Disassemble the housing (unscrew two screws next to the handle and four screws around the housing at the top) Keep in mind that the battery life is greatly reduced when you switch the vacuum to “MAX” power mode. On this setting, we found that the vacuum tends to run out of charge in around 5-6 minutes, which isn’t much time at all. It also takes approximately 3.5 hours to fully recharge, which is around average for a cordless vacuum. However, while it doesn’t offer the extreme suction of Dyson’s cordless models on their Boost mode, the Ball Animal is more powerful than the standard modes of such machines. With the added benefit that it isn’t going to run out and require recharging, this makes it perfect for larger, more serious cleaning jobs. The V7 Trigger comes with a 21.6V battery that can provide a maximum of 30-minutes suction power. This is much longer than many handheld vacs (some models last less than 10 minutes), making the Trigger a great choice for longer cleaning sessions.

Upright – This is a one-piece unit and the model that most closely resembles the traditional machine that most people will picture when they think of a vacuum cleaner. The suction head is at the bottom, the handle is at the top and the dust container mounted in between. It’s a simple, tried and tested design. It sometimes struggles with tougher dirt when using the crevice tool though, which is worth keeping in mind for cleaning between seats and other awkward locations that the motorised tool can’t access. The relatively large design can also be unwieldy in small cars – and don’t expect it to generate enough power to remove heavy soiling on floor mats. A bonus is that the Dyson V7 Trigger’s battery can be replaced. It’s not swappable to increase the vacuum’s run-time though, as changing the battery involves several screws. However, we found cleaning pet hair to be a task where the MAX mode is essential, particularly if the hair is caught in carpets or sofas. This greatly reduces run-time, although the standard suction mode still does a decent job for loose hairs. Price & Value for Money The motorised tool is also great for pulling pet hair out of carpet fibres. A downside is that it requires power, which reduces the run-time of the battery – although we found that the increased performance is nearly always worth this trade-off.

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The mini motorised tool is great for cleaning most surfaces, but it’s too bulky for awkward locations. It may also be too abrasive for delicate surfaces. For this reason, Dyson has included the following tools: The screen on the vacuum unit also has new features and while it still helps you choose your cleaning mode and shows you how long your battery has left, it also reports on how well the V15 is cleaning your home and what kind of dust and dirt particles it’s collecting. We found that using the mini motorised tools for carpeted steps, then following up with the crevice tool for edges and corners, left our stairs looking spotless. It’s just as effective at cleaning hard floor stairs too. Pet Hair

The V7 Trigger is pretty scarce when it comes to attachments. In the box you'll get the crevice tool for getting down the side of your car seats, and the combination tool, with a wider barrel for larger surface areas and a brush addition for hard surfaces. Obviously, there's no floor performance stats to discuss, as it doesn't really matter here. But whatever other surface you're working on, the V7 Trigger will clean it. The next job on the list was removing fine pet hair and hay from the living room rug. Again, the V7 Trigger rose to the challenge at the regular setting, clearing the area in little more than ten seconds. The MAX mode proved helpful for deeply entwined clusters of hair at the edges, leaving the rug looking brighter than I remembered.We think the Dyson V7 Trigger is an excellent handheld vacuum. The 30-minute run-time is long enough for almost any small cleaning job, plus we found it provides great cleaning performance on almost any surface.