature.  It also has a 13 inch cleaning path and a telescopic wand that extends to three lengths. 

The Motorhead is highly maneuverable with two large wheels on the back of the canister and one 360 degree swivel wheel on the front.   The wheels are soft and rubber coated to ensure no floor damage.  The unit is easy to store and the hose and wand wrap around the canister giving the unit a smaller storage footprint.  The vacuum dimensions in inches are (HxWxD) 13.6 x 11.6 x 18.8.  And, like most Dyson uprights and canisters, it comes with a 5-year parts and labor warranty.

What do consumers like and dislike about the Dyson DC23 Motorhead?

PROS
- Extremely powerful
- Good at cleaning both hard surfaces and carpet
- Compact
- Useful attachments
- Powerful brushbar
- Flexible steering

CONS
- No ability too turn down power (brush bar may be too powerful for use on natural fiber rugs)
- Fairly loud
- Emptying dustbin can be a bit messy
- A bit heavy (significant issue for some)
- Power cord should be longer

A few words on the Dyson Warranty
As a small aside but likely of interest to a potential buyer, a little digging regarding the Dyson warranty provided the following information:

What is covered with the Dyson Warranty
Your Dyson vacuum cleaner is warranted against original defects in material and workmanship for a period of five years from the date of purchase, when used for private household purposes in accordance with the Dyson Owner’s Manual. This warranty provides, at no extra cost to you, all labor and parts to place your vacuum cleaner in proper operating condition during the warranty period. This warranty is subject to the following terms:

What is not covered with the Dyson Warranty
Dyson, Inc. shall not be liable for costs incurred as a result of:
• Machines purchased from an unauthorized dealer.
• Clearing blockages from your machine.
• Use of parts not in accordance with the owner’s manual.
• Careless operation or handling, misuse, abuse and/or lack of maintenance or use not in
accordance with the owner’s manual.
• External sources such as weather.
• Repairs or alterations carried out by unauthorized parties or agents.
• Use of the vacuum cleaner other than for normal domestic purposes within the United States,
e.g. for commercial or rental purposes.
• Use of parts and accessories other than those produced or recommended by Dyson, Inc.

Vacuum Cleaner Manual
For those who want more detail you may wish to review the Dyson DC23 Motorhead Manual.

Vacuum Cleaner Video

Also a long video (“commercial”) from the Home Shopping Network provides some insights into the Dyson DC23 Motorhead.  If you are considering a purchase the Dyson DC23 video may be worth a look.

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Christina   | 99.102.93.210 | 2010-10-07 18:47:59 This vacuum is terrible. The power cord is extremely short, the canister is too heavy to pull along, so the connection hose is already torn. The canister will take huge chunks out of your sheet rock walls, all the pieces constantly fall off, there is no power on/off on the upright portion, the hook to hang the upright wand does not work well, the canister turns over constantly. This vacuum is a pain to use! Reply

P.J.McDonald - DC23 Cyclone Assembly   | 88.111.48.238 | 2011-01-29 04:35:26 Is it possible to clean inside the Cyclone Assembly of the DC23 unit. Over the months dust has settled and hardened onto the inside surfaces and if it were possible to wash or flush this through, it would greatly restore the original suction power. Reply

Joanna   | 208.110.220.66 | 2011-06-28 08:16:58 I was under the impression that you could so rinsed mine with water recently but the manual says DO NOT RINSE.... I read the manual after I did it doh! No I am wondering if it is broken and if I need to replace it??? Reply

Kelly   | 174.252.67.247 | 2011-09-09 06:17:06 This is the worst vacuum ever! Cord is too short! Hose constantly gets clogged some easy to unclog some not. Very loud! Overall did not like :( Reply

lori c - amazing suction   | 99.244.53.88 | 2011-10-22 20:48:57 this sucks so good it took some of the hair off my fur pillow lol. i love it. i don't like the short power cord, but hey, i also don't like there is no poewr button on the handle and the handle does not stand on it;s own. but i can over look all that for the suction alone. Reply

Ryan R. - overall great   | 174.109.14.199 | 2011-10-30 08:51:38 I thought this was a fantastic product. I read the bad reviews and it was mostly from people not taking care of it. They will have the same problems with other vacuum's of similar style as well. Of course these things get dirty and you have to clean the item that is cleaning your carpet. A no-brainer! It's easy to take apart and clean with some patience. I don't like the upright's and hence bought this one, fantastic purchase! Reply

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