It can’t reach many awkward spots or get much hair off upholstery, but it still manages to capture most common household debris. If you need something straightforward for speedy cleanups, this affordable, cordless handheld vacuum will get the job done. As this is a cordless vacuum, the range is limited only by the remaining battery life and the room left in its dustbin. We run each vacuum in a straight line across three different surfaces (hardwood, low-pile carpet and midpile carpet). On all three test beds, the test area is 30.25 inches long.
The Shark WANDVAC System is a cordless vacuum and has an unlimited range as long as there’s room left in the dirt compartment and battery life remaining. Shark did, however, beat Dyson to the punch with automatic emptying — a wickedly-convenient maintenance feature shark handheld vacuum that has already become the norm with robot vacuums. Instead of having to manually empty your vacuum’s dust bin into the trash after every few cleans, the Shark Detect Pro empties whatever it just sucked up into a larger dust bin attached to the dock it charges on.
Its performance on all surface types outperforms the WANDVAC. However, the WANDVAC has virtually no recurring costs, and it’s easier to store. The Shark WANDVAC is a superb option for short cleanups on stairs. Its lightweight construction makes it easy to pick up and carry, while its cordless design ensures you don’t need to stay close to an electrical outlet when cleaning taller staircases.
It’s entirely made of sturdy plastic, but its wheels feel a bit flimsy. The clear-plastic dirt compartment feels like it could break if dropped. Luckily, its simple design makes it easy to assemble, and many parts can be removed with the push of a button. Mary H.J. Farrell is a senior editor at Consumer Reports whose real passion is for cooking and all that entails. She has expanded CR’s cookware category to include not only more pots and pans but also other essentials like stand mixer attachments, sheet pans, and vacuum sealers.
While these might be the highest rated, what you choose should fit your needs, so consider features such as Cordless, Made for Pet Hair and Bagless when making your selection. Prices and availability of products and services are subject to change without notice. Errors will be corrected where discovered, and Lowe’s reserves the right to revoke any stated offer and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions including after an order has been submitted.
We’ve done the research on products designed to save you time and money. How long, rounded to the nearest half-minute, the vacuum can run on one battery charge in its highest-power mode. We run tests in a straight line across all three floor types. If you have a lot of home to vacuum, you’ll want a model with good runtime. I use my Shark to spot vacuum rugs, corners of rooms, furniture, counter and tabletops, and lots of other little random nooks that seem to collect dust now and again.
It’s super light and easy to maneuver too, which is great for anyone suffering from strength or mobility issues. Pet owners and toddler wranglers will particularly love the quick and easy clean-ups. “A brush clogged with hair means the motor is going to draw a lot more juice out of the battery and really reduce the amount of time shark stick vacuum that you can get out of the vacuum,” Gasko explained. Check your vacuum’s owner manual for specific instructions on cleaning the filter, and do this task as often as the manual recommends (PDF). In all of our picks, the filters (PDF) are washable (PDF). “Remember that the motor is trying to draw air to breathe through the filter.