A different sort of test drive

How does a vacuum story exactly fit in the automotive world? Well, if you’re as obsessive in keeping your car as spic-and-span as me, then a proper portable vacuum for the car is in order. Here comes the Dyson DC62 cordless portable vacuum.

Dyson is the ‘Apple of the household machinery world’ and needless to say, it certainly looks good and packs revolutionary mechanicals. The company’s founder and CEO, James Dyson, believes that design shouldn’t just encapsulate the looks but also the engineering and technical aspects of a product. This holistic approach to product creation is, as you guessed it, similar to Apple’s.

Dyson first made waves with the bladeless fans and now they’re sprinkling the same magic to the ordinary and mundane vacuum cleaner with the sexy DC62. While vacuum cleaners are simple in function, the biggest difference in the DC62 is the overall design sophistication. It actually combines the power of a corded vacuum with the convenience of a cordless one. It’s sleek, lightweight, and disassembles easily—factors in making it ideal for car-cleaning.

It looks like a power tool or drill with a trigger to turn it on or off, and it actually sounds like one too. The main driving force of the DC62 is Dyson’s proprietary digital V6 motor that spins at a ludicrous 110,000 rpm and together with its 350-watt motor it pushes out 100 air watts of suction power. All in all, this makes it one of the most powerful cordless vacuums available. Plus, the direct drive cleaner head means fade-free suction even if the dirt bin becomes full. There’s even a washable hepa filter to boot. And speaking of the dirt bin, this vacuum cleaner doesn’t use any sort of bags; the dirt goes into a clear bin allowing for easy and sanitary waste disposal.

There are several attachments available for the DC62 and two of the best included in the box is the crevice cleaning head and the motorized head. The latter is very unique in that it’s specifically designed to tackle both hard floors and carpets. The secret is a dust capture channel that prevents dust from escaping back to the floor and carbon fiber, yes carbon fiber filaments that act as the brush.

The estimated cleaning euphoria is just around 20 minutes for a fully charged battery, enough to clean the interior of a small car. If there’s a need to tackle more heavy-duty cleaning, there’s a Max mode that ups the power, but drops the operation time to just seven minutes. Unfortunately, you can’t use the vacuum while it’s charging. When plugged in, the DC62 simply juices up its Lithium-Ion battery. A full charge needs about three and a half hours.

The lack of operating time aside, the DC62 is a blast to use, tackling even hard-to-clean nooks and crannies like those under seat cushions. And there’s just something satisfying in seeing the transparent bin fill up—a sense of accomplishment that the car feels much cleaner. Some have complained that the weight distribution makes it tiring to use, but personally, this didn’t prove to be a problem. Operating it just requires good wrist movement. If there’s one thing Dyson should consider is to have a lock button on the trigger though.

Overall, the Dyson DC62 cordless portable vacuum cleaner is a well-designed and powerful vacuum that’s well suited for cleaning small areas such as a car, small homes, or condos. Retailing in the region of P33,000, it’s a bit pricey, but it’s the best option when you want a cordless vacuum. It’s powerful, runs smoothly, and provides great style and ergonomics. It’s a must have for any automotive obsessive-compulsive guy or gal.