REVIEW – When you have dust and dirt on your floors, what do you do? Many Gadgeteers tend to hire a robot. Others find a better vacuum cleaner than their parents used. I used a robot vac for a while, but it gave up the ghost recently, so I was happy when the Shark UpLight vacuum appeared in our Gadgeteer review list. Julie took pity on me, knowing that pet hair is a thing at our house. I’m ready to report on the performance of this red marvel.
What is it?
An upright-style vacuum cleaner with a removable top portion for more portable cleaning.
What’s in the box?
- The main vacuum power module
- A wand that connects to base or to other tools
- Motorized base
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery brush
- “Motorized” small brush
- 90-Day Money-back guarantee
- 5-year warranty
Design and features
The Shark UpLight is a stick vacuum with a motorized head attached to a vacuum-canister mini-vac. The head has a universal-joint which allows it to swivel easily and to lay completely flat against the floor. This, combined with the forward motion of the powerful brush roll, makes it feel like you have a shark by the tail, as the slightest turn of your wrist will allow you to change the direction of the motorized head – hence the name.
Pulling the handle up to a 90º position from the head will lock it into place as two stabilizer feet with small casters pop out of the head. Placing your foot on the head and moving the handle out of the 90º position will retract the feet and enable full movement of the u-joint.
To empty the dustbin, you lift it off and press a single button when it’s over the trash can. There is another top lid for removing hair that accumulates if you have that issue.
The sponge filter needs to be rinsed out and dried completely before re-inserting.
They recommend every 30 days, but with pollen and pet dander, I found myself doing it more frequently. It’s quite easy to do and just feels better to start out with a clean filter.
The top dustbin/handle module lifts off and can be used without the wand or the motorized brush floor unit. This makes for a very light yet powerful cleaning tool for furniture, high shelves, ceiling fan blades (Have you looked up there lately? You should!), and car interiors. You can use the wand without the base to extend the reach of the powerhead as well.
I’ve included videos to show various actions you’ll need to perform while using the Shark. Other than the high-pitched whine of the motor (a curse with all vacuum cleaners), I found no fault with the UpLight. Not having to change from a motorized scrubber to a flat floor brush for our hardwood floors was great, and the lift-off feature of the top canister/motor unit made clearing the furniture of pet hair a breeze. The scrubber attachment with the silicone/rubber “fins” pulls off hair from our dark loveseat better than anything I have ever seen.
An upright vacuum is a pain sometimes. They are bottom-heavy and tend to be like spending time on the rowing machine. A stick vacuum tends to not have much power but is really easy to bust out and actually use and put away. The Shark UpLight promises the power of an upright in the form factor of a stick. I have to say, I think they have succeeded.
What is a VIP warranty? According to their website, you can:
- Ship it to them FREE
- They fix it FREE
- Or replace it FREE
- Send it back to you FREE
- (Free within the 48 contiguous states, at least.)
Specifications
- Product weight (lbs.): 10.7
- Dust cup capacity (qts.): 0.68
- Cleaning path width (in.): 9
- Wattage: 700
- Amps: 5.8
- Filter type: Washable HEPA & foam filters
- Cord length (ft.): 30
- Hose length (ft.): 4.2
- Product dimensions (in.): 10.4 L X 11.4 W X 46.2 H
- LED lights: On floor nozzle
What I like
- Power unit can be easily detached for spot cleaning
- Easy to dump dust bin
- Light to show the area where you’re guiding vacuum
- Non-tangling brushes for pet hair pickup!
What I’d change
- Is there any way to make it quieter?
Final thoughts
For over 35 years, we have had Shelties in our lives. (Not the same one, obviously!) These dogs are intelligent, easy to train, and great with children and strangers. They also have really long hair that sheds constantly. As a rule, cleaning is an on-going nightmare, especially clearing out the hair that gets wrapped around the spinning brushes in the powerhead of whatever vacuum we’re using. My Lovely Bride (who resisted using the Shark and rolled her eyes when I unboxed it) was absolutely dumbfounded when she turned it over to check the brushes and found no hair wrapped around the brush roll, due to the self-cleaning feature. It’s now her go-to device for rugs and carpets and has a permanent place in our utility closet, which says volumes about its effectiveness and ease of use. Thank you, Shark, for enhancing my marriage!
Price: $199.80
Where to buy: Shark Online Store
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Shark.
