Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner review: The ultra-light device for quick clean ups
WEIGHING in at just 0.6kg, the Shark WV251UK vacuum cleaner is undoubtedly one of the lightest handheld models around.
But is it just too small to function properly or have we found the Holy Grail of cleaners? Read on to find out.
Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner: Quick summary
- Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner, £179.99 from Shark -
The Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner is a lightweight device that’s designed for quick clean up jobs.
We love how easy it is to set up and use, and there’s minimal maintenance required afterwards.
It’s a quick 2.5 hour charge to get started, and then you can use it for up to 8 minutes.
Thanks to the space saving charging and storage station, it’s a great option for smaller homes too.
Plus, with two well-designed accessories, it’s easy to use the Shark WV251UK for a wide range of tasks.
Pros:
- Super light body
- Compact design
- Double battery setup
- Quick charge time
Cons:
- Shorter run time
- Only one speed
- Small dust tank
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Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner: The full review
- Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner, £179.99 from Shark -
Key features:
The Shark WV251UK has plenty of features that make it super handy to have around at home. These include:
- Lightweight body: The handheld device weighs just 0.6kg, making it the lightest Shark model you can get. It’s perfect for those with mobility problems who might not be able to lift heavy objects.
- Slimline design: There’s no bulky motor here. Instead, you have a 2ft (61cm) long wand-style vacuum that measures 2.5in (6cm) at its widest point. It's great for getting into those narrow gaps, tight corners and reaching up to clear away cobwebs.
- Double battery: You get two batteries with this design so when one runs out, you can easily switch to the other and continue your clean. Each one has a run time of 8 minutes.
- Two accessories: The crevice cleaning tool is designed to get into tight spots and has a flip-out brush head for sweeping up any dust bunnies. There’s a separate pet multi-tool with ultra-short bristles that will brush clean upholstery.
- Charging/storage base: The charging base - measuring 8.5in (22cm) long by 4in (10cm) at its widest point - doubles as a compact storage stand for the Shark WV251UK and its accessories so you can find everything in one place.
Setup:
Handheld vacuum cleaners by their very nature require minimal setup and the is no exception.
Before first use, all you need to do is put the device in the charging base, plug it in and wait for 2.5 hours for the battery to fully charge.
A handy light on the power button will fade in and out to show you it’s charging, becoming dimmed once it’s fully charged and ready to use.
Then you just attach the accessory you want, press the power button and off you go.
Usage:
Compared to some handheld and cordless vacuum cleaners, the has a much shorter run time.
Once fully charged, each battery will only allow up to 8 minutes of use, with the double battery setup giving you a total of 16 minutes of cleaning time.
While this might not sound like much, as the is designed for quick cleaning jobs, it can tackle a surprising number of tasks in a relatively short amount of time.
And despite its lightweight and slimline design, the 115W motor delivers plenty of power to pick up dust and debris.
For example, on a single charge of a single battery, we were able to completely clean our sofa, dust off the skirting boards and get rid of the cobwebs that we haven’t been able to reach up to now with our usual device.
The power button blinks when there’s low battery, so we know there’s still plenty of charge left on the device when we’re done.
And as it’s so portable and lightweight, it’s easy to move it around the house or even out to clean the car.
Maintenance:
Some vacuum cleaners require quite a lot of maintenance to function properly but with the , this is minimal.
The dust tank is relatively small, but that’s not a problem given the types of tasks that the device is designed for.
To empty it, you just need to slide the handy button on top of the device up and the contents will release straight into the bin.
For a proper clean, there’s a release button inside that lets you remove the dust tank altogether - then it’s just a case of rinsing it under the tap and letting it air dry before refitting.
There’s a separate container for the filter, which stops the dust from blowing back into the air during use.
You should rinse this out about once and month - or more frequently if you regularly use the device or have pets - and let it air dry before refitting.
All in all, it takes about 5 minutes to clean all the elements so we are very impressed by how little effort is involved.
Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner: The verdict
- Shark WV251UK handheld vacuum cleaner, £179.99 from Shark -
The handheld vacuum cleaner is designed for small clean up jobs - that means if you accidentally spilled some sugar or need to give your car or sofa a quick once over.
So if you need a machine that can clean your carpet or your entire house, you’ll need something a little bigger and more powerful.
For those little tasks though, we think the is perfect.
We love how lightweight and easy it is to use.
All of the cons - the short run time, small dust tank and and one speed setting - aren’t really an issue if you only use it for those small tasks.
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Obviously it’s a little bit on the pricier side, but that’s because it comes with a second battery, which should come in handy if you’re someone who always forgets to charge a handheld device.
If that’s not an issue though, you may want to check out the cheaper instead.