Dyson DC23 Motorhead Stowaway Canister Vacuum

"We purchased this exact model from Sears in late winter 2010 and this is our 1st Dyson. My husband found this one on sale at Sears for only $400, and it seemed like a great deal. The reviews seemed ok even though it was discontinued. It didn't seem to have any major issues other than complaints about the stiff hose.

Wow! Was that an understatement!!! We were INITIALLY very happy with the suction power of our new vacuum. However, shortly after we started using it we had MAJOR issues with the hose. Not only was the hose extremely stiff and hard to wrap up and store - it would get all twisted up and kink while vacuuming, even if you were standing in one spot. The constant kinks must have then damaged the internal electrical wiring that is run inside the hose, which is what powers the motorhead. This has now caused the motorhead to shut off repeatedly if you moved the hose slightly the wrong way.

After months of pure frustration and 2 calls to Dyson - they ended up sending us a new hose.

It took only 4 days to receive the new hose, and the vacuum works wonderfully now and it's been 2 weeks! The new hose that she sent us even seems to be of better quality than the original. It's no longer difficult to wrap and store and most importantly - it doesn't shut off on it's own while vacumming!!! No more kinking of the hose either - which is what caused the issue in the 1st place. :)

While I'm glad that Dyson eventually took care of it - I am very frustrated that we even had to go through all of that. Sorry for the very long review - this is my first one and I felt compelled to write it. Hope it helps someone."

"I would definitely recommend the Dyson DC23 to anyone looking for a powerful bagless canister that is very powerful, efficient on all types of flooring, compact for easy storage, and good for deep cleaning carpet pile. I vacuum my carpets religiously with my DC23, and I am amazed to see how much deep down filth like sand and grit it accumulates every time I vacuum. This Dyson is a very powerful machine that is very efficient at cleaning both hard flooring and carpets, comes with a wonderful assortment of attachments for cleaning floors, carpets, and hard to reach areas, and its very compact for easy storage in small spaces.



The design of the DC23 is as impressive as its performance, with much function behind its draconian appearance. I absolutely love the "Telescopic Wand" that extends to full length in less than a second for use with the Motorhead, or bare floor tool(s). I retracts back inward for easy use with the stair tool, crevice tool, and dusting brush. Despite being impressed with the Telescopic wand, I was even more impressed with the design of the Motorhead power nozzle attachment.



The way the Motorhead is designed allows for flexible steering, much like the Ball uprights, which allows sharp turning maneuvers with a flick of your wrist. The brush within the Motorhead is driven by a powerful 120V 60 Hz 80 W motor that sends power to the brush roll via steel gear drive, eliminating the belt altogether. The gearbox also results in no lost torque. The brush roll rotates in excess of 4,500 RPM, which is the reason why this machine deep cleans carpets so well.



Another key design element of the DC23 that I should note is the Level 3 Root Cyclone filtration system. The new Level 3 Root Cyclone performs brilliantly at separating dust, sand, and large debris from the airstream more efficiently than past incarnations of Dyson cyclone technology. It works with three stages of separation: the low-speed outer cyclone separates fluff and large debris from the airstream, the inner "Core Separator" removes a large bulk of sand and dust that bypasses the first stage, and finally the air is divided through 14 high speed cyclones that subject them through over 150,000 g-forces. I have been using this machine for over two months, and the pre-filter is still very clean, with no visible signs of contamination. Dyson recommends that you clean the pre-filter every three months, however, I can easily go six or more months before ever having to clean the filter.



There are a few minor issues that I should address before I conclude my review, which in my opinion my not matter to some readers out there, but I feel I should note them anyway. First of all, the Motorhead is an abundantly powerful electrified device that generals some extra noise in addition to the sound produced by the main vacuum motor. Those of you that are moving up from cheaper, less powerful machines may find the noise somewhat loud (from my experience, good power nozzles from all high-end makes like Sebo, Miele, Rainbow, etc. are rather loud). However, new users will eventually get used to it. Second, some of the previously sold attachments, such as the old style "Turbine Hand Tool" will not work with this machine. I found the hard way recently when I purchase the old tool, which looked like it would fit because it uses the same latch release mechanism as the other attachments provided with my machine. Be sure to buy accessories specifically made for the DC23, because most of them on the market will not fit. In addition, Dyson now sells a second generation Turbine Hand Tool that will work with every Dyson model, just be sure to look for the smaller new all-clear version, and not the discontinued version that is bulkier with purple/clear plastic.



Overall, I am extremely pleased with my Dyson DC23, and I will not recommend anything other than a Dyson to all my friends and family. Consider me a Dyson owner for life...if the aliens don't take over on December 21, 2012."

"I would definitely recommend the Dyson DC23 to anyone looking for a bagless canister vacuum that is very powerful, efficient on all types of flooring, compact for easy storage, and great at deep cleaning carpet pile. I use my DC23 almost daily, and I am amazed to see how much deep down filth like sand and grit it accumulates every time I vacuum. This Dyson is a very powerful machine that is very efficient at cleaning both hard flooring and carpets, comes with a wonderful assortment of attachments for cleaning floors, carpets, and hard to reach areas, and its very compact for easy storage in small spaces.



The design of the DC23 is as impressive as its performance, with much function behind its draconian appearance. I absolutely love the "Telescopic Wand" that extends to full length in less than a second for use with the Motorhead, or bare floor tool(s). I retracts back inward for easy use with the stair tool, crevice tool, and dusting brush. In addition to being impressed with the Telescopic wand, I also found myself quite fond of the Motorhead power nozzle attachment.



The Motorhead impressed me with the way it moves on carpet, as well as with its aggressive brush roll that deep cleans carpets quite well. The Motorhead moves and corners with ease with a design Dyson calls the "Tri-Ball Arrangement"; this is a motion apparatus that consists of a low wide roller, accompanied by a small wheel on each side of it. The three wheels work in concert to allow the user flexible steering of the Motorhead, much like the Ball uprights. Left and right turns are executed with a simple flick of the wrist. The brush within the Motorhead is driven by a powerful 120V 60 Hz 80 W motor that sends power to the brush roll via steel gear drive, eliminating the belt altogether. The gearbox also results in no lost torque. The brush roll rotates in excess of 5,400 RPM (think about it, that's 90 rotations per second), which is the reason why this machine deep cleans carpets so well.



Another key design element of the DC23 that I should note is the Level 3 Root Cyclone filtration system. The new Level 3 Root Cyclone performs brilliantly at separating dust, sand, and large debris from the airstream more efficiently than past iterations of Dyson cyclone technology. It works with three stages of separation: the low-speed outer cyclone separates fluff and large debris from the airstream, the inner "Core Separator" removes a large bulk of sand and dust that bypasses the first stage, and finally the air is divided through 14 high speed cyclones that subject microscopic contaminants to over 150,000 G-forces. I have been using this machine for over six months, and the pre-filter is still very clean, with no visible signs of contamination. Dyson recommends that you clean the pre-filter every three months, however, I can easily go six or more months before ever having to clean the filter.



There are a few minor issues that I should address before I conclude my review, which in my opinion my not matter to some readers out there, but I feel I should note them anyway. First of all, the Motorhead is an abundantly powerful electrified device that generates extra noise in addition to the sound produced by the main vacuum motor. Those of you that are moving up from cheaper, less powerful machines may find the noise somewhat loud (from my experience, good power nozzles from all high-end makes like Sebo, Miele, Rainbow, etc. are rather loud). However, new users will eventually get used to it. Second, some of the previously sold attachments, such as the old style "Turbine Hand Tool" will not work with this machine. I found the hard way recently when I purchased the now discontinued turbine tool, which appeared to be compatible because it uses the same latch release mechanism as the other attachments provided with my machine. Be sure to buy accessories specifically made for the DC23, because most of them on the market will not fit. In addition, Dyson now sells a second generation Turbine Hand Tool that will work with every Dyson model, just be sure to look for the smaller new all-clear version, and not the discontinued version that is bulkier with purple/clear plastic.



Overall, I am extremely pleased with my Dyson DC23, and I will not recommend anything other than a Dyson to all my friends and family. Consider me a Dyson owner for life."

"In the last several months we have researched and tried and been frustrated with a plethora of vacuum cleaners. This is the first one we actually have hope in.



The most important features for us in a vacuum are increased power and suction with maneuverability. I am a vacuum-aholic and I want my carpets clean (under beds, couches, tables, chairs, baseboards, air vents...you get the picture). We have a 3 yr old chocolate lab and 4 children regularly running through our house. We vacuum probably 3+ times a week to keep up. Let's just say, I'm passionate about a clean carpet!



I especially like a canister vacuum's versatility. It's great on stairs, getting under the furniture, cleaning out the car, vacuuming the blinds, drapes, etc.. The canister follows you around and allows you the freedom to use the attachments easily (without it falling over all the time like an upright). This vacuum's size and light weight make it a dream to vacuum our winding stairs. It is actually small enough to sit on the stairs easily.



Our vacuum was delivered to our home, we opened it up and it was literally ready to use within a few minutes. Our first observance was how it sucked the carpet. We had borrowed a neighbors vacuum the day before and used my mom's Rainbow system regularly...it was amazing what all came up. We like the motorhead vs. the turbinehead....it definitely moves across the carpet so much better.



The only thing that we are less than pleased with is the hose (otherwise we would probably give it 5 stars). It is pretty cheap, but we feel that with the 5 year warranty, if we have any problems, it should be covered.



All in all, we would highly recommend the DC23 Motorhead vacuum to anyone looking for a vacuum for both carpet and hard floors with great suction and versatility.



We have used this vacuum for less than a month, so we'll update if anything changes."

"I thought I was definate on buying an upright, but after reading numerous reviews on numerous sites, I decided to try the Dyson DC23 Motorhead because of its power rating, suction, and reviews. I just vacuumed and cleaned my entire home the day before my DC23 arrived, but decided to vacuum the master bedroom suite again just to see if I could tell much difference. WOW! I had to stop and empty the collection bin which was past the max fill mark before I even finished one room. Not only did it do a superior job in "re-cleaning" my home,(I had to empty 4 more times) it cut my vacuum time almost in half over my old upright and my carpets look the best they have looked in years. The motorhead cleans deep down into the carpet and fluffs up the knapp of the carpets leaving them looking great. Each time I have used this Vac, I've said out loud "I love this vacuum!' The 7" Wheels are GREAT to make it easily manueverable and very stable. I read a review complaining that the hose connected to the right side of the vac instead of the front center. I'm here to tell you that makes absolutely NO difference since it clips to the front center and rolls straight and easily follows along, instead of having to be "pulled". The motorhead can get into places that no upright can go OR reach, I',m glad I decided on the cannister instead of the upright. For my use, this is much more flexible than an upright eventough I have over 5,000 sq feet of carpet alone to clean. I like the easy, one button collection bin emptying system, it certainly beats fooling with bags like my old vac. Overall, I'm very pleased with this purchase and would highly recommend it to anyone with thick carpets, or pets. Telescoping wand, less back strain, less vacuum time, clearner home than ever "I Love this Dyson DC23 motorhead""

"I went on a search for a new canister vacuum after my Kenmore canister died. I was thrilled when I found out that Dyson makes a canister vacuum. This model was on sale, which brought the price close to the price of other models I was looking at. I decided to do it. I am so glad that I did!! I have an upright that I rarely use, so I went over the carpets with that before using the Dyson DC23. I was amazed at what my other vacuum(s) weren't picking up! This thing is wonderful! I've read complaints from other women that it is too heavy, that the canister is a pain to drag around, etc. It is not too heavy - I carry it up and down the stairs with one hand - no problem. As far as "dragging" the canister behind you - that's how canisters work. If you've ever used one you would know that. It rolls nicely behind me with no effort. I absolutely love the fact that it is also built to sit on the stairs. Others I have used toppled down the stairs if I didn't put my foot behind them to keep them in place. Not the Dyson DC23! It stays put, and with its long hose I can vacuum over half of my staircase before needing to move it. The motorized brush has edge cleaning that actually works like it is intended, unlike others I've used with that feature. With two large dogs and a cat that is a wonderful feature to have with the hair that finds its way to the area where the floors meet the walls. If you like canister vacuums and you are looking for on that does the job incredibly well - this vacuum is worth it!"

"Sears has the DC23 motorhead on sale for $299 and that is a great price for this vacuum. I wonder why when there are other similar models selling for a lot more. We love our upright Dyson and is looking for something that can clean sofa, stairs and under beds. Our two cats like to head under our king bed and it is so hard to clean under there. With the canister vacuum, I was able to reach under there with the floor attachment. I may purchase the Dyson flat out tool since it was meant for going under furniture. I vacuumed with the DC18 and then with the DC23. It was amazing how much more this vacuum picked up. I proceeded to vacuum our mattresses, pillows and sofas. Then changed attachment and went under the bed. It was disgusting how much cat fur it picked up. To think we were sleeping on top of all that. With the upright, whenever I try to clean the sofa, the hose keeps wanting to crunch together and then the vacuum falls over. With the canister, I need to get use to moving around with the hose, Love the auto cord retracter also. It is a heavy vacuum. Stairs will be interesting. I wish Dyson has some sort of kit for converting it to a backpack style for easier cleaning on the stairs. I also wish the canister is easier to move around. It would be nice if it can swivel more easily. Overall, good first impression."

"I purchased this for my cleaning business. It is a very powerful vacuum and is easy to carry, use and store away. It has a lot of great features. One of my favorites is that you don't have to buy filters. It is a washable filter that you wash and reuse. I prefer having at least one back up filter to use while the other is drying and just change them out each time you clean. Another great feature with this is the powerhead. It moves and turns so easily because of the swivel neck and it is small enough to go under almost any furniture. I always had to move the furniture to vacuum before, and now I only move once every six months or so. And even then I don't have to move all furniture.



The reason I gave it a four star is because I do prefer bags to bagless. Simply because I hate dumping the dirt. I have extremely bad alergies and I have to be very careful with that. Second reason I gave it a four is because the power head can develope issues with the wiring. It is a swivil and turns with little movment (which is a great feature.) However, I do have concerns about this happening when my warranty is up. Other than that, It is a wonderful product! And I love it! Another great thing about Dyson's is their warranty."

"Initially, I was intrigued by the Dyson ball upright vacuum so I tried them out in the stores. The salesman told me there was a canister model. I couldn't find a store that actually had the canister to try out so I had to just read about the features and hope that I liked it. I never knew Dyson had a canister model.

The vacuum came to my home in two days. All I had to do was take it out of the box, plug it in and it was ready to go. It's the most powerful vacuum I have ever owned. It makes the carpet look revived. For once, I can use all the tools that come with my vacuum because they are so easy to click on and off and easily stored. My favorite is the tool to clean hardwood floors. Finally, I don't worry about scratching the floor. The floor brush is so soft on the floor. I don't struggle to get the tools on and off. It is just so easy. I love the way it has one footprint when you store it. The hose wraps around the base. My old vacuum was constantly falling out of the closet.



The only minor problem is that for me it seems a little awkward the way the hose and wire for the plug are situated but overall, it is actually fun to vacuum now!"

"I stressed over this purchase because I really wanted a vacuum that sucked--in a good way. I ultimately decided to purchase from Sears for best price and return policy. I also picked a Dyson for the 5 year warranty. I was nervous since I couldn't try this one out until receiving it since it isn't sold in my local store. Overall I like the Dyson and with my price range I couldn't get a Miele. I honestly think my old Hoover did a better job on hardwood floors. I am impressed with the Dyson on my carpets. It has about as much suction as my shop vac.



The good:



Excellent job on carpets

Motorhead is very strong and fast rotating

Handheld attachment for stairs does a surprisingly good job for such a small piece.



The bad:



Hose is constantly getting a kink and I have to twirl all around to fix it

Very heavy vacuum

Still quite loud compared to other vacuums

Difficult to empty: dust flies and sticks all over wall next to trash and need to use fingers to get out stuck particles.

I haven't figured a good way to store it in the closet due to the motorhead unable to stand up on its own."