Breaking ground with the first ever canister vacuum that features the lift-away technology, the Shark Rotator canister vacuum has a lot to be proud of. From the HEPA filtration, motorized brush roll, and long power cord, this machine is capable of picking up dirt the user never knew existed. It truly offers the convenience and portability needed to get the job done. It’s as good as an upright vacuum on carpets while being easier to carry.
Cleaning Power
When in the market for a high-quality pet vacuum, it is most important that the machine chosen is capable of cleaning up even the most embedded pet hair. Thankfully, this vacuum features a motorized floor nozzle which isn’t always standard on a canister model.
The motorized brush is situated directly in the cleaner head and works great when cleaning up the carpet. It is capable of pulling hair out of carpets and upholstery that other vacuum cleaners have missed. It is also almost effortless to push the vacuum head while cleaning because the motorized unit seems to pull itself with ease. This makes it a great vacuum option for someone that is elderly or doesn’t have a lot of strength.
There are two cleaning functions; one for cleaning bare floors and area rugs, with another for deep cleaning carpets. When cleaning the bare floors, it is easy to turn off the brush roll because the controls are right on the handle. This floor nozzle on the canister vacuum also features powerful, LED headlights for getting into the darker corners and under furniture. It makes cleaning up after the pets so much easier, especially in areas like the stairs where there tends to be less light. The low-profile design makes getting under the furniture simple and the added light helps to see all the hidden pet hair for quick removal.
The Shark is powered by 9.2 amps which are a decent amount of power and plenty for most households. Because the Shark vacuum aims to be a lightweight model, the head of the vacuum itself is a little smaller than other canister varieties. It features a cleaning path of 8.5 inches which is fairly small for a quality canister vacuum. This will require a few extra passes to get a large area cleaned, but because of the smaller size, it has optimized maneuverability.
2-in-1 Functionality
The Shark Rotator is a unique canister vacuum that can also be used as a handheld unit with the lift away feature. This makes it easy to clean the bare floors, carpet, and rugs and then quickly move to cleaning stairs and above floor areas. The wheels of the machine get left behind as the unit itself will lift off the assembly. With the quick release foot pedal, it has never been easier to turn a vacuum into a handheld version.
When the canister is detached, the unit still cleans with the power of the motorized brush if desired and never loses suctioning power. Complete with a comfortable, ergonomic handle, carrying the unit couldn’t get much easier.
Suction Release
On the handle of the Shark vacuum is the suction release valve. This can be opened or closed to easily regulate how much suction is occurring at the end of the hose. This is a valuable feature, especially when cleaning delicate items such as the curtains or lampshades.
For maximum suction, simply keep the latch on the carpet setting. To release some of the suctioning power, it is as simple as changing the setting to bare floor mode.
Attachments
This Shark model comes complete with a dusting brush, small pet power brush, straight suction nozzle and a 5-inch crevice tool. Two of the tools, the dusting brush and crevice tool can be stored onboard the canister underneath the pod itself. The two larger tools, a powered pet hair brush, and straight nozzle will be easily stowed away in the accessories bag provided with the unit.
When changing attachments to work on different areas of the home, switching them out is seamless and couldn’t get any easier.
Filtration System
When owning pets, searching for a quality filtrations system is an important part of the buying process. This vacuum features cyclonic filtration technology with three filters, two of which are foam, pre-motor filters. The other filter is post-motor and it is HEPA filtration. Complete with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, this vacuum is effective at containing that dust and other allergens. Because it contains a sealed system, it also prevents them from being released back into the air. Every bit of air that passes through this machine must go through all three filters before it can be exhausted back in the environment. There are vacuums that feature HEPA filtration but do not provide a sealed unit with which to clean the air. The Shark Rotator claims to trap 99.99 percent of dust and allergens inside the unit. Because of this, the quality of this filtration system encouraged me even more to purchase this unit.
All of the filters are hand-washable. The two pre-motor filters should be washed every 3 months and the HEPA filter only needs to be washed about once a year, so the maintenance on this machine is low. Shark designed the filters to last for the entire lifespan of the unit.
The canister of the vacuum itself holds about 2.2 liters of dirt and debris. This seems like it would be plenty for most households. I found that emptying the dirt bin was relatively easy. When pulling up on the dust cup release latch, the cup is smoothly released off the canister. There is an empty release latch located on the lower end of the canister. When that is pressed, the bottom of the cup drops out thereby releasing all the dirt and hair contained in the cup directly into a trash can or bag for virtually no mess. If the mesh screen needs cleaning, that is just as simple. By clicking the top dust cup release latch, the lid opens right up. From there, removing any built up debris is a snap. The entire emptying process is painless and doesn’t create any more of a mess.
Design & Functionality
This unit features impeccable swivel steering to provide for an excellent control. This makes navigating through and under furniture a breeze. There was a downside, however, to its maneuverability. I found that the unit itself doesn’t easily turn. While turning the machine, it will often go onto its back wheels and even occasionally flip over.
It is a smaller unit, so relatively easy to store, even in the closet. The notch on the back of the canister is perfect for hooking the wand into so it stands upright. This feature is incredibly simple but so convenient.
The cord is 23 feet long, which offers plenty of length to clean even the largest rooms. It features auto-retraction and winds itself back into the unit when cleaning is complete. It’s as simple as pressing the rewind button on the canister unit with your foot or hand.
The other button on the top of the unit is the power button, it can be easily turned on by a foot. This Shark canister vacuum also features a 5-year limited warranty.
Verdict
While this unit is a little on the pricey range, it has very little negative qualities about it. Between the HEPA filtration and sealed system, 2-in-1 functionality and a fully adjustable motorized brush head, this is a great unit for pet owners. The easy to understand controls and lightweight portability make this canister vacuum easy to use for most any person.
Shark Rotator NR96 specifications
| Type | Canister |
|---|---|
| Bag type | Bagless |
| Roller brush | Motorized |
| Transformation | Handheld |
| Swivel steering | Yes |
| Cord length | 23 feet |
| Cord rewind | Yes |
| Filtration Efficiency | Sealed HEPA |
| Cyclonic | Cyclonic |
| Input power | 1150 watts |
| Height | 16.3 inches |
| Weight | 10.3 pounds |
| Dustbin capacity | 2.2 liters |
| Hose length | 6 feet |
| Warranty period | 5 years |
| Warranty type | Limited |
| Cleaning path | 8.5 inches |
| Suction release | Yes |
| Headlights | Yes |
| Length | 32.7 inches |
| Width | 14.4 inches |
| Brand | Shark |
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