The Dyson Outsize is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum. It does an outstanding job of cleaning pet hair from many surface types, though it can struggle with small, fine debris on low-pile carpet. It also comes with a wide selection of tools and accessories, features a second battery that can extend its total runtime, and has a large dirt compartment that shouldn't need emptying very often. Unfortunately, its high suction force makes it a challenge to maneuver on high-pile carpet, and its plasticky construction is somewhat disappointing at this price point.
Our Verdict
The Dyson Outsize is great for bare floors. It easily clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris without an issue. The vacuum itself feels rather plasticky, and there are quite a few parts that require regular maintenance, but as long as its allergen-trapping HEPA filter is regularly maintained, you shouldn't need to worry about recurring costs. It also features a docking station to hold it in place and comes with a wand clip to hold two additional tools, so it isn't too much of a hassle to store. However, it is a bit of a hassle to maneuver under low-lying furniture.
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Long total battery life.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize is a satisfactory option for cleaning low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair and larger material like sand without difficulty but struggles quite a bit with finer debris such as baking soda on this surface type. Its large dirt compartment shouldn't need emptying very often, while its bagless design and washable filter result in a near-total absence of recurring costs. Unfortunately, there are quite a few parts that need regular cleaning, and the vacuum's primarily plastic construction doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Long total battery life.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Struggles with small, fine debris.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize does a very good job of cleaning high-pile carpet, but unfortunately, its high suction force can make it difficult to maneuver on this surface type. Thankfully, it sucks up pet hair and clears an impressive amount of both fine and large debris, like baking soda or sand. Thanks to the included second battery, its total runtime should be sufficient for cleaning most large spaces without too much difficulty.
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Long total battery life.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Very hard to maneuver on high-pile carpet.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize is excellent for cleaning up after your pets. It does an exceptional job of sucking up pet hair on a wide variety of surface types. Most of its included tools feature removable brushrolls, making it easier to clear hair wraps, including its conical turbo brush that's well suited to cleaning pet hair from upholstered surfaces. It also has a washable HEPA filter that traps allergens as you clean.
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Wide selection of tools and accessories.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Superb pet hair cleaning performance.
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Allergen-trapping HEPA filter.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize is amazing for cleaning messes on stairs. It's heavier and bulkier than most other stick vacuums, though its cordless design and long total battery life should allow you to clean large staircases with little difficulty. Its large dirt compartment should also ensure that you don't need to empty it midway through a cleaning session. Unfortunately, its plastic construction doesn't feel especially robust.
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Long total battery life.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Portable handheld configuration.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize is a great option for cleaning the inside of your car. Despite being relatively bulky and heavy, you can still use it in its handheld configuration to clean hard-to-reach areas. It comes with a wide selection of tools and accessories, including a turbo brush to clean debris from automotive upholstery and a crevice tool to clear messes in tight spots.
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Wide selection of tools and accessories.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Portable handheld configuration.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
The Dyson Outsize is mediocre for workshop cleaning, though this isn't what it's designed for. It's more than powerful enough to tackle all kinds of household debris, but you can't use it to clean up liquid spills, and using it to suck up material like wood or metal shavings is likely to result in damage.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Plasticky construction.
- 8.4 Bare Floor
- 7.8 Low-Pile Carpet
- 8.1 High-Pile Carpet
- 7.9 Pets
- 8.7 Stairs
- 8.1 Cars
- 6.2 Workshop
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: Added a link to the Dyson Gen5outsize/Gen5outsize Absolute in the Suction box.
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.0 and Test Bench 1.2.
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
- Updated May 02, 2023: Added Outsize Extra variant to the 'Differences Between Variants' section of the review.
- Updated Nov 17, 2022: We've changed the full product name to 'Dyson Outsize' in order for the review to encompass all model variants.
- 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 Jul 28, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Apr 21, 2022: Retested 'Bare Floor' performance with Slim Fluffy Brush floorhead and updated the corresponding text to reflect improved performance on this surface type.
- Updated Mar 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Apr 23, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 20, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 13, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 08, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 01, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
There are a few variants of the Dyson Outsize. We tested the Absolute+ variant, and you can see its label here. They vary in terms of included equipment, but we expect the other variant of this vacuum to perform similarly overall when using common attachments.
| Model Name | Tools Included | Wand Color | Notes |
| Dyson Outsize | High Torque XL cleaner head, Hair screw tool, hard bristle brush, wand clip, soft dusting brush, combination tool, crevice tool, docking station, 2x batteries, and 2x chargers | Nickel | |
| Dyson V11 Outsize | High Torque cleaner head, extension hose, wand clip, mini turbo brush, combination tool, crevice tool, Quick-release flexi crevice tool docking station, 2x batteries, and 2x chargers | Nickel/Red | Only available in some markets. |
| Dyson Outsize Extra | Digital Motorbar XL cleaner head, ​Light pipe crevice tool, Reach under tool, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, 1x battery, and 1x charger | Nickel | Only available from Costco retailers |
| Dyson Outsize Absolute+ | Laser Slim Fluffy™ cleaner head, High Torque XL cleaner head, Hair screw tool, hard bristle brush, wand clip, soft dusting brush, combination tool, crevice tool, docking station, 2x batteries, and 2x chargers | Gold |
If you come across another variant of this vacuum, let us in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Dyson Outsize is a full-featured cordless stick/handheld vacuum. It comes with a wide variety of tools and accessories and has a larger dirt compartment than many other alternatives, like the Dyson Cyclone V10, but it's also heavier and more difficult to maneuver.
If you're looking for alternatives, check out our list of recommendations of the best cordless stick vacuums, the best cordless vacuums for pet hair, and the best multi-surface vacuum cleaners.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Dyson Outsize. The V15 is easier to store, easier to maneuver, and delivers superior cleaning performance on low and high-pile carpet. The Outsize has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need emptying as often. It comes with an extra battery, which extends its total runtime and allows you to keep cleaning for longer.
The Dyson V11 is a little more versatile than the Dyson Outsize. The V11 is easier to maintain and maneuver, slightly more portable, and delivers superior performance on low-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Outsize has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often and has a longer total runtime thanks to its extra battery. It also comes with a larger selection of tools and accessories.
The Dyson V8 is slightly better than the Dyson Outsize. The V8 has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, is notably lighter and easier to maneuver, and delivers better performance on low-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Outsize has a larger dirt compartment that won't need emptying as often, comes with more tools and accessories, including a wand clip, and performs better on high-pile carpet. It also comes with a second battery, allowing you to quickly swap one out if you run out of charge and virtually doubling the vacuum's total runtime.
The Dyson Cyclone V10 and Dyson Outsize each have their advantages, meaning one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The V10 is noticeably lighter, more maneuverable, and delivers superior performance on low-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Outsize has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often and has a longer total battery life thanks to its included second battery. It also has a docking station with room for two accessories and a wand clip that can hold two additional tools, which makes it a bit easier to store.
The Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute is better than the Dyson Outsize. The Gen5Detect is smaller and more maneuverable, especially when using the vacuum in its handheld configuration. The Gen5Detect also comes bundled with newer iterations of both their multi-surface and soft-roller floorheads—the latter has built-in vanes to trap hair, while the latter has an integrated light to help see fine debris on hard floors. The Gen5Detect also features a particle detection system, which can be handy for monitoring allergen quantities inside your home. Conversely, the Outsize has a higher-capacity dustbin and comes bundled with a pair of batteries to extend its overall runtime.
The Dyson Outsize and Dyson Ball Animal 3 are differently-designed vacuums with different intended uses. The Outsize is a cordless vacuum with a large dustbin meant to bridge the gap between a more maneuverable cordless stick vacuum and a traditional upright with a higher overall debris capacity. It's easier to store and carry around than the Ball Animal, and it features a larger dustbin. Since it comes with two batteries, you can continue using the Outsize for quite a while without running out of charge, though the Ball Animal is still a better fit for long cleaning sessions thanks to its corded design. The Ball Animal also delivers significantly stronger performance on carpeted floors, even if it lacks the Outsize's automatic power adjustment capability.
The Samsung Jet 90 Complete is better for most use cases than the Dyson Outsize. The Samsung is more portable, easier to maneuver, and delivers superior performance on low and high-pile carpet. However, the Dyson has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often, incurs virtually no costs, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and has a longer total runtime by virtue of its included second battery.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 and Dyson Outsize are differently designed vacuums that suit different uses. The Ball Animal 2 is a corded upright vacuum that delivers better performance on low and high-pile carpet. It's also easier to maintain and has a virtually unlimited runtime courtesy of its corded design, though the Outsize has a long overall battery life if you keep its second battery charged. The Outsize feels slightly better built, is easier to store, has a larger dirt compartment, and has a virtually unlimited range. Both vacuums are hard to maneuver on high-pile carpet due to their high suction force.
The Dyson Outsize and Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight each have advantages, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Dyson incurs virtually no recurring costs, has a much larger dustbin, and comes with two batteries, allowing you to keep one charged while using the other, resulting in a much longer maximum runtime. The Dyson also has a wider assortment of attachments, including a miniature turbo brush. However, the Shark clears more debris on high-pile carpet, is considerably easier to maneuver, feels better-built, and has fewer parts that need regular cleaning.
The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a slightly more versatile cordless stick/handheld vacuum than the Dyson Outsize. The Shark feels slightly better-built, less demanding in terms of maintenance, and maneuvers easily because of its lighter design. It also delivers better performance on low-pile carpet. Conversely, the Dyson has a longer total runtime thanks to its second battery, a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often, and incurs virtually no recurring costs.
The Miele Triflex HX1 is a better vacuum than the Dyson Outsize. The Miele is better-built, less demanding in terms of maintenance, offers superior performance on low-pile carpet, and is easier to maneuver. It also has a unique three-in-one design that makes it a little more versatile. Meanwhile, the Dyson has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often and comes with more tools and brushes, not to mention a second battery, which gives it a significantly longer total runtime.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet is better than the Dyson Outsize. The Samsung weighs less, feels sturdier, and performs noticeably better on carpeted floors. Its turbo brush attachment is also far more effective for dealing with pet hair on furniture. The Samsung also comes with an accessory rack that allows you to charge both its batteries at the same time, and while it does have a smaller dustbin than the Dyson, the Cleaning Station accessory lets you empty the Bespoke Jet's dirt compartment quickly and hygienically. However, the Dyson does do a better job clearing away debris on bare floors and in cracks and crevices when used with its fluffy floorhead.
Test Results
The Dyson Outsize is reasonably well-built. It looks fairly premium, with easily accessible controls on top of the vacuum and a prominent display screen on top of the body that displays maintenance alerts, estimated battery life, and the current power mode. There's also a rubber strip near the top of the vacuum that lets you rest it against a wall so that it doesn't slip and fall over. Unfortunately, the vacuum's primarily plastic construction isn't especially robust. While its clear plastic dirt compartment gives you a rough estimate of remaining capacity, it also feels very fragile and could crack if you drop it. The vacuum's wheels are made of plastic, not denser rubber. Thankfully, the vacuum itself is very easy to put together or reconfigure thanks to the easy-clip mechanisms, with assembly being a quick process.
The Dyson Outsize is unremarkable in terms of ease of maintenance. There are quite a few parts that require regular maintenance, but they're all easy to access.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment is connected to the main body of the vacuum and can open by pulling the red release valve on its top surface to drop collected debris into a trash can when needed. If you're looking for a stick vacuum that has a self-emptying function to reduce hands-on maintenance requirements, you could consider the Samsung Bespoke Jet.
- High torque brushroll: Pressing the red release button on the side of the vacuum head allows you to slide out the brushroll. You can remove hair wraps as necessary, though you should clean it with cold water frequently.
- Fluffy brushroll: Similar to the High Torque main brushroll, you can press the red button on the side of the vacuum head to slide the brush roll from its housing. It too should be regularly cleaned under cold water. You should wipe off the laser sensor lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth.
- Turbo brushroll: The turbo brushroll can be removed by pressing the release button on the side of the vacuum head. You should clean it under cold water.
- Filter: The filter is placed near the vacuum exhaust and is removed by twisting it counterclockwise to release it from its housing. It should be washed under cold water at least once a month or whenever the maintenance light indicates that it needs cleaning.
All parts that can be washed under cold water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before being re-inserted.
The Dyson Outsize has virtually no recurring costs. As long as its main filter is regularly maintained, it shouldn't need replacing. That said, you can buy a replacement unit from the manufacturer's website.
The Dyson Outsize is impressively easy to store. It comes with a wand clip that allows for on-board storage of two tools and also has a wall-mounted docking station with slots for two other additional accessories.
The Dyson Outsize's dirt compartment is very spacious. It's significantly larger than that of other stick vacuums like the Dyson V11 and shouldn't need to be emptied very often. It's made of clear plastic, too, so you know how close it is to max capacity at all times.
- Dyson Outsize vacuum
- Vacuum body/Dirt compartment
- Post-motor HEPA filter
- Main High Torque Brush vacuum head
- Main High Torque Brush vacuum brushroll
- Wand
- 2x Batteries
- User Guide
- Various tools and brushes
- Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ tool
- Soft dusting brush
- Stubborn dirt brush
- Upholstery brush/Hard bristle brush combination tool
- Hair screw turbo brush
- Crevice tool
- Wand clip
- Docking station
- Docking station
- Installation manual with mounting screws
- 2x chargers
The Dyson Outsize has an effectively unlimited range as long as it has sufficient battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.
The Dyson Outsize is decently portable. It's a little heavier than the Dyson V11 and doesn't feel as light in your hand, but its integrated carrying handle makes it reasonably easy to pick up and move. If you'd prefer a more portable vacuum, check out the Dyson Micro 1.5kg.
The Dyson Outsize delivers impressive battery life. Since it comes with two batteries, you can quickly and easily swap one out for a charged unit. Using two fully charged batteries results in more than two and a half hours of runtime in its energy-efficient 'Eco' mode, which should be more than enough for cleaning most large spaces. Using its more powerful 'Boost' mode drops its total runtime to just under 20 minutes, though that should be sufficient for dealing with smaller, more stubborn messes.
The Dyson Outsize has a couple of quality of life features. Using the vacuum's 'Auto' mode automatically adjusts the vacuum's suction to different surface types, though you still need to rotate the gate on its head to fully accommodate different surfaces. Its main vacuum head also rotates to make it easier to navigate in cluttered environments.
The Dyson Outsize comes with a broad selection of tools and accessories. It has a few unique tools, including its conical hair screw turbo brush, which cleans pet hair from different surfaces. It also has a Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ tool to help see small particles from bare floors. The combination tool is for cleaning messes on upholstery and features an all-surface dusting brush. There's also a brush with very hard bristles for dislodging especially stubborn dirt, and another with softer bristles for dusting off delicate surfaces. You can also use its crevice tool to tackle messes in tight spots. While it doesn't have a dedicated extension wand, all of the included accessories can fit the main wand to help you clean hard-to-reach places.
The Dyson Outsize can be used as a rather bulky handheld vacuum by removing its main wand and fitting the tool of your choice in its place.
The Dyson Outsize offers fantastic performance on bare floors. When used with its Laser Slim Fluffy floorhead, it easily clears pet hair and small debris like rice and bulkier material, like cereal. Sucking up large piles of bulky debris can clog the somewhat narrow entry to its dustbin, as seen here, so it's best to avoid vacuuming big clumps large of debris all at once. Suction performance remains very consistent even as its dirt compartment fills up.
The Dyson Outsize delivers satisfactory performance on low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair without difficulty and does a great job of sucking up larger material like sand when using its High Torque Brush floorhead. However, it struggles somewhat when it comes to small, fine debris like baking soda, though suction performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up.
The Dyson Outsize clears an impressive amount of debris from high-pile carpet. When using its High Torque Brush floorhead, it sucks up pet hair without any difficulty and does a great job of sucking up small and large debris, like baking soda and sand, though it may take an extra pass to clear everything.
Note: This vacuum's suction force is very strong, to the point where it's very difficult to use or even move around, so it isn't recommended for cleaning this surface type. It occasionally picked up and dragged high-pile rugs in testing.
This vacuum does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on a variety of surface types, from bare floors to low and high-pile carpet. The brushrolls in both its Laser Slim Fluffy floorhead and multi-surface floorhead are easy to remove and clean by hand.
This vacuum has good suction power. It's advertised as using the same 185AW suction motor as the Dyson V11. While it can't compete with some newer Dyson models, it's still capable of generating good sealing performance on a variety of surface types, helping to suck up debris wedged deep within crevices. If you want a similar vacuum with an even stronger suction force, check out the Dyson Gen5outsize/Gen5outsize Absolute.
The Dyson Outsize delivers good airflow performance. It gets pretty close to the Dyson V15 Detect in this regard, the latter being one of the more potent cordless models on the market. It won't have any trouble dealing with most kinds of household debris.
This vacuum isn't too loud. It makes a slightly less high-pitched noise than the Dyson V8, which won't be especially noticeable if you run the vacuum in an enclosed room.
The Dyson Outsize is decently maneuverable. It's heavier and bulkier than other Dyson stick vacuums, like the Dyson V8, which makes it a little harder to move around, though it can still navigate fairly cramped spaces. Since its handle is underneath the main body of the vacuum, you need to crouch very low to the ground to thoroughly clean under couches, tables, and other low-lying furniture. The vacuum itself is also a little on the tall side, so shorter users may find themselves lifting their shoulders when cleaning close to themselves. Cleaning on top of furniture is a little easier, though its bulky size can make it a challenge for some to carry handheld for extended periods. Unfortunately, due to its very high suction force, it's difficult to push around on high-pile carpets and can even drag them around if you don't stand on them to keep them in place.
The Dyson Outsize does a good job of handling pet hair on upholstered surfaces when used with its turbo brush attachment. It clears long strands of hair without too much difficulty but leaves some shorter strands on the very edges of the path of its tool. Its bulky form factor makes it very awkward to use as a handheld vacuum.
The Dyson Outsize has good air filtration performance. Like most of Dyson's other vacuums, the manufacturer advertises its whole machine filtration system as able to trap 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in size, which falls in line with HEPA standards.
This vacuum does an excellent job of clearing away debris in crevices. Its relatively powerful suction motor, combined with the fact that its fluffy roller floorhead generates a tight seal with hard floors, enables it to clear away debris in both shallow and deep cracks.
This vacuum does a terrible job of scrubbing away stains on bare floors when used with its Laser Slim floorhead, which isn't surprising since this isn't what it's intended for.
This vacuum can't be used to clean liquid spills.