Product Description

The Dyson DC31 is the next generation of handheld vacuum cleaner from Dyson featuring digital V2 motor technology, which is smaller, lighter and more powerful than conventional motors, and a dual power mode for increased versatility and flexibility. A powerful 21.6 volt battery that recharges up to 3 x faster, a combination accessory tool and crevice tool give the DC31 outstanding cleaning performance on the move. 

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #587 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Dyson
• Model: 16491-01
• Released on: 2009-07-24

Manufacturer's Description
Dyson is all about developing new and better technology to make things that work properly. DC31 is one of a new generation of Dyson handhelds that use the Dyson digital motor and has a dual power option, for more run time or higher suction power.

Conventional electric motors had changed little since they were first invented in 1831 – until now. Dyson engineers have done away with outdated, energy-hungry components to develop the Dyson digital motor, a faster, more power-efficient motor that spins up to 104,000rpm. The Dyson digital motor is smaller and lighter than conventional motors, making it ideal to power a handheld vacuum.

Other cordless handheld vacuums rely on filters to trap the dirt, but these start to clog as soon as you start to pick up dust, causing loss of suction. A Dyson handheld works differently as it uses patented Root Cyclone technology which spins the dirt from the air into the bin using centrifugal force, so the suction stays constant.

With dual power mode, the user can choose between 10 minutes of high constant suction or 6 minutes with 40% higher suction.

DC31 is the most powerful handheld that doesn’t lose suction.

Customer Reviews

Mini-marvel - with limitations due to battery life
The DC31 is a handheld mini-marvel, weighing less than a standard bag of sugar it fits nicely in your hand, comes with a brush tool and a crevice tool and is great for all those little jobs around the house.

The lithium battery will give 10 minutes use on normal power or 6 minutes on the high power setting and after repeated use I'd say those timings are pretty accurate. Although 10 minutes may not sound long, it's long enough for things like cleaning the car, the stairs, the curtains, the sofa or picking up those crumbs from the kitchen floor - the list lengthens as I find more and more uses for it.

As a couple of other reviewers have said it's a terrific and humane fly catcher - it's also great for creepy crawlies. This time of year monster sized spiders seem to find their way into my house. I saw one on the stairs the other day so big it was climbing up them two at a time - grabbed my DC31 and whoosh in it went, I just took it outside released the catch and out it fell and ran away into the bushes (probably planning its re-entry as I type this)

This really is a fabulous gadget (if a somewhat expensive one) and after having it a couple of weeks I'm finding myself using it more and more as it's so easy to just grab it rather than lugging the main vacuum (another Dyson) out of the cupboard. It's very easy to use, just grab it and press the trigger action button on the handle, to empty just press the release catch and the bottom drops open to deposit your waste. It isn't a replacement for a vacuum cleaner but it's an extremely useful extra. The limitations set by the battery life and recharge time (3 hours) are the only downside that I can see.

let down by the battery
This cordless cleaner is light (1.52kg according to the literature in the box), easy to operate and easy to assemble and disassemble.

The DC31 comes with a 2 year "limited" manufacturers guarantee, battery charger and 2 accessory tools - one 12 inch flat ended tube and one short length wide tool which converts into a brush. Other tools are available for purchase separately.

It takes approximately 3 hours and a half hours to recharge the battery from empty, and the running time lasts only 6 minutes on full power and 10 minutes on low power. There is a one minute battery power warning light so you will know when the machine is about to stop - this will happen sooner than you think.

It is recommended that you wash (rinse) the filter in cold water at least once a month then allow it to dry naturally in a warm place for at least 12 hours.

If you spill a little flour, rice or talc, etc, then this product does the job - however if you drop a bag of flour or a tub of talc then you will need to get the ordinary vacuum cleaner out.

It is a great idea and would have been perfect - but for the lack of battery time. Come on Dyson, I have a DVD player that lasts over 2 hours on one charge; and my laptop last over 2 hours on one charge with multiple applications running - why can't you make this battery last longer. It would have been better if you could use the cleaner with the cable, when needed, in order to extend the time.

Dyson advertise this as the breakthrough in motor technology - "Dyson engineers have done away with outdated, energy-hungry components to develop the Dyson digital motor, a faster, more power-efficient motor that spins up to 104,000rpm." If so, why doesn't the battery last longer? Maybe they should work on the battery length as 6-10 minutes is almost useless when cleaning. I wouldn't expect this machine to be able to clean the entire house but it should last longer than 10 minutes.

"22.2V lithium ion battery - recharges up to 3 times faster than others." My laptop takes 3 hours to recharge fully and lasts over 2 hours. So I would love to know why this product cannot come close to that kind of battery length.

It's a five star idea, but let down by a one star battery.

Some Improvement on DC16 but with limitations
I own a previous incarnation of a Dyson handheld vacuum cleaner and in some ways the DC31 has several improvements. First, it is significantly smaller and lighter. Second, it offers two power settings whereas the DC16 had only one. Third, the style is - in a Dyson way - a little more attractive.

Some problems that were present with the DC16 remain however. Battery life remains appalling with a maximum usage time of 10 minutes with a three-hour charge then required. Using the higher suction option the battery life is reduced further. Although lighter than the DC16 the DC31 is still not a light machine. In some ways it's a benefit that the battery only lasts for 10 minutes as, if you are cleaning blinds for example, your arm will be aching holding it for any longer. It is smaller but is still bulky and for use in difficult-to-access areas such as cleaning a car it is simply too large to get the suction nozzle into position. This is worsened still as the basic tools the DC31 comes with do not extend very far.

And one or two things I think are worse. The DC16 came with a charger stand which rather neatly could be screwed to a wall for good storage. The DC31 doesn't and has to be left plugged in to a socket on the back of the DC31. This means a mess of wires in a kitchen or utility room work surface. Second, the battery is heavier to get the additional power from the handheld for a full six minutes, or 10 at the lower power setting. I'm not sure this is an improvement. Further, the new motor unit much flagged by Dyson seems to offer no advantages. The vacuum has a two-year guarantee as did the DC16 so if the new motor is a step change in quality why is a five-year warranty not being offered as with some other Dyson products?

Overall I was going to give this vacuum four stars but having re-read the review, and reflecting the cost of the unit, it's gone down to three.

As James Dyson is responsive to customer reviews and has proposed a consultative business model, it would be good to have feedback from him on the Amazon site.