This is the English edition of a video from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
After five or six years, the cleaner head on my Dyson Digital Slim started clattering against the floor and stopped gliding. The felt strips on the underside had worn flat, and one had come off. Replacing just the felt with an inexpensive aftermarket kit fixed it, for a fraction of the cost of a new head.
What I tried
| Option | Cost (as mentioned in the video) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Genuine replacement head | around 20,000 yen | works, but expensive when the rest is fine |
| Aftermarket head from Amazon Japan | around 4,000 yen | poor quality, not worth recommending |
| Replace only the felt strips | about 700 to 800 yen | the fix I recommend |
What I found
You need to open the head. The felt wraps around to the inside, so simply sticking a new strip on top will likely peel off. On the Digital Slim the screws are Torx (star) screws; many felt kits include a driver, but not all.
The steps: remove the head, undo the Torx screws, pull out the old felt, peel off the old adhesive, wipe the surface (alcohol helps), cut the new felt to length, tuck the ends inside and reassemble. Taking it apart was easy, and so was putting it back together.
Watch out for small parts. I lost a tiny roller during reassembly. Some plastic clips were also cracked from normal use, and there was a lot of dust inside, so it is a good chance to clean.
The result was immediate. The head slid smoothly on the felt again and the clattering stopped. The aftermarket felt fit perfectly, and the kit had enough material for about three replacements.
Who it is for
- Dyson stick vacuum owners whose head clatters or drags but otherwise works
- Anyone comfortable undoing a few screws
- Not for people who want a no-tools fix
Watch the video
The video is in Japanese, but the steps are easy to follow visually. Useful chapters: 01:49 taking the head apart, 02:50 removing the old adhesive, 03:24 fitting the new felt, 05:39 floor test.
Limitations
This was done on my own Dyson Digital Slim head. Felt kits come in different lengths and widths for different heads, so check that the kit matches yours. The exact kit I used was sold out, so the link below is a similar one.
Products
Felt strip replacement kit for Dyson cleaner heads (aftermarket): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan link above is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Home & Everyday (29) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.