Although Shark cordless vacuums require little maintenance, cleaning is still necessary to keep them looking good and maintain their suction power.
In this article, we’ll demonstrate how to clean a Shark cordless using the Shark IZ251UKT as an example. Additionally, we’ll provide you with cleaning schedules for each component of your vacuum.
How To Clean A Shark Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
There are several cordless vacuum cleaner models made by Shark. The IZ251UK DuoClean is a popular model that shares many design elements with other Shark vacuums, so we’ve chosen it as our example vacuum for the cleaning procedures below, though your model may have different specific instructions.
Step 1: Empty And Clean The Shark Dust Cup
To begin, take the vacuum’s wand out before using the slider to empty the dust cup into a trash can.
If you look inside the dust cup, you’ll see that the metal shroud frequently accumulates dust and hair. It’s crucial to occasionally clean the dust cup because the interior quickly becomes covered in dirt.
To do this, remove the dust cup from the handheld mode by using the “Dust Cup Release” button. The dust cup must be tilted in order to be removed.
After separating the dust cup from the vacuum’s main body, rinse the cup’s interior with cold water. To remove grime and dirt, you can use a soft cloth rather than any detergent or soap. Prior to reattaching the dust cup to the vacuum cleaner, make sure you give it at least 24 hours to dry out.
Use a soft brush to get rid of hair and dust that have gotten tangled up in the metal shroud of your dust cup if you don’t want to give it a thorough cleaning.
Step 2: Clean The Shark’s Filters
The Shark has a pre-motor filter and a post-motor filter included. The post-motor filter is one piece, while the pre-motor filter is made up of two parts: layers of foam and felt.
The felt filters are vulnerable to damage, so use caution when cleaning them. If the filters appear discolored, there is no need to be concerned; this is completely normal. The filters should not be scrubbed because doing so could harm them.
While the filters are drying, clean the filter housing on your Shark with a brush if you want to give it a thorough cleaning.
Step 3: Check For Blockages Inside The Shark
Airflow through your Shark cordless vacuum cleaner can be hampered by obstructions, even partial ones. Cleaning effectiveness is impacted by the decreased suction power.
Here are some of the most important places to check for a blockage:
the vacuum cleaner’s main body’s dust cup inlet. A blockage here will likely be visible when emptying the vacuum, but it’s still important to check the entrance to the dust cup itself.
on the floorhead, the suction entrance. One of the most frequent places for a blockage is here, so be sure to look for and clear out any debris that has been amassed. When cleaning the IZ251UK series, you can use a coin to unlock the base plate on the floor nozzle so you can get to the entrance.
after removing the wand, and the handheld vacuum’s opening. Once more, a blockage frequently occurs in this location.
Inspect the clog access if your Shark vacuum has a Flexology hinge if it does, otherwise, check the wand itself.
Step 4: Remove Tangles Around Your Vacuum’s Brush Roll
Regularly clean the brush roll of your vacuum, or brush rolls if your Shark cordless has a DuoClean floorhead, of any tangled hair, string, or rug fibers that have become lodged there.)
Make sure you read your manual for instructions on removing a Shark brush roll because this is one area where Shark cordless vacuums can differ significantly depending on which model you purchase.
Only the soft roller of some Shark vacs’ DuoClean floorheads can be taken out. Some have DuoClean heads, which allow you to clean by removing both rollers. There are also some entry-level Shark vacuums that have just one standard brush bar.
Generally speaking, a DuoClean floorhead has a catch on the bottom that can be used to remove the soft roller. Using a detachable panel on the floorhead’s top, you can get to the bristle brush roll if it can be removed.
The three base plate locks on the Shark IZ251UK must be unlocked using a coin. The brush rolls will be simpler to reach once this has been taken out.
Step 5: Clean Non-motorised Tools
Check your Shark’s crevice tool and other accessories to see if they require cleaning while everything else dries. Although we don’t advise it for Shark’s Pet Turbo Tool, you can typically wash these in cold water.
However, if there is any hair tangled in the turbo tool’s mini brush roll, you should cut it off because it may start to affect operation.
Make sure to let the tools air dry for 24 hours before using them again, just like you should with all other components.
Shark Cordless Vacuum: How To Clean The Filter
Before starting any maintenance, always turn off your vacuum. For information on where to find and how to access your unit’s removable filters, consult your instruction manual. On our product pages or on our Customer Care page, you can download instruction manuals.
Cleaning foam and felt filters
Just give them a quick tap to remove any loose dirt before giving them a quick rinse under the faucet. Do not use soap; only use water. Before reinstalling the filters, always let them air dry completely. Filters can also be tapped clean of any loose dirt as needed in between washes.
Cleaning a post-motor filter
The first step is to remove it from the vacuum; based on your model, you might also need to remove the filter from a frame. Before reinserting into the frame and reentering the vacuum, hand wash with water and let dry completely on the air.
Summary
It’s not difficult to clean a Shark cordless vacuum cleaner, but it’s important to make sure you’re doing it correctly. By doing this, you can keep your vacuum operating at peak efficiency and avoid unintentionally breaking it while cleaning.
