The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a highly portable mid-range cordless stick vacuum. It sits below the pricier, more powerful Dyson V15 Detect and bigger Dyson Outsize in the manufacturer's current lineup. Like the V15, it has a piezo sensor that counts and measures the size of debris being sucked into the vacuum, which is helpful if you suffer from allergies and want to know if your home has high quantities of fine particles. However, unlike the V15, the V12 can automatically increase its suction power when encountering large amounts of debris.
Our Verdict
The Dyson V12 is great for bare floors. It does a fantastic job of clearing away pet hair and small and bulky debris on this kind of surface when used with its soft-roller Laser Slim floorhead. It also weighs very little, making it easy to maneuver in cluttered areas. User maintenance is simple too, and the vacuum incurs virtually no recurring costs as long as you clean its filter periodically. Its dirt compartment is tiny compared to most other cordless stick vacuums, so you'll have to empty it pretty often.
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Lightweight construction.
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Decent battery performance.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Tiny dirt compartment.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
The Dyson V12 is good for low-pile carpet. It clears a decent amount of fine and large debris on low-pile carpeting, though you might still need to make another pass to collect everything. Thankfully, it's highly effective at dealing with pet hair. It can automatically increase its power level when pushed around on carpets, so you don't have to adjust its suction mode manually quite as often. User maintenance is simple, and recurring costs are practically a nonissue, but unfortunately, the vacuum does feel a tad fragile in places.
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Lightweight construction.
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Decent battery performance.
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Carpet detection system.
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Tiny dirt compartment.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
The Dyson V12 delivers impressive overall performance on high-pile carpet. It can clear pet hair as well as most fine and large debris on this surface type, and its surface detection system is very responsive in adjusting its suction power on carpeted surfaces. However, there's no brushroll on/off switch or brushroll height adjustment for its multipurpose Motorbar floorhead, so it can sometimes get stuck on very thick carpeting, though admittedly, this isn't likely to happen as often as comparable Dyson vacuums with more potent suction motors.
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Lightweight construction.
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Decent battery performance.
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Great performance on high-pile carpet.
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Carpet detection system.
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Tiny dirt compartment.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
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No brushroll off switch or height adjustment.
The Dyson V12 is a very good option for pet owners. It easily clears away pet hair on a wide variety of floor types and has a miniature turbo brush tool that's impressively effective in lifting pet hair from upholstered surfaces. You can also take out the brushrolls from both its floorheads as well as its turbo brush attachment, allowing you to remove any tangled hair with ease. Its fully allergen-sealed construction is also helpful if you're sensitive to fine allergens like pet dander, though some particles can escape when emptying its dustbin. It's also reasonably quiet, which is good if you have a pet that's sensitive to loud noises.
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Easily deals with pet hair.
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Allergen-sealed construction.
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Removable brushrolls for all attachments.
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Terrible stain-cleaning performance.
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You can't use it to pick up liquid spills.
The Dyson V12 is an excellent option for vacuuming staircases. Its cordless design ensures you don't have to worry about tripping over a power cord. It doesn't weigh very much either, so you can easily carry it up and down long flights of stairs with minimal fatigue, but you can also convert it into a handheld vacuum for cleaning tighter spots. Performance on most surfaces is good, though it's best suited for flat floor types like laminate or hardwood.
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Lightweight construction.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
The Dyson V12 is great for cleaning the inside of your car. It has a lightweight construction that's easy to carry out to your car, and since it's cordless, you don't have to worry about using an extension cord or parking your car close to an electrical outlet. It comes with a reasonably wide assortment of tools and accessories, like a crevice tool for tackling debris wedged under seats, a turbo brush for removing debris from floormats, and a soft-bristle brush for dealing with dust on instrument consoles.
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Lightweight construction.
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Decent battery performance.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
The Dyson V12 is a middling option for light workshop cleaning, but this isn't what it's for. While it does a fantastic job of tackling household debris on hard, flat surfaces, you shouldn't use it for cleaning with hardier debris like metal or wood shavings and drywall dust, which can damage its cyclone. You can't use it to tackle liquid messes, either.
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Lightweight construction.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Carpet detection system.
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Tiny dirt compartment.
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Plastic body feels flimsy in some areas.
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You can't use it to pick up liquid spills.
- Bare Floor
- Low-Pile Carpet
- High-Pile Carpet
- Pets
- Stairs
- Cars
- Workshop
- Updated Jan 25, 2023: We've added a link to the Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Light in the 'Portability' section of this review to provide an example that weighs less.
- Updated Dec 01, 2022: We've updated the 'Differences Between Variants' section of this review to include the V12 Detect Slim Absolute, V12 Detect Slim Motorhead, and V12 Detect Slim Extra models.
- Updated Aug 25, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
- Updated Aug 05, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Jul 20, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Jul 14, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 04, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jun 23, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jun 16, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is currently available in three trims. We tested the Absolute model. You can see the label for our test unit here.
| Model Name | Tools Included | Color | Notes |
| V12 Detect Slim Absolute | Laser Slim Fluffy™ cleaner head, Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Wand clip | Nickel | |
| V12 Detect Slim Motorhead | Motorbar floorhead, Crevice tool, Combination tool | Blue/Nickel | Not available in North America |
| V12 Detect Slim Extra | Laser Slim Fluffy™ cleaner head, Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Awkward gap tool, Extension hose, Scratch-free dusting brush, Wand clip | Prussian Blue/Nickel |
Let us know in the discussions if you come across another variant of this vacuum, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a cordless stick vacuum that's the entry point in Dyson's current stick vacuum lineup, below the pricier, more potent Dyson V15 Detect and larger Dyson Outsize. It's easier to maneuver than either one of those vacuums and delivers similarly exceptional performance on bare floors, though its lower suction force does result in slightly inferior performance on carpeted surfaces. Its tiny dirt compartment also needs emptying pretty often compared to most other cordless stick vacuums. Still, it's more versatile than the older Dyson Micro 1.5kg, which features an even smaller dustbin and a much shorter battery life.
If you're looking for an alternative, check out our list of recommendations of the best cordless stick vacuums, the best vacuums for hardwood floors, and the best lightweight vacuums.
The Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson V12 Detect Slim each have advantages. The V15 is a better option for heavier-duty cleaning sessions, thanks to a more powerful motor that helps clear debris on carpeted floors more effectively. It also has a larger dustbin that won't need emptying as often. The V12 is notably lighter, making it easier to pick up and carry from room to room. While it isn't as effective as the V15 on carpeting, its lower output motor makes it less likely to get caught on dense carpeting. Unlike the V15, it can also automatically increase its suction when it encounters high concentrations of debris.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is better than the Dyson V8. The V12 offers vastly improved battery performance, with a longer runtime and a much shorter recharge time. It also performs better on bare floors and is more effective in dealing with debris in cracks and crevices when used with its Laser Slim floorhead. It weighs a little less, making it even easier to maneuver. The V12 also has an automatic power adjustment feature, which allows it to increase its suction mode on carpeting or when it detects a significant concentration of debris. That said, the V8 has a larger dirt compartment with over twice the capacity.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a little better than the Dyson V11, though they each have advantages. The V12 performs better on bare floors with its soft roller head, clears more pet hair on upholstered surfaces, charges faster while offering similar battery life, and has a lighter construction that's easier to maneuver. Its particle counter could also be handy if you suffer from allergies and want to know about the concentration of fine particles in your home. However, the V11 does a better job cleaning low-pile carpeting and features a larger dustbin that won't need emptying as often.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is better than the Dyson Cyclone V10. The V12 has a far more advanced power adjustment function, as it can automatically increase its suction setting when used on carpet or when it detects an area with a high concentration of debris. It also performs slightly better on bare floors, clears away more pet hair on upholstered surfaces, and weighs less, making it easier to maneuver. That said, the V10 does a better job on low-pile carpet and has a bigger dirt compartment that won't need emptying as often.
The Samsung Jet 90 Complete and Dyson V12 Detect Slim are somewhat evenly-matched cordless stick vacuums with differing strengths. The Samsung has a much bigger dirt compartment and a stronger suction motor that allows it to clear away debris on carpets and in crevices more effectively. It can also be bundled with a dedicated mopping floorhead to scrub away dried-on stains. However, the Dyson is smaller and lighter, making it easier to maneuver. It also has a more effective turbo brush attachment, while its automatic power adjustment capability allows it to change its suction power on carpeted floors or whenever it detects an area with a high concentration of debris.
The Samsung Jet 70 and Dyson V12 Detect Slim each have advantages, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Dyson vacuum's automatic power adjustment capability allows it to change its suction power on carpeted surfaces or whenever it detects an area with a high concentration of debris. It also weighs a little less and has longer battery life. The Samsung has a bigger dirt compartment, makes less noise, and delivers better performance on carpeted floors.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet is slightly better than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. The Samsung delivers superior performance on carpeted floors, feels noticeably better-built, has a larger dustbin, and comes with two batteries, giving it a total runtime almost twice that of the Dyson. It also comes bundled with a Cleaning Station accessory, which sucks debris from its dustbin into an external dirtbag inside its charging dock. Conversely, the Dyson is lighter, takes up less space, is much easier to maneuver, and performs better on bare floors.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is slightly better than the Miele Triflex HX1 for most uses. The Dyson is lighter, easier to store, and delivers significantly better overall battery life, as it can run for almost twice as long in its most energy-efficient mode while taking much less time to recharge. The Dyson also comes with a wider array of attachments, including a turbo brush that does a better job cleaning pet hair on furniture than the Miele's upholstery tool. The Miele feels better built and has a larger-capacity dirt compartment.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is better than the Dyson V7. The V12 has a far more powerful suction motor and delivers correspondingly stronger performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. The V12 is also easier to maneuver, comes with more attachments, has fewer parts needing to be cleaned periodically, and has longer overall battery life. Unlike the V7, it can also automatically increase its suction power on carpets or whenever it encounters an area with a high concentration of debris. Conversely, the V7 has a larger dirt compartment.
The Shark Stratos Cordless and Dyson V12 Detect Slim each have advantages. The Dyson is easier to maintain, comes with a storage rack and an onboard tool clip, takes much less time to recharge, weighs less, and has a wider array of attachments. It also features an allergen detection system. On the other hand, the Shark feels sturdier, has a larger dustbin, and delivers better performance on carpeted floors.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim and LG CordZero A9 each have their own advantages. The Dyson weighs less, is easier to maneuver, and has a particle sensor. Conversely, the LG does a better job on carpets, has a larger dustbin, can be bundled with two batteries, and is a little quieter.
The Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute and Dyson V12 Detect Slim each have their own advantages. The Gen5Detect has a more powerful suction motor and a higher-capacity dustbin, not to mention a built-in crevice tool/dusting brush. In contrast, the V12 is a significantly lighter, more maneuverable option, making it a better fit for cleaning smaller spaces.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is considerably better than the Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner. The Dyson is easier to maintain, has a longer battery life, takes less time to recharge, and comes with a much wider array of attachments. It also has a broad spread of convenience features, with automatic power adjustment capability and an onboard particle sensor. However, the Xiaomi is lighter and feels a little sturdier overall.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a far more versatile vacuum than the Dyson Omni-Glide. The V12 is easier to clean, has a larger dirt compartment, and can be used to clean carpeted surfaces, unlike the Omni-Glide, thanks to its more powerful suction motor and included multi-surface floorhead. It also has a surface detection system that lets it automatically adjust its suction power on carpeted surfaces or whenever it identifies an area with a high concentration of debris. However, the Omni-Glide is smaller and lighter.
Test Results
The Dyson V12 Detect feels reasonably robust. Its body is made mainly from polycarbonate plastic, similar to most other Dyson vacuums, though its wand is made of a thinner gauge of metal, meaning you can dent it during normal use. Small, gritty debris can also get wedged in its floorhead's wheels, causing them to lock up over time.
Thankfully, this vacuum is remarkably easy to take apart and reassemble, thanks to the prevalence of easy-clip mechanisms.
The Dyson V12 Detect is pretty easy to maintain.
- Dirt compartment/Lint screen: The dirt compartment is connected to the main body of the vacuum. You can empty it by pressing the release button, but you need to remove its wand before doing so. You can also unlatch it from the main body by pressing the red release button on the spine of the main body to clean the lint screen, which you should wipe periodically with a damp cloth to clear any stuck on-debris.
- Laser Slim Fluffy Head: You can rotate the indentation on the left side of the floorhead to release the fluffy brush roll from its housing. You should regularly clean it under cold water when needed, but you remove the bearings inside first. You can wipe down the laser sensor lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth periodically, too.
- Motorbar Cleaner head You can access the brushroll by using a coin to remove the cover on the side of the motorized vacuum head and then sliding the part out, then clear any stuck-on debris by hand and remove hair wraps with a pair of scissors. Its brushroll is designed differently than the one found in the Dyson V15 Detect's motorized brush head; it has larger, closer-spaced detangling vanes, reducing hair buildup and making it easier to clean.
- HEPA Filter: The filter is placed near the top of the vacuum and can be removed by twisting it counterclockwise to release it from its housing. You should wash it under cold water at least once a month or whenever the maintenance light indicates that it needs cleaning. Be aware that the vacuum doesn't turn on if the HEPA filter isn't mounted in place.
Any parts that you wash under water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before being used again.
The Dyson V12 Slim incurs practically no recurring costs. As long as you regularly clean its HEPA filter, it won't need replacing. At present, you can't purchase a replacement filter from Dyson's US website, though they are for sale on the New Zealand site.
Note: While they aren't a traditional consumable product for most vacuums, the V12's floorhead wheels aren't the most durable and can start to wear out with prolonged exposure to grit and dirt, which is further exacerbated when using the vacuum on more abrasive surfaces. Thankfully, you can buy replacement wheels here.
The Dyson V12 is pretty easy to store. It takes up roughly the same amount of space as the Dyson V15 Detect, and it comes with a wall-mounted charging rack with room for two tools.
The Dyson V12 Slim has a somewhat small dirt compartment. It's larger than that of the Dyson Micro 1.5kg, but not by much, and its overall capacity is roughly only a third of most conventional stick vacuums, like the Samsung Jet 70.
- Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute vacuum
- Dyson V12 Slim vacuum body/dirt compartment
- Dirt compartment cover
- HEPA filter
- Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ vacuum head
- Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ vacuum head brushroll
- Wand
- 1x Battery
- User Guide+Warranty Card
- Various tools and brushes
- Motorbar Cleaner Headâ„¢
- Motorbar Cleaner Headâ„¢ brushroll
- Soft bristle brush
- Stiff bristle brush
- Upholstery brush/Hard bristle brush combination tool
- Hair Screw Toolâ„¢
- Hair Screw Toolâ„¢ brushroll
- Crevice tool
- Wand clip
- Docking station
- Wall mount
- Nails
- Power adapter
The Dyson V12's range is limited only by the remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.
The Dyson V12 Slim is impressively portable. It's lighter than most cordless stick vacuums, including older models like the Dyson V8. If you're looking for something even lighter, consider the Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Light.
The Dyson V12 offers decent battery performance. It can run for more than an hour in its most energy-efficient mode, which is plenty of time to spot-clean lightweight debris and is in line with the advertised maximum runtime of an hour. In its most powerful 'Boost' mode, this drops to a little under 10 minutes, which doesn't give you a lot of time to deal with stubborn messes, but this is in line with most other vacuums of this type. Its runtime in its default 'Auto' mode can vary drastically, as the vacuum will automatically increase its power level when running on carpets or when it encounters high concentrations of debris.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim has a couple of quality-of-life features. It has a small, circular LCD at the back of the body that shows you a real-time estimate of the amount of debris being sucked into the vacuum, separated into bar graphs by size. You can toggle between the three selectable power modes using the small silver button just underneath the screen: the energy-efficient 'Eco' mode, the high-suction 'Boost' mode, and 'Auto' mode, which automatically increases suction power when you're cleaning carpet or when the vacuum is passed over areas with high concentrations of dirt and debris. Unlike many conventional stick vacuums, it has a large power button to turn the vacuum on and off instead of a handle-mounted trigger switch, reducing finger strain during longer cleaning sessions.
The Dyson V12 comes with a pretty wide arrangement of tools and accessories. Its Laser Slim Fluffy Brush has a laser light that helps you better see small debris on hard surfaces. It also comes with an upholstery tool with a slide-off soft-bristle brush for cleaning delicate surfaces, not to mention a crevice tool for tackling debris in tight spots. You can attach any one of its tools to the base of its wand for a bit of added reach.
Note: Despite their similar overall designs, the attachments bundled with the Dyson V15 Detect aren't compatible with the Dyson V12, with slightly differently-shaped connection points, as seen here and here.
You can use the Dyson V12 as a handheld vacuum by removing its wand and floorhead.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim delivers exceptional performance on bare floors when used with its fluffy floorhead. It clears away small and bulky debris, like rice or cereal, without difficulty.
The Dyson V12 delivers decent performance on low-pile carpet when used in its 'Auto' power mode with its Motorbar floorhead. It clears the majority of fine debris like baking soda and larger debris like sand, but you'll probably need to make an extra pass to clean everything.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim performs impressively well on high-pile carpet when used in its 'Auto' power mode with its Motorbar floorhead. It's very effective in dealing with finer debris like baking soda but has a slightly harder time with bigger debris like sand than more powerful models like the Dyson V15 Detect.
The Dyson V12 Detect does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair. It easily clears away pet hair on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet.
The Dyson V12 has good suction power. The manufacturer advertises its suction motor as being able to produce 150 AW of power, similar to the mid-range Samsung Jet 70's claimed power figure, but falls some way short of the Dyson V15 Detect, which produces a maximum of 230 AW of power. Even when using similarly-designed, but not identical, Laser Slim floorheads, the V15 exerts roughly twice as much suction force at its floorhead, resulting in superior deep-cleaning capability.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is pretty quiet. It makes a high-pitched noise when running that's sufficient to mask the sound of nearby conversation, but using it in an enclosed room does help block out most of the noise. While switching to its soft-roller Laser Slim floorhead does little to decrease noise levels, using it in its energy-efficient 'Eco' mode drops noise levels by a considerable degree.
The Dyson V12 Detect is impressively maneuverable. Its lightweight construction makes it easy to pick up and carry over obstacles like power cords or to navigate cluttered environments. Since you don't need to hold down a trigger to keep the motor running, you won't strain your finger during longer cleaning sessions. Its lower suction force than the Dyson V15 Detect makes it easier to maneuver on thick carpeting, as you can push it forward without dragging rugs around. Still, pulling the vacuum toward you while cleaning is likely to cause it to get stuck on shag-pile rugs.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim does an excellent job of dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces when used with its Hair Screw tool. The tool resists tangles very well and collects pet hair, even shorter strands, without too much trouble. Its considerably smaller size and lighter weight than the Dyson V15 Detect make it much easier to maneuver on furniture.
The Dyson V12 has good air filtration performance. The manufacturer advertises its fully allergen-sealed construction as being able to seal in 99.99% of particles measuring as small as 0.3 microns.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim does a great job of cleaning cracks and crevices. While it uses a less powerful motor than the Dyson V15 Detect, it's similarly effective in lifting debris from shallow and medium-depth cracks and crevices when used with its Laser Slim floorhead, which can generate a reasonably tight seal against the contact surface. Another point in its favor compared to the V15 is its dirt detection capability. It allows it to ramp up its suction power when using it in its 'Auto' setting if there's a higher concentration of debris on the ground, so you don't have to manually adjust its power mode when running over cracks. Still, if you want to clear away every last trace of debris in deeper crevices, bump it up to its high-output 'Boost' mode and attach its crevice tool.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim does a terrible job of scrubbing away stains on bare floors when used with its Laser Slim floorhead.
