01 May
Blog

Shark Vacmop Review: A Swiffer Sweeper on Steroids

Shark Vacmop Lights

"The Shark Vacmop takes everything I love about the popular Swiffer Sweeper and adds suction to better collect debris on the floor."

  • Sweep and wipe lightly at the same time

  • No uncomplicated disposal with pads

  • Decent intake performance

Shark's robotic vacuum cleaners are characterized by a balanced relationship between performance and price. While the cordless vacuum line is available from a variety of options, only one is particularly suitable for both picking up dirt from hard floors and cleaning up spilled material.

The Shark Vacmop uses the Swiffer Sweeper approach by acting as a dry sweeper and mop at the same time, saving you the hassle of needing two separate cleaners. You may be wondering if there are any compromises with a 2-in-1 device like this one. So I went through some good cleaning scenarios to find out.

From the sweeper to the mop

Arguably the most compelling feature of the Shark Vacmop is its ability to sweep and then mop with minimal effort. With your traditional Swiffer Sweeper, you need to discard the dry pad and then replace it with a wet one to make the transition possible. There's none of this with the Vacmop that makes it particularly versatile when it comes to cleaning up different types of dirt.

Shark Vacmop on the wallJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The disposable pillow is effectively used for both sweeping and mopping as there is a small corner that soaks up dirt on the floor and stows everything in the pillow itself. The suction is adequate for most tasks, but I was surprised how it can still suck up dirt if the pad gets wet while wiping. I really appreciate the convenience of sweeping and mopping at the same time because it saves time.

There is a bit of resistance when pushing and pulling the 5 pound shark vacuum cleaner, however. It doesn't have the same level of effortless movement as a Swiffer Sweeper. Sure, the head can be hinged the same way a Swiffer can pivot to collect dirt and debris, but the drag makes it a little more difficult to maneuver.

Additional costs for disposable pads

Much like a Swiffer sweeper, the Shark Vacmop requires you to purchase disposable pads that need to be replaced as soon as they become dirty or filled with dirt. Removing the pad is a breeze, accomplished by pressing a button on the side of the head. The device unlocks the disposable pillow. All you really have to do is place it over a garbage can that it can be dropped into.

Shark Vacmop PadJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

While this makes it very convenient, you have to keep in mind that the Shark Vacmop will not work without the disposable pad. You also need to keep in mind that there is an ongoing cost to owning the Vacmop: about $ 24 for a 30-point refill of disposable pads. For comparison, a 40-pack of Swiffer Sweeper dry-sweeping wipes costs around $ 13 – so you pay significantly more for the Vacmop.

I really appreciate the convenience of sweeping and mopping at the same time.

There's also the multi-surface liquid cleaner that you need to buy if you want to mop your hard floors. It's $ 10 for a two-liter bottle that is then poured into the vacmop. Since the device is battery-operated, the liquid multi-surface cleaner is dispensed by pressing the button on the handle. I actually like how it dries out quickly on my wooden floors without leaving streaks. It is worth noting, however, that it is not a disinfectant solution. If you choose any other solution, all you need to know is that there is a risk of damage to the device.

You can cut your expenses by limiting the frequency of cleaning. However, don't be fooled by focusing solely on the $ 100 initial cost.

Short battery life

If you have a lot of space to sweep and mop, you should look for another solution as the Shark Vacmop has a 13 minute battery life. This is really short, which means it's best reserved for the clutter on site. While it is still possible to clean larger rooms, you will need to take breaks so that you can charge the Vacmop with the included magnetic charger.

Shark Vacmop magnetic connectorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

I've mainly used the Shark Vacmop after dinner to remove any crumbs that are collecting on the floor. Since I don't sweep and mop the kitchen area for more than five minutes, the short battery life isn't an issue for me, but I can see how it can be a limiting factor for others.

Finally, I just want to point out that the package does not contain any other attachments. So don't expect to find a crevice or a brush tool.

Our opinion

Shark's take on the Swiffer Sweeper is interesting. There's no denying the fact that steroids are a Swiffer as it takes everything I love about the popular street sweeper and adds suction to better collect dirt on the floor – while also being able to switch to a mopper without having to remove the pad.

The $ 100 startup cost isn't bad, but consider the added cost of purchasing the disposable pads and the multi-surface cleaner.

How long it will take?

The Vacmop is made of robust plastic materials and offers a robust quality. In fact, it fell over several times with no signs of damage. There is a one-year limited warranty in case something goes wrong internally due to a defect.

Is there a better alternative?

The Dyson Omni-Glide is characterized by its lightweight construction, effortless movement and stronger suction power as a superior sweeper. Sure, it's significantly more expensive at $ 400, but that's the only money you'll need for it.

Should you buy it?

Yes. It's inexpensive and there are few models that can sweep and mop at the same time.

Editor's recommendations




07 Jul
Blog

Shark IQ Robot R101AE Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Review

Hai iq robot vacuum rating 3

Shark IQ Robot 101AE with self-draining base

"The self-draining ability of the IQ robot combined with its ability to clean only certain areas allows me to schedule 30 days and achieve a truly automated cleaning experience."

  • Empties

  • Excellent suction power

  • Useful home mapping

  • Reasonable price

  • Loud operation

  • The robot needs a week to learn the environment

I'm too lazy to do robotic vacuum cleaners.

I don't want to make sure the dog bowl is out of the way, pull my shoes out of the middle of the entrance, and move my laptop cable and cell phone chargers so the robot doesn't eat them. I also don’t feel like emptying the trash can regularly.

I recently had the opportunity to review a new Shark robot vacuum called IQ Robot. What does the Shark IQ Robot have compared to the millions of other robot vacuum cleaners on the market? Is it nicer Smarter? Will it fold my laundry? What makes it special?

Well, like the Roomba i7 plus, the Shark IQ R101AE is an automatically emptied robotic vacuum cleaner. It is also said to have exceptional suction power, a self-cleaning brush roller, advanced mapping functions and a relatively affordable price. Given that features tend to increase pricing, it's reassuring that Shark keeps them relatively available.

Let's see if this self-draining robot is as good as it sounds.

Get ready

When I opened the box, I found the Shark IQ robot with the self-cleaning brush roller, wheels and main components already installed. To complete the assembly of the robot, all I had to do was snap open the two front side brushes, which are one-sided. I also found the self-draining base that also serves as a charging station. Finally, there is a mat included in case I want to set up the IQ robot on a carpet area. I did not use the mat because I placed the device on a hard floor.

Erika Rawes / Digital Trends

The setup process was very simple. It took less than five minutes. After fully charging the robot, which took six hours to fully charge the battery, I installed the Shark Clean app and connected the voice control device to Alexa.

Yes, it empties itself and is pretty cute

Erika Rawes / Digital Trends

I can hear the dirt being sucked out of the robot every time the robot interacts with the docking station. The emptying station is also without a bag, so I don't have to worry about replacement bags or environmental damage caused by plastic.

Thanks to the self-draining bagless technology, I can leave the vacuum alone for about a month. When it's finally time to empty the dirt, I just lift the container up and push a button to throw dust and dirt into a trash can.

Much better mapping than previous Shark robots

Earlier Shark robot vacuum cleaners like the ION R85 weren't particularly good at card technology. The R85 has intelligent sensor navigation with which it can avoid objects and move around the house. However, it does not have a visual assignment.

The new Shark IQ Robot is far ahead of the ION R85 in this regard. It does not repeatedly drive over areas where it has already been cleaned, and it creates a map of your house in the app that allows you to select specific areas in which the robot should clean. For example, you can instruct the robot to only clean the master bedroom or living room and they know exactly where to go.

Powerful shark suction

This vacuum has an amazing suction power. The suction power is better than most upright units I have encountered. As a result, my floors were completely free of dust, dirt and dog hair. However, what really impressed me about the IQ robot was its ability to pick up large debris. We have a lot of trees on our property, so my family and I track a lot of dried leaves. The robot picked up all of the last leaves, crumbs, and scraps of food left on the floor from the day.

The IQ robot comes with 8 feet of magnetic strips that I can use to block areas where the robot shouldn't be driving. I cut the magnetic strips into smaller pieces and put the strips in front of my dog's crate, around their feeding area and in front of an area where there are many cables and charging cables. This way, I don't have to move anything before I have vacuumed or cleaned up, which cancels the purpose of automated cleaning.

Planning, automatic top-up and more

I can set the IQ robot to clean on a schedule. In general, the robot vacuum planning features are not too useful since the user has to empty the trash can and prepare the cleaning area between cleanings. The self-draining ability of the IQ robot, combined with its ability to clean only certain areas, allows me to set a 30-day schedule and have a truly automated cleaning experience. The robot has a battery life of 90 minutes on a single charge. However, if the robot runs out of battery juice or the dust container fills up during cleaning, it will return to the station to get more battery power or drain itself and then continue cleaning.

The robot also speaks and lets me know when problems arise. If I can't find the robot, the app has the "Find my robot" function that the robot uses to beep so that I can find the device if it gets stuck under a couch or in a cabinet. Since it is compatible with Alexa and Google Home, I can also use voice commands to control the IQ robot.

The robot is a bit loud

Erika Rawes / Digital Trends

This vacuum makes a lot of noise. It's louder than any other robot vacuum I've used during operation. It is also extremely noisy when the robot empties the dirt into the self-draining base. When emptied, it sounds like one of those vacuum cleaners in the car wash. It frightened my dog ​​for the first time, and now she looks at the robot every time he approaches the docking station and waits for him to make the loud noise.

For me, the volume of the device wasn't too much of a problem as I can just stop my Hulu show when the vacuum approaches. But for those who have young children or in a home situation where they need a robot vacuum that works quietly, this could be a problem.

There is a learning curve

Most robotic vacuum cleaners take some time to learn your home. This device had to vacuum my house for eight days (14 separate cleaning cycles) before a complete map of my house was created. For the first week before the card was ready, I couldn't set the robot to only clean certain rooms.

The robot couldn't find the dock when he was still learning my home. It searched for about 45 seconds and then the robot said aloud that it couldn't find the dock and asked me to put it on the dock manually. It still worked normally and emptied itself after I put it on the dock, but I was a little surprised that it couldn't find it on its own. After about five days, the robot started to locate the dock with no problems.

Warranty info

The Shark IQ robot is guaranteed for one year.

Our opinion

The practical and powerful Shark IQ robot solves most of the problems customers have with robotic vacuum cleaners. There are a few drawbacks – the robot is noisy and it takes about a week to learn the house and unlock all of its features – but since the IQ robot is cheaper than other robots in its category, I'm still happy with that Total unit.

Are there any better alternatives?

The main competition to the IQ Robot is the iRobot Roomba i7 Plus, an excellent machine with excellent mapping functions and exceptional cleaning performance. The two main differences between the IQ Robot and the i7 Plus are the price and the fact that the IQ Robot is bagless.

You can buy the IQ Robot for $ 600, which is the normal retail price. The i7 Plus costs around $ 1,000. The i7 Plus is also self-draining, but the emptying station contains disposable bags. The customer must replace the bag after the trash can has been emptied 30 times.

How long it will take?

With visual mapping and smart home compatibility, this robot is technologically exactly where it should be. Functions such as self-draining and the option to select certain cleaning areas make it even better and bring it a little ahead of the curve.

There's no reason to believe that the Companion (Shark Clean) app will soon end support for the IQ Robot, and you shouldn't have to worry about the quality of the robot either. All parts and components feel robust and well made.

Should you buy it

Yes. If you don't want to worry about vacuuming at all, this robot is a good investment.

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