Best Reviewed
Vacuum Cleaners
- Budget bagging upright vacuum Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 *Est. $80
- Lightweight vacuum cleaner Hoover Platinum Bagged Upright with Canister UH30010COM *Est. $250
- Best bagging upright vacuum Miele S7580 Bolero *Est. $800
- Budget bagless vacuum cleaner Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120 *Est. $120
- Best bagless upright vacuum Dyson DC28 Animal *Est. $530
Get info about new reports and updates
Best bagless upright vacuum
- Good performance on all surfaces
- Excellent filtration
- Effective on pet hair
- Easy-to-empty dirt cup
- Five-year warranty
- Heavy
- Some durability problems
- Hard to get repairs under warranty
The Dyson DC28 Animal is a high-end bagless vacuum that performs well in professional tests. Reviewers say it cleans both carpet and bare floors very well, and its dust emissions are extremely low thanks to the lifetime HEPA filter. Users love the vacuum's powerful suction and its specially designed, easy-to-empty dirt cup. However, at 21 pounds, it is heavier than many upright vacuums, which can make it awkward to handle. We also read some complaints about mechanical problems, usually starting in the vacuum's second year. Although Dyson's warranty covers the entire unit for five years, owners say it is difficult and time-consuming to get repairs done under warranty. If you are looking for a more modestly priced bagless vacuum, we found generally good reviews for the Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Plus Bagless UH70120 (*Est. $120) .
The Dyson DC28 Animal is one of 80-plus upright vacuums rated by ConsumerReports.org for their performance on both hard floors and carpet. The vacuums' emissions, noise level and maneuverability are rated as well. It is also the subject of a blog entry at ConsumerReports.org, which can be viewed without a subscription to the main site. The DC28 Animal is included in tests of upright and canister vacuums by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, and it also receives a review at Wired magazine. We found over a thousand user reviews for the Dyson DC28 Animal at Walmart.com, Viewpoints.com and BestBuy.com.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org evaluates more than 80 upright vacuums, including the Dyson DC28 Animal, by testing them on carpet and bare floor. It rates each one for cleaning ability, noise, emissions and ease of use, as well as its ability to pick up pet hair from carpeting.
Review: Upright Vacuum Cleaner Ratings and Reliability, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
2. Good HousekeepingDetails/Subscribe
Staffers at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute award the Dyson DC28 Animal a rating of B+ in their tests of upright and canister vacuums. Editors say it is great on bare floors and gets dirt out of carpet, and its controls are very easy to use. It is a bit slow at picking up pet hair, and the handle tends to stick after a while.
Review: Dyson DC28 Animal Vacuum, Editors of Good Housekeeping, Sept. 2010
The editors of Wired name the Dyson DC28 Animal an Editors' Pick among vacuums, awarding it an overall score of 8 out of 10 ("Excellent, with room to kvetch"). In this brief review, they say the vacuum offers great power and lots of bells and whistles, but a couple of its features could be better designed.
Review: Pet Owners, the Animal Vac Is Man's Second-Best Friend, Editors of Wired, June 1, 2009
4. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This entry from the ConsumerReports.org Home & Garden blog is available without a subscription. The editors of ConsumerReports.org say that the Dyson DC28 Animal is powerful and performs very well on carpet, but it does not handle well enough to justify its high price tag.
Review: Does the Performance of the Dyson DC28 Animal Upright Vacuum Match Its Lofty Price?, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, June 8, 2009
5. Walmart.com
The Dyson DC28 Animal receives more than 850 reviews at Walmart.com, with ratings averaging 4.5 stars out of 5. Users love the machine's phenomenal suction, fingertip controls and powered upholstery attachment, but we saw a few complaints about reliability.
Review: Dyson DC28 Animal Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, Contributors to Walmart.com
The Dyson DC28 Animal earns an overall score of 4.53 stars out of 5 from over 100 reviewers at Viewpoints.com, and 91 percent say they would recommend it. Users praise its strong suction, ease of use and easy-to-empty dirt cup, but its price and weight are cited as drawbacks.
Review: Dyson DC28 Animal Vacuum Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com
7. BestBuy.com
In about 100 reviews, users at BestBuy.com award the Dyson DC28 Animal an overall score of 4.5 stars out of 5, and 9 out of 10 users recommend it. Users say the vacuum has great suction and works very well on pet hair, but we saw many complaints about reliability and the difficulty of getting repairs.
Review: Dyson - DC28 Animal HEPA Bagless Upright Vacuum - Iron/Satin Purple, Contributors to BestBuy.com
Vacuum Cleaners Runners Up:
4 picks including: Target.com, Walmart.com…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, Ristenbatt Vacuum Cleaner Service, Inc.…
2 picks including: Walmart.com, Viewpoints.com…
