The Shark vacuum company has grown quickly in a short space of time and can now be recognized as the true competitor to Dyson.
Part of this is due to the innovative features and technologies that come with every new generation of Shark vacuum.
The Shark IF260UKTH is no different, with the new features making this one of the best cordless vacuums on the market. Improved battery life, DuoClean and Flexology technologies, and a fully-sealed filtration system mean that this latest Shark cordless vacuum is a match for even the latest Dyson.
As with the Dyson V11, the price tag will be the main sticking point for most people. While this isn’t cheap, it is over £100 cheaper than the latest Dyson. The most important question, however, is how does it clean?
Read on for a full Shark IF260UKTH review and see how it compares to its rivals in the cordless vacuum market.
Contents
Pros
- 60-minute run-time is one of the best on the market
- DuoClean cleaning head for excellent performance on carpets and hard floors
- Flexology technology allows you to easily clean hard-to-reach areas
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal locks in 99.9% of allergens
Cons
- Price may be out of budget for most people (it is sometimes on deal)
- Needs to be cleaned more often that a bagged vacuum
- Smaller dust capacity than a bagged vacuum – may need to empty more often
Shark IF260UKTH Review: Design
The design of the Shark IF260UKTH is fairly similar to previous generations of Shark Cordless vacuums, such as the IF200UKT and the IF250UKT. The main difference is the colour. The wand and trims are a deep red colour, while the handle and cleaning head are predominantly black/grey in colour.
Shark have done a good job in keeping the weight of their cordless vacuums to a minimum, with the IF260UKTH tipping the scales at 4kgs.
The vacuum feels perfectly balanced to hold, and it really takes no effort at all to clean single-handed. Even those with mobility issues and the elderly should have no problems using this for even a short period of time.
The rechargeable battery can once again be removed from the machine, meaning you can have a spare one charging while you are cleaning. To me, this seems like one of the main advantages over Dyson cordless models, where the battery is sealed in and can’t be removed.
The extended reach wand can be removed to convert the IF260UKTH into a handheld. This is ideal for cleaning tight spaces such as stairs and cars.
Patented Shark Technology
The IF260UKTH comes with Sharks patented cleaning technologies, DuoClean and Flexology. These two features really come in handy when using the vacuum and give it an edge over its competitors.
DuoClean
DuoClean is the technology that is featured in all of the latest Shark cordless vacuums and some upright models. The cleaning head has two different brush rolls: a soft brush roll which is perfect for cleaning hard floors, and a bristle brush which cleans deep in the carpet fibres.
One of the main benefits of this configuration is that the soft brush roll replaces the front wall of the cleaning head.
In other vacuum cleaners that feature a hard cleaning head, large bits of debris get pushed around the floor and you have to lift the head onto the debris to suck it up. With the DuoClean head, large pieces of debris get pulled in by the soft brush roll, making cleaning easier and more efficient.
Cleaning is also more efficient due to not having to change cleaning heads depending on the surface you are cleaning. If you have a mixture of carpet and hard floor in your home, you can switch between both seamlessly as the twin brush rolls work together.
Flexology
Flexology is another ground-breaking feature that is present in the latest Shark cordless vacuums. The IF260UKTH has a hinge in the middle of the cleaning wand, and at the press of a button, you can release the catch on the hinge.
This allows the vacuum to bend in the middle, making it much easier to reach under furniture when cleaning.
Flexology technology also makes it easier to store the vacuum. When you are finished cleaning, you can fold the vacuum in half at the press of a button. Only needing half of the space to store the vacuum is a great advantage to those who are short on space.
Charging and Run Time
The Shark IF260UKTH cordless vacuum uses rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries and has a total run time of 60 minutes, which is in line with Dyson’s latest cordless models.
The main difference is that Dyson vacuums have a 60 minute run time from a single battery, while the Shark has a 30 minute run time from a single battery. This model comes with 2 batteries, giving you 60 minutes of cleaning time.
You can remove the battery from the IF260UKTH, so as long as you ensure there is always a spare battery charged you will get the full 60 minutes cleaning time.
One advantage of having removable batteries is that you can purchase another spare battery, potentially giving you 90 minutes of cleaning time. Unless you live in a mansion or use this Shark vacuum in a hotel, 60 minutes of cleaning time will be more than enough to fully clean your house.
Each battery in the Shark IF260UKTH takes 3.5 hours to fully charge, which is quicker than the 4.5 hours it takes for the Dyson V11 battery to fully charge.
Anti-Allergen Filtration
The Shark IF260UKTH vacuum has a HEPA filter as standard, which captures 99.9% of dust and allergens. A HEPA filter on its own is not enough, and if you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies you will be aware that a lot of vacuums actually expel dirty air back into the room while cleaning.
This is bad news for allergy sufferers, as it means that allergens and dust that were on the floor are now in the air, making allergy symptoms worse.
The Anti-Allergen Complete Seal system in the IF260UKTH ensures that none of the air that is sucked into the vacuum goes back into the room.
Every particle is directed through the filter leaving you with cleaner air than before you started. The filters are washable, which will save you money over the lifetime of the vacuum.
The dust cup has a capacity of 0.33 litres, which is less than half of the Dyson V11. This is one of the areas that let the IF260UKTH down and in my view is one that should be improved in future generations of Shark cordless vacuums.
Depending on how much dirt is in your home, and whether or not you have pets, you may need to empty the dust cup after every cleaning session.
Accessories and Tools
The Shark IF260UKTH comes with a number of accessories and tools which are designed to aid your cleaning.
There is a crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush, and a dust and allergen brush. It comes with two batteries as standard, as well as a double charging dock and a charger.
Shark IF260UKTH Review: Final Thoughts
The Shark IF260UKTH cordless vacuum cleaner is one of the top performers in the cordless vacuum market. The 60 minutes run time, DuoClean and Flexology technologies, and the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal system all mean that this is a vacuum that runs the Dyson V11 very close in terms of performance and features.
At more than £100 cheaper than the latest Dyson, this is a very credible alternative for those looking for a great cleaning solution at an affordable price.
This is one vacuum cleaner that goes a long way to loosening Dyson’s ever-tightening grip of the cordless vacuum industry and is a great improvement over Shark’s previous cordless models.
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- Shark IF250UK Review
- Shark HV390UKT Review
- Shark DuoClean Lift-Away Review
- Shark IF200UKT cordless review
