Shark’s budget carpet cleaner looked so good on paper that I had to test it out for myself - this is how it tackled deep cleaning and stain removal in my home

A major perk of my job is testing cleaning and floor care appliances in my own home - something that has come in very handy after recently moving into a new (slightly neglected) house. And in an effort to restore my old, worn carpets into something that didn’t give me the heebie-jeebies, I decided to take the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner out for a spin.

Typically, the best carpet cleaners are big and cumbersome, but the new Shark CarpetForce is marketed as a lightweight, compact alternative to these larger, heavier options. But does the cleaning power match its impressive size and weight specs? That was what I wanted to find out.

In a nutshell

At 6.9 kg and with a small footprint and removable wand for easy storage, the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is undoubtedly the lightest, smallest, and most manoeuvrable carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. That alone would be enough to add it to my basket, especially in a world where these appliances can weigh over 15kg and require an entire room for storage.

But the CarpetForce also offers two cleaning modes - Express Clean and Deep Clean - allowing homeowners and renters alike the chance to give their carpets a quick refresh or a deeper, more powerful clean to get right into the carpet fibres. And during testing, Express Clean impressed me with its power and rapid drying time.

On the other hand, Deep Clean mode handled smaller, less-intrusive stains with ease, but it wasn’t quite enough to remove deep-set coffee stains, and the drying time was over 24 hours. Because of this, this carpet cleaner isn’t for those who want to take soiled, stained carpets and restore them to their former glory. Instead, I believe it’s for the everyday user who wants to refresh their carpets with more than just a vacuum cleaner.

Just be warned that with no tools or attachments, this is very much an appliance for carpets and rugs - not your sofas, upholstery or stairs. But for an affordable, compact carpet cleaner that gets the job done quickly and efficiently (and on a small scale), it left me impressed.

Specifications

• Cord length: 6m
• Clean water capacity: 3.8L
• Modes: Deep Clean, Express Clean
• Weight: 6.9 kg
• Dimensions: 32.69 cm L x 26.39 cm W x 110.9 cm H
• In the box: Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner with removable wand, 350ml Shark Deep Clean Ultra formula - Starter Bottle
• RRP: £179.99

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

When a brand says something, I like to think that they mean it. So, things started off well when Shark’s ‘lightest carpet cleaner’ turned up on my doorstep in a compact box weighing no more than 10kg. After all, I’m used to testing carpet cleaners (and even some vacuum cleaners) that weigh significantly more than that.

In true Shark form, everything was packaged incredibly simply and in an eco-friendly fashion - from the outer cardboard box to the paper packaging surrounding the carpet cleaner and the removable wand. The box also included an instruction manual and a starter bottle of the cleaning solution.

I was happy to see that very little assembly was required. All I had to do was click the wand into the top of the unit and remove a few sticky labels before I could inspect it in its entirety.

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It's a compact model and so lightweight to carry around the house, and I knew just from looking at it that I wouldn’t have to rehome my husband to find storage space for it (which I’m sure he was happy about, too).

And while I’m used to testing carpet cleaners that also come with hoses and handheld attachments for smaller cleaning jobs, I tried not to be too disappointed. I got the feeling that this carpet cleaner was for everyday refreshes rather than deep fibre penetration and stain removal. But I was eager to test this theory out.

To get ready for the first clean, I removed the clean water tank, unscrewed the cap, and filled it to the handy ‘WATER’ fill line. Then, I topped up the rest of the tank with the solution, which was also marked with a ‘CONCENTRATE’ line.

Then, I popped it back on the unit, ready to start cleaning. From unboxing to ready-to-go, it took no more than five minutes, which is a major win in my (very busy) book.

Using the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner

We have strict rules for how we test carpet cleaners at Ideal Home, so I started the review process by throwing coffee onto a carpet sample, wiping blue toothpaste next to it, and letting the stains settle and dry for 24 hours. I then set to work on (hopefully) removing these stains with the Shark CarpetForce.

I used the ‘Deep Clean’ mode for these stains, applying the solution by pressing the trigger while slowly pushing the carpet cleaner forward. Then, I released the trigger and pulled the unit back to ‘extract’ the stains and the water/cleaning solution concoction.

One thing I noticed immediately is that Deep Clean mode uses a lot of water - so much so that it started leaking over the sides of the carpet sample. This left it soaking, and while the extraction removed a fair amount, a lot of water remained behind. In fact, it took the carpet sample over 24 hours to feel dry to the touch - a little too long, in my opinion.

The results here were fair. Although the Shark CarpetForce removed the toothpaste stain with no problem during the first Deep Clean, the coffee stain remained - albeit a lot fainter. So, I had to repeat the process a couple of days later, but even then a slight hint of brown still lingered if you looked close enough.

The issue, in my eyes, is that the CarpetForce doesn’t come with a spot-cleaning function or tool that allows for more targeted stain removal. But in Shark’s defence, it didn’t design this carpet cleaner with that in mind.

So, I can’t really fault it for not having a smaller hose or attachment for stains. It is worth considering this if you regularly have to tackle stains, though, as it may be worth buying a separate spot cleaner like the Shark Stainforce.

However, one thing that did impress me during this stain removal test was how lightweight and manoeuvrable the carpet cleaner was, so I then decided to take it for a spin on my living room rug - a cream number that, in hindsight, wasn’t a good choice in a high-traffic area when you live with a dog.

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I used Express Clean for this task, and the water usage felt much more appropriate. I could see and feel that it left the rug damp, not sodden, and it looked noticeably cleaner on the first try. But what I loved most was that the rug was completely dry again in less than three hours.

I was so impressed that I decided to tackle the carpeted landing that has been giving me nightmares since we moved into this house. The property was fairly neglected when we moved in, and I had no idea how long it had been since it was last cleaned, so I was fully expecting to be horrified - and I was.

Even in Express Clean mode, the Shark CarpetForce extracted so much dirt and grime that the water turned a disgusting dark brown. But despite giving me shivers, it was extremely satisfying and took very little effort on my part.

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Of course, without attachments or tools, I couldn't use this carpet cleaner to clean my carpeted stairs, which was a shame. But for a refresh of rugs and flat carpets, it did a very good job, and the 6m cord length was long enough to offer stretch without the cable getting in the way all the time.

I was also able to use one full tank of water and cleaning solution for three separate cleaning jobs - including one Deep Clean and two Express Cleans on smaller areas - so it went a lot further than I thought.

Cleaning and maintenance

While not having any tools or attachments is undoubtedly a negative for versatility, it’s certainly a positive for cleaning and maintenance. The Shark CarpetForce was surprisingly easy to look after, and not as messy as I was anticipating.

I’ve previously tested carpet cleaners where the brush roll gets ridiculously gunky where debris hasn’t been sucked fully back into the dirty water chamber, but the CarpetForce was fairly clean - just a bit wet, with a little bit of hair wrapped around the brush roll. However, I always have my Pikk-It® Hair Removal Tool (£7.99 at Amazon) to hand whenever I test a floorcare appliance, as this tends to come with the territory.

Despite the few strands caught around the brush roll, though, most of the human (and dog) hair was captured within the strainer that sits within the dirty water tank. In fact, it was completely full to the brim with hair and carpet/rug fibres, but it was easy to tap it into a bin and get rid of it all.

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Then, you can pour the dirty water down the sink and clean the foam filter with soap and water. It’s also a good idea to lightly wash the dirty water tank and its removable parts in washing-up liquid and water before air-drying and reassembling. You can also remove the brushroll for a deeper clean.

One ongoing maintenance cost to consider, though, is the cleaning solution. This particular Shark carpet cleaner isn’t compatible with any other solution or carpet cleaning solutions, so you will need to buy it every so often if you’re running low - and a refill of the Deep Clean formula will set you back £14.99 at Shark. You can also buy pet- or stain-specific Shark solutions, too.

A bonus is that - unlike other carpet cleaners I’ve tested - you can store the carpet cleaner with any unused solution in the tank, and you don’t have to empty it after every use.

In terms of storage, this is also undoubtedly the smallest full-size carpet cleaner I’ve ever tested. The wand is removable, making it even smaller and easy to store in smaller homes with limited storage. So, that’s a major bonus in my book.

How does it rate online?

The Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner is still relatively new to the market, but at the time of writing, it has 32 reviews and an overall rating of 4.7 stars out of 5.

Most reviewers praise the ease and manoeuvrability of the lightweight, compact carpet cleaner, saying that it was ideal for giving their carpets a refresh - especially at the low price point.

However, some have criticised how quickly it runs out of water during carpet cleaning. Others noted that it was a shame there were no tools or attachments for cleaning stairs.

How does it compare to similar models?

When comparing carpet cleaners, it’s important to compare with the top-rated model in our guide - the VAX Platinum SmartWash Pet-Design Carpet Washer. This model is significantly more expensive at £350, but it offers much more in the way of deep cleaning.

It comes with a longer power cord for extra reach, plus a 2.5m hose, 2-in-1 anti-microbial tool, SpinScrub tool, and more cleaning solutions. This meant that our reviewer could use it on everything from her rugs and sofas to her stairs with ease.

It also has a hot air dry-only setting that significantly speeds up drying time by removing moisture before you pop it away. However, it is a lot heavier at 8.9kg, and a lot bigger - making it trickier to store.

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As it’s a Shark model, it’s also worth comparing it to the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet Deep Carpet Cleaner with Spot Cleaner, which I tested last year and gave a slightly higher 4.5-star review thanks to the built-in spot cleaner and Dry Only mode.

The CarpetXpert is undoubtedly a better carpet cleaner than this CarpetForce in terms of performance and features, but ultimately it depends on what you want to buy a carpet cleaner for. If you want it to give your carpets a big, deep clean, the CarpetXpert will suit you best.

If you want an everyday carpet cleaner that you can whip out quickly for quick spills and refreshes, the CarpetForce is a better option.

Should you buy the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner?

If you’re after a carpet cleaner that you can keep out of sight in a cupboard and bring out to give carpets and rugs a quick refresh, I genuinely couldn’t recommend the Shark CarpetForce Upright Carpet Cleaner more. It ticks all those boxes, and it's extremely easy to use while effectively removing dirt, hair, and grime.

The compact size makes it an accessible option for those who have previously had to rent a carpet cleaner or pay a professional, and the low price point is a major bonus for those on a budget. However, it’s not perfect.

Its stain-removal abilities are fair, but not fantastic, and without any tools or attachments, its cleaning options are limited to rugs and large carpeted areas. This means that you’ll still need to buy another cleaning tool - like a smaller spot cleaner - for targeted stain removal, cleaning upholstery and furniture, and cleaning stairs.

But all in all, the Shark CarpetForce offers much of what it promises, and for under £180 I really do think it’ll be a welcome addition to many people’s cleaning routine.