Dyson sent a new complete V11 outsize and so far, this one has been working with no problems. I have owned three Dyson, my first in 2006, which is still running perfectly. Just not getting caught on things and not stepping on cord is worth it.
We’ve found that a headlight really helps with the flour pickup in this test, as well as with other dusty debris and hair in general, simply because we can see it, so we’re less likely to accidentally skip over it. You should also expect a cordless vacuum to last about half as long as a comparable plug-in vacuum. There’s a growing body of evidence that a notable percentage of battery packs in vacuums go bad after just a few years, if not sooner.
The LED display at the back of its body allows you to monitor the remaining battery life, so you’ll know when it’s time to charge it. Shark vacuums do well in GH Cleaning Lab tests and have proven to be good performers at a great price. We tested a previous Rocket stick model that was very similar in design to this pick and we found it had good suction, was lightweight and shark cordless easy to maneuver and thanks to its long cord, offered non-stop cleaning. Like virtually all stick vacuums, this model has a motorized floor nozzle with a rotating brush that cleans both bare floors and carpet and converts to a handheld vacuum. Dyson is synonymous with vacuum cleaners, so if you don’t own a vacuum from the praise-worthy brand, consider this your sign.
Move the power unit — and the weight — down by the nozzle and it’s now easier to push and maneuver across bare floors, areas rugs, and carpets. Finally, detach the power unit completely and use it as a handheld for stairs. For an upright vacuum that works well on carpets and bare floors, look no further than the Shark NV151 Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum.
Even still, our tester gives this Navigator model a 4.5-star rating for maneuverability and comments positively on the swivel steering. This type of steering will give you easier access to corners, and makes this pick a bit more pleasurable to use. Capture dry debris and spiff up your hard floors with a multi-purpose vacuum like the Shark VACMOP. It is designed for use on sealed hardwood, tile, or laminate floors, and glides effortlessly on them all. A tank for Shark cleaning solution, which is included in your purchase, is built into its body. The floor head uses replaceable mop pads that include a unique chamber for collecting debris, and features an easy-release button so you don’t have to touch the dirty pad when your cleaning session is done, too. My toddler makes crumby messes, one day I gave in and bought this Shark, I am so glad I did.
Another difference between the Dysons and Sharks is whether they have a trigger or on/off toggle switch. Dysons have a trigger that you have to hold down with your trigger finger the entire time you’re vacuuming. They do this as a way to conserve battery power and it does come in handy when you mistakenly suck up the edge of a rug as it’s a lot faster to release the trigger than to flip a switch to turn the vacuum off.
Shark don’t really talk much about this in their marketing, but the suction didn’t dissipate much when the battery was running low, so that’s a huge bonus. Unfortunately, this vacuum has a very short runtime of just over 10 minutes, so you’ll need to work fast when cleaning bigger messes. It also doesn’t have a HEPA filter and does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles, so it isn’t the best option if you suffer from allergies. If that’s a concern, you could consider the Shark ION W1 WANDVAC, which has an onboard HEPA filter to trap allergens like pet dander, making it one of the best Shark vacuums for pet hair that we’ve tested.
A. Cordless vacuums aren’t always as powerful as corded models, but it’s still possible to replace a corded vacuum with a corded one. Rather than having built-in batteries, most cordless Shark vacuum cleaners have removable batteries. This lets you buy a spare to switch out with your main battery if it runs out mid-clean. The battery life of Shark vacuums ranges from around 40 minutes on the low end to 120 minutes on the high end.