Dyson

DC40 Animal

Dyson DC40 Animal

Running these analyses costs money. Buy through my links to help keep lights on! I may get a small commission.

Overall

#476 in

Vacuum Cleaners

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score55% positive
6
1
4

Top Pros

Top Cons

Last updated: Jun 30, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconConiferous_Needle
2 months ago

I had a dc40. It was a great vacuum for almost ten years! Then things started wearing down. Not too hard to replace but I am very handy. Time to replace, Vacuum redditors had a lot of complaints about newer Dyson’s being made of cheaper plastic. That and the noise (even with ear protection is was grating), I decided to go with a Miele and wow, the sound is amazingly quiet. I am still in the learning curve with the attachments but it cleans like nothing else

Reddit IconSimpleVegetable5715
9 months ago

Well you’re going to have the same sort of problems with Shark, they’re worse. Mine wasn’t even meant to have the brushroll removed and cleaned, found that out the hard way. That’s basic maintenance for a vacuum, especially when you have pets and humans with long hair. Shark wanted me to buy a whole new powerhead, lol. Good thing my dad and I are handy and jerry-rigged the Shark back together. My mom bought two Dysons. A (I think) DC40 then one of the pet ones with a ball. They were both crap too. The switched kept going out, luckily our vacuum shop doesn’t gouge people on repairs. I took my commercial Sanitaire (not suggesting this beast to average consumers), but the amount of sand it pulled out of her carpet was fascinating. So the Dysons were just sweeping the surface of her carpet. I’m sure the people here will recommend either a Miele or a Sebo. Other good vacuums exist too. I mainly collect and repair older vacuums as a hobby. So I’m not the one to ask. I do know bagged is better and cleaner than bagless, and direct air cleans deeper than a bypass machine. Air flow is what cleans, not suction.

9 months ago

Well you’re going to have the same sort of problems with Shark, they’re worse. Mine wasn’t even meant to have the brushroll removed and cleaned, found that out the hard way. That’s basic maintenance for a vacuum, especially when you have pets and humans with long hair. Shark wanted me to buy a whole new powerhead, lol. Good thing my dad and I are handy and jerry-rigged the Shark back together. My mom bought two Dysons. A (I think) DC40 then one of the pet ones with a ball. They were both crap too. The switched kept going out, luckily our vacuum shop doesn’t gouge people on repairs. I took my commercial Sanitaire (not suggesting this beast to average consumers), but the amount of sand it pulled out of her carpet was fascinating. So the Dysons were just sweeping the surface of her carpet. I’m sure the people here will recommend either a Miele or a Sebo. Other good vacuums exist too. I mainly collect and repair older vacuums as a hobby. So I’m not the one to ask. I do know bagged is better and cleaner than bagless, and direct air cleans deeper than a bypass machine. Air flow is what cleans, not suction.

Reddit IcondanTHAman152000
2 months ago

My Dyson Ball that I bought in 2013 for like $600 still works well. I do have to cut my wife’s hair out from the roller. But other than that still working good. I probably won’t buy another one though. I think I’ll just buy cheaper Sharks and replace them sooner. My mother’s new shark cleaned better than the old Dyson.

Reddit Iconvoidchungus
3 months ago

Nice! I have the D4. It does self-propel in carpet mode, but not so much that it pulls *me*. I should double check I have it set to the right suction strength

Reddit Iconilovecostcohotdog
9 months ago

I have a very old corded Dyson Animal, probably from 2010ish. It still works pretty well. I love the ball, it just made things so much easier to maneuver. Of course I am sure all of the new vacuums have something similar now so that probably isn’t a deciding factor.

Reddit Icontheyarnllama
9 months ago

I’ve got a Dyson that I bought in like 2012. Maybe earlier. I do virtually no maintenance because I’m lazy. It’s still trucking along, no problem. Edited to add: it’s lived through my long hair, my sister’s long hair, and a Great Pyrenees.

Top Vacuum Cleaners on Reddit

1
SEBO AIRBELT E3 Premium

SEBO

AIRBELT E3 Premium

88% positive of 202 users

Ultra-durable, 10-year warranty, but expensive with short cord.

2
Numatic International Henry Canister Series

Numatic International

Henry Canister Series

79% positive of 389 users

Budget king, super durable, but heavy and poor on carpets.

3
SEBO AIRBELT D4 Premium

SEBO

AIRBELT D4 Premium

90% positive of 154 users

Durable, powerful, long cord, but heavy and pricey.

4
SEBO FELIX Premium

SEBO

FELIX Premium

87% positive of 118 users

Durable, powerful, good for allergies, but heavy with awkward attachments.

5
Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine

Miele

Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine

88% positive of 133 users

Durable, powerful, quiet, but very expensive, short cord.

Rankings by Use Case

Other Reddit Recommendations:

FAQs