Dyson DC41 Animal Complete Upright Vacuum

Mostly. The DC41 pulls a surprising amount of dirt and fur out of carpet, but a few found it didn't get carpet as deeply clean as they'd expected. Fur and visible dirt are its strong suit, and ground-in grit in deep pile is where it falls short.

Very strong for a household upright, so the stair tool and crevice tool pull hard. The wand stretches up to 5 times its length, and the 35-foot cord gives the DC41 a long reach up a staircase without moving the plug.

On carpet, yes. The ball lets the DC41 turn tightly around furniture with a twist of the wrist, which helps a lot given it weighs 27.2 lb. On hard floors it can feel less nimble, so the ball pays off most in carpeted rooms.

Usually because it wasn't locked upright. It has to be pushed back firmly until it clicks, and if you park it without that click it can fall over. Make a habit of listening for the click each time you stand the DC41 up.

Not once you get it. Assembly goes quickly, but the manual is pictures only, which leaves some unsure how to use the tools. Spend a few minutes trying each attachment on the DC41 before your first full clean, so you know which one fits where.

The Complete kit adds the Tangle-Free Turbine Tool, a stair tool, combination, soft dusting, stiff bristle and multi-angle brushes, plus Zorb carpet powder. The mini turbine and stair tool are the standouts, but only two tools clip onto the DC41, so the rest live in a bag.