The Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away vacuum sucks up pet hair and messes on all types of flooring. Here's our in-depth review.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
We Tested the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away Upright Vacuum, Which Converts Into a Handheld
Updated Sep. 10, 2024
If you’ve ever shopped for a vacuum cleaner, then you’re sure to have heard whispers of the Shark vs. Dyson debate. Of course, both brands are total powerhouses, renowned for making some of the top models on the market. But no matter what your position may be, you’ve got to give it to Shark for creating some of the most versatile vacuum cleaners out there, including the brand’s lift-away vacuums. In particular, we’re talking about the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV upright vacuum.
This vacuum is a game-changer when it comes to cleaning your home. That’s because it can be used as both an upright vacuum and a handheld vacuum, making it one of the best vacuums for stairs. But this convenience and versatility doesn’t come cheap. In order to see if this vacuum cleaner is worth the splurge, we brought it into our Testing Lab for a closer look. We also sent it home with a tester to see how it fares against real messes over time. We then compiled all of our findings into this detailed Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away review. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away upright vacuum?
The Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away is an upright vacuum cleaner designed for use on all flooring surfaces. It’s fairly light and has a swiveling head, so it’s easy to maneuver around corners and furniture. It also has the ability to lay almost completely flat in order to get under furniture. What makes this one of our favorite Shark vacuums, however, is the lift-away feature. All you have to do is step on the pedal to lift away the pod, and voilà! Cleaning your stairs, furniture and other small or hard-to-reach spaces around your home is infinitely easier. “I appreciate well-designed products, and this vacuum isn’t over the top with needlessly sophisticated gadgets or settings. It’s user-friendly for all types of messes on multiple surfaces. The lift-away feature is nice because it easily converts to a handheld. The cord is generous, and I can adjust the suction control to use on draperies or lightweight rugs,” says associate product reviews editor, Sheri Kaz.
Since this Shark vacuum was designed for homes with pets, it’s loaded with features that pet parents find especially useful. Light-emitting diode (LED) headlights allow you to see hidden hair and debris on your floors while its self-cleaning, and atwo-brushroll system digs deep into carpets to suck up pet hair and messes that may have been tracked in by muddy paws. It also has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which traps 99.97% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum, an anti-allergen dusting brush and odor-neutralizer technology to keep your home smelling, well, not like pets.
This vacuum includes three attachments: a crevice tool, an upholstery tool and an anti-allergen dusting brush. Everything is neatly stored on the machine and, according to our testers, easy to use. Our Product Testing Team especially loved the placement of the cord on this vacuum cleaner. They note that the cord is on the side of the machine, so when you release the wand, you don’t have to completely unwind the cord like you would on other models.
TMB STUDIO
Editor's Pick
Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum
This machine functions as a powerful upright vacuum cleaner, as well as a portable handheld vacuum.
How we tested it
Our Product Testing Team, led by Kaz and Dylan Fischer, associate product tester, for this test, was immediately intrigued by the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away. “It’s boxy and a bit obtrusive, but it’s very cool-looking,” says the Product Testing Team. “We especially like the wine color.” They also appreciated the convenience of having the suction control on the handle and the cord management on the side of the machine. Additionally, they liked how well the attachments fit for on-board storage. “Attachments fit directly onto the handle without having to use the wand extender, but can also use the wand for extension if desired,” explains the team.
Once their initial assessment was complete, they got to work testing the machine’s performance. They began by taking it for a spin through a furniture obstacle course to test its maneuverability and dumping seasoning onto the floor to evaluate the machine’s edge-to-edge cleaning capabilities. According to our testers, it maneuvered nicely, thanks to the swiveling head, and did a good job sucking up the seasoning from both angles.
For the next round of testing, our team dumped cereal, glitter and hair onto vinyl floors, medium-pile carpet and high-pile carpet and assessed how much debris was removed after three passes. This vacuum also proved to be a top performer on vinyl floors, sucking up everything in its path in just three passes. It also performed well on both carpets, though a few additional passes were required in order to pick up all of the cereal on the medium-pile carpet. Our long-term tester, Taylor-Max Tesch, also had a similar experience.
Tesch, who shares his two-bedroom home with a very hairy Golden Retriever, felt that this vacuum really allowed for a deep clean. “I enjoyed using this to really deep clean the rugs and hard-to-reach areas. The dusting attachment is one of my favorite features,” he raves. “It eliminates the need to have a duster as the vacuum lifts away and allows you to reach higher shelves, ceiling fans and other tall dusty spots.” He did point out, however, that the vacuum was loud on his hardwood floors. “But I think that’s because of how powerful it is and isn’t too bothersome,” Tesch adds.
In addition to its powerful performance, Tesch appreciated the machine’s intuitiveness and how easy it was to clean—or, in his case, not clean. “I would have to cut out hair in my previous old hand-me-down,” he explains. The dual rollers help prevent dirt and hair from getting caught. Additionally, the main container is smooth without any weird angles, so dust and debris fall right out into the trash.”
When it comes to this vacuum’s overall value, our Product Testing Team and Tesch all agree that it doesn’t get much better than the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away upright vacuum. “This machine seems durable enough to last. It’s expensive, for sure, but you’re getting that Shark seal of quality,” says the Product Testing Team. According to Tesch, this machine is on par with its high-end competitors. “I would note that the performance is above its price point. I’ve used other cordless and corded models, and the construction is on par with other high-end vacuums,” he says. “It performs well without being $500 or more.”
Pros
- Converts to a handheld vacuum
- Suction control on the handle and on extension wand
- Quick-release wand
- Odor neutralizer
- Pile adjustment
- Swivel head with LED headlight
- Cord management is on the side of the machine
Cons
- Pricey
Why you should trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we know how important it is to find quality products that simplify your life. This especially applies to cleaning products, as our editors and testers all have homes to keep clean. Many of us are also pet owners who understand the challenges of managing errant pet hair. We have years of experience testing all sorts of vacuums, including the best vacuums for pet hair, car vacuums and hands-free robot vacuums.
Our product testing experts on the Product Testing Team spent hours in our Testing Lab getting up close and personal with a dozen upright vacuum cleaners. Several of those hours were spent carefully examining and testing the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV upright vacuum. After the lab, we sent it home with a tester for long-term use in order to see how it holds up to real-life use. Our goal is to recommend only the very best products using honest and fair testing practices, and we’ll never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular the brand or model.
TMB STUDIO
Editor's Pick
Shark Rotator Pet LiftAway ADV Upright Vacuum
This vacuum earned high marks for its intuitive design, convenient features and powerful performance.
Originally Published: September 10, 2024
