Does Dyson Scratch Hardwood Floors? (Read This First)

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Out of the many types of flooring in the market, hardwood is among the most expensive ones according to Forbes. The last thing you want to do is to scratch it. And so, when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors, most homeowners wonder if a Dyson scratches hardwood floors or not.

Most Dyson cordless stick vacuums do not scratch hardwood floors as long as you use the soft roller cleaner head. This particular tool is designed to effortlessly glide through hardwood floors while sucking up dirt and debris without scratching the wood and oil finish.

That said, there are several Dyson stick vacuums to consider. In this post, we will take a look at each Dyson vacuum including the V6, V7, V8, V10, and V11 to find out whether they scratch hardwood floors or not.

If you’re in the market looking for a Dyson that is safe for wooden floors, why not check out the list of the Best Dyson for hardwood floors? We’ve gathered the top 4 products that are perfectly safe for your expensive hardwood floors.

Does Dyson V6 scratch hardwood floors?

The standard floor attachment that comes with the Dyson V6 Animal and Motorhead (direct-drive cleaner head) will most definitely scratch your hardwood floor.

The Dyson V6 was fine at first but after a few months, it leaves faint scratch marks on dark hardwood floors. It appears to be the large wheels at the back that scratch when you pivot the head.

Only the Dyson V6 Absolute won’t scratch hardwood floors. It comes with the soft roller cleaner head. Instead of bristles, the soft roller cleaner head uses a soft velvety roller that will not scratch wooden floors.

As long as you use the soft roller cleaner head designed for Dyson V6, it becomes one of the most maneuverable vacuum cleaners for quick cleans on hardwood floors. Glides effortlessly in all directions.

Dyson (210691-01) V6 Motorhead...
  • 75% more brush bar power than the V6 Cord free vacuum
  • Cord free; Hassle free
  • Up to 20 minutes of continuous suction; Trigger releases instantly; Battery power is only used for cleaning

Does Dyson V7 scratch hardwood floors?

The standard floor attachment that comes with the Dyson V7 Animal and Motorhead (direct-drive cleaner head) will most definitely scratch your hardwood floor.

The Dyson V7 rotating head doesn't scratch it, but the bottom of the stick somehow does. It’s not the head that scratches but the wheels on the back make scratches every time you pivot the head.

Only the Dyson V7 Absolute won’t scratch hardwood floors. It comes with the soft roller cleaner head. Instead of bristles, the soft roller cleaner head uses a soft velvety roller that will not scratch wooden floors.

Always use the soft roller cleaner head for hardwood floors. Every time I use the Dyson V7 Absolute with the soft roller cleaner head on, I am satisfied with the results and there are no scratches on my wood floors.

Dyson V7 Absolute Cordless Vacuum
  • Cord-Free. Hassle-Free. Powerful Suction
  • Whole machine HEPA filtration
  • Up to 30 minutes of run time

Does Dyson V8 scratch hardwood floors?

The standard floor attachment that comes with the Dyson V8 Animal and Motorhead (direct-drive cleaner head) will most definitely scratch your hardwood floor.

It works great at first, but after a few months, it leaves streaks when the 2 little wheels at the bottom of the head start to deteriorate. Additionally, a small particle that gets stuck to the roller of the has the potential to drag across the floor and scratch the wooden finish.

Only the Dyson V8 Absolute won’t scratch hardwood floors. It comes with the soft roller cleaner head. Instead of bristles, the soft roller cleaner head uses a soft velvety roller that will not scratch wooden floors.

If you’re considering the Dyson V8 to clean hardwood floors, please go for the Absolute, not the Animal or the Motorhead. The soft roller cleaner head is crucial for keeping your hardwood floors scratch-free.

Does Dyson V10 scratch hardwood floors?

Both the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal and the V10 Motorhead have the same torque drive cleaner head with a spinning brush bar. The head has strong pick-up performance across all surfaces.

However, the standard floor attachment that comes with the Dyson V10 Animal and V10 Motorhead (direct-drive cleaner head) will most definitely scratch your hardwood floor.

If you have hardwood floors, or a more delicate bare floor surface, you may appreciate the soft roller cleaner head of the Dyson V10 Absolute. This tool was engineered specifically for hardwood floors to prevent scratches because it is made of soft woven nylon and anti-static carbon fiber.

While you can certainly use both the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal and V10 Motorhead on bare floors, including hardwood floors, they work best on carpet as the bristles dig deeper into carpet to dislodge dirt.

Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead...
  • Upto 60 minutes run time when using a non motorized tool
  • Lightweight and versatile, to clean right through the home; Instant release trigger means battery power is only used while it’s cleaning; Requires...
  • Direct drive cleaner head: Our most powerful yet; Upto 20 minutes of fade free power (in Suction mode II); Drives stiff nylon bristles into carpets to...

Does Dyson V11 scratch hardwood floors?

Although all three of the Dyson V11 Animal, V11 Torque Drive, and V11 Outsize do not come with a separate floor tool for hardwood floors, they do not scratch hardwood floors. 

The Dyson V11 has a high torque cleaner head that features Dynamic Load Sensor technology. This means the head will intelligently adapt suction to deep clean your carpets, and extend the run time on hardwood floors. It is able to suck dirt from hardwood floors without scratching the surface.

This eliminates the need to swap heads when moving over various floor surfaces in your home.

Still, if you want to exclusively use your Dyson V11 on hardwood floors, you will have a better chance of cleaning them without scratches by using the soft roller cleaner head designed for Dyson V11.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless...
  • Dyson's most intelligent, powerful cordless vacuum. Twice the suction of any cordless vacuum.
  • Dyson technology helps create a cleaner, healthier home - Our vacuums and purifiers are scientifically proven to capture particles as small as allergens...
  • Engineered for whole-home, deep cleaning. Suction power, run time and tools designed to deep clean your whole home.

Bottom line

And there you have it, the complete answer to the question: does Dyson scratch hardwood floors? Between the Dyson V6, V7, V8, V10, and V11, the Absolute is the one you should go for because it comes with the soft roller cleaner head that will glide effortlessly on hardwood floors.

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