Machine reviews by Josh

I consider Sharks some of the highest maintenance designs out there, for a few reasons. Their cyclones are mediocre at best in my opinion, which means the pre filter fouls quickly. I strongly recommend cleaning that pre filter after every major use, meaning any time you vacuum the whole home or several rooms, because it clogs rapidly and performance suffers when it does. The final so called hepa filter fouls fast too, because so much dust gets past the cyclone, past the pre filter, and blasts through the motor straight into it. I think that filter should be replaced every six months, and I also know nobody will do that. The last issue is the brush rollers. Almost every Shark has at least one roller that does not come out, at least not without removing a dozen or so specialized screws, on the machine that needs its rollers cleaned most.

Maintenance involves belt changes, which I suggest at least once every six months, pre-filter cleaning on every single use, and post-filter replacement once every six to twelve months. The unit's cyclone is not that effective, so the pre- and post-filters take an absolute beating and need much more frequent than normal maintenance. The unit owes its performance entirely to brush rotation speed, and that stresses the rubber belt fast.

It's a comparatively light machine, so that makes it a little easier to get around. However, like all machines in its class, the massive canister gets in the way of getting under things.

Tools are a basic crevice tool, short wand, and a dusting brush. As for most things in this class, the dusting brush has very little brush to it, so it is not that effective.

Bare floor pickup: No brush shutoff or other mechanism to prevent debris from flying backward, so this is not a good hard-surface cleaner. It also has a tendency to eat smaller rugs, and without a sensor to shut the brush off if you get caught on something, it will often both smoke its own belt and shred your rug.

I'm giving the DC33 decent ratings for parts availability. At the time of writing, the unit is fully discontinued and no parts are actually available from Dyson for it. On top of that, the largest US distributor of Dyson parts has gone out of business, so US parts distribution for this model is in chaos. However, to Dyson's credit, when the unit was in production years ago they did sell parts for it, so they earn some kudos there. And because so many of these were sold, there is a decent supply of preowned parts on the market today. The aftermarket has also stepped up, producing a number of aftermarket filter options along with a few repair components. Between the used-parts pool and aftermarket support, keeping one of these running is still realistic, which is what pulls the score up despite Dyson offering nothing directly.

Based solely on personal observation, having demonstrated this vacuum quite literally thousands of times, I give it 1.5 stars on deep cleaning. The unit's ability to deep clean medium to higher pile carpets is so poor that it is commonly kept as a demo unit in vacuum showrooms as an example of the weak performance typical of major department store and Amazon targeted products. We have tested it against numerous debris types, including sand, faux fur, rice, and breakfast cereal, and it visibly fails to deep clean.

Based solely on personal observation, having demonstrated this vacuum quite literally thousands of times, I give it 1.5 stars on pet hair pickup across carpet and rugs. Off the floor, with no tension placed on the brush, the brushroll spins at a respectable RPM and sounds strong. The moment it makes contact with carpet, though, you can clearly hear it slow down. This is a fundamental issue with the rubber belts in the clutch system. Under load the belts stretch and the brush slips, so it loses the speed it needs to agitate the fibers and lift embedded pet hair. The problem is made worse by how little actual bristle sits on the brush to begin with, so even when it is turning it does very little to pull hair out of medium and higher pile carpet. On carpet and rugs the result is repeated passes that still leave visible pet hair behind.

In a world where most uprights disapoint on edge cleaning modern Dyson calls manage to be even more disapointing than most. While there is not that wide of a gap on the edges between the outside and the intake chamger the way that the limited air flow is distributed ends up leaving nearly nothing for edge cleaning and forces you to use the vumbersome tool hose to clean edges manually

In a world where most uprights disapoint on edge cleaning modern Dyson calls manage to be even more disapointing than most. While there is not that wide of a gap on the edges between the outside and the intake chamger the way that the limited air flow is distributed ends up leaving nearly nothing for edge cleaning and forces you to use the vumbersome tool hose to clean edges manually

I consider Sharks some of the highest maintenance designs out there, for a few reasons. Their cyclones are mediocre at best in my opinion, which means the pre filter fouls quickly. I strongly recommend cleaning that pre filter after every major use, meaning any time you vacuum the whole home or several rooms, because it clogs rapidly and performance suffers when it does. The final so called hepa filter fouls fast too, because so much dust gets past the cyclone, past the pre filter, and blasts through the motor straight into it. I think that filter should be replaced every six months, and I also know nobody will do that. The last issue is the brush rollers. Almost every Shark has at least one roller that does not come out, at least not without removing a dozen or so specialized screws, on the machine that needs its rollers cleaned most.

The dusting brush should not be allowed to call itself a brush. There is very little bristle, and what is there is stiff and short. The crevice tool runs short too, and the wand will not reach higher ceilings.

Reading 35 Ft

Reading 19.8

In a world where most uprights disapoint on edge cleaning modern Dyson calls manage to be even more disapointing than most. While there is not that wide of a gap on the edges between the outside and the intake chamger the way that the limited air flow is distributed ends up leaving nearly nothing for edge cleaning and forces you to use the vumbersome tool hose to clean edges manually

I consider Sharks some of the highest maintenance designs out there, for a few reasons. Their cyclones are mediocre at best in my opinion, which means the pre filter fouls quickly. I strongly recommend cleaning that pre filter after every major use, meaning any time you vacuum the whole home or several rooms, because it clogs rapidly and performance suffers when it does. The final so called hepa filter fouls fast too, because so much dust gets past the cyclone, past the pre filter, and blasts through the motor straight into it. I think that filter should be replaced every six months, and I also know nobody will do that. The last issue is the brush rollers. Almost every Shark has at least one roller that does not come out, at least not without removing a dozen or so specialized screws, on the machine that needs its rollers cleaned most.

The dusting brush should not be allowed to call itself a brush. There is very little bristle, and what is there is stiff and short. The crevice tool runs short too, and the wand will not reach higher ceilings.

I mean the ONLY repair you can do is to replace the belt or at half the cost of the machine (at least) the brush roller. Those are easy I suppose. But any other repair is likely impossible because the parts aren't sold. I'm not even sure I consider belt change a "repair" so much as maintenance any way. Repair is pretty much impossible. A hard review to write.

There is a schematic for this unit and that is about all the documentation there is outside of a how to on belt changing and filter cleaning. There isn't any real repair intended here.

In a world where most uprights disapoint on edge cleaning modern Dyson calls manage to be even more disapointing than most. While there is not that wide of a gap on the edges between the outside and the intake chamger the way that the limited air flow is distributed ends up leaving nearly nothing for edge cleaning and forces you to use the vumbersome tool hose to clean edges manually

I generally rate this stick form factor high for maneuverability, and the V6 is a good example of why. Stick vacs exist for quick pickups and surface cleaning, and the smaller sticks with the smaller powerheads really nail that job. The profile is super low, the wand is long, and between the two you can get all the way under beds without kneeling. The whole unit is small and light enough that in the five to eight minutes you actually use a machine like this, your arm and hand never tire out. My demerit is the trigger. Dyson makes you hold it down the entire time you are using the machine. Design a grab and go vacuum and then tax the hand that grabs it. Overall though, an easy machine to use.

Edge cleaning on Dyson stick vac heads is markedly better than on their uprights, and that is not a sentence I write about Dyson often. My theory on why comes down to the shape of the head. The edge of these stick powerheads is incredibly narrow, which lets the actual cleaning chamber ride within a whisker of the baseboard, so the airflow is working right where the wall meets the floor instead of an inch away from it. On the uprights, the housing keeps the chamber set back from the edge, and you get the familiar dirt line along the trim. The stick heads just get closer, and closer wins. Run one along a baseboard and the border comes clean without switching to a crevice tool, which on a grab and go machine is exactly what you want.

Edge cleaning on Dyson stick vac heads is markedly better than on their uprights, and that is not a sentence I write about Dyson often. My theory on why comes down to the shape of the head. The edge of these stick powerheads is incredibly narrow, which lets the actual cleaning chamber ride within a whisker of the baseboard, so the airflow is working right where the wall meets the floor instead of an inch away from it. On the uprights, the housing keeps the chamber set back from the edge, and you get the familiar dirt line along the trim. The stick heads just get closer, and closer wins. Run one along a baseboard and the border comes clean without switching to a crevice tool, which on a grab and go machine is exactly what you want.

Edge cleaning on the supralites depends on which side of the head you use. The non belt side runs better than average, and on that side it beats most other uprights. The belt side runs average to worse, because the belt rides in a large section of the housing that is just a plastic plate, and little to no airflow gets through there. Know which side to put against the baseboard and this machine edges well. Overall, call it meh but ok.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

These machines are remarkably good on hard surfaces. They get low enough to the floor to effectively pick up, the brush roller can be turned off, AND they have a squeegee behind the roller. I would actually put these up against any other upright on hard surface,

Edge cleaning on the 25/26/27 series depends on which side of the head you use. The non belt side runs significantly better than average, and on that side it beats many other uprights. The belt side runs above average too, just not as strong. The belt on these is a narrow grooved design, so the belt cover is smaller than on most units, and even the weak side out edges plenty of machines running their good side.

These machines are remarkably good on hard surfaces. They get low enough to the floor to effectively pick up, the brush roller can be turned off, AND they have a squeegee behind the roller. I would actually put these up against any other upright on hard surface,

Edge cleaning on the 25/26/27 series depends on which side of the head you use. The non belt side runs significantly better than average, and on that side it beats many other uprights. The belt side runs above average too, just not as strong. The belt on these is a narrow grooved design, so the belt cover is smaller than on most units, and even the weak side out edges plenty of machines running their good side.

Edge cleaning on the 25/26/27 series depends on which side of the head you use. The non belt side runs significantly better than average, and on that side it beats many other uprights. The belt side runs above average too, just not as strong. The belt on these is a narrow grooved design, so the belt cover is smaller than on most units, and even the weak side out edges plenty of machines running their good side.

Edge cleaning on the 25/26/27 series depends on which side of the head you use. The non belt side runs significantly better than average, and on that side it beats many other uprights. The belt side runs above average too, just not as strong. The belt on these is a narrow grooved design, so the belt cover is smaller than on most units, and even the weak side out edges plenty of machines running their good side.

Edge cleaning on the tandem airs is significantly better than average, in great part because their performance overall is redonkulous. Like any upright it depends on which side of the head you run along the wall. The non belt side is much better than average, and on that side it beats almost every upright I have tested it against except SEBO. The belt side runs above average too, just not as strong. The belt on these is a narrow grooved design, so the belt cover is smaller than on most units, and even the weak side edges better than other machines' good side.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.

Just don't bother edge cleaning with these. Seriously, they are great durable carpet vacuums, but edge cleaning is not their thing. These stop cleaning about 3/4 of an inch from the edge of the machine, so pull out the hose and wand and do your edging that way.