Do NOT buy this if you think it will replace your vacuum. I have a 2 year old and a VERY good vacuum on hand that I use once a week (though I probably should vacuum twice a week). For all the messes that occur in between (probably 2-3x a day), I use the Shark to make my life easier.
I''m currently a stay at home mom with a toddler and she leaves crumbs EVERYWHERE. We live in a small apartment, so the dining room is a spit''s throw from the living room and it''s almost unavoidable to have toddlers (my kid, my kid''s friends, my friends'' kids...) carrying their muffins, snacks, crackers, pretzels around and about the living area. I got the Shark more because my daughter was terrified of loud sounds and my regular vacuum cleaner, but have found that the nice bonus is that it''s so much easier to lug this one out 2-3 times a day to pick up crumbs right after snack time (and hence avoid having it ground into the rugs) than to pull out my heavy Bissell.
Pros: It''s lightweight, very quiet, convenient, and effective for picking up visible crumbs if used correctly.
Cons: It doesn''t do heavy-duty or deep cleaning; the price-tag can be steep; Shark sweepers are known to break down after a few months to a year.
My mom has an older version of the Shark sweeper, which is much more quiet than this one. She''s a waitress and uses it to tidy up the floor under the tables in between customers. Obviously, she''s subjecting it to pretty heavy use, and she''s now on her third one. Her recommendations on making it last a long as possible: clean the sweeper thoroughly after a few uses (that includes pulling out accumulated hair in the brushes and washing the collection bin) and charge the battery according to directions (do not allow to sit for longer than 19 hours at a time charging, you will reduce battery life).
The Shark Vx3 is a little louder than hers. But I like the fact that it has two speed settings (supposedly for floor and carpet). The handle bends so that you can push it under furniture, which is a little helpful, but kinda awkward and (knowing that the Shark sweeper handles are notorious for breaking off) I prefer to not use it at all. The Shark Vx3 also has a little rotator brush on the side, which is supposed to pick up crumbs as you push it against the side of a wall, but I wish that they had thought to put a rotator brush on both sides. They claim also that you can push a button and dump out the collection cup without ever having to touch the dirt. This is true in theory, but in practice, the lid often catches or there is dirt stuck in the bin that you have to shake it out--so it''s almost unavoidable to touch the bin or dirt. No big deal--just wash your hands afterwards.
The bottom line: don''t expect to replace your vacuum. And here''s the KEY to use the sweeper most effectively -push it SLOWLY and repeatedly over the pile of crumbs that you intend to pick up. I found that if you tried to push the sweeper back and forth quickly like a regular vacuum, it didn''t pick up anything, just pushed the dirt around.
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This sweeper is not a substitute for a vacuum cleaner, but it is a fantastic complement to a vacuum. Half the floors in our house are carpeted and the other half are hardwood or tile I use the regular vacuum for the carpeted areas, but I use the Shark for the hardwood floors, kitchen, and laundry room areas. On the hard surfaces, the Shark is great at picking up dead bugs, bits of cat kibble, cat litter, bits of food, and other visible dirt and particles. I run it over low-pile throw rugs on the higher speed setting and it does okay (throw rugs are always a pain, even with vacuums). I don''t really use it on carpets because it''s less effective on them.
The fact that it''s lightweight and cordless means I''m much more likely to pull it out and run it around a couple of times a week in high-traffic areas, whereas we only vacuum on the weekend. I like the ergonomics I''ve never actually used the hinge in the long handle because I''m able to get under furniture just fine with it straight. The head is very nicely articulated I can get into and under a lot of tight spaces without having to lift up the sweeper. I agree with LawyerMom that having the rotator brush on both sides, rather than just on the right side, would have been nice, but it''s not a big deal. I also agree that the trick to using it most effectively is to push back and forth relatively slowly so that the beater brush can sweep debris in; remember that there is no suction as with a vacuum.
Several people have commented that the battery life is poor that has not been my experience. I urge buyers to READ THE DIRECTIONS when you first charge the sweeper and use it there are specific directions about the first charge, and usage (use until battery discharges, don''t store it plugged in, etc.). Rechargable batteries can be finicky, so following the directions will lead to longer battery life. I can sweep 1500 sq. ft. at least twice on a single charge at low power, with a few minutes of high speed thrown in. I have had it for several months now and have no complaints.
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I really like this thing! I think it''s my favorite wedding gift. We have cats that live in the house and it''s great for picking up loose hair and for cleaning up around the litter box. I don''t think it would work well on plush carpet, but we have berber and it works great for picking things up off the surface. The bendable handle makes it easy to get under the bed and the couch.
Pros:
1. Works GREAT on my hardwood floors
2. I only charge it about twice a week (those who complained that the charge didn''t last long may always use it on the highest setting or the battery may be defective.)
3. Not a bad price if you use it alot
4. Easy to remove & clean dust cup means you never have to bend down and/or tough anything
Cons:
1. Not the best on carpet, but it works good on mine.
2. Doesn''t always pick up everything and sometimes has a tendency to "push" dustbunnies around instead of picking them up.
Read Best Reviews of Shark VX3 Cordless Floor-and-Carpet Cleaner Here
One gets the impression, reading negative reviews here, that a lot of people don''t understand what this product actually is. For starters, it''s not a vacuum cleaner. It creates no suction whatsoever. It will not replace your vacuum cleaner for actual vacuuming.
It is, as i suggest in the title of my review, a powered sweeper. This means it has a spinning brush that sweeps debris from your floor up into a container that you can empty into a trash can.
If you, like i, have a household containing a toddler and a cat, you probably find yourself stepping on cheerios and rogue bits of kitty litter everywhere. If you, like i, don''t like getting down on your knees to manually sweep small stuff into a dustpan, and also hate hauling out the big heavy vacuum cleaner just to get the stray kitty litter bits off the hardwood, this device will be wonderful. It is exactly the middle ground between sweeping manually and busting out the vortex-action dual-hepa-filter 50lb vacuum cleaner.
Some things that might matter to some:
-Yes, if you plow this into a heap of cheerios, some are going to go flying off in random directions. This is because, again, the shark is not a vacuum cleaner, just a spinning brush. If you have a heap of cheerios to clean up, use a baby-steps approach and you''ll be fine (which is to say, drive the shark up to the edge of the debris, then back, then in another inch, then back, then in another inch, etc., to give the cheerios time to clear the brush and get thrown into the bin).
-Yes, it does make a loud ''crack'' sound when you bend the handle all the way down. This is done so you can easily bend it halfway for sweeping under furniture, but have to expend some effort to fold it all the way. Imagine what it would be like if a simple button-push collapsed the handle completely.
-Yes, it does sound like it''s dying a horrible mechanical death sometimes. But not others. I''m not sure why. When operating normally, it is pretty quiet.
-Yes, it is an awkward metallic-pink-purple color, and should be stored out of sight unless your home is 1980s-punk-themed.
Some highlights:
-It really is super-easy to empty the bin into the trash, and you don''t even have to touch the dirty parts of the sweeper.
-It''s actually surprisingly good at getting cat fur off low-pile rugs and carpets
-It''s stellar at picking up cheerios and cat litter, as well as scraps of paper that escape from the shredder and anything else relatively small and light-weight.
Some things that pulled the review down from five stars to four:
-There''s an edge-sweeper-brush on the right side, but not the left side, so if you want to clean right up to the edges of a room, you have to use the right side of the sweeper.
-The user''s guide harps endlessly about proper battery use (only charge when it''s dead, don''t over-charge, etc), but there''s no battery status indicator. All you know is that it''s plugged in or not. The only way you know the battery is low is when it dies. This can be frustrating.
-I have a tendency to push the handle-collapse-button when trying to turn the shark on, as it''s right on the handle where your thumb rests. To actually turn it on, you use your foot to press a button on the body of the sweeper.
So if you''re getting this product to replace your vacuum cleaner, you''ll be disappointed. If you expect a product with a spinning brush to be silent, you''ll be disappointed. If, however, you want a way to clean small clutter in between vacuumings without having to hunch down every ten feet to sweep crud into a dust pan, this product is for you.
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This vacuum does a decent job picking up larger particles (like spilled cereal, peanuts, etc.). However, it tends to move other finer material around (like dog hair, dust, etc.). Sometimes it''ll pick up something only to shoot it back out. If you go from tile floor to a rug, it will leave trails of dust and hair on the rug that were previously picked up. We just put up our Christmas tree and had a very difficult time picking up pine needles it would pick some up but not others. This vac should definetly not be considered as a vacuum to clean all your floors, but perhaps to clean up dry spills. It''s a shame because the battery life is excellent and the folding handle, easy-empty dust cup and swivel steering are great features.
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The price works out to 5-1/2 cents per 6 ounce cup. I''d say that''s cheap enough insurance to keep the machine running. We have two Jura super automatics and change the filters when prompted, also tablet clean when prompted. No failures in 5 years.
