Corded vacuums are supposed to be outdated – so why is the Shark Detect Lift-Away XL so good? | Homes

Corded vacuum cleaners aren’t as glamorous as their cordless cousins, but swapping battery power for a plug socket has its advantages. The device will never be short of power, so it can keep cleaning for as long as you need it to. Prices also tend to be lower because there’s no expensive battery to factor into the cost.

On the downside, there’s a cable to manage while you clean, and even the longest cords usually need to be switched from one plug socket to another if your home is any larger than a small flat.

The Shark Detect XL LA791UKT is a versatile corded upright that carries many of the best elements you’ll find on Shark’s cordless vacuums. Chief among these is the Duo Clean dual-roller floor head, which combines a fluffy roller and a regular brush bar into an all-in-one unit. That makes it an expert on carpets and hard floors, without needing to switch heads.

What’s relatively new to this model is its Detect function. This is a sensor on the underside of the floor head that works out what surface it’s on and adjusts the speed of its rollers accordingly. That means you don’t have to flip a switch when transferring from the hard floor of your kitchen or utility room to carpets and rugs in your living areas.

How I tested

Corded vacuum cleaners aren’t as difficult to test as cordless models, as there’s no battery life to take into consideration. I tested the suction by attaching a gauge to the end of the extension hose and recording the measurements on minimum and maximum modes.

I also put the vacuum through a series of cleaning tests, challenging it to collect pre-weighed amounts of cat litter, flour and pet hair using the Duo Clean floor head. I ran these tests on short-pile carpet and hard floor, weighing the collection bin before and after each test to find out how much mess is transferred from the floor to the bin.

What you need to know

There’s little here that’s particularly new or exciting, but frankly, that’s the way I like Shark’s vacuum cleaners. They’ve been blitzing my cleaning tests for several generations now, and change isn’t always for the better, as we saw with the Dyson V16 Piston Animal.

The Duo Clean floor head is a refined and effective piece of engineering that Shark is sensibly tweaking without revolutionising. The surface detection is the newest addition to the corded range, but many of Shark’s cordless vacuums (such as our favourite, the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251) already have that feature. The classic two rollers and anti-tangle system are unchanged from previous models, and rightly so – it carries on a fine tradition here, performing well in my tests.

The collection bin can be released from the floor head by pressing a foot pedal, then lifted away. You can then release the handle from the extension wand to use it as a handheld device (albeit on the end of the flexible hose). And the bin is a good size, with a capacity of 2.5 litres. That isn’t as voluminous as some corded devices, with a regular-size bagged Henry typically swallowing six litres of dirt before it needs emptying, but it’s still more than twice the capacity of most cordless vacuum cleaners.

As a result, it’s large and heavy to lug around, weighing 5.2kg on my bathroom scales. Leave the floor head behind in Lift-Away mode, however, and it drops to a more manageable 2.9kg, including the 8m cable, handle and extension.

Despite its weight, it’s surprisingly nimble when it’s on the floor and switched on. Its centre of gravity is low, and the floor head pulls forwards slightly on carpet. If anything, you need to rein in its enthusiasm, rather than struggle to get it moving.

Shark Detect XL LA791UKT specifications

Weight: 5.2kg
Max suction power (quoted): not stated
Max suction power (measured): 17kPa
Cord length: 8m
Dust capacity: 2.5l
Additional filters supplied? No
Dimensions: 31 x 43 x 115cm (WDH)

What we love

With the combination of the floor head and an excellent variety of attachments, the thing I love most about this vacuum cleaner is its ability to clean up every mess thrown at it. I was particularly impressed with the floor head’s performance in my flour and pet hair tests. On carpets and hard floors, the vacuum easily lifted everything I spilt.

The cat litter proved marginally more elusive, with a small number of pieces falling out of the vacuum when I finished cleaning, having not made it into the collection bin. It’s beside the point, though, because I managed to clean up the remainder quickly and easily using the extension wand without any attachments. The cat litter flew up the tube, a better way to gather larger particles than forcing them through the floor head.

And the attachments really are excellent, including the ones I always look for: a motorised upholstery tool, and a combination crevice tool and dusting brush. I tested the floor head’s anti-tangle capability on my daughter’s bedroom floor. This has proved to be a tricky test for many rival vacuum cleaners because of her long hair, which is highly prone to wrapping itself around a vacuum’s rollers. Shark’s system has a comb that lifts out the hair before it gets tangled – and it performed its job perfectly here. I could see hair coming off the floor and saw it pass safely into the collection bin. I inspected the rollers closely afterwards, and couldn’t see a single strand left behind.

It’s great to be able to lift the collection bin away from the floor head when you want to access hard-to-reach areas, whether they’re high up, such as cobwebs in the corners, or you’re cleaning the stairs. This makes it a bit lighter, less bulky, and leaves the wheels behind. I found the motorised upholstery tool particularly effective for the stairs, though I did need to follow it up with the crevice tool to tackle the edges and corners. With the main vacuum section in one hand and the released handle and hose in the other, accessing difficult areas is a breeze.

The controls are incredibly simple, with no screen or menus to navigate. The vacuum is switched on via a button on the main unit. This doubles up as a mode switch, which can either be left in Detect mode or forced to stay in either carpet or hard-floor modes. The only downside is that you have to reach down to the collection bin to operate it, whereas many cordless vacuums have their controls more readily available at the handle.

It’s also possible to control the suction power with a flick of a switch. This is up at the handle, so it can be controlled with a thumb while you’re vacuuming. There are two modes, Min and Max, with the Min setting essentially opening up a vent that lets through more air, thus weakening the suction.

What we don’t love

Cordless vacuum cleaners are reasonably good at getting under low furniture, but the Shark’s floor head is held back by the bulk of the collection bin that sits above it. You can certainly use one of the attachments to reach difficult places, but you don’t quite get the flexibility and manoeuvrability of a cordless here.

I also didn’t love the cord. While eliminating the chance of running out of power, cord management while you’re vacuuming is an extra thing to think about. The Shark doesn’t have fancy retractable cord storage either – instead you’re required to wrap the cord around two hooks on the side when you’ve finished your cleaning.

I’ve used a few similar upright Sharks extensively for everyday cleaning jobs and found that they can suffer blockages due to the slightly convoluted path that debris has to pass through. Even when the floor head is attached, dirt is sucked up the extension wand, almost up to the handle, then back down the bendy tube to the collection bin. I didn’t experience any blockages during testing, but have witnessed it in similar designs. Fortunately, everything is easy to dismantle, so blockages are simple to clear. They also only really occur when you’re tackling particularly problematic messes, such as clumps of pet hair.

Warranty, repairability and sustainability

Shark’s corded vacuum cleaners have a generous five-year guarantee, provided you register the product within 28 days of purchase. The guarantee covers parts and labour, and Shark offers repair or replacement if things go wrong with your machine. It doesn’t cover blockages, misuse or everyday wear and tear – such as worn-out rollers or blown fuses – but most other types of fault are covered.

Although it doesn’t use bags, the LA791UKT does have a consumable in the form of an anti-odour capsule. These aren’t essential to replace, but they keep your vacuum smelling a little more pleasant, and last for about six months. Shark sells replacement cartridges for £7.99 each.

The filters are easy to remove and wash under cold running water. There are two pre-motor filters, which should be rinsed through and left to dry once a month. The post-motor filter is an annual cleaning job. If any of these get too bunged up, you can buy replacements from Shark.

When your vacuum finally gives up, it can be recycled at a local electrical recycling centre – find your nearest at recycle-more.

For more, read our guide on how to make your vacuum cleaner last longer

Shark Detect Lift-Away XL: should I buy it?

The Shark Detect Lift-Away XL LA791UKT is easily the best corded vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, with excellent performance in my tests, all the add-ons and attachments you could ask for, and no-fuss operation and maintenance. At an RRP of £349.99, it’s at the higher end of Shark’s price scale for corded upright vacuum cleaners, but it comes with everything you might need and a guarantee that should ensure it’s built to last.

For more:
The best vacuum cleaners for every floor
The best cordless vacuum cleaners for a spotless home
The best robot vacuums to keep your home clean and dust free

Andy Shaw is a consumer journalist and technology addict. Having reviewed tech products professionally for more than 30 years, his favoured working environment is a small desk surrounded by big boxes. His greatest weakness is that he never, ever remembers how things came out of their packaging, so they rarely fit back in again when it’s time to return them