The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 is a popular upright vacuum cleaner designed to provide superior cleaning power while offering the versatility of a portable canister vacuum. It is part of Shark’s line of vacuums known for combining powerful suction with user-friendly features, making it a great choice for homeowners looking to tackle multiple cleaning challenges around the house. In this detailed article, we’ll explore the Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501, examining its design, features, performance, pros, cons, and maintenance tips.
1. Overview of the Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 is an upright vacuum that offers advanced features and versatility. One of its key selling points is its Lift-Away Technology, which allows users to detach the canister and convert the vacuum into a portable canister cleaner. This flexibility makes the NV501 ideal for cleaning floors, upholstery, stairs, and even hard-to-reach places like ceilings and under furniture.
Shark is known for producing vacuums with excellent suction power, and the NV501 is no exception. The vacuum features Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which helps trap dust, allergens, and particles inside the vacuum, providing relief for allergy sufferers. The NV501 also includes a HEPA filter, further contributing to its allergen-fighting capabilities.
The Shark NV501 is designed to tackle a wide variety of surfaces, from hardwood floors and tile to carpet and area rugs. With the combination of a powerful motor, specialized attachments, and user-friendly features, this vacuum stands out as a strong contender in the market for those looking for an all-in-one cleaning solution.
2. Design and Build Quality
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 is designed to be both robust and lightweight. Weighing in at just over 13 pounds, it’s a relatively light upright vacuum compared to others on the market, making it easy to maneuver around furniture and in tight spaces.
- Lift-Away Canister: The standout feature of the NV501 is its Lift-Away Technology, which allows you to lift the canister off the main body of the vacuum. This feature transforms the vacuum into a portable, canister-style vacuum that is especially useful for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and other above-floor surfaces.
- Handle and Wand: The NV501 comes with a long, extendable wand and a comfortable ergonomic handle. The wand makes it easy to reach high places or clean under low-clearance furniture.
- Head Design: The vacuum features a large nozzle with a combination of bristle and brush rolls, making it highly effective for cleaning carpets and hardwood floors alike. The Powerful Brushroll can be turned on or off depending on the floor type.
- Wheels: The wheels are designed to be gentle on floors while offering enough mobility to glide easily over different surface types. They make the vacuum easy to maneuver across carpets, rugs, and hard floors.
- Cord: The NV501 features a 30-foot power cord, providing excellent reach for large rooms or multi-room cleaning without the need to constantly switch outlets.
3. Key Features
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 is packed with a variety of features that make it an excellent option for diverse cleaning needs.
a. Lift-Away Technology
As mentioned earlier, the NV501’s Lift-Away Technology is a game-changer. By detaching the canister from the upright body, users can use the canister as a portable vacuum for above-floor cleaning. This feature is especially useful for:
- Cleaning stairs without the bulk of an upright vacuum.
- Reaching high spots like curtains, baseboards, and shelves.
- Cleaning furniture, upholstery, and tight corners where an upright vacuum may not reach.
b. Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology
This technology is designed to prevent dust and allergens from escaping the vacuum as you clean. It works by ensuring that all the air drawn into the vacuum is filtered through the HEPA filter, which traps even the smallest particles, including dust mites, pollen, and pet dander.
This feature is highly beneficial for allergy sufferers or households with pets, as it helps to maintain a cleaner, healthier environment.
c. Swivel Steering
The NV501 comes with swivel steering, which allows users to easily maneuver the vacuum around furniture, corners, and other obstacles. This feature ensures smooth operation and makes it easy to clean tight spaces without requiring excessive effort or repositioning.
d. HEPA Filtration
In addition to the Anti-Allergen Seal, the Shark NV501 is equipped with a HEPA filter that captures small dust particles, pet hair, and allergens. This filter is particularly important for individuals with respiratory issues or allergies, as it helps ensure that the air in your home remains clean while you vacuum.
e. Motorized Brushroll
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 features a motorized brushroll that can be activated to agitate dirt and debris on carpets. The brushroll has the ability to be turned off when transitioning to hard floors, helping to prevent debris from scattering or being pushed around.
f. LED Lights
The vacuum is equipped with LED lights located on the nozzle. These lights illuminate dark spaces such as under furniture or along baseboards, making it easier to spot hidden dirt and debris.
4. Performance
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 performs exceptionally well across a variety of surfaces. Let’s look at its performance on different types of flooring.
a. Carpets
The motorized brushroll provides deep cleaning power on carpets, lifting dirt and debris from deep within the fibers. It’s especially effective on medium-pile and low-pile carpets, although it may require extra passes on very high-pile rugs.
b. Hardwood Floors
When switched to bare floor mode (with the brushroll turned off), the NV501 is gentle on hardwood floors and does not scatter debris. Its suction power ensures a clean sweep, removing dust, pet hair, and small particles from hardwood, tile, and laminate floors without scratching or damaging the surface.
c. Stairs and Upholstery
Thanks to the Lift-Away Technology and the inclusion of specialized tools like the crevice tool and dusting brush, the NV501 excels at cleaning stairs and upholstery. The portable canister provides great maneuverability when cleaning vertical surfaces or hard-to-reach spots.
d. Pet Hair Removal
The NV501 is highly effective at removing pet hair, thanks to the motorized brushroll and strong suction power. The vacuum’s ability to pick up pet hair from carpets and furniture is one of its standout features, making it a great choice for pet owners.
5. Pros
- Versatility: The Lift-Away feature makes the vacuum incredibly versatile, allowing it to be used on multiple surfaces and for above-floor cleaning.
- Strong Suction: The Shark NV501 provides excellent suction power, effectively cleaning carpets, hardwood floors, and upholstery.
- HEPA Filtration: The inclusion of a HEPA filter makes this vacuum an excellent choice for allergy sufferers, as it traps fine particles and allergens.
- Swivel Steering: The swivel steering allows for easy maneuverability, making it easier to clean around furniture and obstacles.
- Large Dust Cup: The vacuum features a relatively large dust cup, which reduces the frequency of emptying it during use.
6. Cons
- Weight: At 13 pounds, the NV501 may be a bit heavy for some users, especially when carrying it up and down stairs in Lift-Away mode.
- Noise: Like many powerful vacuums, the NV501 can be somewhat noisy, especially when using the brushroll on carpets.
- Bulk: While the vacuum’s Lift-Away feature offers flexibility, the full-size upright body can be bulky for some users, making it challenging to store in tight spaces.
7. Maintenance Tips
To ensure the longevity of your Shark NV501 and maintain its performance, regular maintenance is key. Here are a few tips:
- Clean the Filters: The HEPA filter and foam filter should be cleaned regularly, ideally once a month, to ensure maximum efficiency. Wash them with warm water, and allow them to dry completely before reinserting them into the vacuum.
- Empty the Dust Cup: Empty the dust cup after each use, or when it reaches the max fill line. This prevents clogs and ensures optimal suction.
- Check the Brushroll: Periodically check the brushroll for tangled hair or debris. Clean it carefully to prevent it from getting jammed and losing effectiveness.
- Clean the Hose and Wand: Over time, the hose and wand may accumulate debris. Use a damp cloth to wipe them down and ensure the airflow is unobstructed.
8. Conclusion
The Shark Lift-Away Professional NV501 is a powerful, versatile vacuum cleaner that offers excellent performance across various floor types. Its Lift-Away Technology, anti-allergen seal, HEPA filter, and strong suction make it an excellent choice for homes with allergies, pets, or a mix of floor types. Although it is slightly heavier than some other vacuums and can be noisy at times, its overall performance and flexibility make it a top choice for many users looking for an efficient, all-around cleaning solution.