The world of vacuum cleaners seems like a simple place at first, but when you’re actually researching for one, you’ll find that there are so many things to consider. Wired, or wireless? What kind of suction speed do you need? Wet or dry vacuum? Self-cleaning or not? Is it portable enough to bring up to the second floor?
Those are questions that I asked when I was looking for a new vacuum for my parents’ two-storey house. Before this, we had a bulky, wired vacuum that was insanely heavy, and the vacuum head was so big that it had trouble getting into corners.
On that note, I also have a robot vacuum that, while convenient, was a little bit dumb and doesn’t quite get the corners too. Robot vacuums are also generally meant for apartments or smaller spaces as well.
That’s why, when SharkNinja asked us to review their Shark CleanSense IQ+ Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, it looked like it ticked all the boxes I needed without the steep price tag. And after using it for some time, here’s my review.
Editor
Jennifer chevron_right
Table of Contents
Features
On paper, the Shark CleanSense IQ+ has some pretty nifty features that I was really excited to try.
- Shark IQ Technology: This vacuum comes equipped with Smart IQ PRO Technology, allowing it to automatically adjust suction and power based on the amount of dirt and floor type. The four smart cleaning modes—Dirt Detect, Floor Detect, Edge Detect, and Light Detect—ensure that every surface gets the right amount of attention without the need for manual adjustments.
- HybridClean Multi-Surface Brushroll: The brushroll works well on both carpets and hard floors, with anti-hair wrap technology that keeps the brush tangle-free, which is especially helpful for pet owners.
- Auto-Empty Dock: This is one of my favourite features: the Auto-Empty Dock, which not only charges the vacuum but also automatically empties the dustbin. No more dirty hands! It can store up to 30 days' worth of dirt, and the HEPA filter traps 99.9% of dust and allergens, making it a great choice for households with pets or allergies.
- LED Display & Real-Time Feedback: The vacuum's LED display provides real-time updates on battery life and cleaning modes, and LED rings change colour based on the dirt detected, ensuring you know exactly when an area is truly clean.
Design & Build
The Shark CleanSense IQ+ scores high in the design department for me. Boasting a sleek, minimalist aesthetic that doesn’t take up too much space, it blends nicely into the decor of my home.
The vacuum comes with a dock that has an auto-empty function. The dock is pretty small, considering the amount of dirt it can hold. It’s also great to have a home for the vacuum that looks nice, so we can just display it in the living room and not hide it away in the storeroom.
The vacuum itself is pretty lightweight, at just 2.2kg. It’s constructed using carbon fibre, so it’s easy on the wrist as well and lessens part of the burdens of vacuuming an entire house, including the second floor, as we didn’t need to huff and puff just to carry it up the stairs.
Plus, it’s cordless, so you don’t have to fight with the cords and wires while cleaning. The CleanSense IQ+ charges via the dock, so you only need to plug in the dock, place the vacuum on it, and it’ll charge (and empty out) automatically.
Performance
Suction Power & Cleaning Efficiency
This vacuum certainly sucks, that's for sure. The 260-watt motor offers quite an impressive suction power. In my house, we have both porcelain (living and dining, ground floor) and PVC wood tiles (bedrooms, second floor). The vacuum works well on both surfaces.
As a side note, the vacuum is a dry vacuum, so we didn’t try it in the kitchen.
The Dirt Detect feature is particularly handy, as it automatically boosts suction when more dirt is detected. I noticed this was especially effective on high-traffic areas and carpets. That said, the vacuum performs better when moving forward than backward, meaning you may have to go over certain spots multiple times to ensure a thorough clean.
Another thing to note is that the vacuum is pretty loud, especially when the suction is boosted. It’s louder than the Dyson D15 and the Xiaomi Truclean W10 Ultra Wet Dry Vacuum that we reviewed before, but not louder than my old vacuum, so I guess it’s still a win.
Ease of Use
Assembling the Shark CleanSense IQ+ couldn’t be simpler. The parts snap together easily, and once charged, you’re ready to start cleaning.
The CleanSense IQ+ also has a nifty feature where the lower half of the vacuum can bend and swivel, so you can get to those hard-to-get areas under furniture without breaking your back. And to get it back straight, all you need to do is pull up, and the vacuum will snap right back into place!
While the vacuum's lights help illuminate darker corners and under furniture, I found that they’re not quite as effective as the Dyson in highlighting finer debris like dust on shiny surfaces. It’s basically just a flashlight, but still, for general use, the lights are a nice touch, especially in dimly lit areas.
Besides that, I also found it a little inconvenient that the vacuum doesn't stand on its own, so if you're cleaning a room that's further away from the dock, you'll have to either bring it all the way back, or lean it against a wall or something.
Accessories
The Shark CleanSense IQ+ also comes with a variety of accessories that make it versatile for different cleaning needs:
- Pet Multi Tool: Great for pet owners, it efficiently removes pet hair from upholstery and carpets. Our household has no pets, so unfortunately, we were unable to really test out this tool.
- Motorized Hand Tool: This tool turns the CleanSense IQ+ into a handheld vacuum, which is great for smaller spaces like car interiors.
- Duster Crevice Tool: This is perfect for cleaning narrow gaps, like between cushions or behind furniture.
- Wide Upholstery Tool: Makes it easy to clean larger surfaces like sofas and mattresses.
These attachments are easy to install, and SharkNinja even included an attachment stand for all these tools for easy storage as well.
Battery Life
The Shark CleanSense IQ+ offers a solid performance, but with a few caveats. In Eco Mode, we managed about 30 minutes of runtime, which is just about enough for a quick clean of the entire house, both storeys.
However, when using the more advanced IQ Mode, the battery life drops to a little less than 20 minutes, as it enables the full suite of smart features. In this mode, I could only clean the first floor of my house before having to return it to the dock.
Besides that, the recharging process takes a couple of hours, which feels a bit long if you’re in the middle of a big cleaning session and have to wait.
Conclusion
The Shark CleanSense IQ+ Cordless Vacuum Cleaner brings a lot to the table for its price point. Its lightweight build, smart technology, and convenient features like the Auto-Empty Dock make it a solid choice for anyone looking for a balance of power and convenience.
However, it does have a shorter battery life in IQ Mode, but I wouldn’t consider it a complete deal breaker. It wouldn’t hurt to take a break during cleaning, after all (though I’m sure my mother disagrees).