Toronto Teacher Mom: Vacuum

Dyson V6 Mattress - My Superhero Sidekick

Like many superheroes, I possess an alter ego who harbours an innate desire to make the world a better place. And by 'a better place', I mean a cleaner place. Scrubbing the grime off the bathtub, polishing the ceramic stovetop, dusting off the furniture, mopping the floors and removing fingerprints from the stainless steel appliances. As much as they can be tedious chores, very little brings me greater pleasure than the resulting shine of a polished surface. My favourite chore, however, is vacuuming. It has been for many years but even more so since I made the switch to the Dyson DC78 Turbinehead Animal. There is a certain je ne sais quoi when it comes wielding the power of a Dyson vacuum. Take the Dyson V6 Mattress, for example. This small handheld vacuum packs quite the punch, kind of like Batman's sidekick Robin.

If it weren't for a friend of mine, I never would have considered vacuuming our mattress. I knew it was the perfect place for dust mites to hang out and party while they feast on our dead skin cells. But I completed an allergy test years ago that showed I was allergic to dust mites so I had invested in a not-so-inexpensive mattress cover. Surely I haven't been sleeping in a bed that contains anywhere between 10,000 and two million dust mites and their product droppings. 'Cause that would be gross. Still, I agreed to test out the Dyson V6 Mattress just to be sure.

After removing the mattress cover, I decided to use the Boost mode for added suction given that this was the first time I had ever vacuumed my mattress. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed how much the Dyson V6 Mattress managed to remove. Some of it looked like fluffy bits of dust. Some of it looked like fine sand. I was half expecting it to be dark and dirty looking but it wasn't. Still, the amount of dust and particles in the bin shocked me. To think I could have been potentially inhaling these tiny particles every night, all night long... Shiver.

Luckily for me, I have a brand new sidekick to help me combat those evil mattress dwellers and purify the air all at once. The Dyson V6 Mattress is the first Dyson handheld to have a post-motor HEPA filter that captures over 99.97% of particles (0.3 microns in size which sounds really, really small). This includes allergens and bacteria.

The Dyson digital motor V6 is what gives this vacuum the most powerful suction of any cordless handheld vacuum. While the battery holds its charge for up to 20 minutes, the battery power is only used during vacuuming thanks to the run-time enhancing trigger. Plus, the motor is so powerful, it ensures that you don't have to vacuum the same spot twice. You will also recognize the 2 Tier Radial™ Cyclone Technology which is designed to fling dust out of the air and into the bin while separating the most microscopic particles. Included with the unit is a motorized mattress tool, a combination accessory tool and a crevice tool, making it perfect for vacuuming upholstery. The Dyson V6 Mattress is available at BestBuy.ca for $249.99 plus free shipping.

Unlike previous handheld vacuums that I've tried, the Dyson comes out on top in terms of quality, effectiveness and ease of use. It is also more lightweight and the unit doesn't overheat while in use making it comfortable to use. The quick release button also makes it easy to empty the bin with minimal fuss.

After vacuuming all of the mattresses in our home, I have sent off my sidekick on a special mission to my parents' place to capture all those nasty allergens and microscopic particles. I am confident Dyson V6 Mattress will be victorious. In fact, he will be making his rounds throughout the province ensuring that my family members will enjoy a #cleansleep. My hero!

So... when was the last time you vacuumed your mattress?

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015
6 Comments

Dirt Devil 360 Reach Pro Bagless Stick Vacuum

For the Home

Next month, my mother turns 67 years old. She and my father live in a beautiful two-story home with hardwood and ceramic flooring throughout. While they love their custom-built home, it is becoming more of a chore to keep up with the housework the older they get. You see, my mother takes great pride in maintaining a spotless home. I swear, the floors are so clean, you could eat off of them. One of the things she regrets, however, is going with a dark hardwood because you can see pretty much every speck of dust and it drives her crazy. She often uses a dust mop, just like I remember as a child when we lived in our old house. It's so much easier than lugging around a large coil of central vacuum hose up and down a flight of stairs. Imagine if there were a portable bagless alternative that dusts and vacuums simultaneously. Something like... Dirt Devil's 360 Reach Pro.

This 4-in-1 stick vacuum might appear small but it actually packs quite a punch. Using a Cyclonic Filtration system, it creates powerful suction that combines with Vac+Dust Tools to capture heavy dirt and debris. My favourite feature? The SWIPES microfiber pads that remind me of the dust mop my mom used to have. And they're washable! The Dirt Devil 360 Reach Pro comes with six tools and an extended wand as well as a very handy storage bag. Hint: When storing the vacuum and all the parts in the bag, place the extended wand last to ensure a better fit.

To help you go from floors to ceilings to couches in seconds, use the various tools as follows:

Vacuum+Dust Ceiling Fan Tool with SWIPES Washable Microfiber Pad - Vacuum and dust ceiling fan blades. (Fits most fans.)
Vacuum+Dust Hard Floor Tool with SWIPES Washable Microfiber Pad - Pick up heavy dirt & debris while the microfiber pad captures the dust.
Vacuum+Dust Above Floor Tool with SWIPES Washable Microfiber Pad - Easily tackle vents, hard-to-reach corners, shelves and more.
Crevice Tool - Extend your cleaning reach to swipe dust and debris from book shelves, curtain rods, ceilings, cupboards, and everything below.
Pivoting Extension Tool - Gives you precision and control when cleaning areas that are out of sight and reach.
Powered Stair & Upholstery Tool - Adjusts to clean every part of the step. With the detachable hand vac, hard jobs like cleaning the car interior are made easy!

Dirt Devil’s 360 Reach Bagless Stick Vacuum includes a budget-friendly reusable Quick-Rinse Filter and comes with a 3-year limited warranty. The suggested retail value is $129.99 but you can purchase the Dirt Devil 360 Reach Pro from Best Buy currently on sale for $99.99. Guess what I'm buying my mother for her birthday!

Some points to consider:

I found that after using the vacuum for a long period of time, the unit would become rather warm making it a little uncomfortable to hold. I also found that, when using the stair tool, it would pivot on its own if I vacuumed too quickly, which became annoying. Luckily, I don't have any carpet, just a few rugs. This vacuum is definitely handy for cleaning the interior of my car, which is why I had purchased a cordless Dirt Devil many years ago. The 27 foot cord of the 360 Reach Pro makes it much more practical since I no longer have to worry about it losing its charge midway through. And of course, the ability to vacuum and dust hard-to-reach places makes this vacuum stand out from the rest in its category.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Friday, October 09, 2015
3 Comments

Dear Dyson DC78, I Love You!

Cinetic Cyclone Technology

I have a confession to make. I've met someone else and he has stolen my heart. We've been together for quite some time now but I can't hide it from you any longer. He's tall, dark and easy on the eyes. I mean, he is chiseled to perfection! This guy really knows how to work the room, too. Some say he's a bit of an animal. But I believe he's easily misunderstood due to his hard exterior which hides his sensible yet complicated side. Every time I take him by the handle, I know everything is going to be alright, regardless of how messy things can get. The best part? He is very low maintenance. My friends, allow me to introduce you to my newest love interest - Dyson DC78 Turbinehead Animal.

Isn't he gorgeous? Dyson DC78 is the latest vacuum to hit the market that uses Dyson's patented Cinetic™ cyclone technology. (Try saying that five times fast!) That means it has 54 cyclones with high-frequency oscillating tips that extract microscopic particles but also vibrate to prevent the openings from clogging. These cyclones are so efficient at dust separation that they eliminate the need for filters to be washed or replaced. Plus, the air that is expelled comes out cleaner than the air you breathe. The best selling feature: it will never lose suction! In fact, the suction is so impressive that, after using my old canister (which happens to be a really good vacuum), the Dyson DC78 still managed to remove an incredible amount of dust and particles from a small area rug. It was amazing and yet horrifying to think that, after all these years, there was still so much my old vacuum had left behind.

This dust-eating machine features Dyson's latest Ball™ technology allowing it to turn on the spot. I'm telling ya, it curves like it's on rails! The ball is where you'll find all the fancy parts such as the electronics, motor, pre-motor filter and 6.5 metres of cable. With a low centre of gravity, it easily maintains stability. Both the power button and the cable retraction button are located on the ball as well as the button for removing the bin when it needs to be emptied.

The DC78 Turbinehead Animal comes with an articulating hardwood floor tool that has two curtains of soft nylon bristles. My favourite feature is its ability to pivot 180° and reach into awkward gaps between cupboards and furniture thanks to its ultra-slim profile. Also included: a tangle-free turbine tool, groom tool and a stiff bristle brush, which can be mounted directly onto the wand for quick and easy access. This wand is telescopic which makes it easy to adjust to your own height or to vacuum those hard-to-reach places.

Once the bin has reached capacity as indicated by the red line, all you need to do is press the grey bin release button. This will detach the handle and the bin will come free. Place the bin over a deep receptacle or waste bin and press the red button to release the cap on the bottom allowing the contents to fall out. Sometimes I have vacuumed for too long and the bin will be over capacity. This means that larger particles or strands of hair that are above the red line will not come out as easily. So I suggest that you empty your bin frequently.

When you are done ~~dancing~~ vacuuming with your Dyson DC78, you can reattach the carpet tool onto the wand. This tool is what allows you to attach the wand onto the ball by sliding it into a notch on the back for storage.

I think I need to update my LinkedIn profile as the CEV of the household. #ChiefExecutiveVacuumer #Dyson #selfie #LGG3moms

A photo posted by Diana (@torontomom) on Oct 4, 2014 at 1:10pm PDT