Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean Review: The Ultimate Pet Hair Solution?

The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean is engineered specifically for homes with pets, featuring Dyson’s powerful Radial Root Cyclone technology and a self-adjusting cleaner head that automatically adapts to different floor types. With 290AW of suction power, it’s designed to capture even the most stubborn pet hair and embedded dirt.

What sets this model apart is its comprehensive accessory package, which includes 8 specialized tools including the innovative Tangle-Free Turbine tool that prevents hair wrapping—a common frustration with standard vacuum brushes.

Ball Technology for Easy Maneuverability

The Ball Animal Total Clean’s signature ball design allows for smooth navigation around furniture and obstacles with a simple turn of the wrist. This makes it easier to clean in tight spaces and around corners compared to traditional upright vacuums.

Self-Adjusting Cleaner Head

The active base plate automatically raises and lowers to seal in suction across all floors. This intelligent design ensures optimal contact with any surface, from hardwood and tile to low and high-pile carpets, maximizing dirt pickup without manual adjustments.

Radial Root Cyclone Technology

This pioneering technology increases suction power and captures more microscopic dust than conventional vacuums. The system of cyclones works together to generate centrifugal forces that capture even the finest dust particles without losing suction.

Tangle-Free Turbine Tool

One of the standout accessories, this innovative tool features counter-rotating brush heads that remove pet hair from upholstery and carpets without tangling. Unlike traditional brush bars where hair wraps around and reduces efficiency, this design keeps the brushes clear.

The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean truly excels on carpeted surfaces. In our testing, it removed embedded pet hair, dust, and debris from both low and high-pile carpets with impressive efficiency. The self-adjusting cleaner head maintains optimal contact with the carpet surface, creating a strong seal that maximizes suction power.

Deep-seated dirt that other vacuums might miss was effectively extracted, and the powerful motorized brush bar agitates carpet fibers to release trapped particles. Even after vacuuming with another cleaner, the Dyson picked up additional dirt, demonstrating its superior deep-cleaning capabilities.

On hard floors, the Ball Animal Total Clean performs admirably, though with a few considerations. The powerful suction effectively captures dust, debris, and pet hair from hardwood, tile, and vinyl surfaces. The self-adjusting head creates a good seal even on uneven floors.

However, the strong suction can sometimes make the vacuum feel like it’s sticking to the floor, requiring more effort to push. For larger debris on hard floors, you may need to use one of the included attachments rather than the main floor head, which works best for fine dust and smaller particles.

The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean offers several user-friendly features. The wand and hose release in one smooth action for above-floor cleaning, and the hygienic bin emptying system allows you to release dirt directly into your trash can without touching it. The controls are straightforward and accessible.

However, some users may find the strong suction makes the vacuum harder to push on certain surfaces, particularly thick carpets. The hose can also be somewhat stiff when new, requiring some force to extend fully.

Regular Maintenance

• Empty the bin after each use or when it reaches the MAX line to maintain optimal performance.
• Wash the pre-filter monthly with cold water and allow it to dry completely (at least 24 hours) before reinstalling.
• Check the brush bar regularly for hair or string wrap and remove as needed.
• Clean the cyclone assembly periodically by wiping with a dry cloth to remove dust buildup.
• Inspect and clean attachments after use, especially the Tangle-Free Turbine tool if used for pet hair removal.

The Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean represents a significant investment, but for the right households, it delivers exceptional value. If you have pets that shed, family members with allergies, or simply want one of the most powerful and versatile upright vacuums on the market, this model is worth serious consideration.

Its standout features—powerful suction, specialized pet hair tools, and comprehensive filtration—address the most common pain points for pet owners. While it has some limitations in terms of weight and maneuverability, these are largely offset by its cleaning performance and durability.

For budget-conscious shoppers or those with specific needs like cordless operation, the alternatives we’ve highlighted may be more suitable. However, for its intended purpose as a premium pet hair vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean excels and earns our strong recommendation.