The second cleaner head, the Laser Slim Fluffy, is made of soft microfiber fabric and is specifically designed to snag dust and fur from bare floors. It features a laser light that spookily illuminates dark corners—one moment the dust is spotlighted, the next it’s gone. This lightweight model cleverly folds in half for easier cleaning under furniture, and it has an extra-large, 33-ounce dustbin. It offers a solid 38-minute run shark handheld vacuum time and recharges in four hours, similar to the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. As you can see, the black rice test is less of a challenge than the sand test, and a number of the vacuums we tested, including the top-rated Tineco Pure One S11, finished with a perfect rating across all three surfaces. Interestingly, that shortlist of perfect-rated cleaners includes two of our value picks, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro and the Moosoo XL-618.
“Depending on the model, most are fairly easy to disassemble for cleaning,” White says. Cut the hair off your brush roll, and empty the dust pan.” She also suggests rinsing the filters with lukewarm water and air drying them, and wiping any parts of the vacuum attached to the battery with a damp cloth. As for vacuum tubes, “they can be cleared of debris with a little baking soda and vinegar,” White says. Of all the Shark vacuums we tested, the Shark IZ462H Vertex Ultra Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum really stood out for its smooth maneuverability, helpful features, and powerful suction.
We test how adept each vacuum is at removing pet hair stuck to carpeting as well as ease-of-use concerns like how heavy it is to carry. We assess the ease of removing and emptying the dust cup or bag, the usability of the attachments, a vacuum’s maneuverability and more. Shark’s generally-lower prices are also less impressive when you remember that they also mean fewer extras in the box. Shark only ever includes one full-sized cleaning head whereas Dyson includes two cleaning heads (one tailored to plush carpeting and one tailored to dusty hard floors) with the vacuums on the costlier end of its spectrum. Theresa Holland is an experienced commerce writer who specializes in reviewing and writing about the best home products on the market.
Dyson’s higher costs also cover more exhaustive full-sized and handheld attachments that don’t require separate purchase. That laser is so iconic that it deserves more than a vague mention at the end of sentence. It’s a game-changing tool in homes with a decent amount of hardwood, tile, or linoleum — once you’ve experienced cleaning with the Dyson laser, you won’t be able to clean without it. While brands like Bissell, Samsung, and Tineco occasionally slip a competitive cordless model into the fold, Shark and Dyson are two clear market leaders. Handheld vacuums are great tools for cleaning up areas that traditional vacuums may not be able to reach, and this cordless Shark model is a top-notch pick. It’s an extremely lightweight device that features two air streams for strong suction, as well as two helpful tools (a crevice tool and a scrubbing brush) to ensure a deep, thorough cleaning in each use.
We also made sure to test vacuums on stairs and upholstery, and used any attachments to get a total overview of each model’s cleaning power. The three attachments the vacuum comes with—a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool—are all very useful, as is the extension hose you can use to get into tougher areas. Helpfully, you can choose from multiple cleaning settings to ensure you have the right mode for your specific needs, and the dustbin is big enough to not require frequent emptying. The HEPA shark pet vacuum filter is great for pet owners, as it locks in allergens so they’re not released back into the air, and the self-cleaning brushroll helps prevent hair getting wrapped around and needing to be manually removed. Anyone with shedding pets knows how hard it can be to get hair out of carpets and furniture, but this fantastic vacuum is designed to do just that. Over months of use, we found that it easily and thoroughly cleaned up hair and cat food from carpet (although it’s not as helpful on hardwood).