I don't have a Dyson, but am interested in getting the pet one. I would love to know all the pros and cons of it. A coworker of mine has some fancy-smancy vacuum that I can't even pronounce, lol, but I told her I was intersted in a Dyson and she said "why would you spend that kind of money on something that is 90% plastic".

i thought it was all plastic too but when we looked at them at the store and i made the comment i thought they looked "cheap" the girl took the canister off the dyson and started hoping on it. Told us it was made out of kevlar. ??
i'm really happy with how it cleans.

Looking at mine, to get the clear canister part off I push up on the purple button and pull on the handle downward. To clean out the holes I kind of bang it on the trash can or against my foot outside to loosen the dust and hair. We have also blown it out with an air compressor if it's really dirty. Hope this helps. Jenny

LOL.....I've been meaning to post with the same question! I have had that part separated only once, and I was afraid I'd break it then, so I haven't pried it apart since. I'd dearly love to be able to easily separate the pieces to clean--like you--the cat hair out of the little holes. I currently use a stick to wiggle up there and brush against the holes to dislodge the bigger stuff that gets stuck, but I can't reach it all--I need a longer stick.

Hope someone has a solution or easy answer for us.
Tracey

ojoy.. what's this purple button your speak of?....i think i'm only finding the thing that you pull down. i need to check this out later.

tracey - haha..i'm glad to know i'm not the only one with this problem. DH and i couldn't/can't figure it out. I was afraid he WAS going to break it!

Here are some pictures. Mine is 4 years old so it may be different. The purple knob thing gets pushed up on and you kind of have to pull the bottom down. Definitely go outside in case it jerks open. To put it back on, line up the front of the canister thing (I can't think of what to call it - the purple horizontal plastic line)and place it one the ground and push down into place.

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On my Dyson, the bottom flap has to be open in order to release the clear canister to get to the insides to clean them.

I have taken the canister off the vacuum to clean it (duh, that's elementary) but haven't gone beyond that except to stick a damp sponge inside to clean the plastic a little. Beyond that if you can take it apart I'm not aware. I haven't had mine long and it's a DC 18 and I sure love it. But yeah, good question how to clean it out well. Air compressor sounds good.

I love my animal. I always like to completely empty it so that the next time I can see how much stuff I pick up. It's amazing on my carpets. When I empty it, I hold it over the trash can outside, press a button and the bottom falls open dropping most of it. I use a paint stick to get any more of the stuff that gets stuck on the sides. I'll have to try the compressor once in a while.

It's actually easier for me to follow the pictures so it would probably be helpful if they did both.

took some pics of the dyson last night.
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here's the little push down
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i still can't figure it out. i think it's just suppose to pop off but it's really hard.

this is the piece that flew off the other day and i had to reattach it. this is on the other side of the canister.
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when i hit the mall this weekend i'll have to stop at sears or something and ask them. still don't know if the inlaws have the receipt. ahh that will be bad. i know there's a five year warranty but it would just be easier to replace it if there's a problem.

sheesharee - it's hard to tell exactly how yours is but can you push that gray button thing up instead of down? On mine the "button" is attached to the top piece so pushing down on it would not detach it. That would be aggravating to have to take it back. Maybe you could bring in your canister to Sears and have them show to see if it's defective. If it is they might be able to exchange it right away.

Good Luck!

ojoy - the gray button doesn't go up. i've tried. actually from us (DH and myself) messing with it so much the button actually is sort of wobbley from side to side. i really wonder if i'm just doing something wrong. ha it really shouldn't be a struggle to get that open though.
i'll update when i find something out!

I have the lightweight dyson and 3 cats. I just love the instant gratification I get when I empty it. Sorry, but so far I've only stuck my fingers up there to try to get stuck fur off.

I'd try your question over at the cleaning forum where a lot of people have a dyson with animals.

Sheesharee--I figured it out! Thanks to what Graywings mentioned--that the BOTTOM FLAP has to be OPEN before you can take it apart!

Today when I emptied mine, I left the bottom flap open and pressed on the little gray button like we have (I saw your pics--mine looks like yours) and it EASILY came apart. So simple, but they don't tell you that. I had always emptied it and closed it back up so I could sit it down on its bottom before trying to take it apart. Duh.....

Tracey

traceyb - i'm going to try this tonight!!! totally forgot to try this. i stopped at sears over the weekend the girl wasn't very helpful. She couldn't get the canister apart on the model and she didn't want to get her clothes dirty. Basically suggested i call dyson.

I'll be back tomorrow for post an update! you should see me trying to take this thing apart. ha i would sit it down (well vertical) and put my feet on the sides to try and hold it while opening/pulling. they really should be more clear with their instructions.

yeeah bottom has to be open first! thanks everyone! i should go back to sears and show them how it works. :)

There is a website out there that will explain and show step by step how to take the Dyson collection cylinder apart so you can clean the little holes and mini cyclones. I've doe it several times and my Dyson performance really improves with the increased airflow.

Google the words Dyson Clean Collection Cylinder and at the top of the list you'll find a website named after an insane furry rodent. :-)