About.com Rating



The Dyson City seems to be the solution to those wanting a lightweight, easy-to-store vacuum without having to sacrifice suction power and quality. It also appealed to my vacuum-dusting side - light on the handle with carrying potential. I've been looking for just such a vacuum for some time. Will this little cutie be the end-all compact dusting machine I've been dreaming of?

Product Description

Dyson City DC26 Multi Floor Canister Vacuum:

• Concentrated Root Cyclone™ technology for constant suction power
• Compact and lightweight at 12 lbs
• Removable handle design
• Telescopic wand
• Includes: Air-driven turbine head with anti-static carbon fiber brushes
• Other attachments: Articulating floor tool, debris nozzle converts to a brush tool for dusting or crevice tool
• Removable bagless dirt receptacle - clear bin 0.15 gal
• Washable HEPA and air filter
• Size: 10.5H x 12.6D x 8.27W inches
• Cord wrap; cord length 16.5 ft
• 5 Year Warranty
• MSRP: $399.99
• Learn more from the manufacturer

How the Dyson City DC26 Canister Vacuum Performed

February 2, 2011
Out of the box, the Dyson City looks more like a toy than a serious vacuum, but there's more than meets eye. Much smaller than the DC23 canister vacuum, this mini marvel is extra lightweight and so compact that when wrapped (stow away features), it can fit on a shelf. The handle, wand and attachments are super easy to quick connect and a big improvement over the DC23 - the handle is completely removable and optional.

This is notable because it makes the hose or wand much lighter for dusting. The retractable cord is understandably shorter; you can only wrap so much in this compact canister. The floor tool is better than average with a nice swivel slim and low profile design that helps it stay in contact with the floor, at any angle. You also have more reach into crevices or between furniture. But the floor tool balks at being on low-pile mats and is definitely for hard floors only. The small brushbar is air-driven, has a great swivel action and does a good job on those low pile runners, but it's smaller in design than average. And it's not designed for high pile carpets. On our (low) berber carpets, it glided along picking up surface dirt.

Don't let the Dyson City's compact, lightweight nature fool you; there's nothing minimized when it comes to cleaning performance and suction. Suction power is terrific and typical of Dyson vacuums in general. And this is a whole-house serious cleaning tool (for hard floors and low mats), not a secondary spot cleaner as the size might suggest. That being said, it's so light, you can easily carry it out to clean the car or RV as you would a handheld vacuum. Vacuuming the stairs with it works very well since it sits easily on a step. There's very little maintenance with this vacuum and no ongoing costs - it's bagless and filters are washable. The dirt bin removes and empties easily. As for size, it still holds a lot of dust and dirt.

Overall Impression

I especially love the Dyson City's suction power and dusting abilities. It handles extremely well when it comes to dusting hard floors, tables, shelves or higher areas. Performance is terrific and comparable to larger models. The quality of the materials is evident, warranty period is excellent and it does do what it claims to. Suction is awesome, unmatched for a vacuum of this size. It came with a good variety of cleaning tools, though that was not evident in the product description. For that reason, I had also requested to test the Dyson Home Cleaning Kit, which I thought might be a worthwhile accessory for the Dyson City. I was right, the special dusting tools in that kit came in very handy for cleaning ceiling fans or dusting delicate shelf ornaments.

The Dyson City follows reasonably well except for one thing - it tends to lose its balance and fall on its side, whenever the stiff hose is pulled to the opposite side. Hard to say, but a swivel adapter between hose and canister might solve this problem. While uprighting it occasionally might be a pain for some, it's a small compromise and one I found I could ignore, because it has so much else going for it. The air exhaust is up and away from the user, rather than across the floor.

I can see a lot of potential for the Dyson City. If you have only hard surface floors, you can save money and storage space with this smaller canister, without sacrificing performance. For those with small spaces such as city flats, condos, RV's, dorm rooms or seniors apartments, it would be more than adequate, as long as there are no carpets to vacuum. It would also be a nice second vacuum to leave on another level or in the RV, because it takes little space to store. For those with allergies that like to vacuum dust more so than hand wipe, it's excellent for that purpose. Would I use it as a whole-home vacuum? Absolutely for the main floor which is all hard surfaces plus a few flat mats. But for basement carpeting, I'd prefer a powered turbine head that picks up deep down dirt. The Dyson City is designed for hard floors and short pile, and as such offers tremendous value in this price range.

Related Resources

Read Dyson Home Cleaning Kit Review
Read More About Vacuums
Compare Prices of Vacuums
Find Out What to Clean With Your Vacuum
Things That Influence Vacuum Prices

Read About Vacuum Care & Maintenance
The Benefits of a Stick Vacuum
How to Buy a Used Vacuum
Why Buy a Pet Vacuum if you Have Pets?
Go to Main Vacuum & Floor Care Page

Go to Home Page



Disclosure: Review samples were provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.