Dyson has been known for launching impeccable high-end vacuums for many years. Today they introduce yet another model to the market: the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Total Clean, which is the first one to offer laser dust detection, a piezo sensor and innovative anti-tangle technology. We took the vacuum for a spin—here’s what we found.

Setting up

On/off button

Getting started with this vacuum is fairly straightforward. The multitude of cleaning heads and attachments can seem overwhelming at first, but it quickly becomes clear that they all easily click into place. All of the cleaning heads can be attached to either the main bulk of the vacuum or below the vacuum stick, so there is quite a bit of versatility to play around with.

The Dyson website provides a lot of information about the vacuum and the various cleaning attachments, so you can head over there if you need some assistance setting up. We do think a set of paper instructions with clear labels would have been a helpful addition, particularly for elders and others who may not be as comfortable finding help online. The only manuals included are safety indications and a guide to installing the charging dock.

Charging dock

Speaking of the dock, one thing we really appreciate is that you don’t need to set it up in order to charge the vacuum. While the dock makes for a handy charging station, you can simply use the cable included to plug it in. This is particularly useful if you tend to charge the vacuum in different parts of the house or just don’t fancy installing the dock.

The cleaning attachments

Direct Drive Cleaner Head

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim Total Clean comes with eight individual attachments that you can swap out as you require.

• The Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head, developed for hard floors with laser dust detection
• The Direct Drive Cleaner Head with mixed bristles for hard floors as well as carpet, cushions and mattresses
• The Hair Screw Tool, created to efficiently clean up hair and fur without tangling
• The Combination Tool, which transforms from a narrow suction head to a brush-rimmed suction head
• The Mini Soft Dusting Brush, which has extra soft bristles for dusting
• The Stubborn Dirt Brush, which has hard, stiff bristles to help with tough cleaning
• The Light Pipe to reach awkward nooks and crannies
• The Reach Under Tool, which can be placed in between the top part of the vacuum and the vacuum stick for increased manoeuvrability

Combination Tool

We are particularly impressed with the Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head, which we will discuss in more detail below, but we love the Hair Screw Tool and the Light Pipe as well. If you have shedding pets or happen to cut your own hair at home (pandemic times call for drastic measures!), you will absolutely appreciate the Hair Screw Tool. Where most vacuums will give up on a tangled mess of hair, this model spirals it right up and keeps it tangle-free for easy emptying later on.

Light Pipe

The Light Pipe is one of the few tools we’ve encountered that successfully cleans out the narrowest of spaces, making it a must-have for many homeowners.

Laser dust detection

Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head

The Laser Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head is an absolute revolution in our home cleaning regime. The idea of a green laser that reveals the hidden dust in your home sounds somewhat gimmicky, but it has remarkable results. Not only does it successfully highlight all of the dust and debris on hard floors, but the laser is also downright hypnotising, making cleaning that much more enjoyable. We get into a serious vacuuming craze every time we pull out this attachment!

We recommend using this cleaning head in the evening or with the lights low, as the laser is much more effective in the dark. It tends to be less visible (and satisfying) in bright daylight.

Cleaning the house

Mini Soft Dusting Brush

Getting the cleaning done with the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Total Clean has been nothing but a breeze so far. We’ve tried many vacuums in the past and none have had this kind of suction power. The laser dust detection makes this extra obvious—you’ll spot plenty of dust and dirt when you approach a spot and it will all be gone with just one pass, even hair and larger debris.

LCD screen

The extra hygiene-conscious among you will also appreciate the vacuum’s piezo sensor, which detects the size and type of particles present in your home as you use the vacuum. The finds appear on the LCD screen in a handy bar chart. Plus, the piezo sensor allows the vacuum to increase its suction power when it encounters larger dirt particles, helping you move on to the next area of the house more quickly.

Reach Under Tool

Beyond the cleanliness, the vacuum is also very easy to manoeuvre. The head swivels back and forth with ease and the entire device feels lightweight and ergonomic, making even longer vacuuming sessions not as tiring as we’re used to. The Reach Under Tool increases the flexibility even further.

Clearing out the vacuum

Sliding down the bin

Getting all that dust and dirt out of the vacuum was a bit of a challenge at first, but it became pretty intuitive once we got the hang of it. Generic debris is collected at the bottom of the vacuum bin, while hair twirls around the top part. In order to empty the bottom part, remove the vacuum stick and then push down on the red lever at the back of the bin to pop open the lid.

If you need to empty out the hair as well, locate the small lever with the white number “1” and hold it down. You’ll then need to slide down the bin compartment until the hair falls out. Place the bin back the way it was, ensuring that the lever is at the back, as the compartment will get stuck otherwise (it happened to one of us and took quite some wriggling to detach again).

Of course, make sure you’re doing all of this emptying over the rubbish bin, as you’ll otherwise have to vacuum up all the dirt and hair again!

In conclusion, this is a fantastic vacuum that is absolutely worth the price, even if some aspects take a bit of fiddling with.

If you’d like to get your hands on the new Dyson V12 Detect Slim Total Clean, head over to dyson.com.sg.