Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum Review: Powerful, Versatile Cleaning for Pet Owners

The Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum is a highly versatile and powerful vacuum designed to meet the needs of pet owners and those dealing with allergies. Equipped with Lift-Away functionality, HEPA filtration, and swivel steering, this vacuum makes it easy to clean both carpets and hard floors, as well as above-floor areas like stairs and furniture. Let’s explore its key features to see how it performs in different cleaning scenarios.

Lift-Away Functionality for Above-Floor Cleaning

The standout feature of the Shark NV356E is its Lift-Away technology, which allows you to detach the vacuum's pod for easy cleaning of above-floor areas. This makes it incredibly convenient for tackling stairs, furniture, and tight spaces that are typically hard to reach with a standard upright vacuum. The detachable pod makes the vacuum lightweight and easy to maneuver, helping you clean your entire home more effectively.

Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with HEPA Filtration

For those with allergies or sensitivities to dust and dander, the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology combined with the HEPA filter is a huge benefit. This system traps 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum, ensuring that they don’t escape back into the air while you're cleaning. This feature is particularly important for homes with pets, as it helps capture pet hair, dander, and fine dust particles that can aggravate allergies.

Brushroll Shutoff for Carpets and Bare Floors

The brushroll shutoff feature allows you to instantly switch between carpet cleaning and gentle bare floor cleaning. This is especially useful if you have a combination of flooring types in your home. When cleaning carpets, the brushroll digs deep to lift embedded dirt and pet hair, while on hard floors, you can turn the brushroll off for a more delicate clean that won’t scratch surfaces.

Perfect for Pet Owners

Pet hair and dander can be a challenge to clean, but the Shark NV356E is specifically designed to address these issues. The vacuum's Powerful Pet Power Brush is ideal for removing pet hair and loose debris from upholstery, stairs, and other surfaces. Whether you’re dealing with shedding pets or just general pet-related messes, this vacuum provides the deep cleaning power needed to keep your home clean and free of allergens.

Swivel Steering for Easy Maneuverability

The swivel steering feature makes it incredibly easy to maneuver the vacuum around furniture, corners, and tight spaces. This allows you to navigate your home with greater ease, reducing the need to move heavy furniture or perform awkward maneuvers while cleaning. The swivel steering is particularly helpful for quickly cleaning large rooms with multiple obstacles.

Extra-Large Dust Cup for Extended Cleaning

The 0.87L dust cup offers ample capacity for collecting debris, meaning you can clean for longer without needing to stop and empty the vacuum. The dust cup is easy to remove and empty, ensuring minimal hassle during your cleaning routine. This extra-large capacity is a welcome feature for households with pets, as it allows for more extensive cleaning sessions without frequent interruptions.

Included Tools for Versatile Cleaning

The Shark NV356E Navigator comes with a variety of tools designed to enhance its versatility:

- Crevice Tool: Perfect for accessing tight spaces, corners, baseboards, and ceilings. It allows you to clean areas that are difficult to reach with the standard vacuum head.

- Dusting Brush: Ideal for gentle cleaning of delicate surfaces, including lampshades, blinds, and furniture.

These tools expand the vacuum’s functionality, ensuring that every surface in your home can be thoroughly cleaned.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Lift-Away technology makes above-floor cleaning easy and convenient

- HEPA filtration with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal traps 99.9% of dust and allergens, perfect for allergy sufferers

- Brushroll shutoff feature provides effective cleaning on both carpets and hard floors

- Pet Power Brush effectively removes pet hair and dander from upholstery and other surfaces

- Swivel steering offers superior maneuverability around furniture and tight spaces

- Extra-large dust cup allows for longer cleaning sessions without frequent emptying

- Includes crevice tool and dusting brush for versatile cleaning

Cons:

- Slightly heavier than some other upright vacuums, which may be a consideration for those looking for a more lightweight model

- Corded, which limits mobility compared to cordless models

- No automatic cord rewind, so you’ll need to manually wrap the cord after use

The Bottom Line

The Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum is an excellent choice for pet owners, allergy sufferers, and anyone looking for a versatile and powerful vacuum. Its Lift-Away technology, HEPA filtration, and pet hair removal capabilities make it stand out as a top contender for households with pets and high allergen concerns. The swivel steering and extra-large dust cup add to its overall convenience and ease of use.

If you’re looking for a vacuum that can handle a variety of surfaces, including carpets, hard floors, and above-floor areas, the Shark NV356E offers the performance and versatility you need to keep your home clean and free of allergens.