Pet Product Review: Dyson DC31 Animal Handheld Vacuum

We had raised the white flag of defeat against pet hair, having conceded an armchair to our Himalayan, who slept on it so often it became hard to tell the difference between when she was there and when what was there was just a pile of the fur she'd left behind. Meanwhile, friends were refusing to ride in our car, which we'd failed to rid of our German shepherd's sheddings.

So I was eager to test Dyson's new DC31 Animal, a handheld vacuum designed specifically for pet-hair removal. While it carries a hefty price tag ($269.99 msrp), I know many multiple-pet households like ours that would spend the money if the product really does solve such a persistent, embarrassing problem.

My fiance had the DC31 out of the package, assembled and ready to work before I had even removed my camera from its pouch. We also liked that, once assembled, the DC31 looks like something you'd use for ghost busting. Like all Dyson products, it's just plain cool.

Our first test was the armchair. One swipe of the "brush bar" produced a clean, precise line of furlessness. A second pass picked up any leftover dust or dander. We then swapped the brush bar for a pointed, brushless attachment and used that along the seams of the cushion. It took us all of three minutes to clean the entire chair cushion. When we were done, it looked like we lived in a pet-free household!

To clean the chair's side cushions, we decided to test the Dyson side-by-side against our usual vacuum cleaner. As you can see, the Dyson gave us a much deeper clean, although there were thin lines of "dirty" between the thicker lines of "clean."

Like most small appliances, the DC31 charges with an attachable power cord, which detaches for cordless use. (A full charge takes three-and-a-half hours.) We brought the DC31 down to our car to attack the backseat, which was sullied with as much dirt as it was fur. While this job required more elbow grease, we were impressed that the DC31 picked up everything.

The only drawback: After using the DC31 Animal on these two jobs -- perhaps about 12 to 15 minutes total -- it was out of juice and needed to be recharged. That could prove frustrating on bigger jobs. (There is a dual-power function that should give you a somewhat longer battery life when needed.)

Overall, the DC31 Animal is worth the steep price if your pet-hair problem has reached a degree that your regular vacuum can't handle. Or if your vacuum is big and clunky and often stuck in a closet somewhere. Or if you ain't afraid of no ghosts.