Shark Folding Handle Sweeper - Lavender | Have realistic expectations, you won't be as disappointed

Shark Folding Handle Sweeper - Lavender | Charged properly, and used for the right jobs, it's great

kitchen:

Shark Folding Hand...

	Shark Folding Handle Sweeper - Lavender Shark Shark average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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7.2V, Shark Cordless Sweeper, Push Button Bottom Emptying Dust Cup, 2 Electronic Speeds. Folding Back Saver Handle For Hard To Reach Places, 13" Powerful Motorized Brush Roll, Wall Hugging Tech With Patented Side Sweep Brush, Rechargeable 60 Minute Run Time On Single Charge, Patented Swivel Steering, Low Profile & Long Reach For Under Furniture Cleaning.

Have realistic expectations, you won't be as disappointed

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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Charged properly, and used for the right jobs, it's great

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 use it everyday!

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.

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reviews: page 1, 2

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