Dyson DC08 Allergy -

The DC08 is very compact - it's actually designed to fit into the average bottom kitchen cupboard, which is great if you don't have understairs storage space! The Telescope Wrap feature makes this possible, and also makes it easy to carry the whole vacuum cleaner around the house. It's reasonably intuitive to use, although some of the catches and clips have a bit of a knack to them. Emptying the bin is a snap, although it's best to do this inside a bin bag to avoid spillage. The Turbine Head is genius, especially if anyone in your house has long hair - it picks everything up with minimal effort, and comes apart easily to remove any hair that gets tangled around the brushes. The tools are fine - they do the job and clip neatly into a little holder on the hose or the back of the machine. The HEPA filter is also reassuring for allergy sufferers and overall, it feels nice and sturdy - even if it has a face only a mother could love!

It is quite expensive, but it pays to shop around for deals. The only other negatives are fairly minor - the hose tends to kink, and if your stairs are steep, it won't 'sit' on them. It's not the lightest cleaner, but you can pick it all up with one hand. The drum doesn't hold a great deal, so be prepared to empty it frequently - just keep a bin bag close by as you go around the house.

If you're thinking of buying a Dyson, the website (www.dyson.co.uk) has a helpful 'select the right model for you' section, which asks you a series of questions and comes up with a list of suitable models. It also lists the features and is nice and clear, but I don't recommend you buy from this site, as you will be paying full whack! Choose your model and then shop around.

Overall, I would recommend this cleaner for anyone with mixed floors, especially if you're low on storage space and have to deal with hair and fluff stuck to your carpets. So far, I find it gives excellent results with minimal effort.