Before I start this Shark Vac Then Steam review, I should say that I've always gotten a kick out of watching those "as seen on tv" commercials when they show up. Infomercial products are shiny objects that fascinate me. I'd love to try them all just to see if they really do what is promised. The Shark Vac Then Steam is one of the products that caught my attention, even though the commercials are relatively short. It is sold as a one piece solution to the hassle of sweeping and mopping. One machine built to do both jobs efficiently. Most times, I don't buy the things I see for sale on television. I'd have a garage filled with Magic Bullets and Bedazzlers if I didn't show some restraint. Now my mother-in-law on the other hand, LOVES to buy the stuff you see on TV. Maybe that is another reason why I usually don't pull the trigger on the purchase. I know that my wife's Mom will buy one of everything for me to try eventually!
Shark® 2-in-1 Vac Then Steam™ is a real time saver. Click the image above to read more reviews and to see product details.
So I found out that yet another Shark sweeper had joined the extended family. My in-laws already had a Shark Navigator upright vacuum, but the lure of steam cleaning home appliances was simply too much to resist. On our next visit I decided to ask if I could see a demonstration of the Vac Then Steam. I normally don't have much interest in steam mops and cleaners, really, but I do like to check out the latest gadgets when they appear.
My Own Shark Vac Then Steam Commercial
I know this sounds goofy, but that's just how our family is around each other sometimes. Believe it or not, I was given the honor of being allowed to dump pepper and sugar on the pristine tile floor in the kitchen. That was pretty strange, and I half expected some fast talking infomercial guy to come busting out of the closet, but it still makes me laugh thinking about it. The Shark Vac Then Steam made short work of the mess, and my mother-in-law looked pretty pleased. The demonstration of the new Shark vacuum wasn't done yet though. Next, she pointed out some dirt near the door that her husband had tracked in earlier in the day. It was dried on to the tile and it was going to serve perfectly for her next demonstration. She made a very quick switch over to steam mode and let 'er rip. Sure enough, after just a few passes, the floor was sparkling. In the commercials they like to point out that the steaming hot tap water kills all kinds of nasty microscopic stuff. I can't confirm or deny that, but it looked good and there was no streaking left behind. It was also dry almost instantly. For people considering the Shark Steam Cleaner, I'd have to wonder why you wouldn't want the Shark Vac Then Steam that also includes the convenience of a vacuum.
Finding the Best Deals on the Shark Vac Then Steam
This all was good enough to convince me that the Shark Vac Then Steam would be a worthwhile addition for our home. We've got three kids and two dogs. One of the dogs seems to have a life mission of making muddy paw prints on the kitchen floor. I figured that the money we'd save on Swiffer supplies in the long run might pay for the vacuum eventually. I was ready to just buy one locally, but I've gotten into the habit of checking for online deals over the past year or so. Most of the basic information was the same on the sites I checked, but I found that Amazon offered a little bit better deal than what I was finding anywhere else. I found a couple of listings on Amazon when I looked, and it took me a minute to figure out why. One deal offered a 30 foot cord instead of a 25 foot cord and it also included eight extra micro-fiber mop heads ($100 sold separately). You can find that deal HERE. I also like to deal with Amazon, because so far, every package I've received from them has arrived on time and containing the correct items.
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So what about the product details?
The Shark Vac Then Steam is a member of the well know Shark vacuums family. They've gained sort of a cult following of faithful devotees. The major selling points/benefits of this model are that it will not only clean up the loose stuff on the the floor in vacuum mode, it can easily (flip a switch) be switched over to steamer mode. Using nothing but good old H2O, it uses steam to loosen stuck on messes from hard surfaces. I personally love this part because in the past we have flown through those throw away Swiffer pads trying to keep up with so many people tracking through our kitchen, entryway and the hardwood floors we have upstairs. For those concerned with weight (of the vacuum, not their own), the Shark Vac Then Steam is actually a very light and maneuverable unit. It weighs only 6.6 pounds. The head on this vacuum is ten inches across, so it isn't really meant for getting into the tightest of spaces, but I still manage to move it around under the kitchen table. The standard unit comes with a 25 foot cord, which is long enough for me, but some people might need an extension cord if the prospect of changing to a different outlet is too daunting. This link will take you to the 30 foot cord listing details. If you prefer the shorter cord and no extra pads, you can find that HERE at a lower price.
Wrapping Up
The Shark Vac Then Steam does what it is supposed to do very well. It sucks up little debris like sand, dirt and other similar spills with ease. It is not meant to pick up rocks or other, similarly sized floor debris, so if you routinely have gravel scattered across the kitchen floor, you'll be disappointed. Honestly, I usually pick those larger items up by hand anyway when I'm doing my initial pass through the room looking for small toys that have been left behind.
After vacuuming up the loose stuff, this Shark vacuum does a very nice job of using steam power to remove stuck on messes. I like this vacuum a lot because it seems to be made for the kind of cleaning we do around our house on a daily basis, and it makes short work of it. Some people have said that they were disappointed that the water tank needed filled after twenty minutes. I personally don't usually have to use the Shark Vac Then Steam for more than fifteen minutes, max, so it has never been a problem for me. If it did run out, I don't think that putting some more water in the tank would be anything I'd complain about, but that's just me.
Finally, although I haven't mentioned it yet, I do like the fact that the Shark Vac Then Steam gets the job done using nothing more than tap water. I'm not someone who rages against commercial cleaners or anything, but I do have two dogs who often feel the need to sniff and lick anything new they come across. I've found that my floors dry very quickly after using the Shark Vac Then Steam, and there is nothing left over for the dogs to accidentally ingest.
The majority of the Shark Vac Then Steam reviews I found agreed with my assessment for the most part. This unit was easily assembled, is light weight, offers a reasonable price, and does what it is supposed to do. It looks like my mother-in-law picked a winner. If you have an interest in vacuums & floor care, you can read more Shark reviews HERE.
In case you are interested, here are some of the other popular Shark vacuums that you can check out.
One of the options shown above will probably be perfect for your needs. As I mentioned, my own preference is the Shark Vac Then Steam, mostly because I enjoy the whole 2 in 1 tool idea.
