If you are wondering which product to choose, Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Multi Floor, this article may help you with that. Below are my personal evaluations after experiencing these two products for a while. For a quick answer, the winner is Multi Floor.
Dyson Ball Multi Floor impressed me with its extraordinary suction power. Besides great performance on bare floors and carpets, it even picks up all the dirt stuck in the tiny spaces between your hardwood floors. The self-adjusting cleaner head allows it to adapt easily to any type of surface.
Dyson Slim Ball Animal is a great choice for those who love lightweight and compact designs. It takes up only a very small space in your room and is easy to move around the house. Radial Root Cyclone technology and advanced filter system allow it to remove up to 99.97% of airborne dust and is certified allergy-friendly.
Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Multi Floor: Comparison Chart
Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Multi Floor: Differences
After examining the differences between these machines, I found that Dyson Ball Multi Floor wins 3:0 against Dyson Slim Ball Animal thanks to its cleaning performance, dirt bin, and convenience. Check the detailed explanation below to learn more.
Cleaning performance
The winner: Dyson Ball Multi Floor
Performance on bare floors
Both machines perform really well on bare floors. They share the same cleaner head design, which allows users to flexibly alter the nozzle height depending on the specific floor type. There is an active baseplate that can move up and down at the bottom of the cleaner head. It automatically adjusts to all floor types and keeps an optimal seal from the floor to the cleaner head.
Thanks to having the cleaner head as close to the surface as possible, these Dyson machines will preserve the strongest suction power. On the market, many other upright vacuums still have a big gap between the main nozzle and the surface, significantly reducing the machine’s suction.
Besides, these machines also allow users to turn off the brush roll to clean floors more gently and limit scatter the debris.
Through my tests, I found that both machines have good cleaning performance on bare floors, regardless of hardwood floors, laminate floors, tile floors, etc. They easily pick up small and medium debris without scattering anything. Oats, shredded paper, or cereal chips are all picked up cleanly. As for the slightly larger debris like coffee beans, popcorn, and full-size Froot Loops, the Slim Ball is a bit more strenuous, while the Multi Floor still moves and sucks up all of the debris pretty quickly.
In my opinion, the suction power determines how well these machines perform on cleaning bare floors. The Multi Floor has a motor efficiency of 245 AW in boost mode, while the Slim Ball Animal’s efficiency is 200 AW. Airwatt (AW) is used to measure the efficiency of a vacuum cleaner in relation to its airflow and power consumption. When comparing vacuum cleaners with the same power consumption, the larger the Airwatt, the more powerful the vacuuming.
Dyson Ball Multi Floor’s powerful suction allows you to pick up even small dirt and debris in the deep cracks and crevices, such as the tiny spaces between your hardwood floors, linoleum, and carpets.
Performance on carpets
On low-pile carpets, both machines do a great job. In addition to the self-adjusting power head, each machine is equipped with a stiff bristle brush to agitate and deep clean carpets. I’ve found that their low-pile carpet cleaning performance is comparable to when they’re on hard floors. In my opinion, the Multi Floor still performs better due to its suction strength. Aside from that, their brush bar is designed to be as wide as possible to help optimize the cleaning area per pass.
Their cleaning performance is slightly reduced on medium-pile carpets, but the vacuuming process is smooth overall. Due to the strong suction, these machines tend to suck themselves on carpets, so you need to use a little force to push and pull them.
As for the thick carpets, I have to say that these machines are really hard to maneuver. Although their cleaner head can adjust the height on its own, with very dense carpets, this function does not really work. I need a lot of effort to roll the unit on my shaggy rug, so if your home uses many thick carpets or has back pain or shoulder pain, I think you need to consider them before buying.
One thing that I quite like about both of them is that they convert easily and quickly from hard floors to carpets. Since the main nozzle automatically adjusts to the height, I just need to move the machine back and forth without having to stop to alter anything else. If your home has mostly hard floors and the carpet isn’t too thick, I recommend these two.
Pet hair performance
I found that these two vacuums’ pet hair-cleaning performance is almost the same. They both pick up fur and long hair very well, and I have no complaints about their cleaning ability. What I want to note for you is that their brush rolls are not anti-tangle, so you have to clean them after every vacuuming. If not cleaned periodically, hair wrapped around the roller can reduce suction power and stall the machine.
Luckily, it’s fairly simple to access the brush bar, and cleaning it up doesn’t take much time, so you shouldn’t worry too much about those tasks. The base plate can be removed to give you more access to the brush bar. To detach the baseplate, follow the steps in the manual.
Dirt tank and filtration
The winner: Dyson Ball Multi Floor
Filtration
Both Dyson Ball Multi Floor and Dyson Slim Ball Animal are certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and allergy foundation of America in their seal of approval. These two machines share the same filtration system, and their systems are HEPA standard with the ability to trap 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, such as dust, mold, bacteria, pollen, and more. They not only trap harmful dirt but also remove odors very well. Therefore, I recommend this machine to those who have allergies or respiratory problems.
Each machine comes with two filters, one inside the hygienic bin and the other inside the “ball.” All the filters are washable, so you don’t need to pay extra expenses to maintain or replace them. You just need to rinse them with water and let them dry for at least 24 hours before putting them back into the vacuum.
To remove the pre-motor in the dirt bin, open the top cover of the canister and pull out the filter. Dyson recommends users clean this filter monthly, but I think it depends on each individual’s needs and how often they use their vacuum cleaner.
To remove the filter inside the ball, turn the central locking dial on the outer cover of the ball counter-clockwise until the cover is released. Then, lift off the cover and turn the filter one-quarter counter-clockwise to release. These operations are detailed in the manual, so make sure you check it out and follow what’s noted.
Dirt tank
These two vacuum cleaners come with no bag. All the dirt vacuumed is stored in the hygienic bins. These bins are made of clear plastic, so you can tell when they are full just by a glance. As for capacity, the Multi Floor’s dirt bin has a capacity of 0.55 gallons, and the Slim Ball Animal’s one has a capacity of 0.42 gallons. In my experience, both machines have large capacities, and this is a plus for them. The more dust a vacuum cleaner can hold, the less emptying it requires.
It is very easy to empty their dirt bins with the one-touch system. Press a red button on the top of the canister’s handle, and the dust cup will pop out. Then, keep pressing the release button on the side of the tank to open the lid underneath the canister, and all the dirt will fall out.
When emptying the trash, dirt will stick to the baffles at the bottom of the bin, so you have to pay attention to cleaning those parts time by time. Besides, you also need to keep the cyclone inside the bin always clean not to reduce the suction power.
Radial root cyclonic system
Their hygienic bins are also the home for a radial root cyclone system, which is equipped with Radial Root Cyclone™ technology. These systems can regenerate forces much stronger than gravity, creating cyclones with powerful centrifugal force to separate the air molecules from the dust particles. As a result, all dirt is trapped inside the dirt bin and only allows cleaner air to pass through the vacuum. Besides, this technology allows the user to have strong and consistent suction with each use.
Design And Convenience
The winner: Dyson Ball Multi Floor
Build quality
Although both machines are made mostly of plastic, they are still extremely sturdy, even dust bins. As for Dyson Ball Multi Floor’s dirt tank is made from polycarbonate, the same material used in football helmets and riot gear. Therefore, you can completely trust the durability of the product. Furthermore, products made of plastic often have parts that are easy to replace. As far as I can see, Dyson’s plastic material for their machine is light but really sturdy.
To me, both machines are all easy to assemble. It just took me 5 minutes to finish everything without any tools. However, I also heard that some users reported after purchasing the product that they had some difficulty assembling these machines.
Maneuverability
According to my experience, both machines are quite easy to maneuver, except for rolling them on super thick carpets.
When it comes to weight, Dyson Slim Ball Animal is 2 pounds lighter than Dyson Ball Multi Floor, so it’s easier for users to pull, push and carry. Because it is lighter, the Slim Ball Animal also moves on the carpet more easily than its opponent. The Multi Floor is heavier, possibly because it has a larger dust tank.
In terms of dimensions, both machines are about the same width, but the Slim Ball is lower and seems more compact. In general, their size is not much different (The Multi Floor is only about 1 inch taller than the Slim). The common point of these two is that they both require very little storage space.
Another thing they have in common is the ball design, which allows you to easily rotate the machine from one direction to another as well as smoothly weave between furniture. However, you should not expect too much that the “ball” can get into too tight spaces like under the sofa because that is not possible.
Noise level
As you know, all upright vacuum cleaners make a certain amount of noise. In the case of these two machines, Dyson Ball Multi Floor is quieter than Dyson Slim Ball.
The noise level of the Multi Floor is 72 dB, which is average when talking about the noise level of an upright vacuum. When I use this machine, I can still do cleaning tasks while talking normally with people around, watching TV, or listening to the radio.
Meanwhile, the Slim Ball Animal’s noise level is around 80 dB, well above average. This level is equivalent to the noise of a busy street in the city center. This noise level can affect your hearing if you are exposed to it for longer than 8-10 hours a day.
Range
These machines have the same cleaning range with a 24.5-foot power cord, and the maximum reach is about 40 feet. Based on my experience, such power cord length is a bit short. I have come across machines with power cord lengths up to 30 and 40 feet. You know, the longer the power cord, the wider the cleaning range and the less you need to change the outlet. However, I also understand that the long power cord will increase the weight of the machine.
I like their hose with the long extension, which allows you to keep the vacuum at the bottom of the stairs and clean each step right up to the top. The weight and sturdy footprint helped prevent these machines from tipping over when I reached the top of the stairs.
In addition, as I mentioned above, their brush bar is very wide (over 13 inches), so each pass’s area is rather large. Therefore, users can save time and increase house cleaning efficiency.
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Ball Multi Floor
- Self adjusting cleaner head; Seals in suction across carpets and hard floors
- Wand and hose release in one smooth action, so it’s easy to clean up high and under furniture
- Whole machine filtration traps allergens and bacteria inside the machine
- Ball technology; Steers easily into difficult places
- Hygienic bin emptying; Just push the button to release the dirt
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Slim Ball Animal
- Self-adjusting cleaner head automatically raises and lowers to seal in suction across all floor types.
- Instant-release wand and long-reach hose release in one smooth action, so it’s easy to clean up high and under furniture.
- Ball technology allows you to steer with a turn of the wrist to maneuver easily around furniture and obstacles and into difficult places.
- Four Dyson-engineered accessories in the box: Combination tool, Stair tool, Tangle-free turbine tool, and Multi-angle brush.
- 0.4-gallon bin capacity.
Product Videos
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- Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Animal 3: An Honest Comparison Between Powerful Upright Vacuums
- Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Multi Floor 2: Is There Any Difference? – Find Out The Winner!
- Dyson Slim Ball Animal vs Animal 2: A Head-To-Head Comparison
References:
- Dyson Slim Ball Animal: https://www.dysoncanada.ca/en/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball/multi-floor-slim
- Dyson Ball Multi Floor: https://www.dyson.com/support/journey/troubleshooting/206693-01
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.