If you think a blog post about a vacuum is boring then remember I have also written a blog post about a bin in the past. Maybe read both and decide what levels of excitement can be found here on my blog. In all seriousness cleaning is one of my favourite things to do. I am an emotional cleaner. The most thorough cleans happen when I am stressed or anxious and when everything is finally in its place again I can feel calm.
So you can imagine the joys of owning a basset, a breed that malts faster than Abbey Clancey loses her baby weight. Therefore I vacuum a lot. We have always owned Dyson’s. We have two, a cordless and an animal vacuum. I guess Dyson have both great marketing and reputation because I didn’t think any other brand would compare. Until now.
I cant be alone in seeing all of the Instagram hype over Shark. As a result I ordered the Shark steam cleaner and was so impressed. So when I was asked if I would like to review a vacuum obviously I jumped at the chance.
I was sent the Shark Duo Clean NV801UK. The first use of the vacuum was an eye opener. The dust compartment needed to be emptied after each room which was shocking and made me feel a little sick. Our Dyson vacuum is a few years old but seeing as they market their products saying they don’t lose suction I didn’t expect there to be as much dust as there was. To clarify I hoover the whole house everyday and downstairs twice a day. (Due to dog hair)
The Shark vacuum can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used as an upright vacuum but also you can detach the main body making it easier to get into tight spaces such as under armchairs. I prefer to use the vacuum in this way. It is heavier than my previous vacuum but so much quieter. I like that it feels a little heavier as it gives me the impression that it is robust.
Shall we take a minute to talk about the headlights? Yep it has headlights and I thought this was such a gimmick. I mean after all who are these people that are cleaning in the dark? That is until I cleaned the upstairs bathroom. The dust under that bath is something I am not yet ready to talk about. (oh the shame).
The Shark has a really strong suction. It actually pulls itself along the carpet. Much to my surprise! There is an air vent on the handle so you can adjust this to save carpets/rugs being lifted. (or for your vacuum to up and leave you.) There is also a switch so you can adjust the clean from carpets to hard floors. Some cleaners do this automatically I believe, but the switch is right by the handle so it isn’t any real inconvenience.
You are able to lift the top off of the spinning brush (technical term) meaning it can be cleaned easily. There is also a little brush to help clean this section, supplied with the vacuum.
For me, there is no better feeling than knowing the whole house is clean. We have had the vacuum for just over two weeks now and the dust compartment is no longer needing to be emptied after each room. This is making me feel confident that the house is actually clean now. Overall I am really impressed with the shark. Using this vacuum has bought us some more time between buying new carpets for upstairs as they have been given a new lease of life. The carpets are old and so flat that I didn’t think I would ever seen a vacuum track line in them again. Thanks to shark I have been able to leave lines and that satisfying feeling has been a real mood lifter. (I need to get out more, I am aware of this.)
A brilliant vacuum.
*I was gifted the Shark vacuum to review. As always all opinions are my own.
9 Comments
Helen (Little Lavender Room)
December 28, 2017 / 4:01 pm
The only trouble with vacuum tracks, of course, is that they cause a whole new level of stress when some bastard walks in them.
By the way I have just read out sentences from your post just to let my OH know that I’m not a lone OCD cleaning freak of nature. He has now accepted that the problem lies with him. Ever thought of offering marriage guidance?
We’ve got a Shark vacuum and were equally surprised at how much dirt it picked up compared to our last vacuum (a Dyson)! Like, seriously, I thought the carpets weren’t too bad but it’s not until we used the Shark that it made us realise maybe the Dyson wasn’t as good as we once thought. Gee, I’m getting old aren’t I?!
After much deliberation and consideration, I bought my Shark Duo Clean Lift Away as a Christmas present and wish that I had never wasted the £250.00 I spent.
It is quite possibly the worst hoover I have ever had..If I can offer one word of advice it is DON’T!!!!
It does not suck anything up properly at all.. it scoops up bits of debris in the rollers and brush system, and then spits everything back out again. Using the hand held wand, (trust me there is no magic here)..anything that it may pick up, and its very choosy, it just drops back out again!
During my initial call to customer services I asked for either a replacement or refund, but I was told that they needed to follow their repair policy, and I was then asked to take the device apart, give it a shake, drop a coin through the hose, peep through it to see if it was clear and click it all back together again! I asked if they could send an engineer to look at it as there was obviously a suction issue, I was told that all customer service representative are the engineers.. Wow.. really hands on I thought.. However they said they would send me a new filter as this would definately sort out the problem.
My second call (almost two weeks later), was to ask where my filter was.
My third call, after the filters arrived and made absolutely no difference what so ever, I asked for a replacement or refund..and to speak to a manager.. We will send you a new motor, that will do the trick they said..oh an will get a call to you..
Guess what ..the motor made no difference..almost five weeks with no vacuuming, I have had to borrow a hoover!!! And nobody called.. I was begining to sense a pattern here.
So I called again.. Stated that the device they sold me still did not work properly, the new filter and the new motor has made no improvement, there is still no suction via the lift away unit and the device spits out everything it has picked up.. we will get someone to call you they said (again), I have already requested a call I said, lets just check we have one booked in for you was the reply!
I reiterated that they had sold me a device that did not do the job that it should, I have borrowed a hoover today just to clean up as I have been unable to do so properly for over 6 weeks, and wish that I had purchased anything other than a SHARK!
Since my telephone call this morning to Shark I have contacted Trading Standards & CAB who inform me that I am indeed entitled to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The process is now under way
Cara Author
February 18, 2019 / 4:11 pm
I’m sorry you have had that experience. I absolutely love my shark and use it everyday. I’m glad you have resolved your issues with Shark x
Shark vs Dyson
I always choose Shark brand. because their prices match my budget. moreover, they have beautiful designs and superior features no less expensive Dyson
The only trouble with vacuum tracks, of course, is that they cause a whole new level of stress when some bastard walks in them.
By the way I have just read out sentences from your post just to let my OH know that I’m not a lone OCD cleaning freak of nature. He has now accepted that the problem lies with him. Ever thought of offering marriage guidance?
Best wishes,
Hx
Author
Hahaha! Cleaning is life!
Twice a day!? Gosh my house is filthy in comparison!
Author
Haha. It’s all because of the bloody Basset!
We’ve got a Shark vacuum and were equally surprised at how much dirt it picked up compared to our last vacuum (a Dyson)! Like, seriously, I thought the carpets weren’t too bad but it’s not until we used the Shark that it made us realise maybe the Dyson wasn’t as good as we once thought. Gee, I’m getting old aren’t I?!
Melissa x
http://www.memoriesandmishapsblog.wordpress.com
After much deliberation and consideration, I bought my Shark Duo Clean Lift Away as a Christmas present and wish that I had never wasted the £250.00 I spent.
It is quite possibly the worst hoover I have ever had..If I can offer one word of advice it is DON’T!!!!
It does not suck anything up properly at all.. it scoops up bits of debris in the rollers and brush system, and then spits everything back out again. Using the hand held wand, (trust me there is no magic here)..anything that it may pick up, and its very choosy, it just drops back out again!
During my initial call to customer services I asked for either a replacement or refund, but I was told that they needed to follow their repair policy, and I was then asked to take the device apart, give it a shake, drop a coin through the hose, peep through it to see if it was clear and click it all back together again! I asked if they could send an engineer to look at it as there was obviously a suction issue, I was told that all customer service representative are the engineers.. Wow.. really hands on I thought.. However they said they would send me a new filter as this would definately sort out the problem.
My second call (almost two weeks later), was to ask where my filter was.
My third call, after the filters arrived and made absolutely no difference what so ever, I asked for a replacement or refund..and to speak to a manager.. We will send you a new motor, that will do the trick they said..oh an will get a call to you..
Guess what ..the motor made no difference..almost five weeks with no vacuuming, I have had to borrow a hoover!!! And nobody called.. I was begining to sense a pattern here.
So I called again.. Stated that the device they sold me still did not work properly, the new filter and the new motor has made no improvement, there is still no suction via the lift away unit and the device spits out everything it has picked up.. we will get someone to call you they said (again), I have already requested a call I said, lets just check we have one booked in for you was the reply!
I reiterated that they had sold me a device that did not do the job that it should, I have borrowed a hoover today just to clean up as I have been unable to do so properly for over 6 weeks, and wish that I had purchased anything other than a SHARK!
Since my telephone call this morning to Shark I have contacted Trading Standards & CAB who inform me that I am indeed entitled to a refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. The process is now under way
Author
I’m sorry you have had that experience. I absolutely love my shark and use it everyday. I’m glad you have resolved your issues with Shark x
Shark vs Dyson
I always choose Shark brand. because their prices match my budget. moreover, they have beautiful designs and superior features no less expensive Dyson
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