How to clean a Shark vacuum cleaner
Discover the best ways to clean your Shark vacuum cleaner with our step-by-step guide.
Image credit: Shark
Discover the best ways to clean your Shark vacuum cleaner with our step-by-step guide.
A clean vacuum cleaner is an efficient one. We've got a step-by-step guide on how to clean your Shark vacuum and get it back to its best.
Empty the dust cup
Once unplugged, remove the cylinder or dust cup, as Shark refers to it. Empty the contents of it into a bin, and then give it a good wash.
Water alone should be enough to remove anything but if you feel it needs some extra help, use a mild washing-up liquid to do the job. This will also help get rid of any musty smells, which can happen especially if you have pets.
Adding a specially made vacuum freshener is a great way to stop bad smells from building up. Simply place the freshener into your dust bag or cylinder for a nicer way to clean. Try Vac N Fresh Hoover Bag Fresheners, which comes with five different fragrances.
Vac N Fresh Hoover Bag Fresheners, RRP £3.49
Remove any trapped hair
Shark is known for its anti-hair wrap technology, which actively removes hair from the bristle brush roll as you clean. The idea is that the more you vacuum, the more the hair is broken down and sucked up into the cylinder.
But sometimes the hair may need a little bit of extra help. If you have hair trapped in the brush roll, you can run your Shark on hard flooring for a couple of minutes, which should then break down any hair.
Don’t have a hard floor? Remove the brush tool (consult your instruction booklet on how to do this), and then you can get rid of any excess hair by pulling it off or snipping with scissors.
If you have a Shark Duo model, there will also be a softer brush to remove. You can then run both brush rolls under a tap to get rid of any other debris. Remember to leave them to dry for 24 hours before reusing them.
Give them a wipe over and check for debris
Shark vacuum cleaners come with a variety of different attachments, so this is a good time to give them all a quick clean.
For attachments like the crevice tool, which has a narrow opening, you may find a toothbrush, paintbrush or even cotton buds are your friends to get rid of any dirt or debris lodged in there.
Alternatively, a can of compressed air can help.
Unclog for maximum suction power
While you're giving your Shark vacuum cleaner a spruce-up, it's a good idea to check for any blockages. With some Shark vacuum cleaners, a red light on the floor head will show up if there is a blockage.
Otherwise, you can just check throughout the cleaner to see if anything is causing an issue. Try the following:
SHARK Anti Hair Wrap with PowerFins IZ300UKT Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, RRP £379.99
Stratos IZ400UK Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap Plus & Clean Sense IQ, RRP £349.00
Ensure your Shark vacuum sparkles all over
Shark vacuum cleaners have LED headlights that show up the dirt and dust, so it’s a good idea to wipe these over regularly to ensure they’re working at their best.
It’s best to do this with a damp microfibre cloth. You can also give the rest of the vacuum cleaner a quick wipe.
Water is all you need
Depending on what Shark model you have, your vacuum cleaner may come with a thick foam filter, plus one made of felt, and a HEPA filter.
Regardless of the type of filter fitted, they can all be cleaned in the same way.
To get an exact idea of where your filters are, it’s best to consult your manual or visit the Shark customer services website. In most vacuums, the foam and felt filters can be found in the bagless cylinder or dust cup.
Remove that and you’ll be able to easily access them. If there is an additional post-motor filter, this will be found in the handle where the dust cup fits. Just simply pull it away from the vacuum body.
Give the filters a tap to release any surface dirt and debris.
Let warm water run through the filter until the water is clear. If you haven’t cleaned the filters for a while, this may take a while.
You need to leave the filters to air-dry, for around 24 hours, otherwise, liquid can be drawn into the electrical parts, which can create problems.
Shark recommends cleaning the foam and felt kit every month and rinsing the post-motor filter around once a year. Obviously, double check your instruction booklet for more information on your particular model.
You may need to replace your filter if they are damaged or torn. You can buy replacements online – you’ll just need to know the model number, which can usually be found on the actual vacuum or in your instruction manual.
