I love my dogs and wouldn’t change them for the world, but with the recent warm weather, their moulting fur has had me chasing my tail in an endless cycle of attempted deshedding, washing bedding and vacuuming the car seats.
Over the weekend, we took my rescue Staffie-crosses to Tatton Park’s DogFest, which gave me the perfect opportunity to test out the new Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum - could it be the answer to all my dog-ownership woes?
The Shark Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with single battery is available for £379.99 on the Shark Clean website, but you can actually get more battery life for less with the double battery version, which is currently on offer for £299.99 - making it cheaper than the comparable Dyson V8.
READ MORE: Best vacuum cleaners for 2023 including models from Shark, Dyson and Proscenic
Said to be ‘perfect for homes with pets’ the flexible cordless vacuum is engineered with Shark’s signature Anti Hair Wrap Technology, which separates and removes hair from the motorised brush-roll as you clean, meaning it’s suitable for long and short pet hair.
Included in the vacuum set is the stick vacuum cleaner itself, as well as the removable battery, and a number of detachable tools, such as the Anti Hair Wrap Pet Tool, Crevice Tool and Upholstery Tool.
Fully assembled, the vacuum effortlessly picked up hair and dirt from what we thought were our clean living room rugs. They’d been cleaned only the previous day, but dog owners know all too well that you’re soon back to square one.
The lightweight vacuum is easy to navigate, and is fitted with a flexible wand that bends to easily clean under furniture without heavy lifting, sliding nearly under sofas and TV units.
But the greatest test for this powerhouse gadget would be the car. Phoebe and Frank, who are eight and five respectively, travel in the boot on a plush Scruffs dog bed. And after our weekend outing, it was absolutely covered in embedded pet hair.
The Shark transforms into a handheld vacuum in the click of a button, which is perfect for cleaning out the car. Previously, we’ve lugged out huge vacuums and run extension cables from the house and across the garden to valet the car, but the Shark simply doesn’t require even half the effort.
To restore the car's interior, we took out the Anti Hair Wrap Pet Tool – designed to remove embedded pet hair from upholstery - and the Crevice Tool. While the vacuum cleaner came with a tote to store these in, I can’t help but wish there was a way to clip them to the Shark for safe keeping, and to avoid any back and forth if you pick up the wrong attachment, for example.
The Shark made light work of the dog bed in the boot, sucking up the dogs’ fur and making it look almost brand new. For more stubborn areas, there’s even a trigger on the vacuum for extra suction power, which helps immensely and means as the user you can put in even LESS effort. It’s the ideal solution for anyone who hates vacuuming with a passion, cutting down cleaning time and minimising exertion.
We switched between the Anti Hair Wrap Tool and Crevice Tool in swift motions, and before long the car looked like it had been to a professional. That said, because the vacuum only has 40 minutes of battery life, it had eventually died and needed a recharge, so I’d definitely opt for the double battery version. Considering it's currently cheaper, too, it's a no brainer.
We’ve only been using the Shark vacuum for a short period of time, but its first impressions are exceptional. We were previously using a £40 Tower vacuum which did the job, but didn’t exactly blow us away and also doesn’t convert into a handheld.
Pros of the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum
The vacuum is lightweight and easy to use. The Flexology allows for it to be manoeuvred into hard to reach areas, and means it can be folded for compact storage.
The Anti Hair Wrap technology is ideal for pet owners and means the vacuum doesn’t clog, and sucks up pet hair effortlessly.
The max suction trigger is amazing for those stubborn spots and embedded hair.
Really like the transparent container so you can see how much dirt the Shark picks up.
Cordless means you don’t have to worry about cables trailing along the garden and it can be transported anywhere for easy cleaning without being tethered to the wall.
Converts to handheld so it can also be used for the car as well as the home.
Cons of the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum
It doesn’t stand unaided when fully upright.
The 40 minute battery life is okay for quick jobs, but it requires a long charge time for a relatively short cleaning time. There are more battery life options online, and I would definitely recommend getting extra to have more flexibility with cleaning time.
Clips on the vacuum for attachments would be great, however I can see this making the design bulky, so perhaps separate is the best option.
Other shoppers have been equally as impressed with the Shark vacuum, with one saying it’s: “Lightweight, great for the car as well as the house,” though agreed with me that: “A clip to attach the nozzle tool to the cleaner would be great.”
Another said: “Good dust pick up and easy to manoeuvre under beds and wardrobes,” but “Does not stand up alone to stow away,” - unless folded down, that is.
With a third commenting: “Love everything about it wouldn't entertain another Dyson,” - rather high praise for the typically cheaper rival.
You can shop the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum for £379.99 here, or opt for the double battery version for under £300 here.
