However, they’re also notably pricier than comparable Sharks, which usually feel better built. You can see a more detailed comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each brand’s offerings in this comparison article. On the pricier end of the spectrum specifically, Dyson runs circles around Shark when it comes to heavy-duty cleaning required to keep up with big homes or frequent messes. Many of the cordless vacuums on the market are comparable, and in some cases better, to corded, upright vacuums when it comes to collecting dust and dander from carpets and hard floors. They’re more versatile than corded vacuums too, as they can be converted into lightweight, handheld cleaners that are suitable for use on upholstery, up high, and even in vehicles. The fresh water comes from the machine’s fresh water tank and works with a rotating soft brush roller to mop the floor.
It has S-class filtration, a European rating system even more demanding than HEPA standards, meaning it filters out 99.9 per cent of particles down to 0.3 microns. Closer to home it has British Allergy Foundation Approval, making it ideal for households with pets. While I love a cordless vacuum for whizzing around the house daily, I like having the Sebo for weekend deep cleaning. But here, once you’ve removed the cylinder, you can reattach the powered floor head to the main handle, allowing you to reach far under beds and sofas. You even get in-built headlights to show you where you’re cleaning.
The best Shark vacuums of 2024 are powerful and reliable, with prices that won’t break the bank. Indicates how much embedded sand a vacuum lifted from a medium-pile carpet. The Shark Cordless Pet Plus is impressively effective on high-pile carpet when used in its carpet surface setting with the ‘MAX’ trigger pulled. It can clear away fine debris like baking soda and larger debris like sand without shark handheld vacuum too much trouble, though you’ll probably need to make an extra pass to clear away everything. The Shark Cordless Pet Plus is a poor fit for workshop cleaning, though that isn’t what it’s designed for. Its real-world suction performance is unimpressive; it isn’t designed to clear away liquid spills, and using it to clean up workshop debris like metal or wood shavings is likely to result in damage.
The SEBO Airbelt K3 offers a five-year warranty for parts and labor, with seven years of coverage for the motor. Registering the vacuum extends these periods to seven years and 10 years respectively (applicable only when the vacuum is purchased via authorized dealers). She obsesses over how to remove cat and rabbit fur from her couch and hairballs from her heirloom rugs.
The best I tested were equally comfortable on thick carpet, wood, sofas and skirting; and the very best were just as efficient as corded varieties. Firstly, the large bezel makes it impossible to clean in tight corners and up to, or on top of, skirting boards (which is actually where most of the dust collects). Secondly, it doesn’t feature a handheld section as standard (it’s included as a bundle for £599.98). The Blade 5 sees Vax venturing into the luxury vacuum market but, although the price has gone up, it’s still affordable compared to its counterparts. How long, rounded to the nearest minute, the vacuum can run on one battery charge using a combination of high, medium (if applicable) and low speeds.
There’s no special hair detangling technology, but after several sessions there wasn’t too much hair stuck around the brush roll. You do have to repurchase bags as you go, so you’ll end up paying more than just the outright cost of the vacuum – but they hold 2l of dirt, which is a lot for a cordless. Overall I found the Shark very easy to set up and use, although emptying the dust bin was a bit fiddly. It’s also slightly more cumbersome than our top choice, the Dyson, as it weighs a reasonably hefty 4kg.