How to Clean a Shark Vacuum the Right Way

You probably include vacuuming in your weekly cleaning routine. But when was the last time you cleaned your Shark vacuum? Shark vacuums are known for their suction power, ability to eliminate odor and longevity. But all this comes with a giant caveat. You need to learn how to clean Shark vacuums.

Why Do You Need to Clean a Shark Vacuum?

So, why do you need to know how to clean Shark vacuums? Shark vacuums require plenty of airflow to work properly. Clean canisters and filters are essential for keeping enough air flowing through your vacuum cleaner.

If air is obstructed, whether at the rolling brush, hose, filters or dirt collection canister, your Shark vacuum won’t get enough airflow to suck up dirt, debris and other particulates efficiently. This means more pollen, dust and dog hair on your floor.

If your Shark vacuum isn’t picking up debris like it used to, there’s no need to make a warranty claim or buy a new one. It probably just needs a thorough clean. We’ll get to how to clean Shark vacuums in a minute. In the meantime, let’s look at how to troubleshoot your Shark vacuum.

Troubleshooting Tips for Your Shark Vacuum

Below, we’ll discuss different issues you may find with your Shark and how to fix or clean them.

My Vacuum Won’t Pick Up Dirt or Debris

When your vacuum doesn’t suck:

Clean the Cup

If your Shark vacuum isn’t picking up dirt or debris, turn off the vacuum cleaner and unplug it. Remove the dust cup and press the release button found near the bottom of the dust cup. Once all debris has fallen out of the cone-shaped screen within the dust cup, close the lid.

Remove the pre-motor filters found behind the dust cup and tap them to remove any excess dirt or garbage. Put the dust cup back on without the filters replaced.

Check the Hose

Plug in the vacuum, turn on the power and see if there is suction at the handle.

Unplug the vacuum and remove the dust cup again.

Separate the handle from the wand and the hose found on the rear of the vacuum cleaner. With the opening facing up, hold the handle and drop a coin into the inlet.

If it doesn’t fall through the hose, there is a clog present that needs to be cleared. Once you clear the clog, reattach the hose and handle. Plug in the vacuum, turn on the power and check for suction at the end of the handle.

Clean the Brush and Nozzle

Turn the nozzle over and use a coin to open the three locks present on the bottom of the floor nozzle. Once the locks are released, you can access the brush roll. The locks are released by turning them counterclockwise. Lift up the cover.

Remove any debris or other clogs found in the nozzle openings and around the brush roll. Then, put the bottom cover back on and turn the locks clockwise to close them again. Reattach the floor nozzle to the wand and pod.

Finally, plug in the vacuum cleaner, turn on the power and test for suction. To prevent this from occurring in the future, clean your vacuum cleaner every one to three months.

How and When to Adjust the Suction

You can adjust the suction using the suction control collar found at the base of the handle. You should increase maneuverability and reduce suction when vacuuming over carpets. To do this, rotate the collar counterclockwise.

When vacuuming over hard surfaces, such as tile, hardwood or linoleum, rotate the collar clockwise. You should also increase suction when using accessories.

My Brush Roll Stopped Spinning

You need to know how to clean Shark vacuum brush rolls if your brush roll stops spinning. This may indicate a blockage. First, make sure the handle is tilted back, and the nozzle is flat against the floor and you are on the second (Carpet) setting.

If the red indicator light found on the nozzle is steadily illuminated, you definitely have a blockage.

Turn off the vacuum cleaner immediately, unplug it, and use scissors to cut away anything wrapped around the brush roll carefully. Do not damage or cut the bristles while you’re doing this. Reconnect the nozzle, making sure the nozzle release button is locked in place. Then, plug the vacuum cleaner in and plug it back on.

How to Clean a Shark Vacuum

When it comes to learning how to clean a shark vacuum, there are several parts you need to consider. We’re going through each part step-by-step so you can clean your Shark vacuum thoroughly and confidently. Let’s get started.

Canister

You know how to empty the dirt collection canister. It’s even obvious when it needs to be done. But did you know that it needs a deeper clean every once in a while? If you don’t use your Shark vacuum too much, you can get away with doing this quarterly. If you vacuum regularly, you’ll need to give the canister a deep clean monthly.

First, fill your kitchen sink with warm, soapy water. Use a long-handled bottle brush to get into every crevice. Since the canister doesn’t have any electronic components, submerging it completely is perfectly safe. If your model opens from both ends, you’ll want to open both ends before submersion. Once you’re done washing the canister, rinse it. Leave the end or ends open and allow it to air dry.

Filters

Once you remove the dirt collection canister, you’ll see one or more foam rubber filters. Some models have additional felt filters. The hardest part about removing the filters is remembering what order you removed them so you can remember which order you need to put them back in. Be prepared to get your hands very dirty if you don’t already clean your filters regularly.

You can wash the filters in a sink full of warm soapy water to clean them thoroughly. We prefer green Dawn, but any liquid dish soap will suffice. If you have felt filters, you should wash both the foam and felt filters. However, you need to be careful to not damage the felt filters. The manufacturer of Shark vacuums does not recommend washing felt filters because people aren’t usually gentle with them and they become damaged.

Keep in mind

Once you clean and rinse your filters, they may not return to the white appearance they had when they were new. Don’t worry. As long as they’re not broken, torn or otherwise disintegrated, it doesn’t matter what color they are.

Make sure your filters are completely dry before you put them back in the Shark vacuum. The last thing you want growing inside your vacuum cleaner is mold or mildew.

Once everything is cleaned thoroughly and dry, you can put the canister and filters back in your vacuum cleaner. This will restore your Shark vacuum’s suction power and vacuuming won’t leave behind a dirty, unpleasant odor. Remember, when your filters wear out, make sure you’re buying the right filters for your specific Shark vacuum model.

Rotating Brush

You also need to know how to clean Shark vacuum rotating brushes. First, lay the vacuum on the floor so the rotating brush is visible. We recommend placing an old towel or bag beneath the rotating brush to catch the dirt and debris that is about to be released. It’s perfectly normal to see hair, strings, ribbons and other things wrapped around the brush.

Use a pair of old scissors to cut through any material that is wound around the brush. This makes cleaning the brush much easier. It may take a little pulling and tugging, but it all will come off.

FAQ About How to Clean Shark Vacuums

1. How Often Do I Clean the Filters?

You need to clean your filters if you notice your Shark vacuum stops picking up dirt, airflow becomes restricted or there is little-to-no suction. Between thorough cleanings, hold your vacuum’s filters over the garbage can and lightly tap them to remove dust and debris. This will make the regular thorough cleaning easier.

Guidelines for Pre-Foam and Felt Filters:

• Rinse all pre-motor filters every three months unless performance suffers before then
• Remove the dust cup and filters
• Wash filters and rinse well
• Air dry the filters completely
• Reinstall the felt filter followed by the foam filters
• Reattach the dust cup

Post-Motor HEPA Filter:

• Rinse the HEPA filter once a year or as needed
• Remove by pressing the tab on top of the filter cover and lifting it off
• Rinse with water only and allow to air-dry completely before reinstalling
• Reattach the cover

2. How Often Should I Empty the Dust Cup?

Some people recommend that you empty the dust cup every time you vacuum. Others say you should wait until dust and debris reach the MAX FILL line.

We think the best way to keep things clean is by emptying the dust cup whenever the debris reaches halfway to your MAX FILL line.

Simply hold the dust cup over your garbage receptacle and press the release button found on the bottom of the door. Gently tap the cup to empty its contents and close the door again until it clicks shut.

If there is still dust in the dust cup, press the top door release button after turning the dust cup upside down. Tap to remove most of the contents and use a soft cloth to wipe the interior of the dust cup.

3. What If My Vacuum Turns Off on Its Own?

Shark vacuums are equipped with a thermostat to protect the motor. If your vacuum doesn’t get adequate airflow, your vacuum will overheat. When your thermostat registers that the unit is overheating, it will shut the vacuum cleaner off automatically.

It can take up to an hour for the unit to cool off sufficiently.

In the meantime, unclog the vacuum cleaner. Clogs usually happen at the brush roll, but they can also occur at the pre-motor filters behind the dust cup. If cleaning these two places doesn’t resolve the situation, you may have a clog in the nozzle.

4. Why Isn’t My Vacuum Cleaner Turning On?

If your Shark vacuum isn’t turning on, you should first confirm that the outlet it’s plugged into is providing power. Grab a battery charger or another electronic device that you know functions and plug it into the outlet. If it functions, you know the problem isn’t with the outlet.

Next, make sure the selector switch is set to either setting 1 or setting 2. If the switch is set to one of these two settings, the problem is a clogged airway. You will need to find and remove the clog before your Shark vacuum will turn on.

Make sure this doesn’t happen before an important dinner party by cleaning your vacuum cleaner every one to three months and cleaning your post-motor HEPA filter once a year.

How to Clean Shark Vacuum Components: Wrapping Up

Learning how to clean shark vacuum components isn’t hard. In fact, the hardest part is sticking to a regular cleaning schedule. If you use your Shark vacuum weekly, you should clean your vacuum’s canister, filters and rotating brush monthly. If you don’t run it every week, you can get away with cleaning it quarterly.

Just don’t forget to clean all your Shark vacuum components. It’s easy to miss some. Clean the canister thoroughly with warm, soapy water and use a long bottle brush to make sure you get every crevice.

Then, remove every filter from your Shark vacuum. Remember the order you take the filters out so you can put them back in the right order. Gently and thoroughly wash both the rubber and felt filters. Just be careful to not disintegrate the felt filters.

Let the canister and filters air dry thoroughly. Otherwise, your Shark vacuum becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Finally, remove any hair, strings and other material wrapped around the rotating brush. If tugging doesn’t work well enough, use a pair of scissors to cut the material away. If you’ve done all that, your Shark will perform well for you as long as you have it.